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Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute

UAMS’ First Phase 1 Cancer Clinical Trial

Testing New Way to Protect Hearts while Treating Cancer

What is a Phase I Clinical Trial?

Phase 1 clinical trials are the first to involve human participants. Almost every cancer treatment offered to patients today has come about because of a clinical trial. This is the first phase 1 cancer clinical trial at UAMS.

Chemotherapy and Heart Health

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug prevents heart damage caused by doxorubicin, which is used in chemotherapy. On the other hand, dexrazoxane may undermine the cancer treatment, causing many doctors to leave it on the shelf. Dexrazoxane has been on the market since 2007, and doctors traditionally administered it to cancer patients at the same time as doxorubicin.

The Phoenix Trial – Rise from the Ashes

UAMS researcher Hui-Ming Chang, M.D., MPH, believes she may have found a way for dexrazoxane to protect the heart without hampering doxorubicin’s cancer fighting ability. With the support of a five-year, $3.5 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant, she has begun testing her laboratory findings at the newly opened UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Phase 1 Cancer Clinical Trial Unit.

Discovery in the Lab

Chang discovered that if she gives dexrazoxane to mice eight hours before doxorubicin, it completely protects the heart from doxorubicin’s side effects and does not interfere with doxorubicin’s ability to kill cancer cells.

Bench to Bedside

“This is a significant milestone for UAMS and the Cancer Institute.” We are especially excited to kick off our phase 1 trials with Dr. Chang’s bench-to-bedside research. As a result of her remarkable laboratory findings, there is a real opportunity to protect the hearts of patients while treating their cancer.”

Michael Birrer, M.D., Ph.D., the institute’s director and vice chancellor.

Sign up for the Trial

The study is now recruiting 25 healthy women volunteers, ages 18-65. Women interested in volunteering for the study can email PHOENIX1@uams.edu. Compensation is available.

Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute LogoWinthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer InstituteWinthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute
Address: 449 Jack Stephens Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205
Parking Deck: 4018 W Capitol Ave., Little Rock, AR 72205
Appointments : (501) 296-1200
Referring Physicians: (501) 686-6080
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