Researchers at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit Discover Feasibility of Chemotherapy...

Researchers at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit Discover Feasibility
of Chemotherapy Alternative

Abstract # 6053

ORLANDO, Fla., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Scientists from the Barbara Ann Karmanos
Cancer Institute in Detroit presented data demonstrating the feasibility of
long-term, low-dose adjuvant chemotherapy, which resulted in fewer tumor
recurrences and cancer metastases in patients with locally advanced head and
neck squamous cell carcinoma. The findings were announced today at the 2009
American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071106/KARMANOSLOGO )

Karmanos researchers discovered that when they utilized oral chemotherapy
agent capecitabine, also known by its pharmaceutical name Xeloda, on 35 study
patients over approximately 36 months, the survival rate for 97 percent of
those patients was two years and the three-year progression free survival rate
was 86 percent.

Research was supervised by George Yoo, M.D., chief medical officer and member
of the Head and Neck Cancer Multidisciplinary Team at Karmanos. Ammar Sukari,
M.D., assistant professor of medicine and fellow member of the Head and Neck
Cancer Multidisciplinary Team, conducted the poster presentation.

"What the study found is that low-dose, long-term adjuvant therapy is
feasible," said Dr. Yoo. "We are pleased with the results. There was a
relatively low recurrence rate for the tumors."

Approximately 40,000 new cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
(HNSCC) cases are diagnosed each year, according to Dr. Yoo. A higher
proportion of men are diagnosed with carcinomas - approximately four to one as
compared to women. Chemotherapy for HNSCC is typically rigorous and even then,
40 to 60 percent of patients experience recurring carcinoma tumors. The
survival rate for advanced HNSCC is less than 40 percent.

The exploration of low-dose, long-term oral chemotherapy agents in adjuvant
(i.e. follow-up) cancer treatment represents new and exciting territory for
Karmanos scientists. Capecitabine was the first FDA-approved oral chemotherapy
treatment, gaining approval for human use in 1998. Since then, other oral
cancer agents have been developed, including Tamoxifen for breast cancer
patients and Methotrexate, which is used to treat breast, skin, head, neck and
lung cancers.

"There are not many low-dose applications for oral chemotherapy," Dr. Yoo
said. "Intravenous chemotherapy is still the norm. From the innovation
stand-point, it's really a new way of looking at chemotherapy."

Karmanos' study is investigator-initiated in which researchers worked with
capecitabine's manufacturer Roche to perform the study. Dr. Yoo said Karmanos
continues to enroll patients in the Phase II study and hopes that down the
road, the study will enter a third phase.

"We thought it was a good study, one that explores the effects of low-dose,
long-term oral chemotherapy treatments," said Dr. Yoo. He added that not only
does low-dose, long-term adjuvant therapy for HNSCC patients promise longer
survival and lower recurrence of tumors, it's an easy treatment method, one
with minimum side effects, and one that would ensure all patients could
undergo adjuvant therapy.

Located in mid-town Detroit, MI, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is
one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in
the United States. Caring for more than 6,000 new patients annually on a
budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific
investigation programs and clinical trials, the Karmanos Cancer Institute is
among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff,
including nearly 300 faculty members, and supported by thousands of volunteer
and financial donors, the Institute strives to prevent, detect and eradicate
all forms of cancer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to
www.karmanos.org.

SOURCE Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

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