NYP/Weill Cornell physician-scientists present latest cancer findings at ASCO meeting

NEW YORK (May 29, 2008) -- Leading oncologists and cancer researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center are presenting new basic and clinical research findings at the 44th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, May 30 to June 3.

Highlights from the symposium presentations and posters to be made by NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell physician-scientists include the following:

Phase II trial of 177Lutetium radiolabeled anti-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) monoclonal antibody J591 in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. [Abstract number: 5140; Poster number: 13H]

Time: Saturday, May 31. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Authors: S. T. Tagawa, M. I. Milowsky, M. J. Morris, S. Vallabhajosula, S. Goldsmith, D. Matulich, J. Kaplan, F. Berger, H. I. Scher, N. H. Bander, D. M. Nanus

Drs. Scott Tagawa, Neil Bander and their colleagues at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell will present data from a Phase II clinical trial showing that a monoclonal antibody designated "J591," carrying a payload of a radioactive isotope (177Lu), is both safe and effective in the treatment of late-stage metastatic prostate cancer. The antibody works by targeting only prostate cancer cells anywhere in the body while leaving the healthy cells around them unharmed. Patients in this trial had progressing, hormone-independent, metastatic prostate cancer with rapidly increasing prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels. Following only one dose of the J591 antibody loaded with the maximum radiation dose, PSA levels fell in two-thirds of patients with half of all the patients achieving a significant threshold of at least a 30-percent PSA decline. The 30-percent PSA decline threshold has been shown in two large, independent registration trials to be the best PSA surrogate for survival benefit. Additionally, the clinician-scientists found that none of the patients developed symptomatic side effects as a result of the radioactive antibody drug. Currently, two other monoclonal antibodies carrying a radioactive payload are FDA approved, both for the treatment of non-Hodgkins' lymphoma. The researchers are expanding their clinical trials to include earlier stage patients who are more likely to respond, and expanding the trials to other centers around the country.

A phase II study of oral mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, RAD001 (everolimus), in patients with recurrent endometrial carcinoma (EC).

Oral Presentation; [Abstract number: 5502; Location: S406 (Vista Room)]