For Those Who Whole Brain Radiation

[imported_Joe]

At the SABCS meetings in San Antonio, we met with representatives of Allos Pharmaceuticals to discuss their current clinical trials of Efaproxiral (RSR13).

This drug is a small molecule that binds to hemogloben to facilitate oxygen unloading from hemogloben to hypoxic tumor tissue prior to radiation therapy. The result is an improvement in the effectiveness of the whole brain radiation.

This drug was originally turned down by the FDA for approval because it did not prove to have any overall benefit to all types of brain tumors, EXCEPT WOMEN WITH BRAIN METASTASES FROM BREAST CANCER !!

The data showed that this sub-group experienced significant improvement.
As a result of these findings the FDA has approved clinical trials for this group and has fast tracked the drug for early approval.

This is a blind but open label clinical trial, which means that not all women will receive the drug, but you will know from the onset if you do. If you were chosen not to recieve the drug you will be placed in the control group and also be clinicaly followed.

We highly recommend that if you are scheduled to undergo whole brain radiation, that you enroll in this trial. Not only will this benefit you, but may help other women in the future.


Allos Efaproxiral Clinical Study (http://www.allos.com/index.cfm?p2=96190120&category1=clin&category2=enri&category3=x&category4=x&category5=x&category6=x)

Warmest Regards
Joe

[Janelle]

Joe and Christine,
Thank you so much for the updates... I brought this information to my Rad/Onc and she said "well if you want to be treated at a facility that offers that trial, go ahead." She made me feel like I was questioning her and her treatment plan. Why do they have to make us feel so inadequate? She said that there is a trial is in Cleveland. How are we suppose to partake in a trial that is in another state, how do people do it? On one hand you want to do the absolute best to beat this disease and on the other there are financial considerations.

Maybe I'm just a little afraid, since my WBR starts tomorrow and I wonder if I'm doing the best that I can.. .or maybe I'm just scared.

Janelle

[imported_Joe]

Janelle,

I understand your problem and will not go into the reasons for resistance from some doctors although loss of revenue may be one of them. This was discussed in "HER2, The Making of Herceptin" by Robert Bezel.

Our prayers are with you as you start your treatment.

Warmest Regards
Joe



Below is a list of participating facilities for these trials,

Location and Contact Information

Marilyn Craig 888-255-6702 Ext. 1328 medicalaffairs@allos.com
Jennifer May 888-255-6702 Ext. 1313 medicalaffairs@allos.com


Arizona
Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, Arizona Oncology Services, Phoenix, Arizona, 85013, United States; Recruiting
Terry Thomas 602-274-4484 theresa@azoncology.com
Norissa Honea 602-274-4484 Ext. 102 norissa@azoncoogy.com
Coral Quiet, MD, Principal Investigator


Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85724-5081, United States; Recruiting
Jamie Holt 520-626-6800 jcarrier@azcc.arizona.edu
Sylvia Lopez, RN (520) 694-4606
Shelli Hanks, MD, Principal Investigator
Baldassarre Stea, MD, PhD, Sub-Investigator


Arkansas
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States; Recruiting
Rebecca Bynum 501-686-8274 bynumrebeccas@uams.edu
Laura Hutchins, M.D., Principal Investigator


California
Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center, Berkeley, California, 94704, United States; Recruiting
Beth Davis, RN 510-204-3428 bdavis@salick.com
Lorraine Champion, MD, Principal Investigator
Patrick Swift, MD, Sub-Investigator
Beth Tapen, MD, Sub-Investigator


Florida
Boca Raton Community Hospital, Boca Raton, Florida, 33486, United States; Recruiting
Tee Angel 561-955-4800 tangel@brch.com
Mary Klaus-Clark (561) 955-4800 mklausclark@brch.com
Michael Kasper, M.D., Principal Investigator


University of Miami Medical, Miami, Florida, 33136, United States; Recruiting
Deborah Olsen 305-243-4243 dolsen@med.miami.edu
Cristiane Takita, M.D., Principal Investigator


