Oncology NEWS International Vol 13 No 2

February 01, 2004

SAN ANTONIO-Docetaxel (Taxotere), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), and cyclophosphamide (TAC) improved overall survival by 30% and disease-free survival by 28% at 5 years, compared with the standard combination of flu-orouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) as adjuvant therapy for women with node-positive, early-stage breast cancer, John R. Mackey, MD, reported at the 26th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (abstract 43).

February 01, 2004

SAN DIEGO-The addition of rituximab (Rituxan) to CHOP chemotherapy has resulted in a dramatic improvement in outcome for patients of all ages with diffuse large B-cell (DLBC) lymphoma in a retrospective study from British Columbia. Improvements were greatest among the elderly population in the study, Laurie Sehn, MD, clinical assistant professor, British Columbia Cancer Agency and University of British Columbia, said at the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (abstract 88).

February 01, 2004

SAN ANTONIO-Intensity of immunostaining for the gene BP1 (beta protein 1) correlates with breast cancer aggressiveness, and detection of BP1 in otherwise apparently normal tissue specimens may be a marker for early detection of breast cancer, Patricia E. Berg, PhD, said at the 26th San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (abstract 41).

February 01, 2004

SAN DIEGO-There have been no reported cases of treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloblastic leukemia (tMDS/tAML) in patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) treated initially with the Bexxar therapeutic regimen (tositumomab and iodine-131 tositumomab).

February 01, 2004

SAN DIEGO- Doubling the standard dose of imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) to 800 mg provided more complete cytogenetic responses (CCRs) more quickly with higher rates of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) negativity than the standard dose (400 mg) in patients with previously untreated early-stage chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).