GIST News A Wave of Information By the LIFE RAFT GROUP

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August 2008

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  • Placebo: Wrong then, wrong now by Norman Scherzer The issue of placebo use in clinical trials for GIST patients has resurfaced once again as Infinity Pharmaceuticals proceeds to implement a phase III trial for IPI-504, for patients with refractory GIST.
  • The NIH Clinic: in two perspectives by Su Young Kim, M.D. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) was proud to host the inaugural Pediatric GIST Clinic. The objective of this clinic was to bring together young patients with national experts in the medical and research realms, in an effort to build a foundation of knowledge upon which to build. From the NIH perspective, the clinic was very successful.
  • The NIH Clinic: in two perspectives by Jacqui Bromberg On June 18, the very first Pediatric GIST Clinic was held in Bethesda, Maryland at the National Institute of Health (NIH). I am so fortunate to have been able to attend this clinic, which was open to all Pediatric GIST patients. Having been diagnosed with this rare disease for four years now, my mother and I were very excited to learn that there was an interest being taken at the NIH.
  • International GIST community meets in Italy by Norman Scherzer Baveno, Italy was the site of the sixth patient summit meeting which brought together GIST and CML patients from around the world. This meeting, sponsored by Novartis, exhibited the dramatic growth in maturity of the patient organizations represented.
  • What's going on at Life Fest? This year’s Life Fest in Chicago is shaping up to be a very informative event. We have plenty of general sessions, workshops and distinguished speakers to make your weekend worthwhile. Here is a current list of sessions with a few highlighted for you:
  • Infinity's IPI-504 enters phase III by Jim Hughes

    The heat shock chaperone protein (HSP-90) has emerged as a promising target for cancer therapy. Infinity Pharmaceuticals’ IPI-504 is one of many experimental heat shock protein inhibitors vying for a spot in the cancer market. Data from the recently completed Phase I trial of this drug was presented at the 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology conference (ASCO) in May. Based on this information, Infinity Pharmaceuticals has announced plans to initiate an international Phase III registration trial of its HSP-90 inhibitor, IPI-504, in patients with refractory GIST in the third quarter.

     

  • More GIST highlights from ASCO 2008 by Paula Vettel

    The investigators have developed an ultrasound technique to study GIST tumors in 20 patients in France. Contrast was given, but no radiation was involved. Ultrasound was able to show the difference between live GIST and necrotic tissue. This is very useful in the early stages of drug treatment to measure efficacy of treatment. The study is being expanded to 650 patients with various solid tumors.


  • Progression-Free Survival: Patient Benefit or Lower Standard? by Eleanor Mayfield

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted bevacizumab (Avastin) accelerated approval for use in combination with paclitaxel (Taxol) to treat some patients with metastatic breast cancer. The decision cast a spotlight on a somewhat controversial clinical trial endpoint that the agency used to support its decision. Though the combined therapy improved progression-free survival (PFS) by 5 months compared with the control group, which received only paclitaxel, there was no significant improvement in patients’ overall survival (OS). 

     

  • Schade offered a warm smile and a love of life Jan "Butch" Patrick Schade of San Diego passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, June 29, 2008, he was surrounded by his loved ones. Butch was born on February 11, 1970 and raised in Cranford, New Jersey, before moving to San Diego. He was an avid surfer, loved motorcycles and had a passion for classic cars.