News
and Progress
June/July 2000
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July 21, 2000
Clinical Research/Surgical Oncology:
Pam Stanford, MSN will be attending the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care annual conference in Oslo, Noray, July 30 thru August 3. Pam is presenting a poster entitled, "Pre-operative rapid fractionation external beam readiation therapy and concomitatnt gemcitabine for patients with potentially resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas". This poster is a progress report on protocol ID98-020, a study of preoperative gemcitabine and radiation. The poster concludes, "Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for localized pancreatic cancer is well tolerated in the preoperative phase of a patient's multi-modality care." So far, there are 2 patients that have had their tumors completely destroyed by the preop therapy, and several others where there has been some tumor reduction. The study is continuing with information being gathered on long term survival and to confirm whether this treatment prevents return of the cancer.
For more information on M D Anderson's mutltimodal approach to pancreatic cancer, visit the Diagnosis and Treatment section.
For more information on experimental treatments being studied at this institution, visit the Clinical Trials page and www.clinicaltrials.org
July 5, 2000
Personnel/Surgical Oncology:
Alice Madary, BSN has been promoted to Clinical Research Liason in the Surgical Oncology department. Taking her place will be Denise Evans, RN as the new head research nurse of pancreatic surgical oncology. Ms Evans' bio will be added to the PTSG Specialists page soon.
Mary Jennings, CNRP will be leaving M D Anderson in the near future to enter private practice. Her clinical duties will be covered by our new nurse, Regenia Washington, RN.
June 30, 2000
Clinical Trials/Surgical Oncology:
As of this morning, the trial of Marimastat for postop prophylaxis is closed. New information regarding this and related treatments will be posted when it becomes available.
June 21, 2000
Clinical Trials/Medical Oncology:
As of today, the trial of Gemzar/C225 is closed to new patients. Further developments on the study of this new treatment approach will be posted when they are available.
For other experimental treatment options in pancreatic cancer, please visit our Clinical Studies page.
June 20, 2000
Clinical Trials/Medical Oncology:
A new trial that is open to pancreatic cancer patients has recently been added to the Clinical Studies/Category D section. This trial is a pilot study of FLT-3 in pancreatic cancer with abdominal metastases (aka, carcinomatosis). For more information, please follow the link to Protocol IDP99-043.