Anand Karnad, M.D., will present a free public lecture about how to participate in cancer clinical trials.
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Contact: Elizabeth Allen, 210-450-2020

SAN ANTONIO (June 1, 2011) – Fewer than 10 percent of people who have exhausted conventional cancer therapies look into the possibility of participating in a clinical trial, yet those trials are a chance for them to try cutting-edge therapies under close and caring supervision.

They also have the potential to develop new weapons in the fight against cancer.

On June 9, Anand Karnad, M.D., will talk about clinical trials at a free public lecture on cancer prevention and treatment.

The presentation will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, 7979 Wurzbach, in the Grossman Building. Refreshments will be provided.

New treatment possibilities
“Clinical trials have shown us, for instance, that radical mastectomies are not necessary, reducing the severity of breast surgeries for many women,” said Dr. Karnad, professor of hematology and medical oncology in the Health Science Center's School of Medicine.

In July, CTRC Director Ian M. Thompson Jr., M.D., will speak on “Strength of Spirit in Overcoming Cancer: Scientific Evidence and Personal Stories.”

History of discovery
CTRC clinical trials that have led to new treatments include original work on pemetrexed (Alimta), now used in lung cancer and mesothelioma, important work on a new class of drugs called m-TOR inhibitors and landmark clinical trials on taxanes in breast cancer, Dr. Karnad said. There are also new drugs being tested for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

During his presentation, Dr. Karnad will also show brief videos of patients describing their experiences in clinical trials and give examples of ongoing trials.

For more information, call 210-450-1152.

This is the seventh in a series of free monthly public lectures on cancer sponsored by the CTRC. In July, CTRC Director Ian M. Thompson Jr., M.D., will speak on “Strength of Spirit in Overcoming Cancer: Scientific Evidence and Personal Stories.”

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The Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio is one of the elite academic cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Center, and is one of only four in Texas. A leader in developing new drugs to treat cancer, the CTRC Institute for Drug Development (IDD) conducts one of the largest oncology Phase I clinical drug programs in the world, and participates in development of cancer drugs approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. For more information, visit www.ctrc.net.