Story ideas from M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
based on presentations by M. D. Anderson researchers
at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Atlanta May 15-18
M. D. Anderson Contacts: Michael Courtney, (713) 792-0663 [email protected]
Jennifer Hart, (713) 792-0654
Study demonstrates effectiveness of first oral chemotherapy for colon cancer
A study led by Dr. Richard Pazdur demonstrates several benefits of the first oral therapy for colorectal cancer as effective and safe. The Phase III study of the new drug ORZEL, produced by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, is one of the largest trials ever for advanced colorectal cancer, involving more than 800 participants from the United States, Canada and Europe.
Side effects from the drug, such as infection, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting or hair loss, were found to be less severe than the side effects of common treatments for advanced colorectal cancer, Dr. Pazdur said. Oral chemotherapy offers a number of advantages, he said, including fewer visits to the hospital or clinical, possibly decreasing costs and increasing convenience for patients.
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New agent shows promise in treating most serious brain tumors
Dr. W. K. Alfred Yung's research with a new oral cytotoxic agent shows promise for treating the most aggressive malignant brain tumors -- anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma multiforme. The drug, Temozolomide, produced by Schering-Plough pharmaceutical company, is the first in a new class of compounds designed to prevent tumor cells from replicating.
Results of a large Phase II multicenter clinical trial compared the effectiveness of Temozolomide to that of Procarbazine -- an established chemotherapy agent. A total of 225 patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme participated in the study. The study found the progression-free survival rate at six months in patients treated with Temozolomide to be two times higher than in patients treated with Procarbazine. In addition, Temozolomide may provide quality-of-life benefits for patients with tumor-related impairments, the researchers say.
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Taxotere increases survival rate for patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have undergone prior platinum-based chemotherapy have an increased rate of survival at one year when treated with the drug Taxotere than with the commonly used drugs, according to results in a Phase III clinical trial led by Dr. Frank V. Fossella. The study included 373 patients from 23 U.S. cancer centers. Study participants had advanced NSCLC and were resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy.
"Our finding that a single agent can significantly lengthen survival without decreasing safety or quality of life represents a major advance in the management of this group of patients," Dr. Fossella said.
The Rhone-Poulenc pharmaceutical company produces Taxotere.
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5/18/99
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