All News

When Janet Woodcock, MD, a top FDA official, appeared before a Senate committee in early February, she tried to put the issue of medical errors in perspective by referring to a patient who dies after chemotherapy. She rhetorically asked whether

Transformation of low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) to a more aggressive histology is associated with a very poor response to chemotherapy and shortened survival. Therefore, new therapeutic agents are needed. Tositumomab/iodine-

Rituximab (Rituxan) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody binding to CD20. A multicenter trial in relapsed low-grade lymphoma (375 mg/m²/wk × 4) produced a response rate of 48%. However, patients with small lymphocytic lymphoma

Rituximab (Rituxan) has mechanisms of antilymphoma action that differ significantly from those of chemotherapeutic agents: both direct (induction of apoptosis and chemosensitization) and indirect (complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody

Due to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, physicians have been clamoring for new drug companies to ratchet up antibiotic research and development. Congress had the same concern when it passed the FDA Modernization Act in 1997,

The rationale for combining rituximab (Rituxan), a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, with chemotherapy includes single-agent efficacy, non–cross-resistant mechanisms of action, possible synergy, and few overlapping toxicities. The safety

CHICAGO-A simple coaxial breast biopsy tool that can be guided by mammography provides a larger tissue specimen than standard core needle biopsies, causes less bleeding and scarring than surgical biopsy, and carries a smaller price than stereotactically guided biopsy procedures, according to Lincoln Russin, MD, who devised the new biopsy tool. Dr. Russin is a radiologist at Noble Hospital, Westfield, Massachusetts, and associate clinical professor of radiology, Yale University.

NEW ORLEANS-A novel imaging system-consisting of a three-dimensional digital camera mounted on a tripod, an LCD display monitor, and a standard desktop computer (see Figure 1)-may be the harbinger of the future of breast surgery,

Results from the compassionate use program for linezolid (Zyvox), an investigational new antibiotic still under development, show that the drug is effective in the treatment of patients with bacteremia associated with significant gram-positive infections,

Ibritumomab tiuxetan (IDEC-Y2B8 [Zevalin]) is an anti-CD20 murine immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) kappa monoclonal antibody conjugated to tiuxetan that can securely chelate either indium-111 (111In) for imaging/dosimetry or yttrium-90 (90Y) for

ARLINGTON, Va-A scientific panel has recommended listing nine substances as either “known” or “reasonably anticipated” to be human carcinogens. If upheld after review, the substances will be listed in the 10th “Report on

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a recently identified, aggressive, B-cell neoplasm that is incurable with current combination chemotherapy regimens. Novel therapeutic strategies are needed. MCLs express high levels of cell-surface CD20 and are

WASHINGTON-The most comprehensive survey of tobacco use among young people has found that 12.8% of middle school students and 34.8% of those in high school reported using some form of tobacco product in the month prior to answering a questionnaire. Cigarettes were favored by most of the students, with cigars second.

Autologous peripheral blood stem-cell (PBSC) transplantation may play an important role in the treatment of indolent lymphomas, as well as aggressive lymphomas. Concern about the contamination of the autologous graft with lymphoma

There is no formula for telling a patient that he or she has cancer. The diagnosis is still perceived, for the most part, as a death sentence, and a patient’s reaction is usually a combination of fear, despair, and anger. How a physician

Rituximab (Rituxan) may be an ideal agent for combination with chemotherapy in patients with extensive indolent lymphoma because of non–cross-resistant efficacy and differential toxicity. However, lethal complications have occurred. Furthermore

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia-The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has launched the first study aimed at developing a national monitoring system for cancer care in the United States. A panel of ASCO physicians and other health experts will oversee the study, which will be conducted by researchers at Harvard University and the RAND Corporation, the organization said in a news release.

Epratuzumab is a humanized anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody immunoglobulin G1 (hLL2 [LymphoCide]) that has been studied in radiolabeled forms (iodine-131[131I] and yttrium-90 [90Y]) in the treatment of chemotherapy-refractory

CHICAGO-Poor reading ability and low income affect many aspects of health care, including cancer screening. Preliminary analysis of data from a study of new enrollees in a Medicare managed care program showed that women with low or inadequate functional literacy were less likely than literate patients to have a Pap smear, and those with yearly incomes below $20,000 were less likely to have mammography.

Childhood Leukemias is a comprehensive text that encompasses every aspect of leukemia in children, ranging from general diagnosis, classification, and pathobiology to management and supportive care.

Campath-1H is a humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, which has demonstrated marked activity against advanced, refractory CLL. This multicenter phase II clinical trial sought to establish the level of activity against CLL patients exposed to

Tositumomab/iodine-131 tositumomab (Bexxar) is a new radioimmunotherapy for relapsed and refractory low-grade and transformed low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Iodine-131 tositumomab is a radiolabeled murine immunoglobulin

Rituximab (Rituxan) has significant activity in low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), but lower responses were noted in small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), a nodal variant of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Pharmacokinetic data

BOSTON-In a survey of 103 parents of children who had died of cancer, 89% said their children suffered “a lot” or “a great deal” from at least one symptom of the cancer or its treatment during their last month of life. The symptoms mentioned most often were pain, fatigue, and dyspnea. “Our results suggest that greater attention to symptom control and the overall well-being of children with advanced disease might ease their suffering,” the researchers, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital, Boston, said in their report (N Engl J Med 342:326-333, 2000).

A less frequent dosing schedule of recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alfa, Epogen, Procrit) may offer effective and more convenient treatment for the fatigue and malaise associated with cancer therapies, said George D.

A total of 29 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) refractory to therapy, including purine analogs in all cases, were treated with the monoclonal antibody, Campath-1H. (A 30-mg dose of Campath-1H was administered intravenously

ALEXANDRIA, Va-The Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) has doubled the number of issues it publishes each year, but not the number of articles it will accept. The JCO, a publication of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), now publishes two issues monthly, one mailed in the middle and the other at the end of the month.

ROCKVILLE, Md-The FDA has accused Lane Labs-USA, Inc., of Allendale, NJ, with illegally promoting three products as treatments for cancer and other diseases, and is seeking a permanent federal court injunction against the marketing of the products: BeneFin, produced from shark cartilage; SkinAnswer, a glycoalkaloid skin cream; and MGN-3, a rice-bran extract.

WASHINGTON-The Clinton Administration wants to sharply increase funding for studies to determine environmental causes of cancer, particularly of the breast and prostate. The President is asking Congress to provide $27 million in fiscal year 2001 to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Health Lab, an increase of 56% over the current budget.

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of rituximab (Rituxan) in combination with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin HCl, Oncovin, and prednisone) in a study of 40 patients (31 treatment-naive, 9 previously treated) with low-grade/follicular