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Common variants of the gene that determines human blood type are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a study by scientists at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and colleagues from many universities and research institutions. The study, published online August 2, 2009, in Nature Genetics, is consistent with an observation first made more than 50 years ago.

E-Updates in the Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer, Volume 2Updates on Chemotherapeutic Options and Targeted Therapies

Running a successful oncology practice requires you to be one part doctor, one part CEO. After all, your practice demands a skilled combination of high-quality patient care and business acumen. And with countless office procedures and mountains of paperwork involved, your practice also requires that you pay close attention to even the smallest details, which means that you must also serve as an auditor and a chief financial officer. The survival of the practice, like the quality of the care you deliver, rests in the details.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland have built a mathematical model to determine the role of PTEN protein expression on resistance to trastuzumab (Herceptin).

Patient selection criteria and best practices for the use of accelerated partial breast irradiation, outside of a clinical trial, are covered by the American Society of Radiation Oncology in a consensus statement.

Cancer researchers and compliance officials agree that patients enrolled in clinical trials are entitled to a high level of privacy protection, but there is significant tension between the two groups over how HIPAA rules should be implemented, according to the results of a survey by the ASCO Cancer Research Committee.

PHOENIX-Locoregional nodal relapse is very common in adenocarcinoma of the stomach, even after surgery, and this high failure rate has been used to justify additional therapies to improve outcomes.

CHICAGO-Biology and biography were the buzzwords at a panel convened on cancer nutrition at the 2009 Nutrition and Health Conference: State of the Science and Clinical Applications. Panel members offered a primer on the various nutrition strategies that are available to cancer patients.

President Barack Obama has pledged government transparency of his administration. His newly appointed FDA commissioner, Margaret A. Hamburg, MD, has taken up that call, promising a wider view into an entity that has often been perceived as inaccessible. “Over the years, the FDA has been referred to as a ‘black box’ that makes important decisions without explaining them,” Dr. Hamburg said recently.

ANAHEIM, CALIF.-Siemens Healthcare unveiled the IM-Real ART Solution, a real-time planning system that produces images in 10 minutes or less, at the 2009 American Association of Physicists in Medicine meeting.

The FDA is reviewing Eisai Corporation of North America’s supplemental new drug application for Dacogen (decitabine for injection). The review is for an alternative five-day dosing regimen to treat patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

Yaupon Therapeutics has completed enrollment for the second phase of its trial for Clearazide for early-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

The addition of zoledronic acid (Zometa) increases overall survival in lung cancer patients with bone metastases, according to researchers at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and G. Papanikolaou Hospital in Greece.

Routine surgery to remove the primary tumor in patients with unresectable colon metastases is no longer necessary, according to a group at New York’s Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. They based their decision on six years of clinical experience at their institution and reported on them at ASCO 2009.

Identify theft is one of the country’s fastest growing crimes. Half of the annual 8.3 million identity thefts occur in the workplace, and medical practices are no exception, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Medical records are rich in information, such as a patient’s Social Security number, date of birth, credit card numbers, and insurance information, which can be misused for financial gain and for medical fraud.

A prominent Danish researcher is continuing to question the value of screening mammography, reporting that one in three breast cancers is overdiagnosed.

Promoters of metabolic therapies claim that special diets, detoxification, and immune stimulation can treat and prevent a variety of diseases including arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer.

About the ActivityThis activity is based on a brief article developed as part of the E-Update Series and posted on the Web. It was developed from an identified educational need for information about practical management issues in the practice of medical, surgical, and radiation oncology. This activity has been developed and approved under the direction of CME LLC.

Oncologists remain largely satisfied with their career choice, with 85% expressing satisfaction and 82% of that group saying they would recommend their specialty to a medical student, according to a survey conducted by Epocrates, a provider of online clinical decision support tools for mobile and desktop devices.

While many oncology nurses have heard of survivor care plans, their details remain obscure. Ms. Houlihan has presented an excellent composite overview of what survivor care plans entail and the barriers limiting their use.

Once-daily oral inhibitor of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after failure of treatment with sunitinib (Sutent) or sorafenib (Nexavar).

Recognition of the growing number of cancer survivors in the United States, combined with a greater awareness of the ongoing physical and psychosocial needs after cancer treatment, has created a groundswell of interest in designing quality care initiatives for cancer survivors.

Formal recommendations for the support and management of cancer patients who are transitioning from active treatment to long-term follow-up are fairly recent, documented notably in the 2006 Institute of Medicine report, From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor: Lost in Transition.

Living life to the fullest is an essential goal for everyone, and cancer survivors deserve no less. Almost 12 million cancer survivors in the US today are living longer and experiencing the long-term consequences of their disease and its treatments. Nurses will be providing much of the care that these survivors will require. The quotation cited in the article by Dr. Haylock articulates the problems of survivors living with advanced cancer. The words “I can’t die yet, I still have frequent flier miles”

Cancer-related fatigue is a common side effect during cancer treatment, and research demonstrates that it is a troubling, lingering side effect for many long-term survivors. Long-term cancer survivor fatigue is under-reported, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.[1] Studies suggest that the prevalence of fatigue in breast cancer survivors may be as high as 30%,[2] and that fatigue levels are higher in cancer survivors than in healthy controls,[3] even as long as 5 years after treatment.[1]

Robyn was 63 years old when she was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer. After recovering from a total abdominal hysterectomy and oopherectomy, she traveled to a comprehensive cancer center to consult with a physician specializing in ovarian cancer. She took her entire collection of pathology slides and reports, laboratory and imaging study reports, and the summary of her surgical procedure.

Could debating the actual issues get us some answers?

Shortening the course of whole-breast irradiation aft er lumpectomy from fi ve weeks to three can improve convenience and cut costs without sacrificing results, according to research from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

ORLANDO-The therapeutic pathways used for chronic myeloid leukemia patients with suboptimal response to 400 mg/d imatinib (Gleevec) tend to vary, despite the existence of NCCN clinical practice guidelines.

Society survey turns up fuel for fight against Medicare cuts.