Cervical cancer chemoprevention, vaccines, and surrogate endpoint biomarkers.
At the Second International Conference on Cervical Cancer, held April 11-14, 2002, experts in cervical cancer prevention, detection, and treatment reviewed the need for more research in chemoprevention, including prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines, immunomodulators, peptides, and surrogate endpoint biomarkers. Investigators and clinicians noted the need for more rigorous Phase I randomized clinical trials, more attention to the risk factors that can affect study results in this patient population, and validation of optical technologies that will provide valuable quantitative information in real time regarding disease regression and progression. They discussed the role of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer development and the importance of developing strategies to suppress HPV persistence and progression. Results in Phase I randomized clinical trials have been disappointing because few have demonstrated statistically significant regression attributable to the agent tested. Researchers recommended using a transgenic mouse model to test and validate new compounds, initiating vaccine and immunomodulator trials, and developing immunologic surrogate endpoint biomarkers.
Follen
Michele
M
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. mfollen@mdanderson.org
Meyskens
Frank L
FL
Alvarez
Ronald D
RD
Walker
Joan L
JL
Bell
Maria C
MC
Storthz
Karen Adler
KA
Sastry
Jagannadha
J
Roy
Krishnendu
K
Richards-Kortum
Rebecca
R
Cornelison
Terri L
TL
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000254:growth & development; D010455:Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D018977:Micronutrients; D010455:Peptides