The Sky is the Limit for Leukemia Patient in Glivec Trial

Just a year ago, cancer patient Gerald Bourque was in the fight of his life - and the leukemia was winning.

But things changed dramatically when the 62-year-old sales engineer enrolled in a study at M. D. Anderson and began taking an experimental drug called Glivec, formerly known as STI-571.

"It's a miracle drug," Bourque said of Glivec, which he has taken since December 1999 with positive results. "It gave me my life back."

Bourque was on the golf course with his wife in the summer of 1997 when he noticed he was unusually fatigued before the game was over. After several incidences of shortness of breath and fatigue, Bourque said he knew he should visit his family doctor.

Following a series of tests, the doctor ruled out heart and lung problems, but his blood count was high and his urinalysis showed a number of toxins in his urine.

"The doctor said that he had good news and bad news for me," Bourque said. "The bad news was that I had leukemia, but the good news was he said I had three to five years to live, so time and research were on my side."

He received a diagnosis in October 1997 of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). CML is a cancer of the blood where a chromosomal defect in the Philadelphia chromosome results in a gene that produces an abnormal protein disrupting the bone marrow's production of white blood cells. The result is an uncontrolled number of white blood cells that outnumber and destroy other cells.

Bourque tried several conventional cancer treatments including interferon, the standard treatment for CML patients. Interferon was developed at M. D. Anderson by one of Bourque's doctors, Dr. Moshe Talpaz, chairman of the Department of Bioimmunotherapy. Unfortunately, Bourque said, none of the treatments seemed to stop the proliferation of white blood cells and his blood count was still high.

In December 1999, Bourque's disease had moved from the chronic phase to the accelerated phase, which meant, at best, he had 18 months to live. Dr. Talpaz explained to Bourque his options, which included enrolling in the Glivec, or STI-571 clinical trial.

"The STI-571 trial seemed like the best option because the drug goes right after the abnormal chromosome," Bourque said. Another option was a bone marrow transplant, which statistically may not have succeeded because of several factors including his age and his lack of siblings.

The regimen for Glivec is as simple as taking aspirin, Bourque said. He swallows four pills per day, two hours after breakfast. The only side effects he has experienced include muscular aches that eventually subsided and occasional loose bowels that he controls with an over-the-counter remedy.

"Every day that the drug works is a great blessing," Bourque said, explaining that he may take Glivec for the rest of his life. "It's phenomenal. I function normally and I feel great, but how long will it last? That has yet to be determined."

"Some people look at me funny when I tell them that this experience - having cancer - has been positive," he explained. "But it has brought my family closer together, reinforced what is important to us and reminded us what we want to pursue in life."

He said cancer has been a learning experience. "You learn to fight and to be willing to try new things. But most importantly, you learn to always have hope, and to give that hope to other cancer patients."

Bourque said he is glad his energy level is back as he has been busy spending time with his grandchildren, which includes twin granddaughters born in November. He is back to playing golf and he is testing the waters to restart his career.

"A lot can happen in a year," he said. "The sky's the limit now."