Oral Medication Merits Further Study As Potential Lung Cancer Treatment Option

Main Category: Lung Cancer
Article Date: 05 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President of Clinical Research and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) will present clinical trial results of a "Window of Opportunity" phase II study of Sorafenib in patients with advanced lung cancer, at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), June 1 - 5, in Chicago, IL.

Sorafenib, a molecularly targeted oral medication that attacks tumor cells and tumor vasculature, was evaluated as a single agent in patients with previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Patients with stages IIIb and IV lung cancer received 400 mg of sorafenib continuously, with a cycle defined as four weeks. The minimal toxicity and the response rate of 12% with a median survival of 8.8 months suggest that sorafenib was as effective as a two-drug combination and sorafenib merits further study in combination with chemotherapy drugs.

On Sunday, June 3, from 4 - 4:15 pm, Dr. Adjei will be a discussant in the Clinical Science Symposia: "mTOR Inhibitors: Ready for Prime Time?"

The symposia will provide an opportunity to present and discuss several studies investigating targeted cancer therapies that inhibit the activity of mTOR (Mammalian Target of Rapamycin), a cellular enzyme that plays a key role in cell growth and proliferation.

On Monday, June 4, from 4:45-6 pm, Dr. Adjei will discuss "The Abs and the Ibs: A Guide to Monoclonal Antibodies and Small-Molecule Inhibitors Used in Large Bowel and Lung Malignancies" in a "Meet the Professor" session.

Dr. Adjei will offer insights into new agents being investigated for use in the treatment of lung and large bowel cancers including monoclonal antibodies (Abs) and small-molecular inhibitors (Ibs), which have been shown to target signaling pathways necessary to the growth and survival of cancer cells. These targeted therapies are offering hope to improve outcomes when given alone or in combination with standard chemotherapy drugs.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1964, with overarching goals of improving cancer care and prevention and ensuring that all patients with cancer receive care of the highest quality. Nearly 25,000 oncology practitioners belong to ASCO, representing all oncology disciplines (medical, radiologic and surgical oncology) and subspecialties. Members include physicians and health-care professionals participating in approved oncology training programs, oncology nurses and other practitioners with a predominant interest in oncology.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI's website at www.roswellpark.org.

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