| Departments & Services - Customized Chemotherapy
New Breast Cancer Treatment
British Journal of Cancer Reports Findings by Long Beach Memorial Medical Center Physician That Identify Promising Therapy for Recurrent Breast Cancer
British Journal of Cancer reports a study involving programmed cell death using the drug Topotecan (now used to treat ovarian and small cell lung cancers) as a promising treatment for patients with recurrent breast cancer.
The study, "Ex Vivo Analysis of Topotecan: Advancing the Application of Laboratory-Based Clinical Therapeutics," is based on research led by Robert Nagourney, M.D., medical director of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center's Todd Cancer Institute. Renowned as a medical oncologist and researcher, he's known for his pioneering work in individualized cancer therapies using tumor cells to determine which drug or drug combination induces cell death. Dr. Nagourney's research includes 697 individual human-tumor biopsy specimens that were tested against Topotecan in combination with a wide variety of other chemotherapy drugs, including Capecitabine, which is used as a single agent to treat breast and colon cancer.
What is customized or Targeted Therapy?
Cancer cells have unique properties that can be studied outside of the body utilizing special laboratory equipment. This process allows for scientists to perform an Ex-Vivo Assay or EVA Assay. Cancer cells are harvested through surgery, a biopsy or fluid aspiration and are sent to the Rational Therapeutics laboratory.
In the laboratory, the cells are analyzed and matched with FDA approved chemotherapeutic agents that would be most effective in treating the cancer. The assay-directed chemotherapy can then be administered by your oncologist. This can give you the most effective personalized treatment plan.
Read additional articles on Targeted Therapy:
Rational Therapeutics
 Some patients may qualify for our Assay Directed Trial. For more information visit Rational Therapeutics or call Cancer Answers at (562) 933-0900.
*Please note: Laboratory services performed by Rational Therapeutics are not covered by health insurance. |
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