TGen News & Press Releases

• Written by Steve Yozwiak /
• Posted Sunday April 22, 2012

Cancer patient gets new lease on life through clinical trial

TGen-Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center study of firm's first nanodrug shows promising results

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - April 26, 2012 - Arizona resident Evelyn Sorensen is in a far different place today than she was six months ago, thanks to a cutting-edge cancer clinical trial being conducted at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare in partnership with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

When Sorensen was diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer two years ago, she underwent rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. But the cancer eventually spread to her lymph nodes. Doctors told her they were inoperable, and there were no other standard treatment options available to her.

"I was out of options, and I wasn't happy to hear that," said Sorensen, a resident of Mesa. "I'm 47 years old and I'm not ready to say goodbye just yet."

Sorensen then learned of the BIND-014 clinical trial being conducted through Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials, and quickly joined the study in August of 2011. Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials is a partnership between Scottsdale Healthcare and TGen that treats cancer patients with promising new drugs.

BIND-014, created by BIND Biosciences in Cambridge, Mass., is being studied in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer. It uses microscopic drones to deliver medicine directly to cancer cells, increasing the drug's effectiveness and minimizing side effects. The study is led in Scottsdale by Dr. Daniel Von Hoff, chief scientific officer at Scottsdale Healthcare and physician-in-chief at TGen.

After her first treatment on the study in September 2011, Sorensen's tumors began to shrink rapidly. Today, doctors say her cancer has diminished substantially, although she still takes the medication to maintain the results. Sorensen is beyond thrilled with the outcomes.

"I didn't even have any of the horrible side effects that are associated with chemotherapy such as weight loss or hair loss," she said. "I even joked with Dr. Von Hoff that I thought he was giving me a placebo because I didn't feel anything!"

Scientists and oncologists say this new nanoparticle treatment could be a big step in the fight against cancer and have high hopes for the future of this kind of targeted therapy.

"Cancer cells are very good at erecting a defense against foreign harmful substances," said Dr. Ramesh Ramanthan, M.D., medical director of Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials. "We think that nanoparticles may be the solution to penetrating cancer cells and delivering cancer drugs more effectively."

As for Sorensen, the future is looking much brighter than it did for her six months ago. She is now strong enough to return to work and is back to swimming and enjoying her life.

"It's so hard to explain because at one moment you're trying to get your affairs in order and you only have a year to live, and then all of the sudden you are offered hope, a chance to live," said Sorensen. "And I intend to take advantage of every moment of it."

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 opened in 2001 as the first major 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. 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]