Oncology NEWS International Vol 15 No 8

August 01, 2006

Childhood survivors of brain tumors who were diagnosed at age 10 or younger have worse depressive symptomatology and social skills and lower feelings of self-worth than their counterparts who were diagnosed as pre-teens or teenagers

August 01, 2006

In a phase III study, patients with untreated metastatic colon cancer had significantly higher response rates when cetuximab (Erbitux) was added to their chemotherapy, compared with chemotherapy alone (FOLFIRI or FOLFOX)

August 01, 2006

A phase I trial is testing triple therapy targeted at both the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway in patients with solid malignancies.

August 01, 2006

The FDA has approved Atripla, a fixed-dose combination of three previously approved antiretroviral drugs that is taken once a day in tablet form to treat HIV-1 infection.

August 01, 2006

More than half of men receiving high-dose-rate brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer report some side effects that in some cases persist for up to 16 years

August 01, 2006

Five-year follow-up data from the STAR (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene) trial show that the drugs are similarly effective for preventing invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk for the disease, that raloxifene (Evista) was somewhat less effective at preventing noninvasive breast cancer, and that raloxifene is associated with a 30% lower risk of thromboembolic events than tamoxifen.

August 01, 2006

In small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), a new anthracycline amrubicin demonstrated significant activity, both in patients sensitive to and refractory to previous chemotherapy

August 01, 2006

The combination of lenalidomide (Revlimid) with melphalan and prednisone (R-MP) is highly active and well tolerated in older adults with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

August 01, 2006

Sunitinib (Sutent), which blocks several tumor tyrosine kinase targets, and sorafenib (Nexavar), which targets the tumor Raf/MEK/ERK pathway, are both active in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to phase II studies

August 01, 2006

Takeda Pharmaceutical has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Galaxy Biotech (Mountain View, California) to develop, manufacture, and market HuL2G7, a recombinant humanized anti-hepatocyte growth factor (anti-HGF) monoclonal antibody developed by Galaxy Biotech. HGF is believed to mediate proliferation, metastasis, antiapoptosis, and neoangiogenesis of many types of tumors. In animal models, treatment of intracranial glioma xenografts with HuL2G7 induced substantial tumor regression and prolonged survival (Clin Cancer Res 12:1292-1298, 2006).

August 01, 2006

A study comparing two experimental regimens with standard 30-minute gemcitabine (Gemzar) infusions for advanced pancreatic cancer found temporary improvements in tumor response, but no survival benefit

August 01, 2006

The addition of bortezomib (Velcade) to tandem transplantation as upfront therapy for multiple myeloma is safe and associated with high rates of complete and near complete response

August 01, 2006

Focus groups, mentoring, and expanded recruitment efforts have helped Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) keep its vacancy rate low in the midst of a nursing shortage

August 01, 2006

Nationally, the rate of in-hospital mortality associated with pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer and other neoplasms has decreased in recent years

August 01, 2006

Capecitabine (Xeloda)/paclitaxel (XP) is at least as efficacious as epirubicin (Ellence)/paclitaxel (EP) as first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer, data from a randomized, multicenter phase III trial show

August 01, 2006

An evaluation of the US Environmental Protection Agency's most recent assessment of dioxin has concluded that EPA understated the uncertainly about the chemical's health risks and may have overstated the risk of human cancer.

August 01, 2006

In an ideal world, palliative care would be integrated into therapeutic care from the time of cancer diagnosis—not limited to hospice or end-of-life care.

August 01, 2006

FOLFIRI can be given intermittently in advanced previously untreated colorectal cancer, with survival rates and toxicity similar to continuous FOLFIRI

August 01, 2006

Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma have better progression-free survival with the combination of thalidomide (Thalomid) and dexamethasone (Thal/Dex) than Dex alone

August 01, 2006

The first large clinical trial to prospectively evaluate intermittent chemotherapy for androgen-independent prostate cancer showed that a minority of patients can be given chemotherapy "holidays" of clinically meaningful duration.

August 01, 2006

"Tumor flare reaction is a new side effect associated with lenalidomide (Revlimid), an immunomodulatory agent being investigated as a treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia [CLL],"

August 01, 2006

There is sufficient evidence to show that asbestos exposure can cause cancer of the larynx.

August 01, 2006

A 5-year follow-up of the largest study to evaluate imatinib (Gleevec) in the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) continues to show prolonged response to treatment and a steady decline in rate of disease progression with each additional year of treatment.

August 01, 2006

The FDA has approved Gemzar (gemcitabine HCl for injection, Lilly) in combination with carboplatin for the treatment of women with advanced ovarian cancer that relapsed at least 6 months after initial therapy.

