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February 8, 2010
Symptoms May Do Little to Improve Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer
Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have reported that the use of symptoms to trigger medical evaluation for ovarian cancer may not greatly increase early detection of ovarian cancer, and would result in a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in only 1 out of 100 women with symptoms. These results were published in an early online publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on January 28, 2010.
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February 8, 2010
CT Colonography Safe and Effective in Older Individuals
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have reported that CT colonography is a safe and effective colorectal screening procedure in persons 65-79 years of age. The details of this study appeared in the February, 2010 issue of Radiology.
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February 8, 2010
New Study Suggests that Calcium Supplementation Is Necessary for Vitamin D Prevention of Fractures
Researchers affiliated with the DIPART (vitamin D Individual Patients Analysis of Randomized Trials) group have reported that vitamin D supplementation alone is insufficient to prevent fractures in elderly individuals and that calcium supplementation is needed for a preventive effect. The details of this study appeared in the January 16, 2010 issue of the British Medical Journal.
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February 5, 2010
Symptoms May Do Little to Improve Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer
Use of symptoms to trigger medical evaluation for ovarian cancer may not greatly increase early detection of ovarian cancer, and would result in a diagnosis of ovarian cancer in only 1 out of 100 women with symptoms. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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February 5, 2010
Early Physiotherapy May Prevent Lymphedema After Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
Researchers from Spain have reported that women who undergo axillary lymph node dissection for early-stage breast cancer and receive physiotherapy for one year after surgery have less lymphedema than women not receiving such therapy. The details of this study appeared in the January 16, 2010 issue of the British Medical Journal.
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February 5, 2010
Herceptin® Improves Survival of Women with HER2+ Locally Advanced Breast Cancer
Researchers affiliated with the NOAH trial have reported that the neoadjuvant and adjuvant administration of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) to chemotherapy improves event-free survival (EFS) of women with locally advanced or inflammatory HER2+ breast cancer. The details of this randomized study were published in the January 30, 2010 issue of the Lancet. Preliminary results of this study were recently presented at the 2008 annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
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February 5, 2010
Iressa® Superior to Platinol® and Taxotere® for Treatment of NSCLC with EGFR Mutations
Researchers from Japan have reported that Iressa® (gefitinib) alone improves progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations compared with patients receiving Platinol® (cisplatin) plus Taxotere® (docetaxel). The details of this study were published in the February 2010 issue of Lancet Oncology.
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February 4, 2010
Tykerb Approved for Initial Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its approval of Tykerb® (lapatinib) to include initial treatment of metastatic, postmenopausal breast cancer that is both HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive. In this setting, Tykerb is approved for use in combination with the aromatase inhibitor Femara® (letrozole).
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February 3, 2010
Vectibix® Improves Outcome of Previously Treated Colorectal Cancer
Researchers involved in an international randomized trial have reported that the addition of Vectibix® (panitumumab) to FOLFIRI (5-fluorourcil, Camptosar® [irinotecan], and leucovorin) improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with colorectal cancer with wild-type KRAS who are receiving second-line therapy. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
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February 3, 2010
Acupuncture May Improve Joint Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Aromatase Inhibitors
For women treated with aromatase inhibitors for early breast cancer, acupuncture may help to relieve the joint pain and stiffness that sometimes accompanies these drugs. The results of this study were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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February 3, 2010
Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Can Be Diagnosed Rapidly with Antibody Test
Researchers from M. D. Anderson have reported that acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) can be diagnosed rapidly and accurately with an anti-promyelocytic leukemia antibody (PML) immunofluorescence test. The details of this study appeared in the January 15, 2010 issue of Cancer.
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February 2, 2010
Lapatinib Approved for Initial Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded its approval of Tykerb® (lapatinib) to include initial treatment of metastatic, postmenopausal breast cancer that is both HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive. In this setting, Tykerb is approved for use in combination with the aromatase inhibitor drug Femara® (letrozole).
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February 2, 2010
Randomized Trial of Radiation Versus Cryosurgery for Localized Prostate Cancer: Updated Results
Researchers from Canada have reported updated results of a randomized comparison of external beam radiotherapy versus cryosurgery for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. The details of this study appeared in the January 15, 2010 issue of Cancer.
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February 1, 2010
Don’t Forget About Your Heart Health
For better or worse, thoughts of cancer breeze into many women’s minds almost as easily as thoughts of Matthew McConaughey or breaking through the glass ceiling at work. Cancer just seems to have what it takes to grab headlines and capture the attention of movie stars and the general public alike. Heart disease, on the other hand, often has trouble just getting a mention in the news, and it sorely lags in the race for the greatest number of fundraising galas.
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February 1, 2010
February Is American Heart Month
Learn about everyday steps to maintain a healthy heart.
