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200th Issue
December 16, 2008 • Volume 5 / Number 25 E-Mail This Document  |  Download PDF  |  Bulletin Archive/Search  |  Subscribe


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Featured Article
Trials Suggest Potential Expanded Use for HER2-Targeted Agents

Cancer Research Highlights
Surgery Alone May Be Best for Early Uterine Cancer

Studies Assess the Economic Impact of Cancer Deaths

Meta-analysis Highlights Progress in Treating Advanced Breast Cancer

Rituximab Improves Outcomes for CLL Patients

Director's Update
Cancer Research in a New Light

Two Prevention Trials Show Antioxidants Do Not Cut Cancer Risk

Special Report
Researchers Uncover Gene for Melanoma of the Eye

Cancer.gov Update
Insurance Coverage Laws for Patients in Clinical Trials

Profiles in Cancer Research
Dr. David Sidransky

Spotlight
Tweaking and Testing Cancer Stem Cell Models

Featured Clinical Trial
Targeted Treatment for Advanced Solid Tumors

Notes
Winn Named DCCPS Deputy Director

Cancer Snapshots Collection Updated

New Spanish Language Education Resources Available

Community Update
Cancer Communications Initiative Expands into the Real World

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Featured Clinical Trial Featured Clinical Trial

Targeted Treatment for Advanced Solid Tumors

Name of the Trial
Phase I Partially Randomized Study of Dasatinib and Bevacizumab in Patients with Metastatic or Unresectable Solid Tumors. See the protocol summary at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/NCI-09-C-0019.

Dr. Elise Kohn Principal Investigator
Dr. Elise Kohn, NCI Center for Cancer Research

Why This Trial Is Important
The prognosis for patients with advanced-stage solid tumors is often poor. Not only are their tumors frequently recurrent and no longer responsive to standard treatments, but their cancer also has likely spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body.

Solid tumors depend on new blood vessel formation - a process known as angiogenesis - to obtain oxygen and nutrients for continued growth. A variety of drugs designed to inhibit tumor blood vessel formation, called angiogenesis inhibitors, have been developed for the treatment of many tumor types.

An angiogenesis inhibitor called bevacizumab (Avastin) is approved for the treatment of several solid tumors. In earlier trials, NCI researchers tested the combination of bevacizumab with another targeted drug called sorafenib.

In those trials, "We saw a surprising frequency of partial responses, and also prolonged disease stabilization," especially in patients with ovarian cancer, said Dr. Kohn. However, patients experienced a large number of side effects with that drug combination, most likely because both drugs target the same cell signaling pathway involved in blood vessel formation.

The researchers designed the current trial to use the drug dasatinib instead of sorafenib. They believe that the combination of bevacizumab and dasatinib may have fewer side effects, since the two drugs target different cell signaling pathways. "We think we'll get less interactive toxicity, but similar antitumor activity," explained Dr. Kohn.

The researchers plan to enroll 48 patients with ovarian cancer, renal cell cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, melanoma, or other solid tumors that cannot be removed surgically or have metastasized and that have not responded to standard treatment.

For More Information
See the lists of entry criteria and trial contact information at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/NCI-09-C-0019 or call the NCI's Clinical Trials Referral Office at 1-888-NCI-1937. The toll-free call is confidential.


An archive of "Featured Clinical Trial" columns is available at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/ft-all-featured-trials.

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