09/18/2015
Ovarian cancer is a devastating disease, yet across the country fewer than half of patients will even see a gynecologic oncologist. Those who do may expect a better outcome due to better sequencing of treatment and access to the most state-of-the-art therapy. One hundred women in New Hampshire will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. Most will achieve remission with a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, but 80-90% of those with advanced disease will relapse. Treatment options are limited as cancer cells become resistant to standard chemotherapy.
Until recently, women would have to travel beyond the seacoast to participate in a clinical trial. The growing volume of patients choosing Wentworth-Douglass, an increase of 30% since last year, has provided the Clinical Trial Team with the resources to coordinate meaningful clinical trials, right here in Dover. With the support of the Seacoast Cancer Center research team, our WDH Gynecologic Oncology Program recently opened an innovative phase II trial (NRG-GY003) utilizing two new targeted immunotherapy agents. These drugs have had dramatic results in melanoma, lung cancer and some other disease sites, but this is the first study looking at these agents in ovarian cancer. The national trial opened this summer and within two months had reached its initial accrual goal of 50. With Dr. John Schorge serving as the local Primary Investigator, we were able to identify and enroll 3 of the patients who are currently on treatment at WDH. Without the availability of clinical trials, each of them would have sought elsewhere without the benefit of this progressive care option. In addition to NRG-GY003, WDH patients are participating in six national clinical trials to expand cancer treatment options.
Our Gynecology Oncology clinical trials program just began 6 months ago, but is already off to a promising start with leadership from Dr. Schorge, MD Chief of Gynecology and Chief of GYN Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Program Director, GYN Oncology/Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Dr. Schorge recently established WDH as a member of the Gynecology Oncology Group Foundation. This prestigious membership grants Dr. Schorge and the Seacoast Cancer Center access to clinical trials that are not even available at all major hospitals in Boston, thus providing unique access and resources to our patients.