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March 18, 2010
U.S. Study Confirms Effectiveness of Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Early-stage Lung Cancer
Researchers affiliated with a Phase II North American multicenter study have reported that sterotactic radiotherapy for Stage TI-II non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) results in a three-year survival rate of 56% in medically inoperable patients. The details of this study were published in the March 17, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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March 18, 2010
Combined Modality Therapy Preserves Bladder and Offers Long-term Survival in Invasive Bladder Cancer
Combined modality therapy (CMT) preserves the bladder, achieves complete response (CR), and offers long-term survival in approximately 70% of patients with invasive bladder cancer, according to the results of a 15-year study presented at 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.
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March 18, 2010
Low-income Women Experience Delayed Follow-up of Abnormal Mammograms
Researchers affiliated with Harvard University and the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP) have reported that there is a significant delay in follow-up diagnostic tests and treatment following a positive mammogram in one-third of low-income women participating in this program. The details of this study were published early online in the Archives of Internal Medicine on March 16, 2010.
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March 18, 2010
Low Intake of Vitamin B6 Increases Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Researchers from Sweden have reported: “Vitamin B6 intake and blood PLP (pyridoxal phosphate, the active form of vitamin B6) levels were inversely associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in this meta-analysis.” The details of this study were published in the March 17, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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March 17, 2010
Older Patients with Stage III Colorectal Cancer Receive Less Toxic Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Researchers affiliated with a RAND Corporation study have reported that older patients in the community with Stage III colorectal cancer “received less-toxic and shorter chemotherapy regimes, and those treated had fewer adverse events than younger patients.” The details of this study were published in the March 17, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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March 17, 2010
Total Body MRI-governed Irradiation Combined with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Promising for Ewing’s Sarcoma with Bone Metastases
Researchers from Germany have reported promising results of intensive chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy directed at MRI-detected bone disease in patients with Ewing’s Sarcoma. The details of this study were published in the March 2010 issue of Bone Marrow Transplantation.
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March 17, 2010
Test Available for Pre-surgical Evaluation of Ovarian Mass
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the OVA1™ test for women who require surgery for an ovarian mass. The OVA1 test assesses the likelihood that ovarian cancer is present and requires surgery by a gynecologic oncologist.
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March 17, 2010
Vaginal Brachytherapy Effective for Endometrial Cancer
Among women who have undergone surgery for high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer, vaginal brachytherapy is as effective as pelvic external beam radiotherapy in the prevention of vaginal recurrence and produces fewer side effects. These results were published in Lancet.
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March 16, 2010
Obesity Linked with Worse Colon Cancer Outcomes
Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have reported that obese colon cancer patients have a higher risk of cancer recurrence and death than healthy-weight patients. The results of this study were published in the March 15, 2010 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
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March 16, 2010
Iressa® plus Arimidex® Improves Progression-free Survival in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that the addition of Iressa® (gefitinib) to Arimidex® (anastrozole) improves progression-free survival (PFS) in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. The details of this study were published in the March 15, 2010 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
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March 16, 2010
Children and Teens Have Better NHL Survival than Young Adults
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have reported that children and teens with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have better survival than young adults. These results were published in the March 2010 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
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March 16, 2010
Neratinib Active in Women with Advanced HER2-positive Breast Cancer
Among women with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer, the investigational drug neratinib produced promising response rates and progression-free survival. The results of this Phase II clinical trial were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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March 15, 2010
Neratinib Active in Women with HER2-positive Breast Cancer
Researchers involved in an international multicenter trial have reported that neratinib is active for the treatment of patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer who have or have not received Herceptin® (trastuzumab). The details of this study were published in the March 10, 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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March 15, 2010
Neoadjuvant Taxotere® and Emcyt® for High-risk Localized Prostate Cancer Is Tolerable
Researchers from France have reported preliminary results of a Phase III randomized trial of neoadjuvant Taxotere® (docetaxel), Emcyt® (estramustine), and Zoladex® (goserelin) versus goserelin alone in men with high-risk prostate cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, March 5 to 7.
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March 15, 2010
ETS-related Gene mRNA May Be Useful Test for Prostate Cancer
Two clinical studies presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancer Symposium suggest that a ETS-related gene mRNA urine test (TMPRSS2-ERG or T2ERG) may be useful in diagnosing prostate cancer and predicting the results of prostate biopsies.
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March 15, 2010
Children and Teens Have Better NHL Survival than Young Adults
Even after accounting for stage at diagnosis and subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), children and teens with NHL have better survival than young adults with NHL. These results were published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
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March 12, 2010
Multiple-agent Therapy with Metronomic Xeloda® and Nexavar® Promising for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
Researchers from Spain have reported: “Maximum tolerated dose chemotherapy followed by metronomic chemotherapy” is a promising approach for treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The details of this study were published early online in Lancet Oncology on February 16, 2010.
