JTCC to present latest findings in blood-cancer research at ASCO annual meeting

Physicians and researchers at John Theurer Cancer Center at HackensackUMC, one of the nation's top 50 cancer centers, will present the latest findings in blood-cancer research at the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago on June 1-5. Their involvement in these studies is part of John Theurer Cancer Center's continued focus to bolster its research program.

"We are proud to make a contribution to this premiere oncology conference, but we also know there is a lot of work ahead, " said Andre Goy, M.D., M.S., chairman and director and chief of lymphoma, John Theurer Cancer Center. "We are placing significant resources towards further advancing cancer research, such as the recent expansion of our Phase 1 Unit to spearhead early drug development."

Blood cancer research highlights include studies in multiple myeloma and leukemia, including two oral presentations evaluating combination therapies for multiple myeloma patients, results of a multicenter study for newly diagnosed chronic myeloma leukemia, findings of a multi-center phase II study evaluating dose regimens in older patients with MDS refractory, and an analysis of a salvage therapy for first relapse acute myeloid leukemia.

John Theurer Cancer Center oral and presentation highlights at the ASCO annual meeting include:

• 6509 - Nilotinib versus imatinib in patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase: ENESTnd 3-year follow-up, Stuart Goldberg, MD et all. Poster Session: June 1, 2012 1:00pm-5:00pm
• 6520 - A randomized phase II study of sapacitabine in MDS refractory to hypomethylating agents, Stuart Goldberg, MD et. All. Poster Session: June 1, 2012 1:00-5:00pm
• 6525 - Initial salvage therapy in first relapse AML: A phase IIb study of CPX-351 versus investigator's choice-A subset analysis by prognostic group, Stuart Goldberg, MD et all. Poster Session: June 1, 2012 1:00pm-5:00pm highlight this one more-
• 8011- Stringent complete response in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) treated with carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone, David H. Vesole, MD, PhD et all. Oral Session: June 3, 2012 8:00am-11:00pm
• 8016 - Pomalidomide with or without low-dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: Outcomes in patients refractory to lenalidomide and/or bortezomib, David S. Siegel, MD, PhD et all. Oral Session: June 3, 2012 8:00am-11:00pm
• 8035 - Response rates to single-agent carfilzomib in patients refractory or intolerant to both bortezomib and immunomodulators in trial PX-171-003-A1, David S. Siegel, MD, PhD et all. Poster Session: June 2, 2012 8:00am-12:00pm
• TPS6636 - A single-arm, open-label, multicenter study of complete molecular response in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase treated with nilotinib, Stuart Goldberg, MD et all. Poster Session: June 4, 2012 1:15pm-5:15pm

"Our research presented at this conference would not have been possible without the patients who participate in our clinical trials," said Andrew L. Pecora, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.P.E., chief innovation officer, professor and vice president of cancer services, John Theurer Cancer Center. "We are thankful to our patients, our researchers, and our partnering institutions who help us bring novel therapies and improved regimens for cancer patients."

Source: John Theurer Cancer Center