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New clinical trial tests targeting prostate cancer treatment to gene fusion A new phase 2 clinical trial will test whether targeting treatments to a genetic anomaly can lead to more targeted treatment for prostate cancer. The trial, led by investigators at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, is being conducted at 12 sites throughout the country. The trial will look at patients with castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer. Patients must undergo a biopsy of a metastatic site as the first step in participating, so that researchers can test the tumor for the TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion, a genetic anomaly in which two genes fuse together to create a hybrid gene. This fusion, which occurs in more than half of all prostate cancers, is believed to cause the cancer. “We hope this study will help us understand why certain patients respond to therapy and certain patients do not. By better understanding the evolving biology of prostate cancer, we will have the ability to better treat the disease,” says the study’s principal investigator, Maha Hussain, M.D., professor of internal medicine and urology, and associate director of clinical research at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Laboratory research, which originated at U-M, has suggested that the enzyme PARP is required for the gene fusion to contribute to the cancer growth and progression. By blocking PARP in the lab, researchers were able to impact the cancer growth, particularly in combination with hormone therapy. This new clinical trial tests that finding in patients. Trial participants will be stratified based on their gene fusion status. All participants will receive the standard hormone-based therapy abiraterone. Each group – gene fusion positive and gene fusion negative – will then be randomized so half of participants will also take an experimental PARP-1 targeted therapy called ABT-888 in addition to abiraterone.
“Do patients who have the gene fusion respond even better when ABT-888 is added? We hope that what we learn from this study will help us to better control and better treat the deadly stage of prostate cancer,” Hussain says. “In order to beat your enemy you’ve got to understand it. We are getting closer and closer to understanding the enemy which is cancer,” she adds. For information about referring your patients to this trial, “A Randomized Gene Fusion-Stratified Phase 2 Trial of Abiraterone with or without ABT-888 for Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer,” call MLINE at 800-962-3555.
Study principal investigator, Maha Hussain, M.D., professor of internal medicine and urology, and associate director of clinical research at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.
M-LINE I 800-962-3555 I mcancer.org
New facult y Jessica Bensenhaver, M.D. Multidisciplinary Breast Care Clinic Clinical Lecturer, Surgery. She completed her residency at Charleston Area Medical Center (Charleston, WV) and is a graduate of Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University (Huntington, WV).
Monika Burness, M.D. Multidisciplinary Breast Cancer Clinic Clinical Lecturer, Hematology/Oncology. She completed her fellowship at the University of Chicago Medical Center (Chicago, IL) and her residency at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD). Dr. Burness is a graduate of Penn State College of Medicine (Hershey, PA).
Rami Khoriaty, M.D. Hematology Clinic Clinical Lecturer, Hematology/Oncology. He completed his fellowship at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), and his residency at Cleveland Clinic Hospital (Cleveland, OH). Dr. Khority is a graduate of the American University of Beirut (Lebanon).
Todd Morgan, M.D. Multidisciplinary Urologic Oncology Clinic Assistant Professor, Urology. He completed his fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, TN) and his residency at the University of Washington Medical Center (Seattle, WA). He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA).
M-LINE I 800-962-3555 I mcancer.org
The U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center has added new faculty to enhance the multi-disciplinary care offered throughout the center.
Ganesh Palapattu, M.D., FACS Multidisciplinary Urologic Oncology Clinic Chief, Urologic Oncology and Associate Professor, Urology. He completed his fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD) and his residency at UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles, CA). He is a graduate of Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX).
Tycel Phillips, M.D. Hematology Clinic Clinical Lecturer, Hematology/Oncology. He completed his fellowship at Case Medical Center (Cleveland, OH ) and his residency at John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County (Chicago, IL). Dr. Phillips is a graduate of Rush Medical College (Chicago, IL).
Rupali Roy, M.D. Hematology Clinic Clinical Lecturer, Hematology/Oncology. She completed her fellowship at Northwestern University McGaw Medical Center (Chicago, IL) and her residency at the University of Virginia Hospitals (Charlottesville, VA). Dr. Roy is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Medicine (Tucson, AZ).
If you would like an introduction to these or any of the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center’s faculty, please let Physician Liaison Laurie Powell know at beckwith@med.umich.edu or call M-Line at 800-962-3555.
M-LINE I 800-962-3555 I mcancer.org
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M-LINE 800-962-3555 Please let us know what you think of this publication or if you would rather receive it electronically. You can contact Physician Liaison Laurie Powell or email us at CancerCenter@med.umich.edu
Clinical Happenings Lung Cancer Screening Clinic Opens
Since lung cancer screening is not a
Drs. Volk and Welling want to ensure
single test, but a process, Dr. Arenberg is
that the ideal patient experience and
available to help physicians decide if a
timely communication back to you are a
patient is right for the screening process.
priority. They look forward to partnering
He is also available as a resource in
with you on your patients care.
dealing with abnormal incidental findings on CT scans done for other purposes.
New Clinical Trial Available
To reach Dr. Arenberg and his team,
A Phase 2 clinical trial lead by
In October, the Lung Cancer Screening
call M-LINE at 800-962-3555 or e-mail
Principal Investigator Ajjai Alva, MBBS
clinic opened at the U-M Briarwood
Lung-cancer-screening@umich.edu.
is looking at the cancer-free survival
Health Associates location under the
Liver Tumor Program Update
upper tract urothelial cancer when
There has been a leadership change at
treated with neoadjuvant cisplatin
the U-M Liver Tumor Program, but the
and gemcitabine prior to surgery in
excellent service to your patients remains
those with non-metastatic invasive
unchanged. Michael Volk, M.D., an
disease. For more information on
assistant professor of hepatology, is the
basic eligibility requirements contact
medical director, and Theodore Welling,
Physician Liaison Laurie Powell or visit
at two years in patients with high risk
direction of Douglas Arenberg, M.D., an associate professor of pulmonary diseases. The foundation for the clinic was research conducted in part at the University of Michigan (The National Lung Screening Trial) which resulted in a recommendation by the National
M.D., an assistant professor of surgery, is
Comprehensive Cancer Network to make
the surgical director.
http://umhealth.me/SNx9fP.
screening of high risk patients available.
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center Max S. Wicha, M.D., Director; Marcy B. Waldinger, MHSA, Chief Administrative Officer
Executive Officers of the University of Michigan Health System
The Regents of the University of Michigan
Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, M.D., Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs; James O. Woolliscroft, M.D., Dean, U-M Medical School; Douglas Strong, Chief Executive Officer, U-M Hospitals and Health Centers; Kathleen Potempa, Dean, School of Nursing
Julia Donovan Darlow, Laurence B. Deitch, Denise Ilitch, Olivia P. Maynard, Andrea Fischer Newman, Andrew C. Richner, S. Martin Taylor, Katherine E. White, Mary Sue Coleman (ex-officio)
The University of Michigan, is a non-discriminatory affirmative action employer. © 2012 The Regents of the University of Michigan