All News

The bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (Zometa) is effective in the treatment of skeletal-related events from bone metastases in prostate cancer patients, according to data presented at the 97th annual meeting of the American Urological Association. Patients with advanced prostate cancer are at high risk for bone complications, including bone pain, pathologic fractures, need for radiation or surgery to bone, and spinal cord compression. This study marks the first time a bisphosphonate has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of bone metastases in this patient population.

Octreotide (Sandostatin), a somatostatin analog, has a wide range of uses in the management of cancer patients. It is a unique molecule that specifically binds to somatostatin receptor subtype 2. This property of activating the receptor can result in a multitude of physiologic actions (for example, inhibition of synthesis and release of peptides in endocrine and neoplastic cells, antiangiogenesis, antisecretory effect in the gastrointestinal mucosa, anticholecystokinin activity retarding gallbladder motility, and reduction in splanchnic blood flow). In addition, in vitro experiments confirm that octreotide has cytostatic activity against a variety of malignancies. Octreotide is now widely used in the treatment of hormonal syndromes that result from a variety of neuroendocrine and endocrine neoplasms. Its dramatic effect in controlling malignant carcinoid syndrome and hormone-induced diarrhea (for example, from gastrinoma and VIPoma) has been well documented. However, the chronic use of octreotide can result in steatorrhea and gallstone formation.

INDIANAPOLIS-Based on phase III trial results presented at ASCO (see ONI, July 2002, page 1), Eli Lilly and Company and the US Food and Drug Administration have reached an agreement to make Alimta (pemetrexed) available on an expanded access, or compassionate use, basis to medically eligible patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Lilly is pursuing approval of Alimta in combination with cisplatin (Platinol) for this indication. For more information, physicians may call 1-866-347-9503.

Much progress in the diagnosis and management of well-differentiated neuroendocrine malignancies is evident over the past 2 decades. Initial medical intervention using somatostatin analogs such as octreotide acetate in the immediate and sustained release formulations (Sandostatin and Sandostatin LAR Depot) is standard for the symptomatic stage IV patient.[1,2] Somatostatin analogs provide effective hormonal suppression for carcinoid neoplasm, pancreatic islet cell malignancies, and pituitary adenomas.

In this article, Pandit and Vesole present a focused overview of allogeneic transplantation for multiple myeloma. Additionally, this article addresses the challenges of allogeneic transplantation, including continued relapse and treatment-related toxicity and mortality.

Multiple myeloma is a multistep malignancy, starting with an indolent phase (monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance [MGUS] or smoldering myeloma), progressing to overt myeloma (which is typically restricted to the bone marrow), and

Octreotide acetate (Sandostatin), a somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (sst 2)-preferring somatostatin analog, inhibits angiogenesis in a dose-dependent fashion in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane model (CAM) and in the human placental vein angiogenesis model (HPVAM).[1,2] To explain these antiangiogenic effects, sst 2 gene expression in normal (resting) full-thickness human placental vein segments was compared to tissue-matched counterparts that initiated an angiogenic response in culture. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, the sst 2 gene was found to be uniquely up-regulated in the angiogenic vessels, but not present in the tissue-matched resting (nonproliferative) vein segments.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide, causing 549,000 deaths in 2000-10% of all cancer deaths. There are strong etiologic associations with hepatitis C, hepatitis B, alcohol, other causes of cirrhosis, and dietary aflatoxins. The US incidence of HCC is 2.4/100,000 persons/year and rising due to the increased prevalence of hepatitis C.[1] After the current cohort of patients infected with the chronic hepatitis C virus passes, there will likely be a continued increase in the US incidence of HCC due to increasing rates of obesity-related nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which causes many cases of "cryptogenic cirrhosis."

Surgery has evolved to become the standard of care for a defined subset of patients with hepatic colorectal metastases. Hepatic resections are now well-controlled procedures, with several centers reporting very low perioperative mortality rates.

In this article, Ravikumar and Gallos nicely summarize the current understanding of liver resection for metastases. My comments here will be limited to resection of colorectal metastases, as this is the most common and best characterized of the procedures described.

In this article, we present current surgical perspectives on the management of liver metastases, with a focus on state-of-the-art resection, by drawing on clinical data provided in the medical literature. Metastases from

Experts in cancer immunology and vaccine therapies discussed recent progress in cancer vaccine development at a satellite symposium of the 38th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). More than 300

An estimated 14,600 new cases of multiple myeloma will be diagnosed in the United States in 2002. Multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease despite significant improvements in complete response rates and overall

The 4th Investigators’ Workshop sponsored by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center was held on July 25-29, 2001, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The purpose of these annual workshops has been to review the latest data on new agents, with a particular focus on the broadly used agent irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar).

