Latest Cancer News
PET/CT Improves Detection of Inoperable Lung Cancer
(07/02/2009)
Preoperative lung cancer staging with combined PET/CT imaging allows some patients to avoid futile surgery. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Amgen Helps Reduce Out-of-pocket Costs for Neulasta®
(07/02/2009)
Amgen’s Neulasta FIRST STEP™ Program provides assistance to eligible, low-income, commercially-insured chemotherapy patients who need help with their co-insurance or co-payment requirement for Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim).
Sutent® Fails to Show Benefit in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
(07/01/2009)
The combination of the targeted therapy Sutent® (sunitinib) and FOLFIRI chemotherapy did not result in better progression-free survival than FOLFIRI alone among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, prompting a Phase III clinical trial of the combination treatment to be stopped early. This information was made available in a press release from Pfizer.
Sprycel® Superior to High-dose Gleevec® in Gleevec-resistant CML
(07/01/2009)
Sprycel® (dasatinib) produces a higher response rate and improves progression-free survival in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have grown resistant to Gleevec® (imatinib), according to the results of a study published early online in Cancer.
CIN Associated with Long-term Risk of Recurrence and Invasive Cervical Cancer
(06/30/2009)
Women who have undergone treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) have a long-term increased risk of developing invasive carcinoma or a recurrence of CIN and, as such, need long-term surveillance, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Gene Expression Predicts Neuroblastoma Outcome
(06/30/2009)
Among children with neuroblastoma, a test that assesses the activity of several genes in a sample of tumor tissue provides information about the patient’s prognosis and may help guide treatment decisions. The results of this study were published in Lancet Oncology.
Child Abuse Linked with Increased Cancer Risk
(06/29/2009)
Children who are physically abused may be at increased risk of developing cancer later in life. These results were published in Cancer.
Eliminating Preventive Radiation May Benefit Children with ALL
(06/26/2009)
Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who are treated with effective, risk-adjusted chemotherapy regimens have good outcomes and may safely be able to avoid preventive radiation therapy to the brain. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Bariatric Surgery Reduces Cancer Risk in Women
(06/26/2009)
Obese women who undergo weight-loss surgery are significantly less likely to develop cancer than obese women who do not receive such surgery. These results were published in Lancet Oncology.
Obesity Increases Pancreatic Cancer Risks
(06/25/2009)
Overweight or obesity during early adulthood increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer and is also linked with a younger age at diagnosis. Overweight or obesity later in life is linked with worse pancreatic cancer survival. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Hodgkin’s Survivors at Increased Risk of Stroke
(06/24/2009)
Patients who have been treated with radiation therapy for Hodgkin’s lymphoma have an elevated risk of stroke. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Pesticides Linked to Precancerous Blood Disorder
(06/24/2009)
Individuals who apply pesticides to crops are twice as likely as the general population to develop a precancerous blood disorder called MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance), which can lead to multiple myeloma, according to the results of a study published in Blood.
Survivors of Childhood Cancer at Risk for Second Cancers Later in Life
(06/23/2009)
Survivors of childhood cancers remain at risk for developing second primary cancers throughout their lives, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Formaldehyde Exposure May Increase Risk of Blood and Lymphatic Cancers
(06/23/2009)
Industrial workers who are exposed to formaldehyde may be at an increased risk of dying from blood and lymphatic cancers, particularly myeloid leukemia but also Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Women with Hypothyroidism at Increased Risk of Liver Cancer
(06/22/2009)
Long-term hypothyroidism in women significantly increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), according to the results of a study published in Hepatology.
Long-term Androgen Suppression Is Superior for Prostate Cancer
(06/22/2009)
Short-term androgen suppression produces inferior survival compared with long-term androgen suppression in the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer, according to the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
CT Colonography May Be Appropriate Screening Test for Some High-risk Individuals
(06/22/2009)
Among people at increased risk of colorectal cancer, computed tomographic (CT) colonography correctly classified 85% of the people with advanced adenomas or cancer and 88% of the people without advanced adenomas or cancer. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO HOST FREE ALL-STAR CHARITY CONCERT WITH NINE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNER SHERYL CROW
(06/22/2009)
Major League Baseball will host Missouri native and nine-time Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow for the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Charity Concert presented by Pepsi on Saturday, July 11 at Jefferson Memorial Park under the iconic Gateway Arch. The concert, which will be free to fans, is a charitable event that will feature a $1 million donation by Major League Baseball to Stand Up To Cancer. In addition, fans will be able to make donations to Stand Up To Cancer at the concert.
