Novel Therapeutics: We’re Getting Smarter About Who and With What to Treat

You may have heard the very exciting data about patients with breast cancer who carry BRCA mutations. These mutations indicate a genetic predisposition for breast cancer.

The function of BRCA is DNA repair, very similar to the genes associated with familial colorectal cancer known as Lynch syndrome or HNPCC (hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer) which are the DNA mismatch repair genes. Continue reading…

Posted by Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD on July 26th, 2009
Posted in: From the Desk of Dr. Lenz | 2 Comments »
Tags: clinical trials, Knowing About Clinical Trials, PARP inhibitors, Understanding Genetics

Phase III Sutent Trial for Colorectal Cancer Discontinued

Pfizer announced yesterday, June 30, 2009, that they are discontinuing a phase III trial comparing FOLFIRI chemotherapy alone to FOLFIRI with added Sutent® (sunitinib).

Based on results so far, the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) determined that a significant reduction in progression-free survival was not statistically possible.  No new safety concerns were identified. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 1st, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: clinical trials, sunitinib, Sutent

Almost There: Colon Cancer Clinical Trial Needs Six More Patients

NSABP C-10 needs only six more patients to complete enrollment and prepare to answer the question: Is it safe and effective to leave a primary tumor without symptoms in the colon or rectum and proceed directly to chemotherapy in patients with colon cancer that has spread to distant organs where it cannot be surgically removed,

The trial has already enrolled 84 of the 90 patients with metastatic colon cancer needed.

All patients in the study will be treated with FOLFOX (oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and continuous infusion 5-FU) and Avastin® (bevacizumab) every two weeks for as long as their cancer doesn’t get worse and they are able to tolerate side effects.   Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on May 7th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: clinical trials, metastatic colorectal cancer, unresectable

Clinical Trial Open: Tomotherapy for Limited Cancer Mets

Cancer patients with only a few tumors that have spread to other parts of their bodies (metastases) will be part of a clinical trial to test precisely focused, high-dose radiation treatment called helical tomotherapy.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center want to know if helical tomography, focused on metastatic tumors, can destroy them and keep them from returning in patients whose tumors cannot be removed surgically or who are not willing to have surgery.

The trial is being conducted by the National Cancer Institute on the NIH Clinical Center campus in Bethesda, MD. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on April 23rd, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 1 Comment »
Tags: clinical trials, radiotherapy, tomotherapy

Sherrod Brown Talks about Health Care Reform

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) outlined his priorities for health care reform at a community forum last week in Ohio.

Senator Brown, who has been a long time supporter for reforming the American health care system said, “We need health reform to ensure that every American has access to high quality, affordable health coverage…As it stands, 46 million Americans are uninsured, and that is 46 million too many.” Continue reading…

Posted by Joe Arite on April 21st, 2009
Posted in: Policy & Advocacy News | No Comments »
Tags: clinical trials, Health Care Reform, Senate, Sherrod Brown