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The United States recently announced changes to the way it will treat women with stage III ovarian cancer following a review of recent trials.
The following is the press statement released by Ovarian cancer action. Details of how you can see the NCI announcement will then follow.
5th January 2006
National charity calls for the UK to act, as US announces treatment for ovarian cancer which offers significant improvements to survival.
Ovarian cancer action today welcomed the news that the National Clinical Institute in America have released guidance on a new form of treatment for ovarian cancer, which increases overall median survival by more than 12 months, and calls for the UK to respond to these developments.
The NCI announcement summarised the results of trials into intraperitoneal* chemotherapy treatment, following initial surgery, for women with stage III ovarian cancer and concluded there was significant benefit for women who had undergone successful surgery, where all, or almost all of the cancer was removed. Women undergoing such treatment are at a significantly increased short term risk of toxicity, in comparison with chemotherapy given intravenously.
Allyson Kaye, Chief Executive of Ovarian cancer action said “We have not seen advances like this for years, in the treatment of ovarian cancer, and as such it offers hope. IP treatment has been shown to be a more effective method for certain patients, and we must now learn quickly how best to deliver it safely. The UK should not only learn from advances abroad, but participate, and it is vital that appropriate funding and consideration is given to improving the outlook for women with this disease. We would welcome the design of a trial, which patients can access from around the country, that will yield further information on dosages, methods of delivery and reduction of side effects, to maximise the benefits.
Professor Hani Gabra, is Director of the Ovarian cancer action Research Unit, a new initiative based at Hammersmith Hospital /Imperial College London. He comments "Although Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy is an old idea, the data from the most recent trial is very encouraging. It is important to determine why it is that this particular type of regimen delivers benefit, and to whom. This may be due to the intraperitoneal method, to the doses used in these trials, or a combination of both of those things. On average there appears to be a 21% decrease in the risk of death from ovarian cancer utilising this approach. With the publication of the GOG172 trial and the associated NCI clinical alert, a debate about the balance between benefit and harm to the patient from this approach can be properly initiated. Professor Gordon Rustin, chair of the NCRI Ovarian Cancer Subgroup has called a meeting of UK ovarian cancer experts in the near future to discuss our response to these data and to implement our plans for a UK clinical trial of intraperitoneal therapy"
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Editor’s Notes
Intraperitoneal chemotherapy involves pumping chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity, as opposed to into the bloodstream. Ovarian cancer usually spreads locally in this area, rather than by travelling to distant parts of the body.
Ovarian cancer action is the only single issue charity in the UK dedicated to raising funds for research into ovarian cancer, raising awareness of the disease and working with patients to have their voices heard.
Ovarian cancer is the world’s largest gynaecological killer, and currently most cases are not detected until the cancer has already spread. In the UK, 75% are not diagnosed until the cancer is at FIGO stage III or IV.
Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women in the UK.
Ovarian cancer action is the national charity behind Ovarian cancer awareness month which takes place each March. This year the campaign, run in conjunction with WellBeing of Women, has official backing from the Royal College of GP’s, recognising that until accurate and specific tools are developed for early diagnosis, that GP’s offer the best hope of an early diagnosis.
The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) is an initiative that is challenging the way cancer research is carried out in the UK. For the first time the major cancer research funding bodies from the government, charity and private sectors have come together to form a partnership as the NCRI with the purpose of accelerating and advancing cancer research for the benefit of patients and the UK cancer research community.
End of press release.
To view the announcement and the research detail please visit www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/IPchemotherapyrelease
If you have any comments regarding this, please contact frances@ovarian.org.uk