Oncology Trials

SCCA Affiliation

The Cancer Center at Overlake recently joined the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) network. This affiliation will give our patients greatly expanded access to SCCA’s important clinical research trials right here on the Overlake campus. There will be more to come as we begin this work with SCCA.

Currently Enrolling Trials:

Breast Tissue Repository Study

This is a study which has created a breast specimen repository, a collection of tissue samples from patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The tissue samples will be studied to help find out more information about breast cancer.

Coordinated by: The University of Washington and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Contact: Dr. Richard Clarfeld at 425-688-0212 or Tina Fortney, RN CCRC at 425-688-5407.

NSABP B-43

A randomized phase III trial for patients with DCIS after lumpectomy in which patients are HER-2/neu positive (central lab tested only). Patients will receive standard external beam XRT versus XRT plus 2 doses of Herceptin.

Contact: Dr. Tanya Wahl at 425-454-2148 or Tina Fortney, RN CCRC at 425-688-5407.

When Mommy or Daddy Get Cancer

A parenting program offered through the UW School of Nursing available to parents who have a 5- to 12-year-old and who are diagnosed with early stage (non-metastatic) cancer and within seven months of diagnosis.

Contact: Mary Ellen Shands RN, MN, at the University of Washington School of Nursing at 206-559-9671.

Helping Her Heal

A program for spouses or significant others of Women with Breast Cancer. The patient must be diagnosed with Stage 0, I, II, or III breast cancer (local or regional involvement), diagnosed within six months of her first diagnosis of breast cancer.

Contact: Mary Ellen Shands RN, MN, at the University of Washington School of Nursing at 206-685-0837.

NSABP-B-44I (adjuvant chemotherapy)

A randomized phase III trial for patients with high risk node negative or node positive HER-2/neu positive (central lab confirmed) tumors. This trial will determine the value of Bevacizumab to chemotherapy plus transtuzumab in patients with resected node positive or high risk node-negative HER-2 positive breast cancer.

Contact: Dr. Tanya Wahl at 425-454-2148 or Joelle Machia at Puget Sound Oncology Consortium at 206-667-6544.

NSABP B-39

A randomized, phase II trial for patients who are less than 50 years old, LN negative or LN 1-3, or DCIS; Age: over 50 years old, LN positive or ER negative only (DCIS or low risk, over 50 not allowed). Patients are randomized to external beam XRT versus Mammosite radiation.

Contact: Dr. James Pelton at 425-688-5289 or Tina Fortney, RN CCRC at 425-688-5407.

NSABP B-46I/USOR 07132

A phase III trial comparing the combination of TC plus Bevacizumab to TC alone and to TAC for women with node-positive or high-risk node-negative, HER2-negative breast cancer. The main purpose of this study is to learn if adding the Bevacizumab to treatment with two chemotherapy drugs for early stage HER2-negative breast cancer will prevent breast cancer from returning.

Contact: Dr. Tanya Wahl at 425-454-2148 or Tina Fortney, RN CCRC at 425-688-5407 or Joelle Machia at Puget Sound Oncology Consortium at 206-667-6544.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Study

A phase II study of triple negative metastatic breast cancer that will evaluate the efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) and bevacizumab (Avastin), followed by maintenance targeted therapy with bevacizumab and erlotinib (Tarceva). The hope is to prolong progression-free survival.

Contact: Dr. Tanya Wahl at 425-454-2148 or Tina Fortney, RN CCRC at 425-688-5407.

Metastatic Breast Cancer Trial - COMPLETE Trial

This is a randomized, open-label, multi-center Phase III study evaluating the efficacy and safety of lapatinib in combination with trastuzumab versus trastuzumab alone as continued HER2 suppression therapy in women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Eligible subjects will have completed 12 to 24 weeks of first- or second-line treatment with trastuzumab plus chemotherapy, experienced either complete disappearance of all metastatic lesions or persistence of metastatic disease (stable disease) without unequivocal progression or the occurrence of new lesions, and been indicated to continue to receive trastuzumab alone as maintenance therapy. Eligible subjects also will not have a known history of CNS (central nervous system) metastases.

The primary objective of this study is to compare progression-free survival (PFS) in subjects with HER2-positive MBC randomized to receive treatment with lapatinib plus trastuzumab versus those randomized to receive trastuzumab alone.

The secondary objectives include overall survival, clinical benefit response rate (complete response [CR], partial response [PR] or stable disease [SD] ≥24 weeks) and the qualitative and quantitative adverse event profile of the 2 treatment arms.

Contact: Dr. Tanya Wahl at 425-454-2148 or Tina Fortney, RN, CCRC, at 425-688-5407.


	Frank Shaver hip replacement patient An avid skier, Frank Shaver's active lifestyle caught up with him. The retired member of the National Ski Patrol hit the slopes at the start of a recent ski season, only to experience terrible pain in his left leg. X-rays showed the cartilage in his left hip was gone. Frank’s Overlake physician recommended a left hip replacement. When he developed similar symptoms in his right leg a few ski seasons later, Frank underwent a second replacement surgery—this time for his right hip. Today, Frank's legs are even stronger and he’s able to ski as well as ever.


	Katharine Warmerdam weight loss surgery patient Katharine was injured and bedridden for six months as a result of a devastating car crash. After undergoing many surgeries to repair her crushed feet, Katharine was told by her doctor that if she didn’t have weight loss surgery and shed her excess weight, she would spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. Katharine had the surgery and lost 254 pounds in two years. She no longer has high blood pressure or pre-diabetes. She’s learned to eat healthier and become more active while gaining a new lease on life.


	George Anderson cancer survivor When George Anderson experienced persistent abdominal discomfort, he suspected something was wrong. He was right. A colonoscopy showed he had stage IIIB rectal cancer and needed surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Overlake's interdisciplinary cancer treatment team developed a treatment plan specific to George's condition. Today he is cancer free, enjoys spending time with his wife and grandchildren and continues to live his life to the fullest.


	John Keffer cardiac patient Redmond Fire Captain John Keffer had transferred hundreds of patients to Overlake’s Emergency Department (ED), so when paramedics rushed him to the same ED to for an irregular heartbeat, he appreciated getting immediate access to top-notch treatment. A congenital heart defect had damaged a portion of John’s aorta, causing the irregular heartbeat. During open-heart surgery, Overlake’s expert team of physicians successfully replaced the damaged blood vessel. Today, John is fully recovered.