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AngioPredict project to focus on patients with
metastatic colorectal cancer
Published on May 28, 2012 at 4:10 AM · No Comments
The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) is leading an international team
of scientists on a major research study which aims to predict colorectal cancer
patients' response to the 'angiogenesis inhibitor' class of anti-cancer drug which
prevents growth of tumour blood vessels. The study will facilitate a more focused
therapeutic approach thus limiting side-effects in patients.
The researchers have secured approximately €6 million in competitive nonexchequer funding for the "AngioPredict" project which is supported by the
European Commission's Seventh Framework 'Health' Programme (FP7).
The project will focus on patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (colorectal
cancer that has spread to other parts of the body). At present, an important
treatment for these patients is the 'angiogenesis inhibitor' drug Avastin
(bevacizumab), which inhibits tumour blood vessel formation and thus prevents
tumour growth.
This research project will investigate ways to predict how a patient will respond to
Avastin, by identifying 'biomarkers' which are found in the patient's tumour tissue
or blood and developing tests to identify these biomarkers. The ability to predict
how a patient will respond to this drug would prevent unnecessary treatment,
save critical time in patient care and improve quality of life.
The project is led by Dr Annette Byrne, Department of Physiology and Medical
Physics & Centre for Systems Medicine, RCSI. "The ability to predict response will
mean that more focused and personalised therapies can be delivered to cancer
patients. Non-responding patients will be thus spared the side-effects of therapy
and are more likely to receive optimal treatment with a minimum of delay," Dr
Byrne commented.
In the developed world, colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed
cancer in males and the second in females. 50% of colorectal cancer patients
develop metastatic cancer for which Avastin is a key component of therapy.
AngioPredict is combining cutting-edge molecular biology, multi-centre clinical
trials and optimised in-vitro diagnostic discovery approaches to establish new
tests that will enable prediction of patient response to Avastin. The 'ACAngiopredict' clinical trial will recruit 225 patients over two years from multiple
centres across the island of Ireland and from Germany.