Saint Barnabas Medical Center Is Only Hospital In New Jersey To Offer Clinical Trial For The Treatment Of Recurrent Chest Wall Breast Cancer

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Article Date: 02 Jul 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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Some patients who suffer from recurrent cancer at the chest wall now have another option. The Radiation Oncology Department at Saint Barnabas Medical Center is one of a few hospitals nationwide to participate in a study which combines the use of the heat-sensitive chemotherapeutic agent ThermoDox® with microwave hyperthermia, or heat.

Depending on risk factors, a large percentage of women with mastectomies may experience recurrent chest wall (RCW) breast cancer. The disease is generally defined as the recurrence of tumor to the area of the initial treatment such as mastectomy. "ThermoDox® combined with hyperthermia offers a unique approach to treating patients with difficult and aggressive recurrence of breast cancer at the chest wall," explains Robert Goodman, M.D., chairman of The Radiation Oncology Department at Saint Barnabas Medical Center an co-principal investigator. "Currently, with no standard of care, women with this type of recurrence often cannot be adequately treated with surgery, radiation, or existing chemotherapy."

The clinical trial, referred to as the DIGNITY Study, sponsored by Celsion Corporation [NASDAQ:CLSN], is designed to determine the necessary amount of ThermoDox® needed to treat RCW. Researchers hope such treatment will provide a better standard of care and improve the quality of life for those with the devastating disease. To learn more, please contact Dr. Goodman at 973-322-5630 or visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Source
Saint Barnabas Medical Center