Study Testing Anti-Angiogenic Drug Therapy for Metastatic Renal Cancer

CORT has initiated the SWOG S0717 Study for treatment of metastatic renal cancer that has progressed after prior sunitinib (Sutent) or sorafenib (Nexavar) therapy.   These treatments are standard first-line treatments.  After failure of sunitinib or sorafenib, currently, there is no standard therapy for this disease.  The study will evaluate anti-angiogenic drug therapy. 

Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a monoclonal antibody against VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor).  VEGF is a key protein that stimulates angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth), when binding to endothelial cell VEGF-receptors (VEGF-R).  Inhibition of VEGF by bevacizumab has proven successful in metastatic breast, lung, and colon cancer, settings where bevacizumab has already been FDA-approved for use.   MEDI-522 (Etaracizumab, Abegrin) is a monoclonal antibody against integrin molecules (av,b3).  Intregins are structural signaling molecules that direct cell movement and attachment, and these are required for new blood vessel growth.  Early phase studies have shown that disruption of vascular growth by anti-integrin molecules results in tumor growth arrest. 

In the S0717 study, patients with metastatic renal cancer will receive either bevacizumab in combination with a placeo MEDI-522 (inactive), or bevacizuamb in combination with active MEDI-522.  All patients will receive active bevacizumab.   This study evaluates whether the combination of anti-angiogenic drug therapy is more active than anti-angiogenic therapy with bevacizumab alone.

For more information about this study, call a CORT Research Coordinator at 972-566-5588, or visit our website at www.CORTPA.com.

Tags: Abegrin, Avastin, bevacizumab, Etaracizumab, kidney cancer, MEDI-522, metastatic renal cancer, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, Nexavar, renal cell carcinoma, sorafenib, sunitinib, Sutent, SWOG S0717