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- Posted Wednesday August 29, 2012
New TGen, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center study targets non-small cell lung cancer
PR610 designed to activate in cancer tissue with low levels of oxygen
August 29, 2012
A Phase I/II, multi-center trial designed to test the safety and
preliminary efficacy of a first in class cancer treatment opened
worldwide today at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical
Trials at Scottsdale Healthcare, a partnership between Scottsdale
Healthcare and the Translational Genomics Research Institute
(TGen).
PR610 is designed to become activated in tissues with low levels of
oxygen, which is characteristic of many cancers. This "targeted"
approach should deliver more active drug to cancer tissue and less
active drug to normal tissue.
The two-part trial, sponsored by the drug's manufacturer, Proacta,
Inc., will first determine acceptable dose levels of PR610 in
patients with various types of advanced cancer. After determining
acceptable dose levels, the study will evaluate the safety and
efficacy of PR610 when given to patients with non-small cell lung
cancer whose tumors contain a certain genetic mutation. Other goals
of the study are to measure levels of PR610 in the blood.
"PR610 is a promising and innovative compound that merges delivery
of a drug to the cancerous, oxygen depleted tissue and it also
targets the communication functions that govern the growth and
behavior that drive certain cancers," said Dr. Glen Weiss, Clinical
Associate Professor at TGen and Director of Thoracic Oncology at
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials at Scottsdale
Healthcare.
Research has shown that some cancer tissue has lower levels of
oxygen than normal tissue. This lower level of oxygen appears to
make the cancer tissue more resistant to radiation and
chemotherapy, which allows the cancer to become more aggressive and
spread. PR610 is designed to become active in cancer tissue with
low levels of oxygen.
"Proacta is very excited to be working with Virginia G. Piper
Cancer Center Clinical Trials and TGen on this important study. We
purposely limited participation in this study to those cancer
centers with extensive experience and expertise in conducting
clinical oncology trials," said Dr. John Gutheil, CEO of
Proacta.
Non-small cell lung cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells
form in the tissues of the lung. There are several types, and
chances of recovery are determined by many factors, such as smoking
and lifestyle. Unfortunately, current treatments options do not
cure the majority of patients with non-small cell lung
cancer.
About 44 people will participate in this study at research sites in
the U.S. and New Zealand, with the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center
at Scottsdale Healthcare being the first to enroll a patient.
About the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale
Healthcare
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare opened
in 2001 as the first major cancer center in greater Phoenix,
offering comprehensive cancer care and research through Phase I
clinical trials, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support
services in collaboration with leading researchers and community
oncologists. The Scottsdale Healthcare cancer program holds
Accreditation with Commendation from the Commission on Cancer of
the American College of Surgeons. Scottsdale Healthcare is the
nonprofit parent organization of the Virginia G. Piper Cancer
Center at Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale Healthcare Research
Institute, Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale
Healthcare Shea Medical Center and Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson
Peak Hospital. For more information, visit www.shc.org.
Press Contact:
Jamie Houston
Public Relations Coordinator
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center
480-323-1387
[email protected]
About TGen
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. Research at
TGen is focused on helping patients with diseases such as cancer,
neurological disorders and diabetes. TGen is on the cutting edge of
translational research where investigators are able to unravel the
genetic components of common and complex diseases. Working with
collaborators in the scientific and medical communities, TGen
believes it can make a substantial contribution to the 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]
About Proacta Incorporated
Proacta is a San Diego based biotechnology company dedicated to the
development and commercialization of hypoxia-activated oncology
drugs. Proacta has a pipeline of hypoxia-activated prodrugs for the
treatment of cancer that are licensed from the University of
Auckland in New Zealand. For more information on Proacta, visit the
Proacta web site at www.proacta.com.
Proacta Incorporated:
John Gutheil, MD, CEO
858- 642-0386
[email protected]
