Fight Colorectal Cancer is partnering together with 23andme and Genentech to help researchers better understand if patients’ genes play a role in how they respond to treatments they receive for their colorectal cancer.  This provides patients a new opportunity to participate in genetics research.

You are invited to participate in the InVite Study.

The InVite Study aims to enroll 1,000 individuals with certain types of advanced cancer who received Avastin before 2013.

In order to participate you simply submit a saliva sample and complete some online surveys.

The InVite Study will allow you to:

• Learn more about your health and genetic ancestry
• Take a direct role in research that may benefit you and other patients with advanced metastatic disease
• Participate in web-based research from the comfort of your own home
• Be kept informed of the discovery process as research advances

The InVite Study will enhance research by:

• Bringing together a large group of people who have taken Avastin to better understand if there are any specific genetic differences between people who do well on Avastin and those who do not
• Understanding if new technologies like genetic analysis and the internet offer a new way to conduct research and help researchers learn how to better use medicines
• Expanding access to people who want to participate in research from home
• Removing some of the time and cost barriers that can slow progress in other types of cancer research

To participate you’ll need to:

• Enroll and consent through the 23andMe website 
• Provide a saliva sample and send it back in the prepaid box
• Take online surveys by signing in to your 23andMe account
• Answer follow-up questions every 3 months in your 23andMe account

To learn more about the InVite Study and how you may participate, read more here.

Have more questions? Check out the InVite study Q&A.

If you have further questions, please contact us directly at the Fight Colorectal Cancer Answer Line at 1-877-427-2111 or email us.

The Food and Drug Adminstration and Genentech have reported that counterfeit Avastin is being distributed in the United States. The counterfeit medicine does not contain
bevacizumab, Avastin’s active ingredient.

The packaging is different from genuine Avastin marketed here by Genentech. It includes a Roche logo which isn’t on the real drug, along with different codes.

Avastin is not in shortage now, and there are adequate supplies to meet the need.

Patients being treated with Avastin are urged to let their doctors know immediately if they have unusual symptoms. Read the rest of this entry »

When Avastin® (bevacizumab) was added to standard chemotherapy after surgery, it didn’t reduce the risk that early stage colon cancer would return, according to a press release this morning from Genentech.

NSABP C-08 randomly assigned patients with stage II or III colon cancer to FOLFOX chemotherapy with or without additional Avastin.  During the Phase III clinical trial, all patients received FOLFOX (oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and infused 5-FU) every two weeks for six months.  Half also got Avastin with each treatment plus an additional six months of Avastin only.

The study’s primary objective was disease-free survival, defined as lack of recurrence, another new cancer, or death for any reason.  According to Genentech, adding Avastin to chemotherapy didn’t do any better job of meeting this goal than chemotherapy alone.

Information from the trial will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting at the beginning of June.

Read the rest of this entry »