Cancer Treatment Centers of America(R) Studies Treatment That Aims Chemotherapy Directly...

Cancer Treatment Centers of America(R) Studies Treatment That Aims
Chemotherapy Directly at Ovarian Cancer Cells

Therapy targets folate receptors found on cancer cells otherwise resistant to
standard chemo

ZION, Ill., June 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cancer Treatment Centers of
America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center, a leading provider of
innovative cancer care for patients living with complex and advanced-stage
disease, is the only hospital in Illinois and Wisconsin to take part in new
clinical research involving a treatment designed to target ovarian cancer
cells otherwise resistant to standard chemotherapy.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090612/CTCALOGO)

The Phase II clinical study, called "PRECEDENT," is designed to evaluate the
safety and efficacy of EC145, a drug currently being studied in the treatment
for women with ovarian cancer who develop a resistance to standard
platinum-based chemotherapy. EC145 was developed by Endocyte, a
privately-held biotechnology company.

"With EC145, we're working to target a powerful chemotherapy drug directly to
cancer cells while sparing the healthy cells," says Dr. Sybilann Williams, MD,
gynecologic oncologist and surgeon at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at
Midwestern Regional Medical Center and principal investigator for the
PRECEDENT study. "EC145 is designed to target the folate receptors found in
high concentrations on cancer cells," she adds.

In order to be eligible for the PRECEDENT study, patients must have
platinum-resistant ovarian cancer where the disease has progressed or recurred
within six months of a first or second treatment with a platinum-based
chemotherapy drug. Those eligible will be treated with Doxil(R) (pegylated
liposomal doxorubicin), an approved drug used to treat ovarian cancer, or with
EC145, which combines Doxil with folate (vitamin B-9).

The PRECEDENT study is yet another example of CTCA's commitment to expanding
medical treatment options for women battling ovarian cancer. In October 2008,
CTCA at Midwestern Regional Medical Center announced a ground-breaking
clinical trial of an ovarian cancer vaccine called o-Vax that uses cells taken
from an individual patient's tumor to stimulate immune cells to attack the
existing cancer. Patients continue to be accepted for this clinical trial.

"CTCA offers a powerful combination of traditional and innovative therapies
provided by a team of cancer experts who work with each patient individually,
to determine the appropriate combination of therapies to fight cancer," Dr.
Williams says.

Ovarian cancer is the ninth most common cancer among women, and the leading
cause of death due to cancer of the female reproductive system. According to
the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that there will be 21,550 new
cases of ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2009 and 14,600 cancer-related deaths.
A woman's risk of getting invasive ovarian cancer during her lifetime is about
one out of every 71 women.

Patients interested in the clinical trial may contact a CTCA Oncology
Information Specialist at 877-98-TRIAL.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) provides a
comprehensive, patient-centered treatment model that fully integrates
traditional, state-of-the-art medical treatments with scientifically-supported
complementary and alternative therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy,
psychological counseling, physical therapy and spiritual support to meet the
special, whole-person needs of advanced-stage cancer patients. With a network
of cancer treatment hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois,
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Washington, CTCA encourages patients and their
families to participate in treatment decisions with its Patient Empowerment
Medicine(SM) model. For more information about Cancer Treatment Centers of
America, go to www.cancercenter.com.

About Endocyte
Endocyte is a privately-held biotechnology company with headquarters in the
Purdue Research Park of West Lafayette, IN. Based on the applications of
Endocyte's advanced proprietary Drug Guidance System (DGS), the Company is
working to develop new drugs and diagnostic agents to treat many types of
cancer and other serious diseases. The DGS platform makes it possible to use
highly-potent drugs on extended and frequent dosing schedules and in
combination with other drugs to maximize efficacy. The technology improves
drug targeting and reduces the risk of side effects by combining drugs with
ligands that are able to identify and attach to receptors found on tumor and
other disease cells. Endocyte is currently conducting three separate Phase 2
clinical trials for its lead compound, EC145, together with EC20, a companion
molecular imaging agent, for the treatment of ovarian cancer and non-small
cell lung cancer. Other clinical-stage products in the Endocyte pipeline
include: EC0225, a combination of two potent anticancer drugs; BMS493, a
potent drug being developed in partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb; EC17, a
targeted immunotherapy agent; and EC0489, a targeted cancer drug. The Company
also has multiple product candidates in pre-clinical stage development.

SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Mary Alice Horstman of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, +1-847-746-4402,
maryalice.hortsman@ctca-hope.com