The Remember Me feature is an automatic login process which creates a cookie on the hard drive of your computer containing a unique identifier which ASCO.org will utilize to remember you by, thereby avoiding the need to enter username and password upon subsequent visits to ASCO.org. DO NOT select this option if you share this computer with others since transactional, personal, or member only information will be accessible by other users.

To activate the Remember Me option, click the empty check box when signing in to the site. The Remember Me functionality is deactivated at the logout.

For additional information please review our Privacy Policy.

Studies Answer Key Questions About Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers


EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
SATURDAY, May 30, 2009, 9:00 AM (EDT)

CONTACT:
Annual Meeting News Room Line
Phone: 407-685-5412

Orlando, Fla.—The findings from several large clinical trials of new treatment regimens for gastrointestinal cancers were released today at a press briefing at the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

“The studies presented today answer many important questions about the best care for people with gastrointestinal cancers,” said Nicholas Petrelli, MD, medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center in Wilmington, Delaware, and moderator of the press briefing. “These large, conclusive trials tell us what works, and importantly, tell us what doesn’t work. Some settle long-time debates in the field, others demonstrate that the current standard of care is actually superior to experimental treatments, and others will allow patients to avoid unnecessary side effects or surgery.”

Studies highlighted in the press briefing include:
  • First-ever data on bevacizumab as adjuvant therapy finds no benefit in colon cancer:A phase III trial finds that adding the targeted therapy bevacizumab (Avastin) to standard adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve disease-free survival for patients with locally advanced colon cancer.
  • Surgery unnecessary for majority of patients with advanced colorectal cancer: Most patients with metastatic colorectal cancer can safely avoid surgery on their primary tumors.
  • Trial compares common adjuvant treatments for pancreatic cancer: A phase III trial comparing the adjuvant treatments most commonly used for pancreatic cancer in the United States and Europe (gemcitabine and 5-FU/FA, respectively) found that there is no difference in survival between the two regimens, though gemcitabine was associated with fewer side effects.
  • The largest study to date on anal cancer supports the current standard: A phase III study finds that the current standard of care for anal cancer should not be changed, and that ongoing maintenance therapy after initial treatment is not effective.
  • Oxaliplatin does not improve outcomes for rectal cancer: Adding oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) to standard treatment in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer does not improve tumor response. A preliminary analysis suggests the treatment may reduce distant metastases, however.


For consumer-oriented information on these studies and more than 120 cancer types, please refer your readers to ASCO’s patient website, www.Cancer.Net.

To view the full release click here.





 
2318 Mill Road, Suite 800, Alexandria, VA 22314   |   phone: (571) 483-1300
© 2005-2009 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).  All rights reserved worldwide.