Jan. 23, 2019:

Big Ten investigators presented early efficacy results of the BTCRC-ESO14-012 study during the 2019 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, Jan. 17-19 in San Francisco.

Hirva Mamdani, MD

The multi-center phase II study of durvalumab following trimodality therapy for locally advanced esophageal and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma is led by Indiana University School of Medicine.

See study abstract.

Study authors include Hirva Mamdani, MD, Indiana University; Bryan J. Schneider, MD, University of Michigan; Laith I. Abushahin, MBBS, University of Iowa; Thomas J. Birdas, MD, Indiana University; Kenneth Kesler, MD, Indiana University; Heather Burney, MS, Indiana University; Susan Perkins, PhD, Indiana University; and Shadia Ibrahim Jalal, MBBS, Indiana University.

“We learned that durvalumab is safe and feasible in this setting. The efficacy with regards to improving 1-year relapse free survival is encouraging,” said Dr. Mamdani (pictured). “The study would not have been possible without multi-site collaboration.”

Investigators plan to expand the study to enroll additional subjects.

See additional coverage:

About the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium: The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium was created in 2013 to transform the conduct of cancer research through collaborative, hypothesis-driven, highly translational oncology trials that leverage the scientific and clinical expertise of Big Ten universities. The goal of the Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium is to create a unique team-research culture to drive science rapidly from ideas to new approaches to cancer treatment. Within this innovative environment, today’s research leaders collaborate with and mentor the research leaders of tomorrow with the unified goal of improving the lives of all patients with cancer.

About the Big Ten Conference: The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to almost 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit www.bigten.org.