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March 12, 2010
Complete Remission Predicts for Long Survival of Patients with Multiple Myeloma
Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that achieving a complete remission (CR) was the dominant prognostic factor for long survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The details of this large retrospective review were published in the March 2010 issue of Bone Marrow Transplantation.
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March 12, 2010
Addition of Hormone Therapy to Radiation Improves Survival in Intermediate-risk, Early-stage Prostate Cancer
Researchers affiliated with the RTOG 94-08 clinical trial have reported that short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) delivered before and during moderate-dose radiation therapy improves survival and reduces risk of recurrence compared with radiation alone in men with intermediate-risk, early-stage prostate cancer. The results of this Phase III study were presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco on March 5-7.
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March 12, 2010
Radiofrequency Ablation Effective For Small Kidney Cancers
Radiofrequency ablation appears to be an effective treatment for patients with small kidney cancers. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
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March 11, 2010
Radiofrequency Ablation Effective For Small Renal Cell Carcinoma and Other Masses
Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective treatment for patients with renal masses, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.
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March 11, 2010
Single-dose Neulasta® as Effective as Multiple-dose Neupogen® in Children with Sarcoma
Researchers involved in an international multicenter randomized trial have reported that single-dose Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) is as effective as multiple-dose Neupogen® (filagrastim) for support of children receiving intensive chemotherapy for previously treated sarcoma. The details of this study were published in the March 10, 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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March 11, 2010
Updated Survival Data on Provenge® for Treatment of Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer Presented
Researchers affiliated with the IMPACT trial have reported that additional follow-up and more analyses demonstrate a clear survival advantage of Provenge® (sipuleucel-T) versus placebo in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco between March 5 and 7.
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March 11, 2010
Test Available for Pre-surgical Evaluation of Ovarian Mass
For women who require surgery for an ovarian mass, the OVA1™ test may help identify the most appropriate type of surgeon. The test assesses the likelihood that cancer is present; when cancer is likely, surgery may best be performed by a gynecologic oncologist.
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March 10, 2010
Oncotype DX® Predicts Recurrence Risk in Node-negative and Node-positive Breast Cancer Treated with Tamoxifen or Anastrozole
Researchers affiliated with the TransATAC Study have reported that the Oncotype DX® test predicts the risk of distant cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer with both node-negative and node-positive disease treated with tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) or anastrozole (Arimidex®). These results were published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on March 8, 2010.
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March 10, 2010
Recent Results of High-dose Proleukin® for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Reported
Researchers involved in a U.S. multicenter trial (Cytokine Working Group) have reported that high-dose Proleukin® (aldesleukin, interleukin-2, IL-2) results in a higher response rate in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC) than historically reported. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, March 5-7, in San Francisco.
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March 10, 2010
Cystoscopy Remains Best Method for Surveillance of Patients with Bladder Cancer
Researchers from the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that cystoscopy alone remains the most cost-effective method of detecting recurrent superficial bladder cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.
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March 10, 2010
Obesity Linked with Worse Colon Cancer Outcomes
Compared with healthy-weight patients, obese colon cancer patients have a higher risk of cancer recurrence and death. These results were published in Clinical Cancer Research.
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March 9, 2010
Combined Modality Therapy Spares Cystectomy in Majority of Patients with Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer
Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital have reported that 75% of patients with locally advanced bladder cancer can be treated successfully with combined modality therapy that preserves the bladder. The details of this 15-year study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.
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March 9, 2010
Urinary Prostate Cancer Test, PCA3, Predictive of Biopsy Outcomes
Researchers involved in the international Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial have reported that the urinary PCA3 test can predict biopsy outcome in men taking dutasteride. The details of two studies were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancer Symposium held in San Francisco, March 5-7.
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March 9, 2010
HPV Vaccine Provides Little Benefit for Older Women
Researchers from Costa Rica have reported that women over the age of 40 are not likely to benefit from vaccination to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV). The details of this study were published in the March 3, 2010 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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March 9, 2010
Oncotype DX® Predicts Recurrence Risk in Node-negative and Node-positive Breast Cancer Treated with Tamoxifen or Arimidex
Among postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated with either tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) or Arimidex® (anastrozole), the Oncotype DX test predicts the risk of distant cancer recurrence in both node-negative and node-positive patients. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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March 9, 2010
Addition of Hormone Therapy to Radiation Improves Survival in Intermediate-risk, Early-stage Prostate Cancer
Short-term hormone therapy delivered before and during moderate-dose radiation therapy improves survival and reduces risk of recurrence compared with radiation alone in men with intermediate-risk, early-stage prostate cancer. The results of this Phase III study were presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.
