OBGYN Leads Clinical Trial for Cervical Cancer
Nathalie McKenzie, M.D., gynecologic oncology fellow, and Fiona Simpkins, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and leader of Phase I Clinical Trials for Gynecologic Cancers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, are leading a Phase I Clinical Trial for the drug Nelfinavir, for women currently being treated for locally advanced cervical cancer.
An FDA-approved drug used to treat patients with HIV, Nelfinavir has more than a decade of safety data. Now there is compelling evidence that Nelfinavir affects cervical cancer cells and makes radiation therapy more effective (it is a radiosensitizer). This suggests that the drug may be helpful to cervical cancer patients who do not have HIV.
“This evidence has led us to initiate a clinical trial to investigate whether the combination of taking Nelfinavir pills daily while receiving the usual treatment for advanced cervical cancer (weekly chemotherapy and daily radiation therapy) will improve the efficacy of the treatment and ultimately improve survival,” Dr. McKenzie said. “We are very excited to offer this new trial to women with stages II, III, and IVA cervical cancer through both the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics and Jackson Memorial Hospital.”
The trial is funded by the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award, which McKenzie received. To make a referral or to learn more about enrolling in the study, call Mary Byrne, research coordinator, at 305-243-2233.
