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“The drug is designed to kill the cancer cells and to stop tumor growth by using what is called the p53 suppressor gene,” said Missak Haigentz, MD, an oncologists and principal investigator in the study at Montefiore. The p53 gene, when mutated, is frequently associated with the unregulated growth of cancer cells.
Head and neck cancers account for approximately 3 percent of all cancers in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. They are more common in men and people over the age of 50. It is estimated that 38,000 men and women in the U.S. will develop head and neck cancer in 2002.“The drug, called Advexin, has been shown to be safe and well tolerated in earlier clinical trials,” said Dr. Haiglentz. “At Montefiore, we will be comparing its effectiveness and safety to current standard treatments in two trials.”
In the first trial Montefiore researchers will compare Advexin, combined with standard chemotherapy, versus a treatment of chemotherapy alone in patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. In a second trial, researchers will compare Advexin versus methotrexate in patients with highly resistant squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.The study is currently enrolling patients with head and neck cancer. Patients who are interested in learning more about the trials can contact Dr. Haigentz at (718) 904-2754.
Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital and Academic Medical Center for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is an internationally recognized leader in patient care, education, research and community services. Montefiore provides treatment programs for patients with all major illnesses and has distinguished centers of excellence in heart care, cancer care, children’s health, women’s health and surgery.
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