Laboratory Assay Identifies Topotecan as Promising Therapy for Recurrent Breast Cancer.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 2003 British Journal of Cancer The British Journal of Cancer a twice-monthly professional medical journal of Cancer Research UK (a registered charity in the United Kingdom), published on their behalf by the Nature Publishing Group (a division of Macmillan Publishers Ltd). Reports Novel Finding for Drug Typically Used to Treat Lung and Ovarian Cancers A study published in the November issue of the British Journal of Cancer reports that an ex-vivo laboratory assay based on drug-induced apoptosis apoptosis or programmed cell death Mechanism that allows cells to self-destruct when stimulated by the appropriate trigger. It may be initiated when a cell is no longer needed, when a cell becomes a threat to the organism's health, or for other reasons. (i.e., programmed cell death pro·grammed cell death n. See apoptosis. programmed cell death proposed system of cell death, often including poly(ADP)-ribosylation, ensures that a cell will not survive if it is so badly damaged that its recovery would harm the ) has identified a novel Topotecan-based combination as a promising treatment for patients with recurrent breast cancer. The findings represent an unexpected application for Topotecan (brand name Hycamtin by GlaxoSmithKline), a drug that is currently used to treat ovarian ovarian /ovar·i·an/ (o-var´e-an) pertaining to an ovary or ovaries. ovarian pertaining to an ovary. ovarian agenesis and small cell lung cancers Lung Cancer, Small Cell Definition Small cell lung cancer is a disease in which the cells of the lung tissues grow uncontrollably and form tumors. Description Lung cancer is divided into two main types: small cell and non-small cell. . The results also support the use of ex-vivo assays to identify previously unrecognized drug combinations for the treatment of advanced malignancies. The study (entitled "Ex Vivo ex vivo /ex vi·vo/ (eks´ ve´vo) outside the living body; denoting removal of an organ (e.g., the kidney) for reparative surgery, after which it is returned to the original site. Analysis of Topotecan: Advancing the Application of Laboratory-Based Clinical Therapeutics" -- British Journal of Cancer 2003; 89, 1789-1795) was conducted by a team of investigators led by Robert Nagourney, M.D., medical and laboratory director of Rational Therapeutics (Long Beach, Calif.) and medical director of the Malcolm C. Todd Cancer Institute at Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach. In the study, 697 individual human tumor biopsy specimens were tested against Topotecan in combination with a wide variety of other chemotherapy drugs. The tumors represented nearly every known type of cancer. "Our research team was particularly intrigued by the highly favorable interaction between Topotecan and 5-Fluorouracil in breast cancer specimens," says Dr. Nagourney. "Based on the results, it appears that this previously untested combination may hold promise for the treatment of one of the most common human cancers." To test this combination's clinical efficacy investigators at Long Beach Memorial Center's Malcolm C. Todd Cancer Institute have launched a formal Phase II Trial of Topotecan & Capecitabine (brand name Xeloda, an oral formulation of 5-Fluorouracil) in recurrent breast cancer. To qualify, patients cannot have previously received Capecitabine. "The Ex-Vivo Apoptotic (EVA Eva to marry winner of singing contest. [Ger. Opera: Wagner, Meistersinger, Westerman, 225–228] See : Prize 1. Eva - A toy ALGOL-like language used in "Formal Specification of Programming Languages: A Panoramic Primer", F.G. ) Assay developed at Rational Therapeutics enables physicians to optimize drug therapies by individualizing treatment regimens," adds Dr. Nagourney. "Another important use of this approach is the identification of new drugs and drug combinations, as illustrated by this latest discovery." The principle underlying the EVA assay's success is its capacity to measure drug-induced cancer cell death or apoptosis. This approach is in stark contrast to earlier laboratory tests that measured the ability of drugs to inhibit cell growth. While earlier assays consistently failed to provide clinically relevant information, the new cell death measures have been shown to correlate with patient response and survival. These clinically validated assays can identify treatment combinations that might otherwise not be considered. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54, and the second leading cause in women 55 to 74. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society, n.pr established in 1913, this national volunteer-based health organization is committed to the elimination of cancer through prevention and treatment and to diminishing cancer suffering through advocacy, scholarship, research, , breast cancer will afflict af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, 211,000 women in 2003, with 39,000 deaths attributed to the disease. Despite notable progress in the management of newly diagnosed breast cancer, patients with recurrent disease remain a clinical challenge for which new therapeutic approaches are critically needed. About Rational Therapeutics Rational Therapeutics is a Long Beach, California-based research and clinical center specializing in cancer therapeutics. Founded in 1993 by Robert Nagourney, M.D., Rational Therapeutics specializes in assay-directed therapy that enables doctors to provide treatment protocols that are specifically tailored for each individual patient. |
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