Oncology Research Program
2006

The Institutional Review Board approved the activation of eleven new protocols in 2006, which brings our total active protocols to twenty one.

The new protocols are for the treatment of the following cancers:

• Breast cancer

      -Metastatic – chemotherapy with Xyotax™ and Capecitabine
      -Adjuvant (lymph node positive) – chemotherapy and Avastin
      -Adjuvant (negative nodes) – Oncotype testing to determine therapy
      -Advanced – hormonal therapy plus/minus a new anti-HER2/neu therapy

• Rectal cancer – preoperative radiation and chemotherapy for operable tumors
• Desmoplastic melanoma  - surgery and radiation therapy
• Pancoast tumor (lung) – chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Prostate cancer (high risk) - chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Non-small lung cancer (locally advanced) - prophylactic cranial irradiation
• Renal cell cancer (resected) - targeted therapies
• Gastric cancer (resected) – chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Three new patients were enrolled in clinical trials in 2006- two breast cancer patients and one colon cancer patient. Two additional patients who were randomized the previous year remain on active treatment.    

In addition to those patients currently receiving therapy, follow up information continues to be collected on an additional twenty five patients.    

These are the open colorectal trials:

• NCCTG N0147, A Randomized Phase III Trial of Oxaliplatin Plus 5FU/Leucovorin with or without Cetuximab after Curative Resection for Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer

• NSABP R-04, A Phase III Trial Comparing Preoperative Radiation Therapy and Capecitabine with Preoperative Radiation Therapy and CVI 5FU in the Treatment of Patients With Operable Carcinoma of the Rectum

Rice Memorial Hospital participates in the oncology research process through affiliation with the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG) via Mayo Clinic, and the national Clinical Trials Support Unit (CTSU), all of which are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

Marci Haraldson, RN, BA, OCN
Oncology Research