ATLANTA, GA – Combining a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the formation of new blood vessels with standard chemotherapy extends survival and improves quality of life for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The research (abstract # 4117)* will be presented by Milind Javle, MD, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, June 2 – 6, Atlanta, GA.

Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody that inhibits vascular growth, extended survival of patients treated for advanced pancreatic cancer by more than 2 months when added to the standard chemotherapy of gemcitabine and capecitabine. The median survival rate approximated 9 months compared a historical survival rate of 7.4 months without bevacizumab.

In this phase II study, 36 patients have been enrolled and 27 were evaluated after treatment. Six achieved a partial response; 18 had stable disease and three experienced progressive disease. Ninety-five percent of the patients experienced an improved quality of life and the therapy was well tolerated with limited toxicity. The study results indicate that this is an active regimen and deserves consideration for patients with good functional status. Additional patients are being accrued so as to obtain more safety information. This study is supported by a grant from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and Genentech.

Pancreatic cancer is rarely cured. An estimated 33,730 new cases of pancreatic cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2006 and 32,300 deaths are expected. The one-year survival rate is 24 percent and the five-year rate is about 16 percent.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians of all oncology subspecialties who care for people with cancer. ASCO’s more than 20,000 members from the United States and abroad set the standard for patient care and lead the efforts to discover more effective cancer treatments, increase funding for clinical and translational research, and ultimately, improve cancer care for the estimated 10 million people diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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*Material is embargoed until presentation: Miliand Javle, MD, Department of Medicine, RPCI, will present abstract # 4117 – “Phase II study of gemcitabine, capecitabine and bevacizumab for advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) with ECOG PS 0-1” in the general poster session (Board # F11) on Saturday, June 3, 8 am EST.