Arizona Cancer Center studies of Metastatic Malignant Melanoma lead to new trials for treatment
June 30, 2009
TUCSON, Ariz. – Research at the Arizona Cancer Center has resulted in the opening of a new clinical trial for the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma using an approved breast-cancer drug.
For seven years, clinical research with the drug nab®-paclitaxel, trade named Abraxane, has moved from Phase 1 to Phase 3 for patients with melanoma. The therapy was developed by Abraxis BioScience, which is conducting a worldwide, multicenter, multinational Phase 3 trial of Abraxane in metastatic melanoma, with Arizona Cancer Center physician scientist Evan Hersh, MD, as the principal investigator. Abraxane is used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body after treatment with other medications has not been successful.
“If the efficacy of the drug is confirmed in the Phase 3 trial and it is shown to be superior to standard therapy, then we will have a new drug to add to our fight against this terrible disease,” Dr. Hersh says. “It is a tribute to the Arizona Cancer Center and its leadership that encourages the development of new drugs to fight cancer, particularly after the disease has spread around the body.”
After determining an optimal dose and schedule for the drug and observing possible activity in a few patients with advanced melanoma, the Arizona Cancer Center team led by Dr. Hersh conducted a Phase 2, multicenter study in patients who had extensive prior treatment for the disease, as well as those who had not been treated for their widespread metastatic melanoma. Those findings, which Dr. Hersh and others have presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Chemotherapy Foundation meetings, led Abraxis BioScience to sponsor the Phase 3 trial headed by Dr. Hersh.
The Arizona Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center headquartered in Arizona. With primary locations at The University of Arizona in Tucson and in Scottsdale, the Center has more than a dozen research and education offices throughout the state and 300 physician and scientist members working to prevent and cure cancer. For more information, go to www.arizonacancercenter.org