A Phase I Trial of 5Azacitidine and Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid in Patients with Metastatic or Locally Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Nasal NK-T cell Lymphoma (NCI study)
A Phase I/II study of PXD101 in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma with pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation (NCI study).
A Phase II Trial of VELCADE in Patients with Metastatic or Locally Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
The effect of pharmacogenetics on treatment toxicities and outcomes in East Asian and Caucasian patients undergoing docetaxel or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.
A Phase 2 Study of GW786034 (Pazopanib) in Asian Patients with Recurrent/Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NCI study).
A Phase II Trial of AZD0530 in Previously Treated Metastatic Pancreas Cancer (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
A Phase II Trial of Sunitinib (SU11248) in Multiple Myeloma (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
A Phase II Trial of GW786034 in Advanced Thyroid Cancer (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
A Phase I/II Trial of CCI-779 and Bevacizumab in Stage IV Renal Cell Carcinoma (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
A Phase II Study and Efficacy Study with the VEGF Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor GW786034 in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Cancer (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
A Phase II Study of AT-101 in Recurrent Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
Phase II study of Taxotere & Carboplatin combination in resectable metastatic and locally advanced NSCLC.
Phase II trial of pre-operative Docetaxel, Cisplatin and continuous infusion 5FU in patients with locally advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.
Survey of angiogenic factors in HCC.
Hepatoma — Validation of CUPI.
A Phase II trial of Thalidomide in unresectable HCC.
Study of genetic predisposition to chemotherapy-related toxicity.
Phase I study of Gemcitabine in conjunction with Vinorelbine and Radiotherapy in the Management of Stage IIIB or medically non-resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Phase II study of Cetuximab with Carboplatin in patients with metastatic NPC.
Phase II study of biweekly Irinotecan (CPT-11), 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and Folinic Acid (FA) in unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer.
Phase I/II trial of infusional Gemcitabine in combination with Carboplatin in chemo-naive advanced NSCLC.
Phase II study of 5-Fluorouracil, Folinic Acid, Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as the second line treatment in patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal carcinoma.
Phase II clinical trial of a novel tubulin-interacting macrolide in advanced local or metastatic gastric cancer (collaboration with a multi-national pharmaceutical company).
A Phase I/II study of weekly Paclitaxel and ORZEL (UFT + Leucovorin) in patients with metastatic breast cancer.
A Phase II study of Irofulven as first line therapy in recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer (NCI study).
Phase II trial of PS-341 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
A Phase II study of Triapine And Gemcitabine as Second-Line Treatment of Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Patients Who Had Prior Gemcitabine with Evaluation of the Effect of Triapine on Gemcitabine Pharmacokinetics and Cellular Uptake in Peripheral Mononuclear Cells (NCI study).
A Phase II study of Fenretinide in Patients with Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer (NCI study).
Phase II study of Ifosphamide and Doxorubicin in Patients with Refractory Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
A Phase II Trial of Bevacizumab and Erlotinib in Patients with Advanced Biliary Tumors (NCI study in collaboration with Mayo Phase II Consortium).
“Since returning from the United States after several years in New York, I have been struck by the differences between cancer in the US and Southeast Asia. The problem is an enormous one here, with cancer being the leading cause of death in Singapore, and one of the leading causes for other countries in the area. Despite economic fluctuations, patients and their tightly-knit family units are keen to have treatment comparable to what is available in the West. This has led to a tremendous demand to be enrolled in well-run drug trials when standard therapy either has poor results, or when it fails.
“New anti-cancer drug development has traditionally been performed in Europe, the United States and Japan. While many exciting new compounds have been tested in those patient populations, little is known about these drugs in cancers which afflict the large majority of the world’s population. Cancers of the nasopharynx, hepatocellular carcinoma, cervix cancer, oesophageal cancers, stomach cancers and melanoma need new anti-cancer therapy.
“In line with Johns Hopkins’ tripartite mission dedicated to research, medical education and quality patient care, we are very pleased to be working together with our colleagues both in Singapore and the region to develop new areas of clinical expertise. Since arriving in Singapore, I have noted that many cancers in Asian patients are different from those in the United States. This is further compounded by differences in cultural and social behaviour between the two regions.
“The Department of Clinical Oncology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong established the “Centre for Trials, Drug Development and Novel Therapeutics” in 1996 with the aim of conducting clinical trials according to the Good Clinical Practice guidelines. As of today, more than 100 Phase I/II/III clinical trials have been completed. Currently, there are approximately 30–35 ongoing studies with several more at the planning stage.
