Personalized Cancer Treatment

Cancer is not one disease, but many—each with a specific set of underlying molecular abnormalities; the cancer-treatment paradigm is shifting toward selection of agents based on specific biological features of the individual patient’s disease. Fortunately, methods for profiling disease in individual patients are now commercially available, meaning that new generations of therapies targeted to specific molecular abnormalities can be more easily aligned to individual patients. This new approach to targeted therapy development results in an increasing number of clinical trials that are essentially “rare cancer” studies.  The demand for reaching cancer patients to participate in “rare cancer” clinical trials increases every year, which adds significant challenges to conducting the trials. The Obama administration has pledged to increase cancer trial participation to 10% of adult patients from its current rate of 3-5%.  In addition, the Director of the NCI will address the regulatory barriers that prevent timely completion of successful clinical research.

A Patient-Centered Approach to Enrolling Rare Cancer Patients in Clinical Trials

Our new president vows to address the pervasive issue of cancer. Over 1.4 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer this year, joining over 10 million living Americans who have experienced cancer.  The medical costs of cancer care were $78 billion in 2008, and the overall economic impact was estimated to be over $200 billion. The current administration plans to double federal funding for cancer research within five years, primarily at NIH and NCI, with a focus on research for rare cancers.

There are two types of rare cancer.  The truly rare diseases (e.g., hairy cell leukemia), but also common histological cancer types like breast cancer, with rare molecular subtypes such as triple negative breast cancer which produces a small number of patients.  Cancer profiling and customized treatment for individual patients is now clinically realistic. Challenges to the development of tomorrow’s therapies include identifying and connecting the right patients with the right treatments. Today, less than 5% of adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials. There are multiple reasons for this, including reimbursement problems in research funding, a daunting administrative burden, and a growing shortage of clinical researchers. The Obama administration has pledged to increase cancer trial participation to 10% of adult patients.  In addition, the NCI Director has been charged to identify the regulatory barriers that prevent the timely completion of successful clinical research.

Pharmatech Oncology has conceptualized a unique solution that identifies patients first (Just-in-Time™, [JIT]), then rapidly connects patients and physicians to appropriate clinical trial opportunities. This differs from the traditional model, which focuses initially on administrative process and secondarily on patient enrollment.  The traditional model can be effective for clinical trials in indications with millions of patients, but for rare cancers, it is not as effective

Step Up for Cancer

This past Sunday,  Dick’s Sporting Goods Park was filled with smiles and cheer. Over 500 Coloradans showed up to support the Step Up for Cancer event and give their best shot at tackling the 1,765 sun-blazing stairs of the arena.

Kristi Pohly and I (Anya Vogelsong) represented Pharmatech Oncology, Inc for the event.  We began the climb up the first aisle of steps at 9 am on the dot.  We ran up the steps, crossing over to the next section and zooming back down – raising 2 cents every single step. It was wonderful to see the  course filled with all types of people. Aunts and uncles cheering on little kids as they hoped down each stair with big smiles on their faces. Moms and daughters walking hand in hand. Young parents slowly making the climb with bouncing babies in backpacks armed with binkies and sippy cups. A 70- year old man, cheered on by volunteers and passers by, very slowly taking one step at a time for the great cause and something personal inside of him.

Our Pharmatech team finished the stairs in just under 14 minutes, that’s 4 minutes shy of the best elite stepper. After getting some refreshments and considering on-the-spot massage, we went through the community village. There were over 30 non-profit organizations represented and ready to educate, provide help, and show their support. Among many, there was The Children’s Hospital, American Cancer Society, Colorado Cancer Coalition, Morris Animal Foundation and University of Colorado Cancer Center. The village was booming with good music and lively spirits.

All in all, this was a wonderful event for any and all generations. We look forward to participating next year with a bigger team and larger donations. Elite runners watch out!

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Breakfast

Pharmatech Oncology was in attendance this morning at the Cancer Action Network breakfast hosted by the American Cancer Society (www.acscan.org) at the Denver Athletic Club.  The event was touching with various players from survivors to legislatures to the director of the cancer center at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

Specific to the efforts of Pharmatech Oncology in creating awareness surrounding involvement of adult cancer patients in clinical trials, a special kudos to Representative Primavera for introducing and helping pass Colorado House Bill 1059.  From the ACS CAN website:

“This bill requires that all private health insurance plans regulated by the state, continue to cover the routine patient care costs for policy holders who chose to enroll in a clinical trial. Due to the experimental and investigational nature of drugs and devices tested in clinical trails, insurers can be inconsistent about continuing to provide coverage for the routine care a patient needs while being enrolled in a clinical trial.

This bill does NOT ask that insurers cover the investigational drug or device itself, as this is typically covered by the sponsor of the trial. The bill only requires that insurers continue to provide all services that would be covered under the individual’s policy regardless of their enrollment in the clinical trial.”

This bill made it possible for Judith Stone, breast cancer survivor, to receive coverage from her insurance for a clinical trial that saved her life.   It is our hope that this type of legislation can be put into effect across the United States to encourage adult cancer patients to participate in clinical trials.

Please visit www.acscan.org to make a contribution for the advocacy efforts of ACS CAN.