Age and Illness Increase Colonoscopy Risks
(06/18/2009)
Although the risk of complications from colonoscopy is low, risk increases among the very elderly and among those with certain chronic health conditions. These results were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Oncotype DX® and Clinical Characteristics Influence Chemotherapy Decisions in Early Breast Cancer
(06/22/2009)
According to research conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, among women with early breast cancer who underwent testing with Oncotype DX®, decisions about the need for chemotherapy were influenced by the Oncotype DX recurrence score as well as by the size and grade of the cancer. These results were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Denosumab Provides Bone Benefits in Prostate and Breast Cancer
(06/15/2009)
Among prostate patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy, the investigational drug denosumab increases bone density and reduces the risk of fractures. Denosumab also improves bone density in breast cancer patients treated with aromatase inhibitors. These were the results of two studies presented at the 2009 annual meeting the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Stand Up To Cancer Dream Team Announcement Fact Sheets
(06/12/2009)
An Overview of Current Research Projects
Gardasil® Label Highlights Fainting Risk
(06/12/2009)
Information about the risk of fainting has been added to the “Warnings and Precautions” section of the prescribing information for the HPV vaccine Gardasil®. As with any vaccine, Gardasil recipients should remain seated or lying down and be observed for 15 minutes following vaccination.
Most Oncologists Fail to Address Fertility Issues with Patients
(06/11/2009)
Despite the high risk of infertility associated with cancer treatment, few oncologists refer patients to fertility specialists or provide adequate educational material, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida.
Celebrities Unite Around Stand Up To Cancer’s Dream Team Announcement
(06/11/2009)
Marcia Cross, Fran Drescher, Dana Delany, David Archuleta, Kirsten Dunst, Mandy Moore, Sally Field, Patrick Wilson To Serve as Celebrity Ambassadors
Stand Up To Cancer Selects Multi-disciplinary Research “Dream Teams”
(06/10/2009)
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), the charitable initiative supporting groundbreaking research aimed at getting new cancer treatments to patients in an accelerated timeframe, has reached a significant milestone, awarding the first round of three-year grants – that total $73.6 million -- to five multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research Dream Teams.
Lung Cancer Screening with Low-dose Computed Tomography Associated with High Rate of False Positives
(06/10/2009)
Individuals who undergo lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) are at a high risk for receiving false-positive results, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida.
Partial Breast Irradiation Appears Safe and Feasible for Early Breast Cancer
(06/10/2009)
Partial breast irradiation (PBI) appears to produce the same overall survival results as whole-breast radiation (WBRT) in women with early-stage breast cancer; however, more research will be necessary before this investigational treatment replaces WBRT as the standard of care in this patient group. The results of this study were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida.
Preemptive Skin Treatment Reduces Skin Toxicity Associated with Vectibix® in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
(06/09/2009)
Early skin treatment that is initiated prior to the start of EGFR treatment with Vectibix® (panitumumab) reduces the incidence and severity of skin toxicity and improves quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida.
Sentinel Node Biopsy Is a Minimally-invasive, Effective Method for Determining Spread of Cervical Cancer
(06/09/2009)
The majority of women with cervical cancer can safely undergo sentinel node biopsy instead of full pelvic lymph node dissection to determine the spread of their disease, thereby avoiding the complications associated with the more invasive procedure, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida.
Idiotype Vaccine Improves Disease-free Survival in Patients with Follicular Lymphoma
(06/08/2009)
BiovaxID, an individualized tumor-specific protein vaccine, prolongs disease-free survival in patients with advanced follicular lymphoma who experience complete remission for six months or longer following first-line treatment with the chemotherapy regimen PACE, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida.
Gemzar® Added to Chemoradiation Improves Survival in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer
(06/08/2009)
The combination of Gemzar® (gemcitabine), Platinol® (cisplatin), and concurrent radiation significantly improves survival over single-agent Platinol and radiation in women with Stage IIB-IVA cervical cancer, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida.
Experimental Vaccine Improves Melanoma Outcomes
(06/05/2009)
Patients with advanced melanoma experienced higher response rates and longer survival without cancer progression when treated with an experimental anticancer vaccine in addition to standard therapy. These were the preliminary findings from a Phase III clinical trial presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Denosumab Produces Promising Results Against Giant Cell Tumor of the Bone
(06/05/2009)
In a Phase II clinical trial, 86% of patients with giant cell tumor of the bone responded to treatment with the investigational targeted therapy denosumab. These results were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Sentinel Node Micrometastases Indicate Need for Additional Axillary Treatment in Patients with Early Breast Cancer
(06/04/2009)
According to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, breast cancer patients with small areas of cancer (“micrometastases”) in the sentinel lymph nodes should receive additional lymph node treatment (such as axillary lymph node dissection) in order to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
Zactima™ Shows Promise Against Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
(06/04/2009)
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), addition of the investigational targeted therapy Zactima™ (vandetanib) to chemotherapy with Taxotere® (docetaxel) delayed cancer progression among patients with previously treated, advanced non–small cell lung cancer.
