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- Posted Tuesday October 4, 2011
TGen/Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center oncologists publish results of a new drug regimen for patients with pancreatic cancer
Results lead to Scottsdale oncologists heading a large phase III
study being conducted worldwide
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Oct. 4, 2011 - Patients at Virginia G. Piper
Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare were the
first in the nation to participate in a clinical trial to determine
the safety, tolerability and effectiveness for usage of a new drug
combination consisting of a standard drug called gemcitabine and a
drug called nab-paclitaxel for patients with advanced pancreatic
cancer.
The results of this study, headed by renowned pancreatic cancer
expert Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, were published online Oct. 3, 2011, in
the prestigious Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane®), an albumin-bound formulation of
paclitaxel, is a drug manufactured by Abraxis BioScience a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Celgene and is approved for the
treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer. The use of this
agent in patients with pancreatic cancer is investigational.
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials is a partnership
between Scottsdale Healthcare and the Translational Genomics
Research Institute (TGen) to rapidly bring new discoveries in the
laboratory to patients.
"This is a great example of rapid bench to bedside development,"
said Dr. Von Hoff, TGen's Physician-In-Chief and Chief Scientific
Officer for the Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute.
Scientists at TGen and the International Genomics Consortium, in
collaboration with Abraxis scientists, found that in pancreatic
cancer an albumin-binding protein called SPARC was present at high
levels in cells within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. It
was hypothesized that the albumin formulation of nab-paclitaxel may
be taken up by tumor cells with high SPARC expression. Based on
these findings, Dr. Von Hoff - joined by colleagues from Johns
Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore; University of Alabama,
Birmingham; and South Texas Oncology-Hematology, San Antonio -
conducted a clinical trial in patients with advanced pancreatic
cancer.
The results of this pilot study in which 67 patients were treated
showed impressive results. Following completion of a safety and
dose finding phase, 44 patients were treated in the phase II group.
About half the patients showed reductions in tumor size measured by
CT scans, and about 50 percent lived at least a year.
"Compared to the average survival of 6 months seen typically in
this group of patients, this is very encouraging," said Dr. Ramesh
Ramanathan, medical director, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center
Clinical Trials. He added that the results of this study need to be
confirmed. A large worldwide study of 842 patients comparing the
standard treatment of gemcitabine to the new regimen of gemcitabine
and nab paclitaxel is underway, led by Dr. Von Hoff and Dr.
Ramanathan.
According to Dr. Ron Korn, the lead radiologist and a co-author on
this paper, the study also provided important information on the
role of PET scans. "If we can find early in the course of treatment
if a patient will respond to treatment or not, then we can change
course quickly, this study showed that patients who had a decrease
in intensity of 'hot spots' on a PET scan after 6 weeks of
treatment were more likely to have a good outcome." Dr. Korn
added that this approach is being further investigated in clinical
trials with targeted agents in collaboration with the Virginia G.
Piper Cancer Center.
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].
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 treatment 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:
Keith Jones
Public Relations Director
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center
480-323-1383
[email protected]
