Debiopharm and EORTC team up for salivary gland cancer treatment

Debiopharm International will collaborate with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in order to supply triptorelin pamoate for salivary gland cancer

Debiopharm will supply triptorelin pamoate 3.75 mg 1-month formulation for patients suffering from salivary gland cancer participating in a clinical study sponsored by EORTC.

The EORTC intergroup trial 1206, in which triptorelin pamoate will be used, is coordinated by the EORTC Head and Neck Cancer Group in collaboration with the International Rare Cancer Initiative UK Salivary Gland Cancer Group.

Lisa Licitra of the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan, Italy, and coordinator of this study said: “Androgen, estrogen and progesterone play a key role in the growth and development of several cancer types and since the discovery of androgen receptors in salivary gland tumours, it is thought that androgen deprivation therapy might be beneficial for patients with androgen receptor expressing, salivary gland cancer.

“The EORTC 1206 intergroup trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of androgen deprivation therapy versus chemotherapy in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic, salivary gland cancer."

Salivary gland cancers are a rare and heterogeneous group of tumours and according to Debiopharm, there is currently no standard of care for treating these cancers.

Debiopharm said that the purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy versusandrogen deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic androgen receptors-expressing salivary gland cancers.

Eija Lundstrom, medical director at Debiopharm, said: "Androgen deprivation therapy with triptorelin may slow progression of salivary gland cancers expressing androgen receptors.

"We are committed to support the clinical investigation of this promising treatment option of these rare cancers."