The debate on how to select patients who will respond best to costly drug treatments for aggressive breast cancer now favors fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to measure the HER-2 receptor found in human breast tumors, according to a leading pathologist presenting at the Association for Molecular Pathology annual meeting. [More]

Radiation therapy is effective in achieving local control and palliation in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNTs), despite such tumors being commonly considered resistant to radiation therapy, according to a largest of its kind study in the November 15 issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). [More]

Antigenics Inc. today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), has formally adopted a negative opinion on the marketing authorization application (MAA) for Oncophage (vitespen) as a treatment in earlier-stage, localized renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). [More]

Genta Incorporated announced preliminary results that show a high objective response rate in a pilot study of patients with advanced melanoma that incorporates the Company’s lead oncology product, Genasense® (oblimersen sodium) Injection, administered for the first time as a 1-hour high-dose intravenous (IV) infusion. [More]

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the international Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations on November 20, 1989. The CHU Sainte-Justine and The Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre are joining forces to highlight the importance of this day, a reminder of the many injustices committed against children around the world. [More]

Experts agree that the urological cancer patient will benefit greatly if the delivered treatment is the result of a combined effort. Collaboration of experts from various fields is, therefore, necessary to take cancer-related research and medical practice to the next level. [More]

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is to be commended for publicly stating the government panel opposing mammograms is "an outside independent panel of doctors and scientists who ... do not set federal policy and ... don't determine what services are covered by the federal government." [More]

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a U.S. District Court order and ruled that CTI should be allowed to pursue all of its claims against The Lash Group, sending the case back to the District Court for trial. CTI filed a complaint against The Lash Group, CTI's former third-party reimbursement consultant for CTI's product TRISENOX, in 2007 seeking $22.8 million in damages for expenses already incurred related to the investigation, defense and a settlement of claims by the U.S. government concerning Medicare reimbursement for TRISENOX and other business losses. [More]

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/410c60/radiopharmaceutica) has announced the addition of the "Radiopharmaceuticals - A US and European Market Analysis" report to their offering. [More]

Leading patient advocacy organizations announced today that they are teaming up for the first time on an initiative to encourage patients with lung cancer to take charge of their diagnosis and learn about clinical trials, which are an important part of treatment innovation. [More]

TGen Drug Development (TD2) and the Institut Paoli-Calmettes (IPC) have forged a strategic alliance that will enable both to maximize their worldwide contributions in the treatment of cancer patients. [More]

ScinoPharm, a leading global supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), announced that its Tainan facility has received the Potent Compound Safety Certification from SafeBridge(R) Consultants, Inc. [More]

Two female brain tumor patients have become the first people in the south of England to be treated using a faster form of radiotherapy that extends more advanced care to more patients. RapidArc technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) makes it possible to deliver image-guided IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy) two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT. [More]

A commentary in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases brings to light the gaps in knowledge on the transmission of a common pathogen - the influenza virus - and its impact on decisions about how best to protect health care workers. Infectious diseases specialist Leonard Mermel, DO, medical director of infection control for Rhode Island Hospital, looks at the ongoing debate in light of the H1N1 pandemic, what past research tells us about the spread of influenza, and what is missing in the debate. His commentary is currently available in an online first edition. [More]

Aegera Therapeutics Inc. announced today the dosing of the first patient in a randomized Phase 2B study of AEG35156, a targeted antisense therapeutic in mid-stage development for multiple oncology indications. [More]