Jan 9, 2008 7:00 pm US/Mountain
Study Gives Hope For Pancreatic Cancer Patients
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) ―
There is new hope for patients diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer. There's a new treatment being studied in Colorado and it has already cured one patient.
Most patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer die from it, but a national clinical trial has left Richard Jordan, from Fort Collins, cancer free. Jordan has defied the odds. Just over a year ago, he was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer -- the tumor was choking a major blood vessel.
"You usually don't last more than six months," Jordan said.
Doctors at the University of Colorado Cancer Center offered some hope. Jordan had chemotherapy and radiation, but he was also given an investigational gene-based drug that kills cancer cells. It was injected directly into the tumor through a tube down his throat.
"This therapy may allow tumors to shrink down and permit surgical removal," Dr. Raj Shah with the CU Cancer Center said.
That's exactly what happened for Jordan. After five weeks of treatment, the tumor had shrunk and the blood vessel was clear. The mass was then removed.
"Once that mass was removed, they studied it under a microscope and didn't find any cancer cells left, which is quite rare when we're dealing with pancreatic cancer," Shah said.
Jordon was cancer free. He was the first patient to get the therapy in Colorado as part of the national clinical trial.
"I feel darn lucky," he said. Real lucky and blessed."
All patients in the study get chemo and radiation, but not all actually receive the drug. He was one of just a few who were cured. He'll continue to be checked for any sign of cancer.
Additional ResourcesDoctors at University Hospital are actively recruiting more patients. People interested to learn more about the study should call (303) 724-1877.
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