New Cancer Clinical Trials and Research Protocols at Greenwich Hospital

Patients who qualify have access at Greenwich Hospital to national clinical trials and research focusing on the latest treatment protocols and medications.

Research studies as of June 18, 2008

What are Clinical Trials?

Breast Cancer
SWOG S0307 Phase III trial of bisphosphonates as adjuvant therapy for primary breast cancer. (For women with resected non-mestastic breast cancer.) Principal investigator Dickerman Hollister, Jr., MD, medical oncologist and medical director of the Bendheim Cancer Center at Greenwich Hospital.

ACOSOG Z1031 A4 A randomized Phase III Trial comparing sixteen to eighteen weeks of Neoadjuvant Exemestane, Letrozole or Anastrozole in postmenopausal women with clinical Stage II or III Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer. Principal Investigator Barbara Ward, MD, surgical oncologist and director of the Breast Center at Greenwich Hospital.

Colon Cancer
CALGB/SWOG C80405 A phase III trial of Irinotecan/5-FU/Leucovorin or Oxaliplatin/5-FU/Leucovorin with Bevacizumab, or Cetuximab, or with the combination of Bevacizumab & Cetuximab for patients with untreated metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum. Principal investigator Beverly Drucker, MD, medical oncologist. Suspended pending protocol change.

Operable Carcinoma of the Rectum
NSABP R-04 A phase III trial comparing preoperative radiation therapy and capecitabine with or without Oxaliplatin with preoperative radiation therapy and continuous intravenous infusion of 5-FU with or without Oxaliplatin in the treatment of patients with operable cancer of the rectum. Principal investigator Dr. Hollister.

Lung
Imclone CP02-0452 Phase III study of Docetaxel or Pemetrexed with or without Cetuximab in patients with recurrent or progressive non-small cell lung cancer after platinum-based therapy. (Need to determine EGFR expression.) Principal investigator Dr. Hollister.

CALGB 140503 A phase III randomized trial of lobectomy vs sublobar resection for small (less than or equal to 2 cm) peripheral non-small cell lung cancer. (No metastatic disease, no prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy). Principal investigator Paul Waters, MD, thoracic surgeon at Greenwich Hospital.

Lung Cancer Screening
Greenwich Hospital is participating in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) to learn whether the identification and early diagnosis of lung cancer leads to improvement in survival. Requires low dose CT scan of the lung. The main coordinating center is the Weill Cornell Medical Center/New York-Presbyterian Hospital. For more information about the I-ELCAP study at Greenwich Hospital call (203) 863-3698 or visit www.IELCAP.org. To make an appointment for lung cancer screening at Greenwich Hospital, call (203) 863-4710. Principal investigator David Mullen, MD, radiologist Greenwich Hospital.

Future Clinical Trials
Greenwich Hospital has joined the national clinical research group Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) through its affiliation with the Yale Cancer Center. This enables Greenwich Hospital to provide patients who qualify with additional phase II and phase III clinical trials. The CALGB is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. For more information about CALGB, visit www.calbg.com.

For more information
For more information, contact Diane Perry, RN, study coordinator at (203) 863-3698.