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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.
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March 3, 2010
Florida Researchers Call for Regionalization of Esophagectomy for Esophageal Cancer
Researchers from the University of Florida have reported that the outcomes of esophagectomy are significantly better in high-volume hospitals than in low-volume hospitals. These data support the “regionalization of esophagectomy to such high volume locations in Florida to reduce procedure related mortality.” The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (GCS) in January.
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March 3, 2010
Abiraterone, an Inhibitor of Cytochrome P17, Confirmed Effective in Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer
Three studies published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on February 16, 2010 have confirmed that abiraterone acetate, an inhibitor of cytochrome P17, is active in men with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). These studies also suggest that patients who cease to respond to current androgen depravation therapy (ADT) will respond to an alternative form of androgen deprivation.
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March 3, 2010
Oncotype DX® Recurrence Scores Similar in United States and Asia-Pacific
Researchers have reported that the results of the Oncotype DX® breast cancer test are similar among patients in the United States and Asia-Pacific, suggesting that the test may help guide breast cancer treatment decisions in both regions. These results were presented at the 6th Annual Conference of the Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research (OOTR) in Japan in February 2010.
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March 2, 2010
Abiraterone Produces Promising Results in Men with Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer
According to the results of Phase II clinical trials, the investigational drug abiraterone appears to be active in men with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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March 2, 2010
Xeloda® and Eloxatin® Before Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery Promising for Poor-risk Rectal Cancer
Researchers from the UK and Australia have reported that neoadjuvant Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) before chemoradiotherapy and surgery is a promising approach for the treatment of patients with poor-risk rectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the March 2010 issue of the Lancet Oncology.
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March 2, 2010
Medical Qigong May Improve Quality of Life of Cancer Patients
Researchers from Australia have reported that medical Qigong (MQ) can improve quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients compared with standard care. The details of this study were published in the March 2010 issue of Annals of Oncology.
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March 2, 2010
Laparoscopic Prostatectomy and Open Prostatectomy Have Similar Rates of Complications
Researchers from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have reported that men treated with laparoscopic prostatectomy have similar rates of postoperative complications to men undergoing open prostatectomy. The details of this population-based study were published early online on February 24, 2010 in the Journal of Urology.
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March 1, 2010
Afinitor® and Temodar®: An Active Regimen for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have reported that the combination of Afinitor® (everolimus) and Temodar® (temozolomide) is active for the treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The details of this Phase I/II study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (GCS).
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March 1, 2010
Monitored Adjuvant Lysordren® May Improve Outcomes of Patients with Adrenocortical Carcinoma
Researchers from Sweden have concluded that adjuvant Lysordren® (mitotane, O, P’-DDD) should be the standard of care for patients with high-risk adrenocortical carcinoma. The details of this study were published in the February 2010 issue of Endocrine Related Cancer.
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March 1, 2010
Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) for B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is a promising new approach for the treatment of patients with NHL. Radioimmunotherapy uses a specific monoclonal antibody attached to a radioactive isotope. The antibody specifically delivers the radioactive isotope to the target cell.
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February 26, 2010
Addition of Herceptin® to Chemotherapy Does Not Compromise Quality of Life in HER2+ Gastric Cancer
Researchers involved in an international randomized Phase III clinical trial have reported that treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) improves survival without compromising quality of life (QoL) in patients with HER2-positive, advanced and inoperable gastric and gastroesophageal (GE) junction cancer.
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February 26, 2010
Regular Aspirin Use Decreases Distant Recurrences and Decreases Breast Cancer Deaths in Women with Early-stage Breast Cancer
Researchers affiliated with the Nurses’ Health Study have reported that women with early-stage breast cancer living at least one year after diagnosis have a decreased risk of distant relapse and lower mortality if they are regular users of aspirin.
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February 25, 2010
Avastin May Delay Progression of Ovarian Cancer
Among women with advanced ovarian cancer, treatment with a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy, followed by maintenance treatment with Avastin, may result in better progression-free survival than chemotherapy alone.
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February 25, 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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February 25, 2010
XELOX Superior to 5-FU/LV for Adjuvant Treatment of Stage III Colon Cancer
Researchers involved with the international randomized trial NO16968 have reported that the adjuvant XELOX regimen—Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin)—was superior to 5-FU and leucovorin (5-FU/LV) for Stage III colon cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
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February 25, 2010
PAM4 Enzyme May Help Detect Early-stage Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers from Garden State Cancer Center, the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and New York University Medical Center have reported that an enzyme, PAM4, may be detected by serum enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in late January.
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February 24, 2010
Afinitor and Temodar Active against Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
The combination of Afinitor® (everolimus) and Temodar® (temozolomide) appears to be active against advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The details of this Phase I/II study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
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February 24, 2010
Tarceva® Evaluated for Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer
Several studies evaluating Tarceva® (erlotinib) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (GCS) in January.
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February 24, 2010
Variations in Results of Open Radical Prostatectomy Not Always Related to Experience of the Surgeon
Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Cleveland Clinic, and Wayne State University have reported that there is heterogeneity of results among experienced surgeons performing radical prostatectomy. The details of this study were published in the March 2010 issue of the Journal of Urology.
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February 23, 2010
Variability in Prostatectomy Results Not Entirely Explained by Experience of the Surgeon
Even among surgeons with a similar degree of experience, rates of prostate cancer recurrence after open radical prostatectomy can vary greatly. These results were published in the Journal of Urology.
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February 23, 2010
Cryoablation Effective for Renal Cell Carcinoma
Two studies in the in the March 2010 issue of the Journal of Urology suggest that stereotactic percutaneous cryoablation and laparoscopic renal cyroablation are effective treatments for selected patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
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February 23, 2010
Decline in Breast Cancer Incidence Limited to White Non-Hispanic Women in High-income Counties
Researchers from Harvard Medical School have reported that the recent decline in breast cancer incidence was restricted to White non-Hispanic women in high-income counties and probably reflects discontinuation of hormone therapy. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the American Journal of Public Health on February 10, 2010.
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February 23, 2010
FDA Approves Rituxan® for Treatment of CLL
On February 18, 2010 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Rituxan® (rituximab) for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).