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- Posted Wednesday July 20, 2011
TGen, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center studying new breast cancer drug
Promising results of PI3K inhibitor study discussed at ASCO
annual meeting
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - July 20, 2011 - A new drug targeting the PI3K
gene in patients with advanced breast cancer shows promising
results in an early phase I investigational study conducted at
Virginia G. Piper Cancer at Scottsdale Healthcare, according to a
presentation by oncologist Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff at the 47th
annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
(ASCO).
The drug under investigation, GDC-0941, manufactured by Genentech
Inc., South San Francisco, Calif., targets the PI3K gene, which is
abnormal in about 20-30 percent of patients with advanced breast
cancer.
In collaboration with the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit,
Mich. and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Mass., Dr.
Von Hoff and his team at Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical
Trials initially tested the drug in 97 patients with various
advanced cancers. Patients experienced manageable side effects
including diarrhea, nausea, taste alteration, rash, fatigue,
itchiness, vomiting and decreased appetite.
The study resulted in significant shrinkage of tumors in two
patients - one with advanced cervical cancer and one with advanced
breast cancer. Another patient with ampullary cancer of the
pancreas is currently on the study with stable disease for more
than a year.
Dr. Von Hoff is Physician-In-Chief and Distinguished Professor at
the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Chief
Scientific Officer at Scottsdale Healthcare and US Oncology.
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials is a partnership
between TGen and Scottsdale Healthcare that treats cancer patients
with promising new drugs through clinical trials at the Virginia G.
Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.
"We are very excited about personalizing therapy for breast cancer
and gynecologic cancer patients with PI3K inhibitors," said Dr. Von
Hoff, who made his presentation in June during ASCO's annual
meeting in Chicago. "The next step will be to test samples from
breast cancer patients for PI3K mutations and treat those patients
accordingly."
Breast cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers among women,
with approximately 180,000 new cases each year.
ASCO is the country's largest cancer research conference, with
attendance exceeding 35,000 oncology professionals from around the
world.
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare opened
in 2001 as the first comprehensive cancer center in greater
Phoenix, offering comprehensive cancer care and research through
Phase I clinical trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and
support services in collaboration with leading researchers and
community oncologists. The Scottsdale Healthcare cancer program
holds Accreditation with Commendation from the Commission on Cancer
of the American College of Surgeons.
Research at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare is conducted in collaboration with the Translational
Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Scottsdale Healthcare
Research Institute.
Individuals seeking information about eligibility to participate in
clinical trials at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at
Scottsdale Healthcare may contact the cancer care coordinator at
480-323-1339; toll free at 1-877-273-3713 or via email at
[email protected].
Scottsdale Healthcare is the community-based, nonprofit parent
organization of the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare, Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute, Scottsdale
Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea
Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital and
Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation. For more information, visit
www.shc.org.
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About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare in
Scottsdale, Ariz. offers comprehensive cancer care and research
through Phase I clinical trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention
and support services in collaboration with leading scientific
researchers and community oncologists. Scottsdale Healthcare is the
nonprofit parent organization of the Virginia G. Piper Cancer
Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale Healthcare Research
Institute, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale
Healthcare Shea Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson
Peak Hospital. For more information, visit www.shc.org.
Press Contact:
Jamie Houston
Public Relations Coordinator
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center
480-323-1387
[email protected]
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based 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. TGen is affiliated
with the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
For more information, visit: www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
