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Reishi mushroom is widely used in Asia and around the world as an immunostimulant. With extracts derived from both the cap and the stem of the mushroom, its biologic activity is thought be due to beta-glucan polysaccharides and compounds called triterpenes.

Bob Keaveney has some questions about the proposed House healthcare reform bill.

US Oncology, Inc, announced the launch of iKnowMed-an oncology-specific electronic health record (EHR) system designed by oncologists for oncologists-to the open market.

Proposed changes to the physician fee schedule would shift the balance of reimbursement payments.

The AACR and the Prevent Cancer Foundation are pleased to co-sponsor this major international Award in recognition of outstanding cancer prevention research.

The sustainable growth rate formula, long been derided as faulty payment mechanism, could soon be replaced.

Comparative effectiveness research, embraced by Obama, is disparaged by some power-players in the opposition.

Prostate cancer patients who undergo androgen deprivation therapy have an increased chance of developing bone- and heart-related side effects compared to patients who do not undergo ADT, according to an analysis in Cancer online (April 29, 2009).

SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) may play a role in tumor growth and angiogenesis, according to preclinical data presented at AACR 2009.

Pfizer Oncology is working with a fully human, IgG2 monoclonal antibody (PF-03446962) that is directed against an activin-like receptor kinase 1 (ALK-1) target. An early investigation indicates that neutralizing ALK-1 with PF-03446962 can disturb tumor endothelial cell function and impair tumor angiogenesis, according to the company (AACR 2009 abstract 2007).

TORONTO-Studies out of the University of California, San Diego, have demonstrated that the SAVI radiation device offers coverage of the breast cancer tumor bed while sparing normal tissue from radiation.

In 1998, FDA approved oral capecitabine (Xeloda) for metastatic colorectal cancer, ushering in a new era of oncology therapy. Since then, exponential growth in cancer drugs delivered orally has followed. According to an NCCN report, about 25% of the roughly 400 agents currently in the drug development pipeline are oral oncolytics.

By supporting the growth of blood vessels that absorb nutrients and oxygen, angiogenesis allows tumors to progress from clonal populations to cell masses that can expand and ultimately metastasize. This is a well-established concept, but some of the premises underlying anti-angiogenic drug development are now being revised, according to Luisa Iruela-Arispe, PhD, of the molecular, cell and developmental biology department at the University of California, Los Angeles.

A phase III study by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma showed that induction therapy with low-dose dexamethasone plus lenalidomide (Revlimid) improved survival, compared with high-dose dexamethasone plus lenalidomide. Look for updates on treatment regimens that include dexamethasone in multiple myeloma at ASH 2010 from Sagar Lonial, MD, and S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD.

The EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib (Iressa) should be considered a first-line treatment option for nonsmoking Asian patients with adenocarcinoma of the lung, according to results from the large Iressa Pan-Asia Study (IPASS) conducted at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Despite dismal economic times, there are significant opportunities for growth for cancer centers, according to a presenter at the 2009 Association of Community Cancer Centers meeting.

SAN FRANCISCO-A number of viable treatments are available for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, so a multidisciplinary approach is a must. The panelists at the ASCO GI Cancer Symposium were:

A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association on the increased risk of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients taking bevacizumab (Avastin) resulted in a flurry of letters to the editor decrying the link between the two.

The HealthWell Foundation has launched a program to assist patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme and anaplastic astrocytoma.

Banner Health and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center will jointly build the M.D. Anderson Banner Cancer Center in Phoenix. The 120,000 square-foot outpatient center will be adjacent to the Banner Gateway Medical Center campus.

According to a recent study, the elderly are at enhanced risk for complications associated with screening colonoscopy.

The President pitches his health-reform proposal at AMA's national meeting in Chicago. Medicare cuts will be on the table, again

APF530 is undergoing regulatory review for a new drug approval for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, according to manufacturer A.P. Pharma. PF530 is a formulation of granisetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist.

The Radiation Therapy Oncology Group has begun the last leg of a trial assessing temozolomide (Temodar) and radiotherapy plus bevacizumab (Avastin) for newly diagnosed glioblastoma tumors.

ORLANDO-The ancillary treatment costs of managing side effects can be burdensome to patients, so Harvard Medical School investigators were somewhat surprised when clinical trial patients reported little anxiety about paying for these drugs. But as more people become uninsured or underinsured, and the costs of drugs rise, patient anxiety could increase and adherence to treatment diminish, the lead author predicted.

ORLANDO-Ginger has been used for years to treat gastrointestinal upset, but for the first time, a large double-blind multicenter randomized study has shown ginger supplements can successfully stem chemotherapy-related nausea, University of Rochester in New York investigators reported at ASCO 2009 (abstract 9511). Some 70% of patients experience nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy. While vomiting can largely be prevented with anti-emetics, nausea is typically more difficult to prevent and treat.

Amgen and CDC have partnered on a 3-year initiative to help improve rising incidence of infection among cancer patients.

ORLANDO-Preliminary data suggested that Novartis’ RAD001 is moderately active in stabilizing the progression of HCC, according to a poster presentation at ASCO 2009 (abstract 4587). In this phase I trial, researchers in Taiwan enrolled 36 advanced HCC patients whose disease was not suitable for local therapy or had progressed after local therapy.

A protocol involving contrast-enhanced ultrasound could better target tumors and reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies, according to international researchers. In studies from China and Austria, investigators imaged patients with contrast ultrasound and used the information to target biopsies.

Oncology News International readers expressed doubts about the future role of bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of patients with early-stage colorectal cancer. Last month, it was announced that bevacizumab