US Oncology Research Investigators Participated in Studies That Will be Presented at the 2010 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- US Oncology, Inc., the nation's leading integrated oncology company, announced today that three investigators affiliated with US Oncology Research participated in studies that will be presented orally at the 52nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Dec. 4-7. Five other investigators in the US Oncology Research Network participated in a study that will be displayed as a poster during the conference.

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Jeff Sharman, M.D., medical oncologist with Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center – Riverbend, participated in a study that will be presented in an oral presentation regarding the safety of the drug, PCI-32765, used by patients with recurrent B-cell lymphoma. The study, titled "Phase I Dose-escalation Study of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (Btk) Inhibitor PCI-32765 in Recurrent B Cell Lymphoma (PCYC-04753)," identified a range of biologically meaningful doses for subsequent Phase II testing.

"It is exciting to work with this new class of drugs," said Dr. Sharman. "I believe targeted inhibitors of b-cell receptor signaling will soon be an effective, well-tolerated treatment option available for our patients with CLL and NHL."

Dr. Sharman participated in another study regarding the same drug titled "APCYC-1102-CA: Phase 1b Fixed-dose Study of Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (Btk) Inhibitor, PCI-32765, in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia" which will be presented orally. He, along with Kathryn Kolibaba, M.D., medical oncologist with Northwest Cancer Specialists - Vancouver Cancer Center and researcher Thomas Boyd, studied the drug PCI-32765 to establish the safety and optimal dose of the orally administered drug in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.

"Many hematologic malignancies are driven by activated signaling pathways that are potential targets for drug development," said Dr. Kolibaba. "The Bruton's tyrosine kinase is an enzyme downstream of the B cell receptor that is activated in many leukemias and lymphomas. PCI-32765 is an oral selective, irreversible inhibitor of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase. Physicians in the US Oncology Research Network are excited to have access to the BTK inhibitor PCI-32765 for our patients in clinical trials in their own communities."

Five other investigators affiliated with US Oncology Research were involved in a poster abstract that will be displayed at the conference on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 4.

"This is a poster describing an exciting study which is underway in US Oncology Research," said Nicholas Di Bella, M.D., oncologist for Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers – Aurora. "Using special gene expression technology, we can identify patients with lymphoma who are relatively resistant to standard therapy with R-CHOP. Patients with lymphoma with the non-germinal center B cell profiles may not respond to this combination, so these patients are being treated with standard R-CHOP or R-CHOP plus the new agent Bortezomib, which may overcome the natural resistance of lymphoma cells to R-CHOP."

Many clinical studies led by US Oncology Research Network physicians were also predominantly featured at numerous conferences held around the world, including the annual congress for the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), the annual meeting for the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the upcoming San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS). Those studies, along with more than 30 published manuscripts, featured forward looking clinical research topics that are helping advance cancer care today and discover improved therapies for the cancer care of tomorrow. For a complete list, please contact US Oncology at 281-863-1000.

About US Oncology

US Oncology, Inc. is the nation's leading integrated oncology company. By uniting the largest community-based cancer treatment and research network in America, US Oncology expands patient access to high-quality care and advances the science of cancer care. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, US Oncology is affiliated with 1,400 community-based oncologists, and works with patients, hospitals, payers, and the medical industry across all phases of the cancer research and delivery continuum. By promoting the use of innovative technology, clinical research, evidence-based medicine and shared best practices, US Oncology improves patient outcomes and offers a better patient experience. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.

About US Oncology Research

US Oncology conducts clinical research through US Oncology Research, its wholly-owned subsidiary and the nation's largest community-based cancer research network. US Oncology Research has experienced investigators and dedicated research nurses who specialize in Phase I through Phase IV oncology clinical trials. US Oncology Research serves more than 90 sites in 200 locations managing more than 200 active trials at any given time. The research network has enrolled nearly 47,000 patients in more than 1,100 trials since inception in 1992 and has contributed to the development of 43 cancer therapies approved by the FDA. For more information call (866) 216-5053 or visit www.usoncology.com/oncologists.

(1) Names that are bold are in the US Oncology Research Network

SOURCE US Oncology, Inc.