WASHINGTON-Final regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services guarantee Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in managed care plans the same protections granted to people in private plans under legislation pending

Cancer Care has published the fourth edition of its handbook-A Helping Hand: The Resource Guide for People With Cancer. The 148-page booklet contains listings and descriptions of organizations that offer a wide variety of services, support, and information for people with cancer. In general, the booklet shows cancer patients what types of help are available to them and where they can find it, both nationally and regionally. Listings include cancer centers, commercial services that offer products of particular interest to people with cancer (such as wigs and prostheses), state pharmaceutical assistance programs, pharmaceutical manufacturers’ indigent drug programs, and useful tips on what to ask when contacting such services.

LUGANO, Switzerland-The chemotherapy/immunotherapy regimen FCR (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab) has produced the highest complete response (CR) rate seen thus far in first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Now that President Bush has appointed Julie Gerberding to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), groups like the Trust for America’s Health are urging her to make cancer tracking a priority.

ORLANDO-Irinotecan, also known as CPT-11 (Camptosar), administered every 3 weeks to patients with fluorouracil (5-FU)-refractory colorectal cancer produced response rates and toxicity profiles similar to irinotecan given weekly in a phase

BOSTON-A single dose of a new long-acting 5-HT3 receptor antagonist called palonosetron matched the effectiveness of a single dose of dolasetron (Anzemet) against acute emesis and was more effective against delayed emesis in a phase III clinical trial conducted in patients receiving moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.

WASHINGTON-President Bush has signed legislation that reauthorizes the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), first enacted in 1992 to speed up the FDA’s processing of new drug applications. PDUFA III is the second 5-year

SAN FRANCISCO-In vitro studies suggest that a new anticancer agent, SCH66336, can slow cell proliferation in drug-resistant forms of Philadelphia (Ph)-positive leukemia, according to a presentation by Japanese researchers at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (abstract 4235). When used in combination with antileukemic agents, SCH66336 induced apoptosis in leukemia cells resistant to imatinib mesylate (Gleevec).

ORLANDO-Allowing advanced cancer patients to start palliative care without giving up aggressive treatment substantially increased end-of-life hospice enrollment in one study and reduced cost of care in another. Both studies were presented at the

LONDON, UK-The combination of gemcitabine (Gemzar)/carboplatin (Paraplatin) was found to be better tolerated and associated with longer survival than MIP (mitomycin [Mutamycin], ifosfamide [Ifex], and cisplatin [Platinol]) in patients with

LOS ANGELES-The Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM) has changed its logo for the first time in its 49-year history. The new logo is designed to create a bright, fresh look for SNM, Alan Maurer, MD, said at the Society’s 49th Annual Meeting. Dr. Maurer, director of nuclear medicine, Temple University, is the immediate past president of the SNM.

SAN FRANCISCO-A novel experimental compound, AP23573, can induce potent tumor shrinkage by inhibiting nutrient uptake in cancer cells and starving them, according to a presentation at the 93rd Annual Meeting of the American

BETHESDA, Maryland-Leaner times are in the offing for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), starting in the fall of 2003.

VANCOUVER, Canada-Ad-vectus Life Sciences Inc. has begun preclinical testing of its patented nanoparticle-based technology (Nanocure) at the University of North Carolina Brain Tumor Center. This series of studies will test the Nanocure

Rubinstein and colleagues provide an excellent review of mathematical models for estimating breast cancer risk, including the risk of carrying inherited mutations of BRCA1 and BRCA2. Since we and others reviewed early models to predict the likelihood of inherited susceptibility to breast cancer,[1] newer quantitative tools, most notably by Parmigiani and colleagues,[2] have been developed. These models have been made available on CD-ROM, over the Internet, and in other electronic versions that are accessible to most clinicians and researchers. These quantitative resources constitute useful and important aids in genetic counseling.

In their paper, Schwartz and colleagues review the risk factors for depression and suicide in patients with cancer and argue convincingly that screening for depression can be simply and quickly performed. They also delineate the efficacy and potential adverse effects of psychotherapeutic or psychopharmacologic treatments for these patients. Buttressing the identification and treatment of depression in the cancer patient are vital, ongoing scientific developments that flow from an increased understanding of interactions among the brain, endocrine system, and immune system. This rapidly evolving body of neurobiological knowledge has catalyzed fundamental changes in how we conceptualize depression in cancer patients and has important ramifications regarding the treatment and prevention of depressive syndromes in this setting.