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New Clinical Trials

From http://cushings.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=33017

San Antonio Clinical Trial for Cushing's Syndrome

We are conducting diabetes & glandular disease research in San Antonio, TX.

We have Cushing's disease studies for those suffering from high levels of circulating steroids.

You may be eligible for free study related medical care and compensation for time and travel.

Please contact our Registered Nurse, Cheryl, at (210) 615-5565 if you are interested in participating.

We look forward to hearing from you.


From http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/endocrinology/

The Pituitary Tumor Program at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center will soon be opening a new multi-center Phase III clinical trial sponsored by Novartis: "A randomized, double-blind study to assess the safety and efficacy of different dose levels of Pasireotide (SOM230) over a 6 month treatment period in patients with de novo, persistent or recurrent Cushing’s disease."

Pasireotide is a novel somatostatin analogue that exhibits a high binding affinity for four of the five known human somatostatin receptors, whereas expression of somatostatin receptors 1, 3 and 5 has been demonstrated in ACTH-secreting pituitary tumors. Pasireotide inhibits the release of ACTH from the tumor and thereby controls hypercortisolemia. The effect on tumor volume remains to be determined. The outcome of the clinical trial may allow pasireotide to become available for medical treatment for patients with Cushing’s disease.

Eligibility criteria include:

Study participants will need to self-administer pasireotide subcutaneously twice daily and participate in 18 study visits at MD Anderson over the course of 14 months. Participants will not be charged for any costs related to the study drug or visits. Patients will have the option to continue to receive therapy with pasireotide after study completion as long as they do not meet any of the criteria for discontinuation of the study or until pasireotide is commercially available or the pasireotide development program is discontinued. Please contact Mary Jean Klein, Manager, Clinical Protocol Administration, at 713-792-2840 for further information.


SOM230 Therapy for Patients with Cushing's Disease

Patients with active Cushing's disease (Cushing's syndrome caused by an ACTH producing pituitary tumor) who have urine free cortisols more than 2x the upper limit of normal and are age 18 or greater will be eligible to be screened for this study.

Qualifying patients will receive SOM230 (a new drug that effects all five somatostatin receptors) for a 16-day period to see if it effectively treats Cushing's disease.

Urine free cortisols (as well as other tests) will be assessed before and after drug treatment.

All expenses will be paid to the patients including a stipend for participating. Dr. Maria Fleseriu is the principal investigator at OHSU.

Interested patients should call Chris at 503.494.6576

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