Kashyap Patel: How an incredible female in her 7th decade has added over 15 months to life
Kashyap Patel, Medical Director of the International Oncology Network, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Another real life story of collaboration stretching across the countries and continental divide reflecting the role of cooperative, collaborative and cohesive approach to treat cancer in the era of precision medicine: How an incredible female in her 7th decade has added over 15 months to life (while declared untreatable and was recommended hospice and comfort care and sent to India from Canada).
In the fall of 2023, I was approached by a stranger from Vancouver, Canada who got my contact information from common friends in Mumbai. This young man’s mother had been suffering from stage IV colon cancer and had treatment for a year. In the Fall 2023, she was told by her oncologist that her life expectancy was very limited and the nest approach would be to have comfort care at home and/or hospice. This lady is full of aspirations, expectations and ambitions to see her grandchildren waiting to be born. I suggested to consider Liquid biopsy testing to identify any actionable mutations. Her oncologist categorically denied believing in it. Her son approached me on Sunday evening.
I reached out to my friend Frank Mcmullen from Guardant 360 and around 9 pm on Sunday evening. He quickly sprung into action and started making frantic calls. Due to regulatory issues of going to Canada, we all agreed to request patient to cross country line and get her blood drawn in accordance to standards of care in the USA. She then moved to India with possibility of enrolling in the end of life care. To our surprise the test identified PIK3Ca mutation. At that time Alpelisib was not approved for use in colorectal cancer. However looking at the efficacy on other conditions, I suggested to start Alpelisib. Her son was able to procure these tables in India. Her follow up scans after 4 months revealed nearly 70% improvement in the tumor size.
She returned to Canada. I made an in person visit to see this beautiful aspirational lady last fall. She is still alive and full of life and is able to live by herself with periods where she goes and stays with her son.
This extraordinary narrative highlights the vital role of global collaboration, the advancements in precision medicine, and the indomitable spirit of individuals and families in the face of hardship. Reflecting on their resilience and the advancements made over the past eight years, we are reminded of the profound impact of collective endeavors in reshaping outcomes and fostering optimism in cancer care.”
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