UNMC health care professionals involved in the study include Dr. David McIntosh, chief of section of gynecologic oncology, Dr. McClure Smith, gynecologic oncologist, and Lynne Anderson, clinical nurse specialist.
Participants in the study must be in the early stages of endometrial cancer with a strong likelihood of long-term survival without cancer, Anderson said. Once selected, patients will be randomly chosen to take either a placebo or estrogen therapy for three years. Patients will not be informed of which therapy they are taking and a participant may elect to withdraw from the study at any time. Women who don’t take estrogen therapy often experience the side effects of hot flashes and irritability associated with estrogen deficiency, Anderson said.
Endometrial cancer, a form of uterine cancer, is the most common cancer of the reproductive system. In 1997, 35,000 new cases resulting in 6,000 deaths are expected. Endometrial cancer has a high survival rate with 75 percent of patients expected to carry no evidence of the disease after treatment.
“Physicians have been reluctant to use hormone replacement therapy for uterine cancer in the past, because it has been believed that estrogen can cause cancer cells to grow,” Anderson said. Anderson said there is no scientific data to prove this theory, however, and the benefits of hormone replacement therapy are well documented, as it substantially decreases the risk of coronary heart disease and osteoporosis. Anderson said small previous studies have been conducted which show encouraging results in the long-term survival of endometrial cancer patients using estrogen therapy.
Patients are now being enrolled in the study, which is expected to open nationwide by August 1. To participate, contact the gynecologic oncology section at UNMC at (402) 559- 5068.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
For more information, contact:
Megan Sandahl, UNMC Public Affairs Intern
Phone: (402) 559-9149
June 26, 1997
Ovarian Cancer Patients Sought For Study on New Form of Medication
The University of Nebraska Medical Center department of obstetrics and gynecology, in conjuction with SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, is conducting a study on Topotecan, an FDA approved drug currently being used to intravenously treat ovarian cancer patients. The study will seek to determine how an oral preparation of Topotecan compares to the intravenous form as far as side effects and tumor response.
UNMC health care professionals involved in the study include Dr. David McIntosh, chief of section of gynecologic oncology, Dr. McClure Smith, gynecologic oncologist, and Lynne Anderson, clinical nurse specialist.
Qualifying patients must have had a recurrence of ovarian cancer that persists despite treatment, Anderson said. Once selected, all participants will take oral Topotecan once a day before breakfast for five days. Participants may remain at home during the study. Currently, patients must come to the cancer center for five days while being treated with Topotecan intraveneously.
Ovarian cancer causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Each year, 26,000 new cases are reported resulting in 15,000 deaths. Overall, the five- year survival rate for ovarian cancer is 39 percent.
“At this point, we consider a drug for ovarian cancer successful if the tumor responds,” Anderson said. “With Topotecan, there is about a 20 percent positive response rate with the tumor either totally going away, getting smaller, or staying the same.”
Anderson added that with all the medications for ovarian cancer, at some time, the cancer cells become resistant and start growing cells again. All current standard treatments for ovarian cancer have the side effect of a low blood count.
UNMC is the only center in the area participating in the study. To participate, contact the gynecological oncology section at UNMC at (402) 559-5068.