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February 1, 2010
Arzerra, Fludara, and Cytoxan Promising for Previously Untreated CLL
The combination of Arzerra™ (ofatumumab), Fludara® (fludarabine), and Cytoxan® (cyclophosphamide) shows promising effectiveness in the initial treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These results were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology.
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February 1, 2010
Xeloda® Adds to Effectiveness of Herceptin® and Taxotere® Regimen for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Researchers involved in an international multicenter study (CHAT) have reported that the addition of Xeloda® (capecitabine) to Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Taxotere® (docetaxel) improves response rate and progression-free survival in women with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. However, Xeloda increased toxicities significantly. The details of this study were published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on December 28, 2009.
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January 29, 2010
Trisenox®-based Consolidation Therapy Effective in APL
Researchers involved in a U.S. multicenter trial (CONSORT) have reported that a Trisenox® (arsenic trioxide)-based consolidation regimen was effective in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), allowing the reduction of exposure to anthracycline therapy. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on January 19, 2010 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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January 29, 2010
Soy Foods May Benefit Breast Cancer Patients
According to a study conducted in China, breast cancer patients with the highest soy consumption had a lower risk of breast cancer recurrence and a lower risk of death than patients with the lowest soy consumption. An editorial that accompanied the study, however, offered some words of caution about these findings. The study and editorial were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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January 28, 2010
Tasigna May Be More Effective than Gleevec for Initial Treatment of CML
In the initial treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), Tasigna® (nilotinib) appears to produce higher response rates than Gleevec® (imatinib) 400 mg/day. These results were presented at the 2009 meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH)
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January 28, 2010
Search for Early Markers of Ovarian Cancer Continues
Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have reported that levels of three potential biological markers of ovarian cancer—CA125, human epididymis protein 4, and mesothelin—begin to rise three years before the clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer; they only become substantially elevated, however, less than a year before diagnosis. Detection of cancer at this stage may not be early enough to improve outcomes. These results were published in the January 6, 2010 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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January 28, 2010
Exercise and Green Tea May Help Breast Cancer Survivors Beat the Blues
Exercising and drinking green tea may help prevent depression among breast cancer survivors, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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January 27, 2010
Vectibix Improves Outcome of Previously Treated Colorectal Cancer
Among patients with previously treated, metastatic colorectal cancer, the addition of the targeted therapy Vectibix® (panitumumab) to chemotherapy delayed cancer progression. This benefit was only observed in patients whose tumors did not contain a mutation in the KRAS gene. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
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January 27, 2010
Votrient Improves Progression-free Survival in Advanced Kidney Cancer
Compared with a placebo, treatment with the oral, targeted drug Votrient® (pazopanib) delays progression of advanced kidney cancer. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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January 27, 2010
Velcade® Effective in Patients with Systemic Amyloidosis
Researchers from Greece, the UK, and Italy have reported that Velcade® (bortezomib) with or without dexamethasone is active for treatment of primary systemic light chain amyloidosis. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on January 19, 2010.
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January 26, 2010
First-line Vectibix Delays Progression of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that does not have a mutation in the KRAS gene, initial treatment with a combination of chemotherapy and Vectibix® (panitumumab) delays cancer progression by 1.6 months compared with chemotherapy alone. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
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January 26, 2010
Laparoscopic and Open Partial Nephrectomy Produce Equivalent Results for Small Renal Cancers
Researchers from Michigan State College of Human Medicine have reported that laparoscopic and open partial nephrectomy provide similar overall and cancer-specific survivals in patients with small renal cortical tumors. The details of this study appeared in the February, 2010 issue of the Journal of Urology.
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January 25, 2010
Opiate painkillers raise fracture risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older adults who take powerful prescription painkillers known as opioids face an increased risk of bone fractures, especially at moderately high medication doses, a new study finds.
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January 25, 2010
Actonel® Prevents Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women with Breast Cancer Treated with Arimidex®
Researchers affiliated with the SABRE Trial (Study of Anastrozole with the Bisphosphonate RisedronateE) have reported that oral Actonel® (risedronate) improves bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer receiving adjuvant therapy with Arimidex® (anastrozole). The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on January 11, 2010
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January 25, 2010
Nexavar® Associated with Muscle Wasting in Patients with Renal Cell Cancer
Researchers from France and Canada have reported that patients with advanced renal cell cancer (RCC) treated with Nexavar® (sorafenib) have muscle wasting. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on January 19, 2010.
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January 25, 2010
Scientists find quicker way to study cancer drivers
LONDON (Reuters) - British scientists have found a new and faster way of studying a crucial class of cancer cells, called cancer stem cells, which they say should speed up work on developing drugs against them.
