Ovarian Cancer in the United States

• Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women and the leading cause of death from gynecological cancer in the United States .
• The American Cancer Society estimates that 22,220 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the United States during 2005..
• It is estimated that there will be about 16,210 deaths from ovarian cancer in the United States during 2005.
• Ovarian cancer causes more deaths among women than any other cancer of the female reproductive system and accounts for nearly 4% of all cancers among women.
• If ovarian cancer is found before it spreads outside the ovary, 90%-95% of women will survive at least five years. However, only 19% of ovarian cancers are found at this stage. Thus, the five-year survival rate is 44%.
  
  Source: ©2005 American Cancer Society Inc. Ovarian Cancer in New Jersey

Ovarian Cancer in New Jersey

• According to the New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services, there were 4,182 cases of ovarian cancer in New Jersey over the five-year period from 1998-2002.
• Approximately 380 New Jersey woman succumb to ovarian cancer each year. Out of the 4,182 cases, approximately 1,900 woman did not survive.
  
  Source: NJ Department of Health & Senior Services, Cancer Epidemiology Services

Ovarian Cancer Drug Trials, Links

Novartis Oncology is conducting a clinical research study to find out if the study drug patupilone, as compared to the drug pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, is safe, if it can extend the survival time longer than pegylated liposomal doxorubicin currently may and if it has any additional beneficial effects in people who have non-responsive or recurrent ovarian, primary fallopian or primary peritoneal cancer. Because we do not know which medicine is best, we need to make comparisons. Study participants may get either 10 mg/m2 patupilone once every three weeks or 50 mg/m2 of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin once every four weeks, intravenously (directly into a vein). Study participants will be randomly assigned by an automated system to receive either the study drug patupilone or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin. Patients will not have a choice of which medication they will receive. The study drug, Patupilone is a medicine which has not been approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) or the EMEA (European Medicines Agency) for the treatment of people with your medical condition.
Trial phase: Phase 3
Participation Durations: 1 hour visit to study site, every 3-4 wks for treatment and evaluations. After completion of study treatment, you will be asked to come to the study site every 3 months to see how you’re doing and follow the progress of your disease.
Protocol Number: CEPO906A2303
For more information regarding this trial as well as sites participating, please contact:
www.clinicaltrials.gov – In the search box enter NCT00262990
www.novartisclinicaltrials.com – select “Ovarian Cancer or (800) 340-6843 – The Novartis Oncology Clinical Trials Hotline