Hi Everyone,
I told you I would update you on Rich's progress but first I want to THANK
dear Lillian for all her hard work in finding great sites for us to
explore. This one you sent may be just what we need if the test show mets.
He's had chemo 5-FU and hasn't been treated for mets as nothing has shown
up. His needle biopsy showed no new tumor or cancer. They drew over a
liter of fluids off his right lung and the test was negative. Yea Yea
But, he goes in tomorrow to have a VAT (video assisted thoracoscopy) done.
I believe they will take a biopsy of his lung at the point where the CT
Scan shows little pencil point marks. He's on some kind of patch for pain
and Vicoden too. But he's had a couple of really good days Sun and Mon. We
are soooo scared.
Nico,
I hope all is going well for your father. Are you holding up okay? If you
need to talk, don't hesitate to write me or any of the MOLer's.
Nanc, are you taking care of yourself? You have such a full plate and I
think about you all the time.
Lil, how are you girl? Doing too much as usual?
Has anyone heard from Liz in Yakima? How's she doing?
Hi Joicy, sorry I don't write much but I do try to catch most of the news
on MOL and love to read your encouraging letters to people.
And such WONDERFUL news about Marty's Barb!!! Yea Yea Yea
You all take care....busy day tomorrow. Will advise
Much love to you all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vicci
----------
From: Lillian <firefly@islc.net>
To: Nancy J. <mol-cancer@lists.meds.com>
Subject: [MOL] Phase 111 trial for colorectal cancer....
Date: Sunday, April 23, 2000 9:04 PM
Moffitt Cancer Center Launches New Phase III
Protocol For Advanced Colorectal Cancer
Tampa, FL (March 20, 2000) - Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer
Center & Research Institute are launching a phase III protocol for the
treatment of advanced colorectal cancer using an investigational drug,
SU5416.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 161,000 new cases of
colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and 40 percent of those
cases will be fatal due to spread of the disease. Colorectal cancer is one
of the most common cancers in the United States, affecting both men and
women. Although colon cancers are slow growing, they are often undetected
until they have spread to other parts of the body, and it's too late for
effective treatment.
A solid tumor cannot grow unless it has an independent blood supply
to deliver oxygen and nutrients it needs to advance and spread. To feed
itself, a tumor develops its own blood supply through a process called
angiogenesis. SU5416 is a investigational small molecule angiogenesis
inhibitor that may prevent the formation of new blood vessels and the
development of the tumor.
In this phase III protocol, Moffitt researchers will compare patients
with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer treated with 5-FU (5
flourouracil) and leucovorin (the standard chemotherapy treatment for colon
cancer) to patients treated with these agents and SU5416. This trial is
designed for patients who have not yet been treated with systemic
chemotherapy for metastatic disease.
--more--
"This is a very exciting time for physicians and patients dedicated
to fighting the war against colon and rectal cancer. For nearly 40 years,
we have not seen any new drugs that have an effect on this devastating
disease," says Timothy Yeatman, M.D., leader of the Gastrointestinal Tumor
Program at Moffitt Cancer Center and principal investigator for this study.
Yeatman explains that because of the advances in genetic mapping,
researchers have changed the way in which they search for new cancer
fighting drugs. Rather than test random drugs on cancer cells, a more
sophisticated, targeted method to attack the problem is now used. By first
attempting to understand the molecular mechanisms that control cancers,
researchers can then target specific steps in these mechanisms for
destruction by unique drugs. Not only does this approach promise to
increase the chances of successfully identifying new, effective drugs, but
also, because the drugs can be so specific, they may be less toxic than
standard forms of chemotherapy, which may affect normal tissue as well.
Yeatman says, "SU5416 is one of the first specific angiogenesis inhibitors
to go into phase III trials. We expect the SU5416 trial to be very
successful."
To be eligible to participate in this study, patients must meet the
following criteria:
1. No prior systemic chemotherapy for metastatic disease;
adjuvant chemotherapy permitted.
2. Measurable or evaluable metastatic disease including
carcinomatosis.
3. Male or female, age 18 years or older.
For more information about the phase III SU5416 trial at Moffitt,
please contact Andrea Gambil, R.N. at (813) 972-4673 ext. 3920.
If you meet these criteria and desire a direct referral to a medical
oncologist at Moffitt, please call the New Patient Appointment Center at
(813) 979-3980 or call toll free at (888) 860-2778.
SU5416 is manufactured by SUGEN, Inc., a south San Francisco-based
biotechnology firm, which focuses on the discovery and development of small
molecule drugs that target specific cellular signal transduction pathways.
Located on the campus of the University of South Florida, Moffitt
Cancer Center is a world-renowned cancer treatment and research facility.
Moffitt is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated treatment
facility in Florida. Its mission is to contribute to the prevention and
cure of cancer.
For more information, contact:
Melissa Mackey at (813) 632-1355
Media Relations, Moffitt Cancer Center
We invite you to take a look at our Album.
www.angelfire.com/sc/molangels/index.html
( Very informational, good tips, Molers pictures, art work and much
more....
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