Zolinza® Enhances Efficacy of Paraplatin® and Taxol® for Treatment of Advanced NSCLC

November 25, 2009 — Researchers involved in a multicenter U.S. clinical trial have reported that the addition of Zolinza® (varinostat) to Paraplatin® (carboplatin) and Taxol® (paclitaxel) improves responses in patients with previously untreated Stage IIIB-IV non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The details of this study were published early online on November 23, 2009 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Disagreement over USPSTF Recommendation to Discontinue PSA Screening in Men at Age 75

November 25, 2009 — Researchers from Duke University have concluded that 78% of men 75 years of age or older disagree with the recommendations of the U.S. Preventative Task Force (USPSTF) to not screen with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer. They also pointed out that men aged >/= 75 years had higher risk disease and poorer survival than younger men. The details of this study were published early online in Urology on October 6, 2009.

Uninsured Have Higher Mortality from Head and Neck Cancer than Insured

November 25, 2009 — Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have reported that patients with “Medicaid/uninsured and Medicare disability were at increased risk of death after the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) when compared with patients with private insurance.” The details of this study were published online on November 20, 2009 in Cancer.

Uninsured Have Worse Head and Neck Cancer Survival

November 25, 2009 — Even after accounting for stage at diagnosis and several other prognostic factors, head and neck cancer patients who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid or Medicare disability (Medicare under age 65) have worse survival than patients with private insurance. These results were published in Cancer.

High Mammographic Breast Density Increases Risk of Recurrent Breast Cancer

November 24, 2009 — Researchers from Canada have reported that women with high breast density tend to have a higher risk of local recurrence than women with low breast density following breast-conserving surgery for localized invasive breast cancer. The effect of breast density is most apparent among women who do not receive radiation therapy. These results were published early online on November 9, 2009 in Cancer.