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- Posted Wednesday April 13, 2016
TGen researchers go to bat for cancer patients in two innovative clinical trials for pancreatic cancer patients
Mattress Firm-funded trials seek to shrink tumors in advanced cases
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - April 13, 2016 - Pairing
new combinations of drugs to shrink pancreatic cancer tumors,
theTranslational
Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and HonorHealth Research
Institute have launched a pair of groundbreaking clinical
studies.
The two studies, which are being funded in part thanks to a $1.5
million contribution to TGen from Mattress Firm, are relying on
cutting-edge approaches to how new therapies are combined to
determine the best way to treat the disease.
One of the two studies, known as the Grand Slam, opened
for enrollment today for its first group of patients. Grand
Slam is a unique five-drug regimen that blends a combination
of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and a special form of Vitamin D. It
builds upon the positive findings from TGen Triple, the
first of the two clinical trials, which paired three drugs and
resulted in high percentage shrinkage of tumors for the patients
that were treated.
"Both of these clinical trials are new stepping stones, building
on previous TGen-led studies that have produced the current
FDA-approved treatments for patients with advanced pancreatic
cancer," said Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff, TGen Distinguished Professor
and Physician-in-Chief, and Chief Scientific Officer for the
HonorHealth Research Institute. Dr. Von Hoff is the architect of
both studies. Dr. Erkut Borazanci and Gayle Jameson, N.P., both of
HonorHealth and TGen, are the principal investigators for the
studies.
TGen Triple uses two anti-cancer agents, gemcitabine and
(albumin-bound) nab-paclitaxel, the current standard of care for
patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. It adds a third drug,
platinum-based cisplatin, to boost its effectiveness.
Grand Slam, also known as the NAPPCG clinical trial,
relies on those three chemotherapy drugs plus two additional
elements: nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug designed to inhibit
proteins that block the body's immune system from attacking cancer
cells, and paricalcitol, which is a Vitamin D derivative that
researchers hope will extend patients' survival. Dr. Von Hoff hopes
this new trial will prove to be a significant next step in the
treatment of this devastating disease that strikes so quickly and
aggressively.
The clinical trials are taking place at HonorHealth in Scottsdale,
and could expand to other facilities, including Mayo Clinic in
Arizona.
Bristol Myers Squibb is providing the immunotherapy drug
nivolumab, plus other partial support, for the Grand Slam
clinical trial. Nivolumab, initially approved by the FDA in 2014
for treatment of advanced melanoma, and more recently lung cancer,
works by inhibiting a protein called PD-1, which otherwise blocks
the body's immune system from attacking cancer cells.
Both studies are supported by funding from Mattress Firm, the
nation's largest bedding specialty retailer based in Houston,
Texas, which is dedicated to stopping pancreatic cancer. This year,
pancreatic cancer will kill nearly 42,000 Americans, surpassing
breast cancer as the third-leading cause of cancer-related death.
By 2020, it is predicted to surpass colon cancer to become the
second-leading cause of cancer death; second only to lung cancer.
Pancreatic cancer has a five-year survival rate of less than 10
percent, the lowest among all cancer types in the U.S.
"Many of our colleagues, their families and friends have been
affected by this terrible disease," said Steve Stagner, Executive
Chairman of Mattress Firm. "We are backing TGen in this
extraordinary effort because we have a duty to be part of their
incredible journey toward improving lives and finding a cure for
pancreatic cancer."
Michael Bassoff, President of the TGen Foundation, voiced high
praise for Mattress Firm's commitment to TGen research: "Steve
Stagner, Ken Murphy, and the entire Mattress Firm team are bringing
hope to thousands of patients and their families across the nation
and around the world. Their latest contribution, and the launch of
the Grand Slam trial, adds to the incredible legacy that
this extraordinary company is building through its fight against
pancreatic cancer."
Patients seeking information about research studies may contact
the HonorHealth Research Institute at 480-323-1339 or toll free at
1-877-273-3713, or email [email protected].
# # #
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org. Follow TGen onFacebook,LinkedInandTwitter @TGen.
About Mattress Firm
With more than 3,500 company-operated and franchised stores across
48 states, Mattress Firm (NASDAQ: MFRM) has the largest geographic
footprint in the United States among multi-brand mattress
retailers. With the 2016 acquisition of Sleepy's, Mattress Firm is
the nation's first border-to-border, coast-to-coast specialty
bedding retailer. Founded in 1986, Houston-based Mattress Firm is
the nation's leading bedding retailer with pro forma sales of over
$3.5 billion over the last twelve months. The company offers a
broad selection of both traditional and specialty mattresses,
bedding accessories and other related products from leading
manufacturers, including Sealy, Tempur-Pedic, Serta, Simmons,
Stearns & Foster, and Hampton & Rhodes. Mattress Firm
guarantees price, comfort and service with the ultimate goal of
ensuring that customersSave Money. Sleep Happy™.
Mattress Firm was named Furniture Today's "Top Bedding Retailer"
in 2013 and a "Top Workplace" by the Houston Chronicle in 2011,
2012 and 2013. More information is available atmattressfirm.com, or on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
# # #
Press Contacts:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
Claire Butterworth
Jackson Spalding (on behalf of Mattress Firm)
214-296-4984
[email protected]