Georgia
Emory University Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, United States; Recruiting
Ellen McKenzie, RN 404-778-5344 Ellen_Mckenzie@emoryhealthcare.org
Surasek Phuphanich, MD, Principal Investigator
Ruth O'Regan, MD, Sub-Investigator


Idaho
North Idaho Cancer Center, Couer D'Alene, Idaho, 83814, United States; Recruiting
Tolli Wilhitte 208-666-3764 twillhite@niccresearch.org
Cheryl Golden, RN 208-666-2093 sgolden@niccresearch.org
David Davenport, MD, Principal Investigator


Illinois
Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States; Recruiting
Tia Kanranu 312-695-1387 b-kanranu@northwestern.edu
Anna Sheerer 312-695-1363 a-sheerer2@northwestern.edu
Virginia Kaklamani, M.D., Principal Investigator
William J. Gradishar, M.D., Sub-Investigator


Iowa
Siouxland Regional Cancer Center, Sioux City, Iowa, 51101, United States; Recruiting
Lori Bermel 712-252-9358 BermelL@shoa-research.org
Steve Kahanic, M.D., Principal Investigator


Kentucky
Lexington Clinic Cancer Center, Lexington, Kentucky, 40504, United States; Recruiting
Linda Wilgus, RN 859-258-6505 lwilg@lexclin.com
Douglas Martin, MD, Principal Investigator


Maryland
Franklin Square Hospital Center, Baltimore, Maryland, 21237, United States; Recruiting
Jean Flack 443-777-7364 Jean.Flack@medstar.net
Bernadette Trujillo 443-777-7458 bernadette.trujillo@medstar.net
Yvonne Ottaviano, M.D., Principal Investigator


Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, Maryland, 21801, United States; Recruiting
Sandra Heineken 410-543-7017 Sandra.heineken@peninsula.org
Mark Sobczak, M.D., Principal Investigator


Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts Medical, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01655, United States; Recruiting
Bonnie Marchesani 508-856-1112 marchesb@ummhc.org
Sidney Kadish, M.D., Principal Investigator


Minnesota
University of Minnesota Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States; Recruiting
Amy Deyle 612-626-3261 bratv002@umn.edu
Carmina Suter 612-626-3261 suter002@umn.edu
Kathryn Dusenberry, MD, Principal Investigator


Missouri
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States; Recruiting
Jennifer Briggs 314-286-0155 briggsj@ccadmin.wustl.edu
Tanis Hampton 314-362-6045 hamptont@ccadmin.wustl.edu
Imran Zoberi, M.D., Principal Investigator


New Jersey
Cooper Hospital, Camden, New Jersey, 08103, United States; Recruiting
Edna Sarmiento 856-963-3952 Edna@CooperHealth.edu
Steven DiBiase, M.D., Principal Investigator


New York
Dent Neurologic Institute, Amherst, New York, 14226, United States; Recruiting
Malika Pasha 716-250-2028 mpasha@dentinstitute.com
Laszlo Mechtler, MD, Principal Investigator
Kyu Shin, MD, Sub-Investigator


North Carolina
Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States; Recruiting
Andrea Tisch 919-668-5212 tisch@radonc.duke.edu
John Kirkpatrick, M.D., Principal Investigator


North Dakota
Bismarck Cancer Center, Bismarck, North Dakota, 58501, United States; Recruiting
Julie Wetzstein 701-530-6960 jwetzstein@primecare.org
Kathleen Nordstom, MD, Principal Investigator


Ohio
Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States; Recruiting
Renee Yorkievitz 216-445-6545 yorkier@ccf.org
John Suh, M.D., Principal Investigator


South Carolina
Charleston Hematology Oncology, Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, United States; Recruiting
Debbie McNeal 843-577-6957 deborah.mcneal@chashematology.com
George Geils, MD, Principal Investigator


South Carolina Oncology Associates, Columbia, South Carolina, 29210, United States; Recruiting
Gwen Shannon-Grant 803-461-3088 gshannon-grant@sconcology.net
Rosemary Lambert-Falls, M.D., Principal Investigator


