A new drug targeting the PI3K gene in patients with advanced breast cancer shows promising results in an early phase I investigational study conducted at Virginia G. Piper Cancer at Scottsdale Healthcare, according to a presentation by oncologist Daniel D. Von Hoff, M.D., F.A.C.P. at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
The drug under investigation, GDC-0941, manufactured by Genentech Inc. targets the PI3K gene, which is abnormal in about 20-30% of patients with advanced breast cancer. In collaboration with the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston,Von Hoff and his team at Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials initially tested the drug in 97 patients with various advanced cancers. Patients experienced manageable side effects including diarrhea, nausea, taste alteration, rash, fatigue, itchiness, vomiting and decreased appetite.
The study resulted in significant shrinkage of tumors in two patients – one with advanced cervical cancer and one with advanced breast cancer. Another patient with ampullary cancer of the pancreas is currently on the study with stable disease for more than a year.
Personalizing Therapy
Von Hoff is Physician-In-Chief and Distinguished Professor at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Chief Scientific Officer at Scottsdale Healthcare and US Oncology, explains: ?We are very excited about personalizing therapy for breast cancer and gynecologic cancer patients with PI3K inhibitors.He presented the datain June during ASCO?s annual meeting in Chicago. ?The next step will be to test samples from breast cancer patients for PI3K mutations and treat those patients accordingly.?
Breast cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers among women, with approximately 180,000 new cases each year. ASCO is the country?s largest cancer research conference, with attendance exceeding 35,000 oncology professionals from around the world.
The Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare opened in 2001 as the first comprehensive 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.
Research at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare is conducted in collaboration with the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Scottsdale Healthcare Research Institute.
Clinical trial eligibility
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 clinicaltrials@shc.org.
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center Clinical Trials is a partnership between TGen and Scottsdale Healthcare that treats cancer patients with promising new drugs through clinical trials at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center in Scottsdale.
