Clinical trials explore new ways of treating cancer

(ARA) - It seems that cancer touches everyone's lives, whether they develop the disease themselves or whether a loved one is diagnosed. While not every cancer diagnosis is fatal, it takes an enormous number of lives every year.

Because cancer is so common there is an enormous effort among researchers, doctors and pharmaceutical companies to find new and increasingly effective ways of treating, preventing or curing cancer. While the process is long, researchers come closer toward finding a better way to treat cancer with each new effort launched or therapy tested.

For those who are afflicted with cancer, the search for a way to treat their disease can be extensive. Many take the opportunity to participate in clinical trials that are intended to test the safety and efficacy of newly developed treatments. While the studies are experimental, there is a possibility they can benefit those suffering from the disease.

Contributing to patient and caregiver resources, the National Cancer Institute has a website devoted to cancer clinical trials where patients can find detailed information regarding eligibility for studies currently recruiting patients and trial sites in their areas.

For instance, a new Phase I clinical trial is being conducted for three common and often devastating forms of cancer: breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. Upon being screened to assess their eligibility, patients who qualify can participate in the Phase I testing of the DPX-0907 investigational vaccine, which would be intended to complement conventional therapies such as surgery and chemotherapy. Recruiting is being conducted at multiple sites in the United States.

The DPX-0907 investigational vaccine contains an oily substance that slows down the release of key ingredients of the vaccine. The key ingredients are designed to teach the immune system to recognize and kill breast, ovarian and prostate cancer cells.

The experts agree that the use of cancer vaccines to induce a therapeutic anti-tumor immune response in patients have potential to complement traditional cancer therapies.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in American women after lung cancer. In 2009, an estimated 40,000 women died of the disease, according to the National Cancer Institute. Ovarian cancer, the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in women, has relatively high mortality rates because most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, with nearly 200,000 men diagnosed and 27,000 dying each year.

For those with cancer - or who have loved ones suffering from it - the importance of finding new ways to deal with the disease cannot be overstated. As more and more trials are conducted, research is inching ever closer to finding more effective ways to treat cancer. For more information about the DPX-0907 clinical trial and other cancer studies visit www.clinicaltrials.gov.