January 2008

Sharon Regional's Cancer Care Center participating in clinical trials

New study involves breast cancer radiation therapy

Sharon Regional's Cancer Care Center recently started participation in radiation oncology clinical trials through collaboration with Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. The trial is “A Randomized Phase III Study of Conventional Whole Breast Irradiation Vs. Partial Breast Irradiation for Women with Stage 0, I, or II Breast Cancer.”

This protocol is studying whole breast radiation therapy to see how well it works compared to partial breast radiation therapy in treating women who have undergone surgery for ductal carcinoma or stage I or stage II breast cancer. To qualify for the protocol, participants must have had a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy for Stage 0 (DCIS) or Stage I or II invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast with no evidence of metastatic disease.

Participants are randomized to receive either whole breast radiation (standard treatment) five days a week for approximately six weeks or partial breast radiation (experimental treatment) twice a day for five days. Partial breast radiation may be given by one of three methods: External Beam Irradiation; Mammosite®; or Multi-Catheter Brachytherapy.

“We are extremely pleased to announce the availability of clinical trials at the Center through collaboration with Allegheny General Hospital,” says George C. Garrow, M.D., medical director of the Center and director of medical oncology. “We are honored to be working closely with Dr. Thomas Julian (from Allegheny) a nationally-recognized leader in breast cancer, who has facilitated the opening of these important clinical trials once again at Sharon Regional.”

“We will be offering clinical trials through the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), which is an international cooperative group supported by the National Cancer Institute, with more than 50 years of history of designing and conducting clinical trials. As a result of these previous efforts, the NSABP has contributed to improvements in the treatment and prevention of breast and colon cancer.”

“This trial offers cutting edge treatment available at our Cancer Care Center and we will be working hard to get patients who meet the criteria,” says Dennis Ulewicz, M.D., director of radiation oncology at the Cancer Care Center. “This provides more options for those with breast cancer.” 

Dr. Garrow adds that in next several months the Cancer Care Center will be offering additional important clinical trials for eligible patients with breast, colon, and other forms of cancer.

For more information on oncology group protocols, please contact Dr. Ulewicz at 724-983-5905 or Darlene Washington, RN, protocol nurse, 724-983-5900.