Doctors Seek Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer For Study Of NewInvestigational Treatment (NAPSA)—Canceercenters across the country are looking for patients with advanced colorectal cancer to participate in two new studies that are currently underway. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and womenin the United States. Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, there were nearly one million cases of colorectal cancer last year and nearly 500,000 people die from the disease each year. The treatment being tested is a novel type of drug called an angiogenesis inhibitor. This is a medi- cine that is designed to slow or stop the flow of blood between a tumor and the surroundingtissue. Researchers hope that by cutting off this blood supply, the medicine will prevent the tumor from growing and spreading to other parts of the body. The studies for which investigators are currently looking for patients are called CONFIRM 1 (Colorectal Oral Novel Therapy for the Inhibition of Angiogenesis and Retarding of Metastases in First-Line) and CONFIRM 2 (Colorectal Oral Novel Therapyfor the @ Inhibition of Angiogenesis and Retarding of Metastases in Second-Line). They are being conducted in more than 200 cancer centers worldwide and plan to enroll about 2,000 patients. “Colorectal cancer is a very serious public health problem which makes it essential for us to explore promising new treatment options for these patients,” said lead investigator J. Randolph Hecht, M.D., Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Divisions of Hematology-Oncology & Digestive Diseases and a researcher at UCLA’s Jonsson Cancer Center. “We hope that encouraging preliminary results will be supported by thesetrials. Clinical trials are necessary to improve treatment and provide an opportunity for patients in need to play an important role in research.” Patients interested in participating can get more information by calling 1-800-340-6848 or visiting the CONFIRM Web site at www.etrials.Novartis.com. To date, the most frequently reported side effects in the ongoing clinical trials were nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and dizziness.
