Clinical Trials Now Available for Cancer Patients
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(Baton Rouge) - The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins is now accruing patients for three featured trials including:
· Colorectal cancer. For previously untreated metastatic colon or rectal cancer, this trial is testing the use of two previously approved drugs (Avastin® and Erbitux®) to see if combining them with more than one type of chemotherapy will produce a more effective treatment.
· Lung Cancer. This trial investigates the use of Avastin® combined with standard chemotherapy as a follow-up to surgery undergone within the past 6-12 weeks to see if the new combination will be more effective than standard chemotherapy alone.
· Breast Cancer. This trial seeks to determine if using letrozole for extended adjuvant therapy will keep women disease free for longer periods. The treatment is for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive or progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer who have completed five years of specific hormonal therapies.
For more information on these clinical trials visit www.marybird.org/clinical-trials/ or www.ololrmc.com/cancer or call (225) 215-1180.
In June 2007, the Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins was one of only 14 sites in the country selected to participate in the National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) pilot. A major goal of the NCCCP pilot is to enroll more cancer patients in clinical trials so that patients can benefit from the most advanced treatments without having to commute elsewhere. So together, participating hospitals are joining in an intensive, coordinated effort to increase enrollment in clinical trials so patients can benefit from the most advanced treatments without having to commute elsewhere.
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The Cancer Program of Our Lady of the Lake and Mary Bird Perkins is the most comprehensive cancer program in the region offering patients the convenience of receiving high-quality, advanced cancer care in one location, close to home. The Cancer Program offers surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and has been accredited by the American College of Surgeons since 1992 – the gold-standard for community-based cancer care. For more information on our Cancer Program and the NCCCP pilot, please visit www.ololrmc.com or www.marybird.org