All Five Cancer Treatment Centers of America® Hospitals Now Recruiting Patients for ASCO's Groundbreaking TAPUR Clinical Trial

1/26/2017, Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Trial designed to identify uses of molecularly-targeted cancer drugs outside of the current indications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

Boca Raton, FL – Dec. 15, 2016 – Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) has begun enrolling patients nationwide, across their five-hospital system, to the Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study—the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) first-ever clinical trial. The study launched earlier this year will evaluate molecularly targeted cancer drugs and collect data on clinical outcomes to learn about additional uses of these drugs outside of indications already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). CTCA® hospitals are located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa.

“We are excited to have CTCA join the TAPUR Study. Their national reach allows us to provide access to the trial to a diverse group of patients,” said ASCO Chief Medical Officer Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FASCO. “With TAPUR, CTCA patients have the potential to benefit from targeted therapies that have already demonstrated effectiveness in other cancer types.”

The trial involves broader opportunity for participation than in many cancer clinical trials—with the hope of enabling more patients to participate. Eligible participants include those who have an advanced solid tumor, multiple myeloma, or B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are no longer benefitting from standard anti-cancer treatments, or for whom no acceptable standard treatment is available. Patients enrolled in the study will have access to experimental targeted cancer drugs at no cost. The study aims to:

• Learn how approved drugs might work against different  tumor types that harbor the drug target
• Find out how genomic or molecular tests are used to care for people with advanced cancer
• Use the study results to help inform future studies and aid in the care of people with cancer
  
  “Being part of the ASCO TAPUR Study is an exciting opportunity and allows us to offer eligible cancer patients access to new treatment options under investigation,” said Maurie Markman, MD, President of Medicine & Science at CTCA. “In addition, our unique and robust precision medicine program helps remove both the financial and educational barriers patients experience when accessing genomic sequencing, which determines eligibility for this landmark trial.”
  
  CTCA is the first hospital in the Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa area to offer patient access to the TAPUR trial.

The TAPUR Study is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 02693535), which includes a full list of inclusion/exclusion criteria and other information.

Patients can learn more about TAPUR at CTCA by contacting the Clinical Trials team at clinicaltrials@ctca-hope.com or by calling an Oncology Information Specialists at 888-841-9129. Oncology Information Specialists are available around the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to discuss treatment options offered at CTCA.

About ASCO

Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is committed to making a world of difference in cancer care. As the world’s leading organization of its kind, ASCO represents more than 40,000 oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer. Through research, education, and promotion of the highest-quality patient care, ASCO works to conquer cancer and create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy. ASCO is supported by its affiliate organization, the Conquer Cancer Foundation. Learn more at www.ASCO.org, explore patient education resources at www.Cancer.Net, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

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