DETROIT, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Barbara Ann Karmanos Institute is looking for women with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer to participate in a clinical trial.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071106/KARMANOSCANCERINSTITUTELOGO)

The Phase II trial at Karmanos is part of an international study to further test a new drug Trastuzumab-DM1, in development by Genentech. The trial will be under the direction of Patricia LoRusso, D.O., Karmanos director of the Phase I Clinical Trials Program and professor of internal medicine at Wayne State University.

"We are actively recruiting women to join this study and encourage them to call us for additional information," said Dr. LoRusso. She stated that eligible patients must have HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer, tumors measurable by radiographic evaluation, progressed on Herceptin, Tykerb and Xeloda, and show no current evidence of brain cancer.

Patients should call the Karmanos Clinical Trials office at 313-576-8749.

Dr. LoRusso has developed the Phase I program at Karmanos, one of only 14 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Phase I programs in the country, and the only such program in Michigan. She has been integrally involved in the early clinical development of several drugs that are now commercially available.

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute

Located in mid-town Detroit, MI, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute is one of 41 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Caring for more than 6,000 new patients annually on a budget of $216 million, conducting more than 700 cancer-specific scientific investigation programs and clinical trials, the Karmanos Cancer Institute is among the nation's best cancer centers. Through the commitment of 1,000 staff, including nearly 300 faculty members, and supported by thousands of volunteer and financial donors, the Institute strives to prevent, detect and eradicate all forms of cancer. John C. Ruckdeschel, M.D., is the Institute's president and chief executive officer. For more information call 1-800-KARMANOS or go to www.karmanos.org.

CONTACT: Patricia A. Ellis, Media Relations Manager, Karmanos Cancer
Institute, +1-313-576-8629, cell: +1-313-410-3417

Web site: http://www.karmanos.org/