8/13/07

New Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Shows Promising Results in Phase II Study

Goshen, Ind. - Due to early detection and improved treatments, more people are surviving cancer each year, but according to Dr. Seza Gulec, only 4% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will live beyond five years. “Pancreatic cancer remains a major challenge to doctors because the tumor is aggressive, and effective treatments are lacking.”

Dr. Gulec and the Goshen Center for Cancer Care are developing innovative new treatments. The cancer center recently announced that the initial results from a Phase 2 study of a new treatment for pancreatic cancer now has encouraging results.

“Pancreatic cancer is known to poorly respond to chemotherapy, which is the current standard. There is clearly a need for a better therapy strategy. The new treatment we are studying combines chemotherapy with selective internal radiation and focused external radiation” said Gulec. Our expectation is that this combined sequential treatment will improve the outcomes for our patients.”

Eleven of the patients taking part in the multi-center study were enrolled at the Goshen Center for Cancer Care. One patient enrolled in Goshen and two patients from other study sites reported tumor shrinkage. The results of the clinical trial have been presented to the FDA and discussion of further studies is under way.

About Goshen Health System Goshen Health System is a not-for-profit provider of health care that includes Goshen General Hospital, The Center for Cancer Care, Park Home Medical Equipment, PrimeCare Physician Network, Team:Bariatrics, The Retreat Women's Health Center and Indiana Lakes Managed Care Organization. The health system is an affiliate partner of Clarian Health, which includes Indiana University Hospital, Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis and Riley Hospital for Children.