The NCI's response to my inquiry on late adjvuant herceptin trails

[RobinP]

Just wanted to post the reply from the NCI from the note I wrote them inquiring about late adjuvant Herceptin trails. I am pleased with their response and happy that they seem to be in the planning stage for late adjuvant herceptin trails.

Your e-mail to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has been forwarded to
this office for reply. In your e-mail, you described your prior
diagnosis with breast cancer and your decision to pursue the late use of
Herceptin(R). In particular, you asked about clinical trials for late
Herceptin and when they would begin. We understand that you have been
through a difficult time, and we congratulate you on being a cancer
survivor. We hope the following information is helpful.

The NCI, a component of the National Institutes of Health, is the
Nation's principal agency for cancer research. The NCI is responsible
for coordinating the National Cancer Program and for maintaining our
momentum in cancer research. Cancer touches all of us, including
scientists and their families, and the work of NCI researchers makes
them keenly aware of the burdens that cancer and its treatment often
impose.

Please be assured that additional follow-up with Herceptin is ongoing to
help determine the long-term safety and effectiveness of this agent.
Although there are currently no data to support the late use of
Herceptin, some doctors are evaluating its ability to decrease the risk
of recurrent breast cancer and are offering Herceptin to selected
patients. Therefore, you may wish to obtain a second opinion from
another oncologist. The NCI fact sheet "How To Find a Doctor or
Treatment Facility If You Have Cancer" provides tips for finding a
doctor, getting a second opinion, and choosing a treatment facility.
This resource is available at
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/f...octor-facility on
the Internet.

Clinical trials for the late adjuvant use of Herceptin have been
discussed, but have not been finalized. As clinical trials become
available, they will be added to PDQ(R), our comprehensive cancer
information database. The PDQ Clinical Trials Advanced Search Page is
available at
http://www.cancer.gov/Search/SearchC...sAdvanced.aspx on the
Internet. This form allows users to search for clinical trials using
criteria such as cancer type, type of trial, geographic region, trial
sponsorship, and/or drug name. You can also select the checkbox for New
Trials (those added in the last 30 days). Information will also be
posted to the NCI's Herceptin Web page, which includes links to press
releases and clinical trial information. This resource can be found at
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials...page/herceptin on the
Internet.

If you have additional cancer-related questions, we encourage you to
call the NCI's Cancer Information Service (CIS) for personal,
confidential help. The CIS is the source for the latest, most accurate
cancer information for patients, their families, the general public, and
health professionals. To talk with an information specialist, please
call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237). For callers with TTY equipment,
the number is 1-800-332-8615. NCI information specialists also offer
online assistance through the Help link at http://www.cancer.gov/ on the
Internet.

Thank you for writing.


Deborah Pearson, R.N., M.P.H.
Chief, Public Inquiries Office
Cancer Information Service
National Cancer Institute