This year has seen ovarian cancer study ICON9 register its 200th patient, with now over 100 patients randomised to receive study medication.
A CR UK flagship study run by the CR UK and UCL Cancer Trials Centre and supported by AstraZeneca, ICON9 is a phase III study investigating the effectiveness of combination maintenance therapy in patients with ovarian cancer who have relapsed. Patients who are shown to respond to their second-line, platinum-based chemotherapy are approached for the trial if they are eligible, and randomised to receive either both Olaparib – a “PARP inhibitor” - and Cediranib – an “anti-angiogenesis” drug, or Olaparib alone.
Angiogenesis (the development of new blood vessels) and the enzyme PARP (which enables cancer cells to repair their DNA and continue to divide) play a role in the growth of ovarian cancer. Cediranib and Olaparib have both been shown to delay tumour progression, and ICON9 is investigating the effectiveness and safety of using both medications together in recurrent ovarian cancer.
Trial Coordinator Ian Macdonald, who joined the CTC in December, said: “I am excited to have joined the fantastic team at the CTC and been given the opportunity to work on this flagship study, which has the potential to improve the treatment options of women with recurrent ovarian cancer.”
There are currently just under 40 sites recruiting patients in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, with more sites across the world slated to open later this year.