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March 9, 2010
Cystoscopy Alone Is the Most Cost-effective Way to Monitor for Recurrence of Bladder Cancer
The addition of a urine test to standard cystoscopy screening in order to monitor for bladder cancer recurrence unnecessarily increases the cost of monitoring as well as the risk for a false-positive result and does not improve tumor detection, according to the results of a study presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.
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March 8, 2010
Avastin May Delay Progression of Ovarian Cancer
The results of a recent clinical trial suggest that a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy, followed by maintenance treatment with Avastin, may result in better progression-free survival than chemotherapy alone in women with advanced ovarian cancer. Initial results of this Phase III clinical trial were made available in a press release from Genentech; full results will be presented at a future medical meeting.
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March 8, 2010
Gene Signature Test May Help Predict Recurrences of Prostate Cancer After Prostatectomy
Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Utah, and Myriad Genetics, Inc. have reported that a gene signature test performed on prostate cancer tissue can help predict the probability of recurrent disease in men with localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.
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March 8, 2010
Avastin® Not Contraindicated in Patients with CNS Metastases
Researchers from France have reported that patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases have similar rates of whether or not they receive Avastin® (bevacizumab). The details of this study appeared in the January 2010 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
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March 8, 2010
PCA3 Test May Help Guide Prostate Biopsy Decisions
The PCA3 urine test may help guide decisions about the need for repeat prostate biopsy in men with a negative initial biopsy but elevated PSA. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Genitourinary Cancer Symposium.
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March 5, 2010
Avastin Fails to Prolong Survival in Stomach Cancer
Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy does not extend overall survival in patients with inoperable, advanced, or metastatic stomach cancer, according to the results of a Phase III trial released by Roche.
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March 5, 2010
Adjuvant Alfa Interferon Modestly Effective in High-risk Melanoma
Researchers from Italy have concluded, on the basis of a systematic review and meta-analysis, that adjuvant alpha interferon significantly improves disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with high-risk melanoma. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on February 23, 2010 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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March 5, 2010
Cabazitaxel Effective for Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer After Failure of Taxotere®
Researchers involved in the multicenter international Phase III trial (TROPIC) have reported that cabazitaxel (XRP-6258) was superior to Novantrone® (mitoxantrone) for the treatment of patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) who had failed treatment with Taxotere® (docetaxel). The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.
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March 5, 2010
Cabazitaxel Shows Promise in Advanced Prostate Cancer
Among men with metastatic, hormone refractory prostate cancer that has progressed after Taxotere® (docetaxel)-based chemotherapy, the investigational chemotherapy drug cabazitaxel may improve survival. The results of this Phase III clinical trial will be presented at the ASCO 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.
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March 5, 2010
Benefit of Velcade on Myeloma Survival Added to Prescribing Information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved expanded prescribing information for Velcade® (bortezomib). Velcade’s label now includes results from the VISTA study, which show that Velcade improves long-term overall survival among patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma.
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March 4, 2010
Combined Pelvic and Para-aortic Lymphadenectomy Recommended for Intermediate and High-risk Endometrial Cancer
Researchers from Japan have reported that women with intermediate and high-risk endometrial cancer have a better survival following combined pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy compared with pelvic lymphadenectomy alone. The details of this study were published early online on February 25, 2010 in the Lancet.
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March 4, 2010
Bisphosphonates for Osteoporosis Treatment May Decrease Risk of Breast Cancer
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have reported that the use of bisphosphonates for osteoporosis treatment may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. The details of this study were published in the March 1, 2010 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
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March 4, 2010
Long-term Results Confirm Benefit of High-dose Conformal Radiation for Early-stage Prostate Cancer
Researchers affiliated with the Proton Radiation Oncology Group/American College of Radiology 95-09 study have concluded that high-dose conformal radiation therapy results in better long-term cancer control than conventional-dose radiation therapy for treatment of localized prostate cancer. The details of this follow-up study were published in the March, 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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March 4, 2010
Cervical Vaccine Provides Little Benefit for Older Women
Women over the age of 40 are not likely to benefit from a vaccine designed to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the results of a study published in the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
1 HPV has been shown to cause cervical cancer.
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March 4, 2010
Cryoablation Effective for Renal Cancer
Stereotactic percutaneous cryoablation and laparoscopic renal cryoablation are effective treatments for selected patients with kidney cancer, according to the results of two studies published in the Journal of Urology.
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March 3, 2010
Laparoscopic Surgery and Open Surgery Produce Similar Complication Rates in Prostate Cancer
Laparoscopic prostatectomy and open radical prostatectomy produce similar outcomes and carry similar rates of postoperative complications, according to the results of a study published in an early online version of the Journal of Urology.
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March 3, 2010
Tykerb plus Herceptin More Effective Than Tykerb Alone for Metastatic Breast Cancer That Has Progressed on Herceptin
Among women with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer that has progressed during treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Herceptin appears to be more effective than Tykerb alone. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and were previously presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.