CHECKUP DRUG STUDY OFFERS NEW HOPE TO OVARIAN CANCER PATIENTS.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Staff Writer Women with late-stage ovarian cancer ovarian cancer Malignant tumour of the ovaries. Risk factors include early age of first menstruation (before age 12), late onset of menopause (after age 52), absence of pregnancy, presence of specific genetic mutations, use of fertility drugs, and personal history of breast are urged to join a clinical trial of a new experimental drug that promises to double their remission time. Los Angeles-area researchers are evaluating OvaRex MAb, an antibody that targets a marker found in the blood associated with ovarian cancer. OvaRex is designed to help each patient's immune system recognize ovarian cancer cells and fight the disease. The experimental drug has already shown great promise, according to results of a study published in the September 2004 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology The Journal of Clinical Oncology is a medical journal published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The Journal was founded in 1983 and publishes original research and review articles on topics relating to cancer. It is published 3 times a month. . In a study of 145 women with advanced ovarian cancer, 67 who successfully underwent surgery and chemotherapy and received OvaRex experienced a longer remission - double the usual time - than those who did not receive OvaRex. Most patients with advanced stages of the disease experience a relapse within two years of the first round of treatment. ``We've learned so much about OvaRex MAb, but we now need to confirm these observations with new clinical data,'' said Dr. Jonathan S. Berek, a gynecological gynecological /gy·ne·co·log·i·cal/ (-kah-loj´i-k'l) gynecologic. oncologist at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and a lead researcher of the study published in the oncology journal. The phase III national clinical trial is under way at various locations throughout Southern California, including UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX School of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a world-renowned hospital located in Los Angeles, California. History Cedars-Sinai is the result of a merger in 1961 between two major Los Angeles hospitals, Cedars of Lebanon and Mount Sinai Home for the Incurables, with Steve Broidy as in Los Angeles, UC Irvine and St. Jude Medical St. Jude Medical, Inc. NYSE: STJ is a $2.9 billion global cardiovascular device company, with headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. The company sells products in more than 100 countries and has over 20 operations and manufacturing facilities worldwide. Center in Fullerton. Visit www.OvarianCancerStudy.com for more information. |
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