Liver Metastases Clinical Trial referenced by Cancer Research UK
Farnham, UK, 13 August 2010: Biocompatibles (LSE:BII), the medical technology company, is pleased to announce that the Paragon II clinical trial now appears on the database of CancerHelp UK – the patient information arm of Cancer Research UK.
Paragon II is an MHRA1-approved, Phase II clinical trial for the evaluation of Drug-Eluting Beads delivering irinotecan (DEBIRI), for the treatment of liver metastases from colorectal cancer, in patients who are eligible for surgical resection. The treatment combines giving irinotecan straight to the cancer with a way of blocking the blood vessels that supply the tumour with nutrients. Patients are treated - initially with DEBIRI and then, approximately one month later, by surgical resection of the liver tumour.
The Cancer Research UK reference is at http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/trials/a-trial-looking-irinotecan-beads-bowel-cancer-spread-liver-PARAGON-II.
Each year there are more than 36,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in the UK, in which 50% develop liver metastases within five years of diagnosis. In around 20% of cases, these liver tumours can be surgically resected - a patient's best chance of longer-term survival – the five year survival rate being around 25%.
Mr Graeme Poston, Chairman, and Chairman of Surgery, of the Liverpool, Mersey and North Cheshire Hepatobiliary Cancer Network and principal investigator of the trial recently presented promising results on an initial cohort of 18 patients recruited in the Paragon II trial at the World Congress for Gastro-Intestinal Cancer (Barcelona, Spain: July 1-3, 2010)].
UK participating hospitals include, University Hospital, Aintree, Liverpool and Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke.
Crispin Simon, CEO of Biocompatibles, commented;
"CancerHelp UK offers patients a wealth of information that is clear, reliable and easy to understand. We are delighted that they have recognised the potential value of treating Liver Metastases with DEBIRI and look forward to reporting results of the trial."
PARAGON II is a trial within a clinical programme studying DEBIRI in the treatment of liver metastases from colo-rectal cancer. PARAGON Louisville is the next most advanced trial within this programme, and is studying DEBIRI in a first line setting in the US in combination with the standard of care chemotherapy regimen, FOLFOX plus Avastin.
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1Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Contact:
| Biocompatibles | +44 (0) 1252 732732 |
| Crispin Simon, Chief Executive | |
| Ian Ardill, Finance Director | |
| Anna Keeble | +44 (0) 7879 818876 |