Cancer Treatment Centers of America studies treatment that aims chemotherapy directly at ovarian cancer cells

• Author: Health Informer
• Filed under: Health News, Health Technology
• Date: Jun 18,2009

Therapy targets folate receptors found on cancer cells otherwise resistant to standard chemo

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, a leading provider of innovative cancer care for patients living with complex and advanced-stage disease, is the only hospital in Illinois and Wisconsin to take part in new clinical research involving a treatment designed to target ovarian cancer cells otherwise resistant to standard chemotherapy.

The Phase II clinical study, called “PRECEDENT,” is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EC145, a drug currently being studied in the treatment for women with ovarian cancer who develop a resistance to standard platinum-based chemotherapy. EC145 was developed by Endocyte, a privately-held biotechnology company.

“With EC145, we’re working to target a powerful chemotherapy drug directly to cancer cells while sparing the healthy cells,” says Dr. Sybilann Williams, MD, gynecologic oncologist and surgeon at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center and principal investigator for the PRECEDENT study. “EC145 is designed to target the folate receptors found in high concentrations on cancer cells,” she adds.

In order to be eligible for the PRECEDENT study, patients must have platinum-resistant ovarian cancer where the disease has progressed or recurred within six months of a first or second treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy drug. Those eligible will be treated with Doxil(R) (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin), an approved drug used to treat ovarian cancer, or with EC145, which combines Doxil with folate (vitamin B-9).

The PRECEDENT study is yet another example of CTCA’s commitment to expanding medical treatment options for women battling ovarian cancer. In October 2008, CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center announced a ground-breaking clinical trial of an ovarian cancer vaccine called o-Vax that uses cells taken from an individual patient’s tumor to stimulate immune cells to attack the existing cancer. Patients continue to be accepted for this clinical trial.

“CTCA offers a powerful combination of traditional and innovative therapies provided by a team of cancer experts who work with each patient individually, to determine the appropriate combination of therapies to fight cancer,” Dr. Williams says.

Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer among women, and the leading cause of death due to cancer of the female reproductive system. According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that there will be 21,550 new cases of ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2009 and 14,600 cancer-related deaths. A woman’s risk of getting invasive ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about one out of every 71 women.

Patients interested in the clinical trial may contact a CTCA Oncology Information Specialist at 877-98-TRIAL.

Source: Cancer Treatment Centers of America