RM Magazine - autumn 2012 - The Royal Marsden

Cancer focus
Drug research
Ovarian and endometrial developments
a research team led by Dr Susana Banerjee,
Consultant medical Oncologist at The
Royal marsden, is now offering a portfolio
of Phase i–iii clinical trials for patients with
gynaecological cancers. The two most
promising areas are in the treatment of
ovarian cancer with the development of
the drug bevacizumab – also known as
avastin – and PaRP inhibitors.
avastin works by attacking the blood
vessels that feed cancers and allow them to
spread. Phase iii trials have shown that by
combining this drug with chemotherapy and
continuing it afterwards, the time before the
cancer progresses is increased, as is the
survival rate in patients at high risk of relapse.
Dr Banerjee says: “This breakthrough is
very exciting and means there are more
treatment options for patients. This drug is
available to patients with ovarian cancer as
first-line treatment through the Cancer Drugs
Fund, and patients with recurrent disease are
offered avastin at The Royal marsden.”
Clinical teams in the gynaecology and
Drug Development units, with scientists at
the hospital’s academic partner, The institute
of Cancer Research (iCR), have pioneered the
development of PaRP inhibitors. This class
of drug has shown promising activity, in
particular in patients with ovarian cancer
who have the BRCa gene mutation.
PaRP inhibitors work by selectively killing
cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.
Patients are currently being recruited to
clinical trials of PaRP inhibitors (such as
olaparib) at The Royal marsden.
Personalised treatment
Dr Banerjee and her team have also launched
a programme to collect tumour and blood
specimens from patients to test for molecular
abnormalities linked to their cancer.
She says: “This approach aims to help
guide treatment for individual patients and
help women diagnosed in the future.”
Cancer treatments for ovarian and
endometrial (uterus) cancers continue to
develop as understanding improves of what
distinguishes cancer cells from normal cells.
it is now known that the molecular make-up
of various subtypes of gynaecological
cancers differ, meaning that some patients
will respond more positively than others to a
Dr susana Banerjee
talks to a patient
helen Taylor, cyberKnife
Lead radiographer, and
Dr alexandra Taylor
14 RM magazine