South Dakota
Avera McKennan Hospital and University Medical Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57105, United States; Recruiting
Jessica Larsen-Gallup, 605-322-3086 jessica.gallup@mckennan.org
Julie Krolikowski 605-322-3088 julie.krolikowski@mckennan.org
Stephen McGraw, MD, Principal Investigator


Sioux Valley Hospital USD Medical, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57117, United States; Recruiting
Joy Wolff 605-328-8048 wolffj@siouxvalley.org
Stephen McGraw, M.D., Principal Investigator


Texas
Texas Oncology, Fort Worth, Texas, 76104, United States; Recruiting
Suzanne Graham 817-850-2010 suzanne.graham@usoncology.com
Robert Ruxer, M.D., Principal Investigator


Texas Oncology, Dallas, Texas, 75230, United States; Recruiting
Jeremy Day 972-867-3577 Jeremy.Day@usoncology.com
Michael Savin, M.D., Principal Investigator


Wisconsin
Oncology Alliance of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53215-3669, United States; Recruiting
Barb Knutson 414-416-1752 bknutson@oncologyalliance.com
Ronald Hart, MD, Principal Investigator


University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States; Recruiting
Diana Trask 608-263-9528 trask@humonc.wisc.edu
Minesh Mehta, M.D., Sub-Investigator
Rakesh Patel, M.D., Principal Investigator


Canada, Alberta
Cross Cancer Center, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1Z2, Canada; Recruiting
Shelly Sass (780) 432-8595 shelleys@cancerboard.ab.ca
Maureen Lesiuk (780) 432-8349 maureenlesiuk@cancerboard.ab.ca
Keith Tankel, MD, Principal Investigator
Wilson Roa, MD, Sub-Investigator


Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4N2, Canada; Recruiting
Connie Mohan (403) 944-4520 conniem@cancerboard.ab.ca
Siraj Husain, MD, Principal Investigator


Canada, Ontario
Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, L8V 5C2, Canada; Recruiting
Anne Iacobucci (905) 387-9711 Ext. 64404 anne.iacobucci@hrcc.on.ca
Ian Dayes, MD, Principal Investigator


Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada; Recruiting
Carol Ann Buckley 416-946-4501 Ext. 4350 carolann.buckley@rmp.uhn.on.ca
Normand Laperriere, M.D., Principal Investigator


Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 1C4, Canada; Recruiting
Nancy Page 613-737-7700 Ext. 6866 napage@ohri.ca
Peter Cross, M.D., Principal Investigator


Canada, Quebec
Hopital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montreal, Quebec, H1T 2M4, Canada; Recruiting
Linda Roy-Huneault, RN (514) 252-3400 Ext. 3227 lroyhuneault.hmr@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Pierre Chabot, MD, Principal Investigator
Jean-Paul Mercier, MD, Sub-Investigator


CHUM - Campus Notre Dame, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 4M1, Canada; Recruiting
Diane Alarie (514) 890-8000 Ext. 26906 diane.alarie.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Jean Chabot (514) 890-8000 Ext. 28132 jean.chabot.chum@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Bernard Fortin, MD, Principal Investigator
Jean-Paul Bahary, MD, Sub-Investigator


Hotel-Dieu de Quebec du CHUQ, Quebec City, Quebec, G1R 5C3, Canada; Recruiting
Josee Allard, RN (418) 691-5264 Josee.Allard@chuq.qc.ca
Isabelle Germain, MD, Principal Investigator
Andre Fortin, MD, Sub-Investigator


Centre Hospitalier Universitarie de Service de Radio-Oncologie, Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1H 5N4, Canada; Recruiting
Julie Menard 819-346-1110 julie.menard@chus.qc.ca
Abdenour Nabid, M.D., Principal Investigator


McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H2W 1S6, Canada; Recruiting
Sara Ettedgui 514-934-1934 Ext. 43426 ettedgui@muhc.mcgill.ca
Luis Souhami, M.D., Principal Investigator



Study chairs or principal investigators

John Suh, MD, Study Chair, Cleveland Clinic

[Janelle]

Joe,
Thank you for such a speedy reply in the middle of your busy week. I will concact the facilities that are the closest to me.. that is the least I can do... and who knows .. maybe I can figure out something.

Hugs,
Janelle