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Featured Clinical Trials

Cancer Studies Highlighted in the NCI Cancer Bulletin
  • Posted: 04/05/2005

Oblimersen Treatment for Older Patients with AML

Name of the Trial

Phase III Randomized Study of Daunorubicin and Cytarabine With or Without Oblimersen in Older Patients With Previously Untreated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (CALGB-10201). See the protocol abstract 1.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Guido Marcucci, Cancer and Leukemia Group B.

Dr. Guido Marcucci
Dr. Guido Marcucci
Principal Investigator

Why This Trial Is Important

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common type of blood and bone marrow cancer in U.S. adults. Treatment of newly diagnosed AML usually involves chemotherapy to induce a remission of the cancer (induction therapy), followed by more chemotherapy to keep the cancer in remission and prevent a relapse (consolidation or post-remission therapy).

In this trial, researchers are trying to determine whether adding the drug oblimersen (Genasense®) to chemotherapy will improve survival in patients aged 60 and older who have previously untreated AML. Oblimersen blocks production of a protein called Bcl-2, which helps cancer cells survive. Bcl-2 is overexpressed in many types of tumors and contributes to cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. By blocking production of Bcl-2, oblimersen may make cancer cells more susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy.

"Although AML long-term remission rates in younger patients are better, the long-term remission rates for AML in patients over 60 years old are very low, about 10-15 percent," said Dr. Marcucci. "AML is prevalent in the geriatric population in America, and as that population continues to grow, we can expect to see an increase in the number of older Americans with AML.

"That is why we need to come up with a new approach for treating AML in older patients," Dr. Marcucci added.

Contact Information

Patient recruitment for this trial has been stopped because early analysis indicated that the experimental treatment would not significantly improve overall survival. To locate other trials for leukemia, search the NCI database of clinical trials 2 or call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). The call is toll free and completely confidential.

Related Pages



Glossary Terms

consolidation therapy (kun-SAH-lih-DAY-shun THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment that is given after cancer has disappeared following the initial therapy. Consolidation therapy is used to kill any cancer cells that may be left in the body. It may include radiation therapy, a stem cell transplant, or treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells. Also called intensification therapy and postremission therapy.
cytotoxic (SY-toh-TOK-sik)
Cell-killing.
induction therapy (in-DUK-shun THAYR-uh-pee)
Initial treatment used to reduce a cancer. Induction therapy is followed by other treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy to get rid of cancer that remains. Also called first-line therapy, primary therapy, and primary treatment.
postremission therapy (post-reh-MIH-shun THAYR-uh-pee)
Treatment that is given after cancer has disappeared following the initial therapy. Postremission therapy is used to kill any cancer cells that may be left in the body. It may include radiation therapy, a stem cell transplant, or treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells. Also called consolidation therapy and intensification therapy.

Table of Links

1http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/CALGB-10201
2http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search
3http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/leukemia