Moffitt Looking For Participants In New Lung Cancer Prevention Trial

Main Category: Lung Cancer
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 30 Mar 2007 - 12:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

Heavy smokers and those who quit may have a chance to lower their risk of getting lung cancer. Researchers at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute are testing a new drug that could reverse some of the smoking-related damage to their lungs. Moffitt investigators will determine whether Sulindac may reverse some of the lung abnormalities associated with smoking.

"Individuals who have smoked develop genetic changes in the cells that line their lungs over the years," said Dr. Melvyn Tockman, a member of Moffitt's thoracic oncology program and principal investigator on the study. "As many as half the new cases of lung cancer come from former smokers."

Sulindac has been beneficial in preventing the development of pre-cancerous polyps in the colon. Doctors will test to see if it works similarly on cells in the lung. Moffitt researchers opened a clinical trial to test the drug on people between 45 and 79 years old who have smoked at least one pack of cigarettes a day for 30 years. Researchers are looking for current and former smokers who have changes in their sputum, or cells coughed from the lungs, that demonstrate changes caused by years of smoking.

"The most important thing is for people to stop smoking. It's never too late," said Tockman. "Even a 65 year old who quits has a lower lung caner rate by age 75 than someone of the same age who continues smoking."

Smokers, former smokers who have no history of lung cancer or those with stage 1 non-small cell lung cancer that was removed at least one year prior to the screening exam are eligible for the study. For more information on participating in the clinical trial, call (813) 745-3685.

About H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Located in Tampa, Florida on the University of South Florida campus, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute (www.moffitt.org) is the only Florida-based cancer center with the NCI designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center for its excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 15 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of America's Best Hospitals for cancer. Moffitt's sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
12902 Magnolia Drive
Tampa, Florida 33612
USA
http://www.moffitt.org

• Additional
• References
• Citations