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- Posted Thursday June 12, 2014
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center vaccine study hopes to improve pancreatic cancer treatment
TGen-Scottsdale Healthcare partnership leads unprecedented clinical trial
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - June 12, 2014 - Medical
investigators at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare are studying a new cancer immunotherapy to see if it can
successfully help patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
The Phase 2B clinical trial of CRS-207 and GVAX Pancreas vaccines
is open at Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at
Scottsdale Healthcare, a partnership with the Translational
Genomics Research Institute (TGen), where cancer patients are
treated with promising new drugs.
Participants in the study, named ECLIPSE (Efficacy of Combination
Listeria/GVAX Immunotherapy in the Pancreatic Cancer Setting), will
be randomized so patients receive only the CRS-207 vaccine, or that
vaccine combined with the GVAX Pancreas vaccine and low doses of
cyclophosphamide. A third group of patients will receive a standard
chemotherapy.
"This is a very innovative approach using immunotherapy to treat
pancreatic cancer," explained Dr. Erkut Borazanci, M.D., M.S.,
medical oncologist and Drug Development Scholar at Virginia G.
Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare and
the study's lead investigator.
The CRS-207 vaccine is a weakened form of the bacteria, Listeria
monocytogenes, that has been genetically modified to be safe for
human use, while retaining its ability to stimulate the immune
system. Specifically, CRS-207 has been engineered to stimulate an
immune response against the tumor-associated antigen mesothelin,
which is present at high levels on pancreatic cancer cells.
The GVAX vaccine is composed of genetically modified, inactivated
pancreatic cancer cells that have been shown to stimulate the
immune system's anticancer activity. The vaccine is given with a
low-dose of a common cancer drug called cyclophosphamide to boost
the effectiveness of the vaccine.
In a recently completed Phase 2A trial in 93 patients with
advanced pancreatic cancer, survival was improved in patients who
received the combination regimen of CRS-207, GVAX and
cyclophosphamide (6.1 months), compared to 3.9 months for those who
received only cyclophosphamide and GVAX. The immunotherapies were
well-tolerated, with no serious treatment-related adverse side
effects.
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials is among the first
11 centers in the United States participating in the study. The
drug was developed by Aduro BioTech, Inc., a clinical-stage
immunotherapy company located in Berkeley, Calif. A total of 240
patients are expected to be treated at more than 20 clinical trial
sites in North America.
"If this study is successful, we hope that this form of
immunotherapy will become widely available across the country to
treat patients with advanced pancreatic cancer," added Dr.
Borazanci.
Pancreatic cancer is difficult to treat and is the fourth leading
cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. Tumors may grow in the
pancreas without any early symptoms, which means that the disease
is often in an advanced stage when it is diagnosed, and survival
remains poor.
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials is known worldwide
for its expertise in studying new treatments for pancreatic
cancer.
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].
Additional information is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov
(NCT02004262).
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About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, an
affiliate of the non-profit Scottsdale Lincoln Health Network, is
designated by the Association of Community Cancer Centers as a
Community Resource Center for Pancreatic Cancer and holds
Accreditation with Commendation from the Commission on Cancer of
the American College of Surgeons. Located in Scottsdale, Ariz., it
offers comprehensive cancer care and research through Phase I
clinical trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support
services in collaboration with leading researchers and community
oncologists. For more information on cancer services at Scottsdale
Healthcare, visit shc.org.
Media Contact:
Kaitlan Schick
Media Relations Specialist
602-206-9672
*
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 cancer, neurological disorders 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.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]