Nationwide cancer trials suffer from lack of participation
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Feb. 26, 2010 - Cancer researchers have high
hopes for a new therapy for patients with certain types of lymphoma
and leukemia.
PCI-32765 is a new drug being assessed in a Phase I clinical trial
at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center in collaboration with the
Clinical Division of the Translational Genomics Research Institute
(TGen).
This is one of 35 such trials under way through a partnership
between the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare and TGen, which enables molecular and genomic
discoveries to reach patients through Phase I trials as quickly as
possible.
"Progress in developing new treatments for cancer has been
painfully slow as only 2-4 percent of all cancer patients enroll in
clinical trials. This is especially true for uncommon cancers such
as leukemia's and lymphomas," said Dr. Raoul Tibes, Director of the
Hematological Malignancies Program at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer
Center and an Associate Investigator at TGen.
Clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of new drugs
prior to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Participants are volunteers for whom other cancer treatments have
failed. Arizona is one of many states in which clinical trials
often are covered by health insurance.
"This study is going very well. It is a very promising agent,'' Dr.
Tibes said of PCI-32765, which uniquely targets the molecular
abnormalities of lymphoma cells. "This is a recently identified
cancer mechanism that we are going after with this drug in lymphoma
cells."
Bruton-tyrosine-kinase, or Btk, is an enzyme needed to maintain
B-lymphocytes function. B- lymphocytes are the cells that make
antibodies for the immune system.
Too little Btk causes a disease called Bruton's agammaglobulinemia,
in which the B-lymphocytes fail to mature and produce antibodies,
leading to infections.
Too much Btk is involved in constantly stimulating the
proliferation and spread of lymphoma and leukemia cells.
PCI-32765, produced by Pharmacyclics of Sunnyvale, Calif., inhibits
Btk. Preclinical studies showed PCI-32765 arrested cancer cell
growth and caused cancer cell death.
"This is the Yin and Yang of two diseases," said Dr. Tibes. In one
there is not enough Btk; in the other, too much. "We are exploiting
a natural occurring phenomenon, an enzyme that is turned around in
cancer, and now we have a drug against it."
Dr. Tibes, the principal investigator for the clinical trial, said
PCI-32765 is at the frontier of research and offers a new therapy
option for patients with advanced lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic
leukemia.
Patients with a variety of lymphomas can participate in the
clinical trial, including those with aggressive diffuse large
B-Cell and mantle cell lymphoma, as well as patients with
follicular lymphoma.
"Perhaps there is a genetic context under which certain patients
may be more responsive. We want to find those patients and explore
the possibilities for their benefit in this ongoing study,'' said
Dr. Ramesh K. Ramanathan, research medical director.
Patients seeking additional information about eligibility to
participate in clinical trials at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer
Center at Scottsdale Healthcare may contact research patient care
coordinator Joyce Schaffer, RN, at 480-323-1339, toll free at
1-877-273-3713 or at [email protected]
*
About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare offers
prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research and support services in
its facilities at the Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center,
attracting patients from across Arizona and the U.S. Scottsdale
Healthcare is the not-for-profit parent organization of the
Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare
Osborn Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak
Hospital, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, Scottsdale Clinical
Research Institute and Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation. For
additional information, visit www.shc.org.
Press Contact:
Keith Jones
Public Relations Director, Scottsdale Healthcare
480-882-4910
[email protected]
*
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a
non-profit organization dedicated to conducting groundbreaking
research with life changing results. Research at TGen is focused on
helping patients with diseases such as cancer, neurological
disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the efficiency
and effectiveness of the translational process. For more
information, visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
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