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Featured Clinical Trials

Cancer Studies Highlighted in the NCI Cancer Bulletin
  • Posted: 12/04/2007

New Drug Combination for Ovarian and Primary Peritoneal Cancers

Name of the Trial

Phase II Study of Cisplatin and Flavopiridol in Patients With Advanced Ovarian Epithelial or Primary Peritoneal Cancer (MAYO-MC0261). See the protocol summary 1.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Keith Bible
Dr. Keith Bible
Principal Investigator

Dr. Keith Bible, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.

Why This Trial Is Important

Ovarian epithelial cancer is one of the most common gynecologic cancers in the United States. Because it is difficult to detect early, most cases of ovarian epithelial cancer are not identified until the disease has reached an advanced stage, and the long-term prognosis for patients with such disease is poor. Primary peritoneal cancer is a related but less common type of cancer that usually responds similarly to treatment.

Systemic chemotherapy with a platinum-containing drug, such as cisplatin or carboplatin, is a commonly used treatment for advanced ovarian epithelial cancer. Although this type of treatment frequently results in tumor shrinkage, most patients ultimately become resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy.

In this trial, women with ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer whose disease has relapsed less than 6 months after treatment with initial chemotherapy will receive cisplatin and a second drug called flavopiridol. Flavopiridol blocks the activity of a number of proteins that help cancer cells grow and spread, and it may also make cancer cells more sensitive to cisplatin.

"Women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer have very few effective treatment options," said Dr. Bible. "Our laboratory studies have shown that flavopiridol can increase the platinum concentrations in cells when administered with cisplatin, and we believe that this may lead to a reversal of platinum resistance.

"An early analysis of patients currently on the trial has revealed a better than expected response rate, including one patient with a complete remission," he added.

Who Can Join This Trial

Researchers will recruit 79 women aged 18 or over with advanced ovarian epithelial or primary peritoneal cancer treated with one prior chemotherapy regimen. See the list of eligibility criteria 2.

Study Site and Contact Information

Study sites in the United States are recruiting patients for this trial. See the list of study sites 3 or call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) for more information. The toll-free call is confidential.

Related Pages



Glossary Terms

carboplatin (KAR-boh-pla-tin)
A drug that is used to treat advanced ovarian cancer that has never been treated or symptoms of ovarian cancer that has come back after treatment with other anticancer drugs. It is also used with other drugs to treat advanced, metastatic, or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Carboplatin is a form of the anticancer drug cisplatin and causes fewer side effects in patients. It attaches to DNA in cells and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of platinum compound. Also called Paraplatin.
cisplatin (sis-PLA-tin)
A drug used to treat many types of cancer. Cisplatin contains the metal platinum. It kills cancer cells by damaging their DNA and stopping them from dividing. Cisplatin is a type of alkylating agent.
complete remission (kum-PLEET reh-MIH-shun)
The disappearance of all signs of cancer in response to treatment. This does not always mean the cancer has been cured. Also called complete response.
flavopiridol (FLAH-voh-PIH-rih-dol)
A substance being studied in the treatment of several types of cancer. It stops cells from dividing and may kill cancer cells. It is a type of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor. Also called alvocidib and HMR 1275.
gynecologic cancer (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik KAN-ser)
Cancer of the female reproductive tract, including the cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, and vagina.
laboratory study (LA-bruh-tor-ee STUH-dee)
Research done in a laboratory. A laboratory study may use special equipment and cells or animals to find out if a drug, procedure, or treatment is likely to be useful in humans. It may also be a part of a clinical trial, such as when blood or other samples are collected. These may be used to measure the effect of a drug, procedure, or treatment on the body.
peritoneal cancer (PAYR-ih-toh-NEE-ul KAN-ser)
Cancer of the tissue that lines the abdominal wall and covers organs in the abdomen.
prognosis (prog-NO-sis)
The likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence.

Table of Links

1http://cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/MAYO-MC0261
2http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/MAYO-MC0261#EntryCriteria_CDR0000363562
3http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/MAYO-MC0261#ContactInfo_CDR0000363562
4http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/search
5http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/ovarian