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

Time: Sunday, June 1, 5:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Authors: B. M. Slomovitz, K. H. Lu, T. Johnston, M. Munsell, L. M. Ramondetta, R. R. Broaddus, R. L. Coleman, C. Walker, D. M. Gershenson, T. W. Burke, J. Wolf

Dr. Brian Slomovitz will present results from a Phase II clinical trial (during an oral presentation) showing that the orally administered experimental drug RAD001, a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, is beneficial in patients with recurrent endometrial cancer. The drug blocks the activity of the mTOR protein within the cytoplasm of cancer cells, responsible for cancer cell proliferation and growth. The physician-scientists found that the drug slowed cancer progression in 44 percent of subjects in the study. The study was conducted in collaboration with the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Preoperative treatment with pazopanib (GW786034), a multikinase angiogenesis inhibitor in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A proof-of-concept phase II study. [Abstract number: 7557; Poster number 34G]

Time: Sunday, June 1, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Authors: N. Altorki, M. Guarino, P. Lee, H. I. Pass, E. Filip, T. Bauer, D. Roychowdhury, T. Zaks, L. Ottesen, D. Yankelevitz

Dr. Nasser Altorki will present final data from a Phase II clinical trial showing that a drug that stops blood vessel growth (angiogenesis) to tumors is safe and highly effective for the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Pazopanib works by blocking the action of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR)-1, -2 and -3, c-kit and platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R), which both work by growing bloods vessels that supply nutrition to tumors. Prior to surgery to remove their tumors, 87 percent of the 26 subjects tested had a significant reduction in tumor growth.

Palonosetron (PALO) for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving high-dose melphalan prior to stem cell transplant (SCT). [Abstract number: 9617; Poster number 47B]

Time: Saturday, May 31, 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m
Authors: S. Giralt, K. Mangan, R. Maziarz, J. S. Bubalo, R. Beveridge, D. D. Hurd, F. Mendoza, E. B. Rubenstein, T. J. DeGroot, M. W. Schuster

Principal investigator Dr. Michael Schuster's multicenter trial group will present findings from a Phase II clinical trial showing that a new drug called Palonosetron (PALO) is safe and effective at reducing vomiting and nausea -- common side effects of chemotherapy -- in multiple myeloma patients undergoing multi-day high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. All of the subjects studied were taking a common chemotherapy agent called melphalan at the time of the study. The researchers found that those who were on multiple daily doses of PALO reported fewer incidences of vomiting and nausea.