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Chemotherapy and Biological Therapy for Advanced Mesothelioma
Untitled Document
Name of the Trial
Phase II Randomized Study of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin With or Without Bevacizumab
in Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma (UCCRC-11046A). See the protocol
summary.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Hedy Kindler, University of Chicago Cancer Research Center.
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Dr. Hedy Kindler
Principal Investigator |
Why This Trial Is Important
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lining of the lungs, the heart,
or the abdomen (the pleura, pericardium, or peritoneum). If diagnosed at the
earliest stage, mesothelioma can be cured by surgery and treatment with chemotherapy
or radiation therapy. However, advanced mesothelioma is usually inoperable and
is rarely curable.
In this study, researchers are adding a biological agent called
bevacizumab (Avastin®) to chemotherapy to see if it can help delay the progression of
mesothelioma in patients with advanced disease. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal
antibody that blocks the action of a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In mesothelioma, VEGF may stimulate both tumor cell growth and
the formation of tumor blood vessels.
"Bevacizumab has shown promise in several other types of cancer, and we
hope that it will be particularly effective against mesothelioma because VEGF
plays such a prominent role in the growth of this disease," said Dr. Kindler.
"Additionally, bevacizumab works synergistically with chemotherapy, so
combining these treatments may yield better results than either chemotherapy
or biological therapy alone."
"Because mesothelioma is an orphan disease, there often isn't the incentive
to pursue new therapies for it, so we are very pleased that the NCI is supporting
such a study," Dr. Kindler added.
Contact Information
This clinical trial is closed to further patient accrual. To find other clinical trials for mesothelioma, search the NCI's database of clinical trials 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.
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