August 01, 2006

The FDA has granted expanded approval to Enzon's Oncaspar (pegaspargase) as part of multidrug chemotherapy for treating children and adults with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL

August 01, 2006

Adding docetaxel (Taxotere) to anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy reduces the risk of relapse, new primaries, and death among women with node-positive breast cancer, first data from the BIG 2-98 trial show.

August 01, 2006

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of lung metastases of colorectal cancer may be a useful treatment option in patients who are not candidates for surgery, but the benefit varies with the size of the metastases

August 01, 2006

In the treatment of recurrent or refractory non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the addition of bevacizumab (Avastin) to either chemotherapy or erlotinib (Tarceva) was associated with a trend toward improved progression-free and overall survival in a phase II study

August 01, 2006

EntreMed, Inc.'s lead drug candidate Panzem (2-methoxyestradiol or 2ME2) has received orphan drug status from the FDA for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. In vitro studies in glioma cell lines demonstrated Panzem's antiproliferative activity, and in vivo studies in a preclinical model of glioblastoma showed its antitumor activity, EntreMed said in a press release. Panzem is currently being investigated in a phase II trial in patients with glioblastoma multiforme at the Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center. The agent previously received orphan drug designation for the treatment of multiple myeloma and ovarian cancer.

August 01, 2006

Patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma have a higher response rate and longer time to progression when lenalidomide (Revlimid) is added to dexamethasone (Len/Dex), regardless of prior thalidomide (Thalomid).

August 01, 2006

In a hearing convened by House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health chairwoman Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Congress sought input on the effects of the new average sales price (ASP) payment system for cancer drug reimbursement on the delivery and access of cancer care. American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) interim executive vice president and chief executive officer, Joseph S. Bailes, MD, testified at the hearing.

August 01, 2006

Elderly patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma are likely to survive nearly 2 years longer if thalidomide (Thalomid) is added to the standard melphalan/prednisone (MP) regimen, and they may gain about 10 months longer progression-free survival (PFS),

August 01, 2006

A Mayo Clinic physician and his colleagues have defined the normal number of melanocytes that are present in Caucasians' sun-exposed skin.

August 01, 2006

Merck & Co.'s antiemetic Emend (aprepitant) has been granted expanded approval by the FDA to prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Emend, a substance P/neurokinin 1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist, works through a mechanism distinct from that of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. Approval was based on two randomized double-blind studies of 1,658 patients undergoing open abdominal surgery. Emend was previously approved for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

August 01, 2006

Bioavailability studies show that oral spray delivery of the antiemetic 5-HT3 antagonist ondansetron is equivalent to oral delivery with ondansetron tablets (Zofran), Wayne Yates, MBA, and Greg Berk, MD, of Hana Biosciences, said at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 42nd Annual Meeting (abstract 8622). Hana Biosciences has submitted a New Drug Application to the FDA for the oral spray (brand name Zensana) for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and the prevention of postoperatively induced nausea and vomiting.

August 01, 2006

Alemtuzumab (Campath) is well tolerated when given as front-line therapy for progressive B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (BCLL) and produces a higher response rate than chlorambucil (Leukeran).

August 01, 2006

A phase I trial finds that the combination of cetuximab (Erbitux) and gefitinib (Iressa) produces responses in patients with advanced solid cancers expressing the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)—especially colorectal cancer.

August 01, 2006

Insufficient time is a major source of stress and burnout in the practice of oncology, but oncologists can use a variety of strategies to increase their efficiency and get more satisfaction from their work and from life

August 01, 2006

The health care industry increasingly relies on information technology for a growing variety of professional purposes. According to national surveys, medical professionals spend at least 50 minutes each night doing Internet-based research, and 21% of physicians use e-mail to communicate with their patients. In this "Spotlight on Technology," CC&E reports on an Internet provider that recently launched a new domain specifically designed to help oncologists enhance the clinical/business performance of their practices.

August 01, 2006

Acceptance of expensive new technologies often rests on their proven cost-effectiveness within specific clinical scenarios. A recent article (Plevritis et al: Cost-effectiveness of screening BRCA1/2 mutation carriers with breast MRI. JAMA 295:2374-2384, 2006) suggested that adding breast MRI screening may be cost-effective for women of certain ages who carry BRCA1/2 gene mutations. To shed light on this subject, Cancer Care & Economics (CC&E) spoke with noted breast imaging expert Elsie Levin, MD, medical director of the Faulkner-Sagoff Breast Imaging and Diagnostic Centre in Boston.

August 01, 2006

PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/mL have a significant positive predictive value (PPV) for finding prostate cancer in men undergoing extended biopsies, according to results of a study