Leading Cancer Specialists Are Available for Expert Commentary on the Latest Research Findings
Newswise — NEW YORK (June 3, 2011) -- Among those presenting at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncologists meeting are physician-scientists from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. The meeting takes place June 3–7, at McCormick Place, Chicago. The following are notable research studies:
•Dr. James McKiernanDirector of urologic oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and the John and Irene Given Associate Professor of Urology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
African-Americans (AA) are known to have a phenomenon called benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN). This is well described in both the hematology and oncology literature and has been implicated as a source of disparity in cancer outcomes among AAs. Since AA are more likely to have aggressive pathological subtypes of prostate cancer, Dr. James McKiernan and his co-investigators sought to determine if absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and therefore BEN is associated with the adverse pathologic findings following radical prostatectomy (RP) within a cohort of AA men. Their new study found that neutropenia in AAs predicts adverse tumor grade at prostatectomy. Further studies are necessary to better understand the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, particularly as it relates to the African-American population.
"Does absolute neutrophil count predict adverse tumor grade in African-American men with prostate cancer?" Abstract #4616. McCormick Place Hall A. Sunday, June 5, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT.
For patients with T1a renal cell carcinoma (RCC), partial nephrectomy (PN) is now the standard of care, with similar cancer control and better long-term kidney function than radical nephrectomy (RN). Recent reports have suggested that improved renal functional outcomes from PN may confer protection against some of the long-term cardiovascular risks associated with RN. Dr. McKiernan and his co-investigators aimed to utilize a large population-based registry to assess whether a difference in overall and cardiovascular survival may exist between RN and PN for RCC ≤2cm. Their new study found that RN is associated with worse overall and cardiovascular survival compared with PN in patients with localized RCC ≤2cm. These findings justify the widespread application of nephron-sparing techniques in the treatment of localized kidney cancer.
"Increased risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality after radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma less than or equal to 2 cm." Abstract #4589. McCormick Place Hall A. Sunday, June 5, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT.
•Dr. Thomas HerzogDirector of gynecologic oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
EC145, a folic acid/desacetylvinblastine hydrazide conjugate, binds with high affinity to the folate receptor (FR), expressed on the majority of epithelial ovarian cancers. Dr. Thomas Herzog and his co-investigators report final data on an international, randomized, open-label Phase II study of EC145 + PLD compared with PLD alone, in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, along with data on the use of EC20, a folate-receptor-targeted imaging agent. They found that EC145 + PLD is the first combination to show a statistically significant delay in PFS over standard therapy in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Data also indicate that EC20 may have utility for selecting patients most likely to benefit from therapy with EC145. Dr. Herzog serves as a consultant or has an advisory role for Endocyte.
"PRECEDENT: A randomized phase II trial comparing EC145 and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) in combination, versus PLD alone, in subjects with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer." Abstract #5045. McCormick Place Hall A. Sunday, June 5, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT.
Malignant ascites (MA) in ovarian carcinoma (OC) patients is associated with a poor prognosis and reduced quality of life due to symptoms from ascites. In 2009, catumaxomab was approved in the EU for the intraperitoneal (IP) treatment of MA. Dr. Herzog and his co-investigators report an overall prolongation of puncture-free interval (PuFI) and improvement of MA symptoms in these heavily pretreated patients. The median overall survival of 3.6 months supports a therapeutic effect of catumaxomab. The safety profile of catumaxomab was acceptable, consistent with its mode of action and similar to that in previous clinical studies.
"Catumaxomab treatment of malignant ascites in patients with chemotherapy-refractory ovarian cancer: A phase II study." Abstract # 5048. McCormick Place Hall A. Sunday, June 5, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT.
•Dr. John ChabotExecutive director of the Pancreas Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and interim vice chair for general surgery and chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal/Endocrine Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Resistance to gemcitabine is a major problem in the treatment of cancer. The key resistance mechanisms associated with gemcitabine are lack of nucleoside transporters; lack of kinases for phosphorylation; and/or, rapid metabolism by deaminases. Resistance results in complete response rates of less than 10 percent in pancreatic cancer. The addition of a phosphoramidate ProTide moiety to gemcitabine enables: passive entry into the cell, bypassing the reliance on transporters; reduced reliance on kinases for phosphorylation; and, less susceptibility to deamination. In their study, Dr. John Chabot and his co-investigators found that NUC-1031 showed statistically significant reduction in pancreatic tumor volume compared with gemcitabine and control. A Phase I/II study of NUC-1031 in resistant/refractory pancreatic cancer is scheduled.
"A phosphoramidate ProTide (NUC-1031) and acquired and intrinsic resistance to gemcitabine" Publication-only abstract (#e13540).
•Dr. Abby SiegelMedical director of hepatobiliary oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Liver transplantation offers long-term survival for 75 percent to 80 percent of HCC patients within Milan and UCSF criteria. For those who fall outside, rates of recurrence are higher. There are no known treatments that decrease risk of recurrence post-transplant. Sorafenib is a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor against VEGFR2-3, PDGFR and Raf, and it is the only approved HCC drug in the U.S. Dr. Abby Siegel is among researchers beginning a Phase I study of sorafenib in high-risk HCC patients after liver transplantation at our center.
"Phase I trial of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after liver transplantation (LT)." Abstract # TPS172. McCormick Place Hall A. Monday, June 6, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CT.
For more information on the American Society of Clinical Oncologists meeting, visit www.asco.org.
Columbia University Medical CenterColumbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in basic, pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in patient care. The Medical Center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Established in 1767, Columbia's College of Physicians and Surgeons was the first institution in the country to grant the M.D. degree and is now among the most selective medical schools in the country. Columbia University Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and state and one of the largest in the United States. For more information, please visit www.cumc.columbia.edu.
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