CHAPEL HILL, NC – UNC Lineberger is one of only ten sites in the United States, and the only site in North Carolina, working on a new Phase II clinical trial testing whether a PARP inhibitor is effective in treating recurrent ovarian cancer. The UNC-led trial is being carried out in conjunction with Abbot Laboratories.
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic cancer and the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancies, as well as being the fifth most frequent cause of cancer deaths in women.
The Phase II study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combination of two drugs: the PARP inhibitor ABT-888 in combination with temozolomide versus a single drug called pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. Investigators believe that combining a PARP inhibitor with a chemo drug that works by damaging DNA will produce greater anticancer effects than either chemotherapy or a PARP inhibitor alone. This approach is based on the observation that cells are unable to survive if they accumulate high levels of DNA damage.
“Clinical trials and systemic therapies to treat women with recurrent ovarian cancer are extremely limited. We are extremely pleased to be one of the first sites in the United States to offer this novel therapy to women for whom platinum-based therapies have not been effective or are no longer sensitive to these therapies,” said Principal Investigator Linda Van Le, MD.
For more information about this trial go to UNC Lineberger’s clinical trials advanced search page and put the number M10-757 in the Protocol Number box or contact the UNC Lineberger Clinical Protocol office at (919) 966-4432 or toll-free (877) 668-0683.