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Cetuximab is an investigational IgG1 monoclonal antibody designed to target and block the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), which is expressed on the surface of certain cancer cells in multiple tumor types. Cetuximab is designed to bind to EGFR and prevent natural ligands called growth factors from binding to the receptor and inducing phosphorylation, i.e., activation of signaling to the tumor. The most common drug-related adverse events reported in clinical trials of cetuximab have been an acne-like rash and asthenia. Severe allergic reactions may occur in a small percentage of patients.

Human tumors with MET amplification respond to MET inhibitor drugs

A subset of colorectal cancers responds to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) therapies, but develops resistance within months. Among cancers that develop resistance to anti-EGFR therapy, some showed overexpression of a gene called MET, according to a study published in the June issue of Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. [More]
New clinical trial may help reduce radiation dose for patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer

New clinical trial may help reduce radiation dose for patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer

Researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center and other institutions have completed a phase II clinical trial that may help identify those patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer who do not require the full radiation dose given in a standard regimen of Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). Preliminary findings will be presented by Shanthi Marur, first author on the study and an oncologist at the Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on Sunday, June 2. [More]

Researchers discover potential biomarkers to identify patients with head and neck cancer

Researchers from Fox Chase Cancer Center will present data at the 49th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on Saturday, June 1, which shows the discovery of potential biomarkers that may be used to identify patients with head and neck cancer whose tumors are unlikely to respond to treatment by the targeted therapy cetuximab-a type of monoclonal antibody. [More]

MD Anderson researcher awarded 2013 Fight Colorectal Cancer-AACR Fellowship

For her research focusing on the refinement of predictive biomarkers and improving outcomes in the field of metastatic colorectal cancer, Maria Pia Morelli, M.D., Ph.D., has been awarded the 2013 Fight Colorectal Cancer-AACR Fellowship, in memory of Lisa Dubow. [More]
ImmunoGen discloses preclinical data for EGFR-targeting ADC, IMGN289

ImmunoGen discloses preclinical data for EGFR-targeting ADC, IMGN289

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics using its Targeted Antibody Payload technology, disclosed for the first time today preclinical data for its EGFR-targeting ADC, IMGN289. [More]
Combination of cetuximab and chemotherapy improves tumor shrinkage, extends survival

Combination of cetuximab and chemotherapy improves tumor shrinkage, extends survival

New results from a clinical trial conducted in Shanghai, China, indicate that adding cetuximab (Erbitux) to standard chemotherapy enables some patients with otherwise inoperable liver metastases due to colorectal cancer have their metastases surgically removed. [More]
Clarient adopts QIAGEN’s therascreen KRAS test to diagnose colorectal cancer

Clarient adopts QIAGEN’s therascreen KRAS test to diagnose colorectal cancer

QIAGEN N.V. today announced that Clarient - a GE Healthcare Company and leading provider of cancer laboratory testing services in the United States - has adopted the use of the therascreen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit (therascreen KRAS test) as a companion diagnostic to guide the use of Erbitux (cetuximab) as a treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. [More]
Blocking cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in cancer cells appears to improve ability of common drugs

Blocking cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in cancer cells appears to improve ability of common drugs

Shutting down a specific pathway in cancer cells appears to improve the ability of common drugs to wipe those cells out, according to new research from scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center, published in the January issue of Cancer Discovery. [More]
Personalized rectal cancer therapy shows promise

Personalized rectal cancer therapy shows promise

Personalized chemotherapy for rectal cancer results in high rates of pathologic response, indicate the results of a pilot study. [More]

Sterotactic radiotherapy offers good results in recurrent head and neck cancer

For patients with recurring head and neck cancer, stereotactic body radiotherapy offers a feasible and tolerable salvage treatment, with median overall survival rates of more than 1 year, report researchers. [More]

FDA approves KRAS gene mutation test for colorectal cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first genetic test that can help some colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and their doctors determine if the drug Erbitux (cetuximab) would be an effective treatment based on the absence of a gene mutation. The therascreen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit can provide information about the KRAS gene mutation in patients whose CRC has spread to other parts of their body (metastasized). [More]

Study details canonical Wnt signaling pathway

Many lung cancers are driven by mutations in the epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR), and so it makes sense that many successful modern treatments block EGFR activity. Unfortunately, cancers inevitably evolve around EGFR inhibition, and patients with lung cancers eventually relapse. [More]

BEAMing DNA blood testing technology detects drug resistance in colorectal cancer patients early

Two studies published back-to-back in last week's Nature applied DNA blood testing using the BEAMing technology to detect drug resistance mediated by KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer patients months before treatment failure was observed. [More]
Jennerex announces data from JX-594 clinical studies on cancer

Jennerex announces data from JX-594 clinical studies on cancer

Jennerex, Inc., a private clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on the development and commercialization of first-in-class targeted oncolytic virus products for cancer, today announced that data relating to the company's oncolytic virus therapy for cancer was featured in three separate abstracts during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting currently taking place in Chicago, Illinois. [More]

Oncothyreon announces data from two clinical trials of PX-866 at ASCO meeting

Oncothyreon Inc. today announced that data from two clinical trials of PX-866, a pan-isoform phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitor, were presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago. [More]
Study reveals why GBM is highly resistant to current chemotherapies

Study reveals why GBM is highly resistant to current chemotherapies

New research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison explains why the incurable brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is highly resistant to current chemotherapies. [More]
Montefiore experts available to discuss cancer research at 2012 ASCO meeting

Montefiore experts available to discuss cancer research at 2012 ASCO meeting

Bringing together international experts with the latest technologies and pioneering research, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute-designated Albert Einstein Cancer Center, advances the front lines of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of rare and common cancers. [More]

Oncothyreon commences PX-866 and vemurafenib Phase 1/2 combination trial for melanoma

Oncothyreon Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase 1/2 trial of PX-866 in combination with vemurafenib. [More]

ARI-4175 drug may treat colorectal cancer patients with KRAS mutation

When combined with other treatments, the drug cetuximab-which works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells-has been shown to extend survival in certain types of cancer, including metastatic colorectal cancers. Unfortunately, about 40 percent of colorectal cancer patients-specifically those who carry a mutated form of a gene called KRAS-do not respond to the drug. Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, however, have been working on a way to overcome this resistance to cetuximab by unleashing a second cetuximab driven mechanism using a novel drug called ARI-4175. [More]

Aurora-A protein plays an important role in head and neck cancer

Researchers at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia have found that a protein associated with other cancers appears to also be important in head and neck cancer, and may consequently serve as a good target for new treatments. The findings will be reported at the AACR Annual Meeting 2012 on Sunday, April 1. [More]