OREANDA-NEWS. June 06, 2013. More than 85 leading investigators affiliated with US Oncology Research, The US Oncology Network and McKesson Specialty Health participated in 90 studies that will be presented, displayed or published at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) held May 31-June 4 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Of those studies, 11 will be presented as oral presentations, three as educational/special sessions and 45 as poster presentations.

Daniel Von Hoff, M.D., F.A.C.P., chief scientific officer for US Oncology Research and physician in chief and director of translational research at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), is presenting a study titled, "Results of a randomized phase III trial (MPACT) of weekly nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine versus gemcitabine alone for patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with PET and CA19-9 correlates." During the oral presentation, Dr. Von Hoff will detail the results of the study and explain why the outcomes could have a significant impact on how patients with pancreatic cancer are treated.

"Studies such as this one allow us to make significant strides in our fight against advanced pancreatic cancer, a disease that is very difficult to treat because early detection is so difficult," said Dr. Von Hoff. "More than 850 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated at over 150 community and academic centers participated in this important trial (based on solid basic science), which is a new standard in the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer and could become a backbone for new regimens."

Dr. Von Hoff was also involved in a study titled,"Integrating molecular profiling into cancer treatment decision making: Experience with over 35,000 cases," as another oral presentation at the ASCO annual meeting. This trial is evidence of the growing shift in clinical cancer research, where more investigators are focusing on biomarkers and molecular diagnostics to better understand the biology of a patient's tumor.  The study also provides important leads for clinical trials with both established and investigational new agents.

"Our affiliated investigators were involved in 90 studies featured at ASCO this year, and many of those studies involve a biomarker or targeted molecule," said Lisa Holland, vice president of US Oncology Research, which is supported by McKesson Specialty Health. "We are honored to participate in designing and conducting clinical trials that focus on the science, looking for the most effective opportunities that will benefit a patient's care. For example, we had the opportunity to lead enrollment in the U.S. for several studies with novel combination therapies as well as studies that have been practice-changing for patients affected by cancer. Due to the size and connectivity of our network, we are fortunate to be able to identify patients for the smaller, targeted trials, as well as continue to accrue on larger trials across the network. We are committed to supporting our affiliated investigators with clinical trial opportunities for patients and are very proud of their strong presence at this year's ASCO meeting."

A part of McKesson Specialty Health, US Oncology Research enables community-based oncologists, many of whom are affiliated with The US Oncology Network, to participate in clinical research studies. US Oncology Research has a long history of bringing innovative and successful agents to market. To date, the physicians affiliated with US Oncology Research have played a role in the development of 46 FDA-approved cancer fighting therapies.

Click here to view complete list of affiliated studies.

About US Oncology Research
Supported by McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network, US Oncology Research draws from a network of experienced investigators and dedicated clinical staff who specialize in Phase I through Phase IV oncology clinical trials. US Oncology Research serves approximately 80 research sites and nearly 225 locations managing about 225 active trials at any given time. Physicians in the research network have enrolled more than 55,000 patients in over 1,200 trials since inception in 1992 and have contributed to the development of 46 cancer therapies approved by the FDA. For more information call (800) 482-6700, option 4 or visit www.usoncology.com/oncologists.

About The US Oncology Network
The US Oncology Network is one of the nation's largest networks of integrated community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. A physician-led organization, The US Oncology Network unites like-minded physicians and clinicians around a common vision of improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Leveraging healthcare information technology, shared best practices, precise evidence-based guidelines and quality measurements, physicians within The US Oncology Network are pioneering new ways to achieve this vision. The US Oncology Network is committed to strengthening patient access to integrated care in local communities across the nation, including collaboration with a variety of regional payers, hospitals and academic institutions. The US Oncology Network is supported by McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation focused on empowering a vibrant and sustainable community patient care delivery system. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.

About McKesson Specialty Health
McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation, empowers the community patient care delivery system by helping community practices advance the science, technology and quality of care. Through innovative clinical, research, business and operational solutions, facilitated by integrated technology systems, we focus on improving the financial health of our customers so they may provide the best care to their patients. For more information, visit www.mckessonspecialtyhealth.com.