University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center Update - January 2013

U P DAT E j anua r y

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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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If you would like to schedule an appointment, transfer a patient, or request a consult, please call

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