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January 25, 2010
Sutent Delays Progression of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Among patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (a cancer that develops in the hormone-producing area of the pancreas), treatment with the targeted therapy Sutent® (sunitinib) more than doubled progression-free survival compared with placebo. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
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January 25, 2010
Project seeks genetic basis of childhood cancer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers announced a new project on Monday to sequence all the genes in childhood tumors to try to discover previously unknown causes of cancer.
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January 25, 2010
US picks GE to develop medical isotopes
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The US Department of Energy has selected a unit of General Electric Co <GE.N> to begin research on a domestic supply of medical isotopes, which are used in millions of diagnostic scans to test for cancer, thyroid or heart disease.
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January 25, 2010
In tough economic times, NIH head looks to clinic
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As he puts together his budget proposal for the coming year, National Institutes of Health director Dr. Francis Collins plans to do something a little different - emphasizing the "health" in the name of his U.S. agency.
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January 25, 2010
Gene discovery may help guide breast cancer care
CHICAGO (Reuters) - An abnormality in two genes can make a common class of chemotherapy drugs used to fight breast cancer less effective, U.S. researchers said on Sunday in a finding that could help doctors better tailor treatments.
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January 22, 2010
Exercise, green tea may lessen breast cancer blues
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Depression is a major health issue for breast cancer survivors, but new research hints that regular exercise and drinking green tea may help.
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January 22, 2010
Robotic-assisted Cystectomy More Expensive than Open Surgery for Bladder Cancer
Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have reported that robotic assisted cystectomy is associated with an average cost of $16,248 versus $14,608 for open cystectomy for bladder cancer. The details of this study appeared in the February, 2010 issue of the Journal of Urology.
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January 21, 2010
Oncotype DX® Predicts Recurrence Risk in Stage II Colon Cancer
Among patients with Stage II colon cancer, use of the newly available Oncotype DX® colon cancer test provides information about the risk of cancer recurrence and may help guide treatment decisions. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
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January 21, 2010
Genomic Health Announces Worldwide Availability of the Oncotype DX(R) Colon Cancer Test
New Studies to be Presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium Support Use of Oncotype DX as an Independent Predictor of Recurrence in Stage II Colon Cancer
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January 21, 2010
Radiation dose less with digital mammograms
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Newer digital mammograms may deliver significantly lower radiation doses than conventional film mammograms, especially for women with larger and denser breasts, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
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January 21, 2010
Use of Laparoscopic Surgery May Have Decreased Use of Partial Nephrectomy for Treatment of Kidney Cancer
Researchers from Canada have reported that the increased use of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery had decreased the number of partial nephrectomies performed for kidney cancer. The details of this study appeared in the February 2010 issue of the Journal of Urology.
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January 21, 2010
Symptoms of Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease Increase Risk of Esophageal Cancer
Researchers from Australia have reported that persons who have symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease GERD are at higher risk of developing esophageal and gastro-esophageal junction cancers. These risks are higher in smokers and lower in users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The details of this study appeared in the January, 2010 issue of Gut.
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January 21, 2010
Search for Early Markers of Ovarian Cancer Continues
Levels of three potential biological markers of ovarian cancer—CA125, human epididymis protein 4, and mesothelin—begin to rise three years before the clinical diagnosis of ovarian cancer, but only become substantially elevated less than a year before diagnosis. Detection of cancer at this stage may not be early enough to improve outcomes. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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January 21, 2010
Salt reduction could save 92,000 U.S. lives a year
BOSTON (Reuters Life!) - Shaving 3 grams off the daily salt intake of Americans could prevent up to 66,000 strokes, 99,000 heart attacks and 92,000 deaths in the United States, while saving $24 billion in health costs per year, researchers reported on Wednesday.
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January 21, 2010
US team finds potential path for hepatitis C drugs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. scientists have identified a new class of drugs that appear to block the hepatitis C virus from replicating in laboratory experiments, researchers said on Wednesday.
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January 20, 2010
Effects Defined of Alcohol and Smoking on Development of Esophageal and Gastric Cancer
Researchers from the Netherlands have reported that alcohol consumption increases the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, while smoking increases the risk of squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, and gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma. The details of this study appeared in the January, 2010 issue of Gut.
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January 20, 2010
Human IgG Antibody Profiles May Detect Colorectal Cancer
Researchers from Ireland have reported that human IgG antibody profiles may distinguish symptomatic patients with and without colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the January, 2010 issue of Gut.
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January 20, 2010
REFILE: Follow-up colonoscopy often misused: studies
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Follow-up colonoscopy is both overused and underused, two new studies indicate.
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January 20, 2010
"Silent pandemic" will force drug price rethink
LONDON (Reuters) - A "silent pandemic" of chronic disease is creeping up on poor countries and will force pharmaceutical firms to take a more tiered approach to pricing some of their most lucrative medicines.