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Announcement
June 2007
Phase III Study
Assessing a Potential New Treatment for Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC)
This study will
assess the efficacy of a potential new therapy for anaplastic thyroid
cancer (ATC) in combination with two chemotherapy drugs versus use of
the chemotherapy drugs alone.
The study drug,
known as ZybrestatTM (also known as Combretastatin A4 Phosphate or CA4P),
is designed to block blood flow to cancer cells thus inhibiting further
growth of tumors by causing cancer cell death. ZybrestatTM works by
“sticking” to the walls of the abnormal blood vessels to change the
shape of the vessels that feed tumors to cause tumor cell death. Because
the blood vessels in a cancer are different from normal blood vessels,
it is possible to selectively target and damage a tumor’s blood supply
but not normal vessels.
In human and animal
studies, ZybrestatTM has been shown to target cancer blood vessels,
resulting in a shutdown in blood flow to the tumor. ZybrestatTM has
been studied in approximately 250 patients including a recent Phase
II study. Results from this study have been published and can be found
at www.oxigene.com.
Eligible patients
will be randomly selected to receive either a combination of ZybrestatTM
plus two commonly used chemotherapy drugs called carboplatin and paclitaxel
or the carboplatin and paclitaxel alone. Two thirds of the patients
will receive ZybrestatTM. Eligible patients must have received some
form of previous treatment for their cancer such as surgical removal
of tumor, radiation or chemotherapy.
The study will include
approximately 180 patients and participating medical centers are located
across the United States, Europe, and India. Enrollment will begin soon.
For further information
about this study, you and/or your health care provider may contact the
Cancer Prevention and Control Center at West Virginia University.
Toll free number:
866-927-5656
International number: (304) 293-8726
Email address: ATCtrial@hsc.wvu.edu
For further information
about Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer, please contact:
ThyCa: Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association, Inc.
Toll free number 1-877-588-7904
Email address: thyca@thyca.org
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