ACORN Presents Findings of Collaborative Metastatic Colorectal Cance...( MEMPHIS Tenn. April 21 /- On Tues...),Health

MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, April 15th, Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD, FACP, President of the Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Inc. presented findings at the American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in San Diego. The Phase II study tested a novel biologic agent in conjunction with chemotherapy used in colorectal cancer with encouraging interim results. More specifically, this Phase II study was a biomarker and genomic correlative study of GFL: Interferon Gamma, Bolus/Infusion 5-FU and Leucovorin for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. The study represented a unique collaboration in transitional research between The West Clinic, a community-based oncology clinic in Memphis; researchers at St. Jude Children's Hospital, Memphis; and Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071112/CLM151LOGO )

Utilizing its centralized services, ACORN provided access, medical and scientific oversight, statistical and project management, and publication processes for the study. In addition to promising results, ACORN's ability to provide tumor samples for genetic analysis before and after the therapy, based upon its extensive experience in interventional radiology, makes it one of a select few institutions capable of providing such samples which are playing an ever increasing role in the development of personalized medicine.

Study objectives sought to determine response rate as defined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) guidelines established by the National Cancer Institute, Progression Free Survival (PFS), and molecular correlates of GFL therapy.

55% of the study's participants were male and 45% female. African- Americans accounted for 21% of the participants with the remaining identified as Caucasian. The minority participation figure is well-above national norms
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