TGen, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center and Side-Out Foundation
team up for 'next generation' treatment
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - March 11, 2010 - Many women live with breast
cancer that does not respond to standard medical treatment, a
condition that researchers at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center
at Scottsdale Healthcare want to change by aggressively targeting
specific genes.
Improving quality of life and potentially keeping the cancer under
control for a longer period of time are goals of a new clinical
trial at the cancer center's TGen Clinical Research Services, a
partnership of Scottsdale Healthcare and the Translational Genomics
Research Institute (TGen).
The pilot study is supported by the Side-Out Foundation, a group
founded by volleyball enthusiasts to help wage war on breast
cancer.
Women or men with advanced breast cancer that has progressed
through three prior treatments are eligible for the trial,
available in the western U.S. only at Scottsdale Healthcare's
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center.
"Many are living with refractory, or advanced, breast cancer that
has not responded or continues to grow despite standard
treatments," explains Nurse Practitioner Gayle Jameson, principal
investigator. "What we are offering here is a whole new approach
for treating patients with refractory breast cancer."
Biopsied tissue will be analyzed for unique characteristics and
abnormal genes in cancer cells, which are then targeted for
treatment with FDA-approved anticancer medications. "We may
discover that a tumor has a gene mutation that responds to a drug
not typically used in a 'one-size-fits-all' approach," explains
Jameson.
"What we are doing here is precisely matching a treatment to a
specific type of cancer cell mutation and abnormal protein
signaling pathways that may activate cancer cell growth. The
patient would then be treated with one or more medications based on
the information provided by the analyses."
Researchers call the Side-Out study the "next generation of breast
cancer treatment," expanding on what was learned about molecular
profiling in an earlier clinical trial at the Virginia G. Piper
Cancer Center. The new study, managed by TGen Drug Development
(TD2), is open to a total of 25 patients at only two sites, the
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare and
Fairfax Northern Virginia Hematology Oncology.
Results of the earlier trial, known as the Bisgrove Study, showed
that molecular profiling can identify specific treatments that help
keep cancer in check for significantly longer periods, and in some
cases even shrinking tumors. Clinical trials at the cancer center
are administered by the Scottsdale Healthcare Research
Institute.
Research at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare allows molecular and genomic discoveries to reach the
patient bedside as quickly as possible through clinical trials of
therapies directed at specific targets in patients' tumors.
Established in 2004, the Side-Out Foundation's mission is to raise
money for the war against breast cancer through the sport of
volleyball. Major contributing laboratories in the Side-Out study
are CARIS Life Sciences, and George Mason University's Center for
Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine.
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 TGen Clinical Research Services (TCRS)
TCRS is a partnership of the Translational Genomics Research
Institute (TGen) and Scottsdale Healthcare. The partnership allows
molecular and genomic discoveries made by TGen and others around
the world to reach the patient bedside in the Virginia G. Piper
Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare as quickly as possible
through clinical trials with agents directed at specific targets in
patients' tumors.
About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare offers
research, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support in its
facilities on the campus of Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical
Center, attracting patients from across Arizona and the U.S.
Groundbreaking cancer research is conducted through its Scottsdale
Healthcare Research Institute and TGen Clinical Research Services
(TCRS), which provide targeted patient-specific therapies and
support additional research activities through Scottsdale
Healthcare. For more information, visit www.shc.org.
About TGen Drug Development (TD2)
TD2 is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Translational Genomics
Research Institute (TGen) and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
TD2 provides innovative services for oncology-focused
biopharmaceutical companies utilizing a dedicated team of
professionals with broad experience and understanding in drug
development. TD2 is uniquely positioned to support the need for
improved and accelerated development of new chemical entities
(NCE's) for life-threatening diseases. TD2 utilizes a unique
combination of experience gained through its contract research
organization business, and an integrated suite of proprietary and
non-proprietary tools, preclinical study execution, regulatory
affairs assistance, clinical trial design and management, and drug
development experts to successfully move therapeutics towards
regulatory approval. TD2 is dedicated to reducing the risks and
uncertainty inherent in the drug development process.
www.td2.org
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.
About Caris Life Sciences
Caris Life Sciences is a leading biosciences company focused on
enabling precise and personalized healthcare, through the
highest-quality anatomic pathology, molecular profiling, and
blood-based diagnostic technologies, primarily in the fields of
oncology, dermatopathology, hematopathology and gastrointestinal
pathology. The company provides academic-caliber medical consults
through its industry-leading team of subspecialty fellowships and
expert-trained pathologists in gastrointestinal and liver
pathology, dermatopathology and hematopathology. Caris Life
Sciences also offers advanced molecular analyses of patient samples
through prognostic testing services and genomic and proteomic
profiling to assist physicians in their treatment of cancer and
other complex diseases. Learn more at
www.carislifesciences.com.
Fairfax Northern Virginia Hematology Oncology
For more than 30 years, Fairfax Northern Virginia Hematology
Oncology (FNVHO), based in Fairfax, Va., has contributed greatly to
the campaign against cancer and diseases of the blood by offering
advancements in technology, treatment, early detection and clinical
trials. For residents throughout Northern Virginia this means the
chances of beating cancer are better than ever. Illustrating the
outpatient emphasis of cancer treatment, FNVHO's cancer care and
blood disorder specialists work closely with you and your family to
create an individual treatment plan that provides for your physical
and emotional health, all in the familiar setting of your
community. www.fnvho.com.
About George Mason University's Center for Applied Proteomics and
Molecular Medicine
The Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine in
Manassas, Va., is a key element of the Life Sciences initiative in
the College of Science. Proteomics - the study of proteins, how
they communicate and interact, and how those actions impact biology
- is the new frontier in molecular medicine. CAPMM Scientists, have
invented the RPMA technology to provide the unprecedented ability
to measure the activity level of hundreds of protein pathway
biomarkers at once from a tiny needle biopsy. These biomarkers can
then be used to directly tailor treatment based on the unique
patient-specific information within the tumor itself. The new
classes of molecular targeted inhibitors that are just now reaching
the bedside act by modulating protein activity, not genes and the
RPMA technology was developed by the CAPMM to synergize with these
new compounds. Working with clinical investigators from health care
partners and industry collaborators, their goal is to accelerate
innovative laboratory discoveries into clinical research at the
bedside, which holds the promise of individually tailored therapies
and personalized disease management for patients, and the discovery
of biomarkers for early disease detection.
About the Side-Out Foundation
The Side-Out Foundation (Side-Out) was established in 2004 by a
group of individuals drawn together by their love of volleyball,
but who also share a similar passion to be a part of the war
against breast cancer. Side-Out's mission is to raise money for the
war against breast cancer through the sport of volleyball.
www.side-out.org
Press contacts:
Keith Jones
Public Relations Director, Scottsdale Healthcare
480-882-4910
[email protected]
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
Bryant Dunetz
COO The Side-Out Foundation
703-615-8740
[email protected]
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