Some Antidepressants May Interfere with Tamoxifen Effectiveness
(06/03/2009)
According to the results of a study conducted in the United States and presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), certain types of antidepressants may interfere with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) effectiveness. In contrast, a study conducted in the Netherlands and also presented at ASCO found no such effect.
June 7 Is National Cancer Survivors Day®
(06/03/2009)
Now in its 22nd year, National Cancer Survivors Day® (NCSD) is celebrated annually on the first Sunday in June throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in several other countries. This year NCSD will take place on Sunday, June 7, to honor cancer survivors and their caregivers and healthcare providers as well as recognize that a full, active life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.
Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy Linked to Increased Death Rate from NSCLC
(06/04/2009)
Menopausal women with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who receive combined hormone replacement therapy with estrogen plus progestin are 61% more likely to die from the disease than their counterparts who received placebo, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida.
Surgery Unnecessary for Most Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
(06/02/2009)
Patients with newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer do not need to undergo surgical removal of their tumor unless the tumor is causing complications, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida.
Initiating Treatment Due to Elevated CA125 Marker Does Not Improve Survival in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
(06/02/2009)
Early treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer based on a rising CA125 marker does not appear to improve overall survival compared with treatment that is started upon presentation of symptoms, according to the results of a study presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Florida.
Herceptin® Improves Survival with HER2-positive Gastric Cancer
(06/02/2009)
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), treatment with a combination of chemotherapy and the targeted drug Herceptin® (trastuzumab) results in better survival than chemotherapy alone among patients with advanced, HER2-positive gastric (stomach) cancer.
No Benefit of Avastin® in Early-stage Colon Cancer
(06/01/2009)
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), addition of the targeted therapy Avastin® (bevacizumab) to post-surgery chemotherapy does not improve disease-free survival among patients with early-stage colon cancer. These results were previously made available in a press release from Roche.
HER2 Overexpression Predicts Invasive Breast Cancer in Women with DCIS
(06/01/2009)
According to the results of a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) that has high levels of the HER2 protein are several times more likely than other women with DCIS to have invasive breast cancer.
Targeted Therapy Shows Promise in Treatment of Triple-negative Breast Cancer
(06/01/2009)
According to the results of a Phase II clinical trial presented at a plenary session of the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), treatment with chemotherapy plus the investigational drug BSI-201—a type of targeted therapy known as a PARP inhibitor—improved outcomes among women with triple-negative breast cancer.
Rezonic™ Enhances the Effects of Zofran® and Dexamethasone for Prevention of Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting
(05/29/2009)
The addition of Rezonic™ (casopitant) to Zofran® (ondansetron) and dexamethasone significantly reduces chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting compared with Zofran and dexamethasone alone, according to the results of a study published in the Lancet Oncology.
Additional Evidence That Antibiotics Are Effective Against Gastric MALT Lymphomas
(05/29/2009)
According to the results of a study published in the Annals of Oncology, antibiotic treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection results in a high rate of long-term survival among patients with localized, gastric MALT lymphoma.
Study Assesses Risk of Gastrointestinal Perforation in Patients Treated with Avastin®
(05/28/2009)
Gastrointestinal perforation is a potentially serious side effect of the targeted therapy Avastin® (bevacizumab). To explore how frequently this side effect occurs, a study published in Lancet Oncology evaluated information from 17 clinical trials. The results indicate that Avastin users are roughly twice as likely as nonusers to experience gastrointestinal perforation but that the risk appears to vary by Avastin dose and tumor type.
Fentora® Effective for Chronic Cancer Pain
(05/28/2009)
Fentora® (fentanyl buccal tablets) is safe and effective for patients with persistent cancer pain who continue to have “breakthrough pain” while taking opioids (such as morphine or oxycodone), according to the results of a study published early online in Cancer.
Gemzar® and Taxol® Effective First-line Therapy for Previously Untreated Bladder Cancer
(05/27/2009)
The combination of Gemzar® (gemcitabine) and Taxol® (paclitaxel) is an effective first-line treatment for bladder cancer, according to an early online publication of Cancer.