Oncology News and Research

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Oncology, meaning bulk, mass, or tumor, and the suffix ''-logy'', meaning "study of") is a branch of medicine that deals with tumors (cancer). A medical professional who practices oncology is an ''oncologist''.

Leading researchers discuss latest breakthroughs and best forms of cancer prevention

Eating a balanced diet and preparing your food in the correct way may be your best defense against developing cancer, according to top cancer researchers

9 Feb 2010

Picis introduces LYNX C/Point revenue management solution for chemotherapy clinics

Picis today announced the immediate availability of an enhancement to its Picis LYNX C/Point® revenue management solution designed specifically for hospital-owned chemotherapy clinics.

9 Feb 2010

Study validates Transgenomic's COLD-PCR technology for colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutation detection

Transgenomic, Inc. announced today that it has completed a preliminary study with a leading pharmaceutical company that validates the use of its licensed COLD-PCR technology to detect colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutations that determine efficacy of recently developed therapies. These were detected in plasma samples in which the mutation levels were too low for detection by standard DNA analysis methodologies such as Sanger sequencing.

9 Feb 2010

Denosumab exhibits superiority over Zometa in treatment of prostate cancer men with bone metastases

Amgen today announced that a pivotal, Phase 3, head-to-head trial evaluating denosumab versus Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in the treatment of bone metastases in 1,901 men with advanced prostate cancer met its primary and secondary endpoints.

9 Feb 2010

CRT, AstraZeneca announce alliance to develop new anti-cancer drugs

Cancer Research UK's commercialisation and development arm, Cancer Research Technology (CRT), today announced it has teamed up with biopharmaceutical business, AstraZeneca in a major, multi-project alliance, in which around 30 scientists will be focused on creating a stream of new anti-cancer drugs, it is announced today (Sunday).

9 Feb 2010

Genta commences Phase 2 trial of tesetaxel on first subject

Genta Incorporated announced that the Company has initiated treatment of the first subject in a new Phase 2 trial of tesetaxel in advanced melanoma. Tesetaxel is the Company’s newest clinical-stage small molecule. As a late Phase 2 oncology product, tesetaxel is the leading oral taxane currently in clinical development. The new trial builds on more than ten years of Genta’s experience in melanoma clinical research.

9 Feb 2010

Breast cancer: Lower dose of radiotherapy in fewer, larger doses as effective as higher total dose

The chronic side-effects of radiotherapy for early breast cancer, as reported by women themselves, are not any worse when treatment is given in a lower overall dose in fewer but larger treatments according to a trial part funded by Cancer Research UK and published today in the Lancet Oncology.

8 Feb 2010

Silence Therapeutics strengthens patent portfolio of RNAi therapeutics in solid tumor treatment

Silence Therapeutics plc today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued the company a notice of allowance on a patent application directed to methods of treatment using a high-value therapeutic target in the area of oncology. Known as PKN-3, the target is a protein kinase C-related molecule that is believed to play an important role in the growth of cancer cells, as well as metastasis formation.

8 Feb 2010

Increased Medicare reimbursement leads to rise in outpatient bladder cancer surgeries

Increased Medicare payments to physicians for outpatient surgeries for bladder cancer have led to a dramatic rise in the number of these procedures being performed and an overall increase in cost to the healthcare system. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The findings indicate that some Medicare policies aimed at decreasing costs may instead be contributing to an increase in healthcare expenditures.

8 Feb 2010

EpiCept announces at-the-market program for selling common stock shares

EpiCept Corporation announced today that it has established an at-the-market program through which it may sell, from time to time and at its sole discretion, shares of its common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $15 million. Maxim Group LLC is acting as sales agent on the program.

6 Feb 2010

Radiation oncologists push for safety standards

The New York Times: "The leading professional organization dedicated to radiation oncology has called for enhanced safety measures in administering medical radiation, including the establishment of the nation's first central database for the reporting of errors involving linear accelerators — machines that generate radiation — and CT scanners.

5 Feb 2010

New ICD-9-CM database provides FDA-approved and off-label uses for therapeutic drugs

A recently released Drug Diagnosis Coding database from RJ Health Systems provides accurate FDA-approved and Compendia-listed off-label uses for therapeutic classes such as Oncology, Anti-Emetics, Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents and Multiple Sclerosis Agents. The

5 Feb 2010

Nearly 50% of essential services provided for cancer treatment not reimbursed by Medicare

A comprehensive study of the components of the delivery of modern-day cancer care in community oncology practices revealed that Medicare covers only 56% of the actual costs of administering chemotherapy and providing related infusion room services to seniors with cancer. The remaining costs -- for essential services provided such as treatment planning, care coordination, and follow-up care planning -- are not reimbursed by Medicare, causing many oncology practices to struggle to continue to provide care under the Medicare program.

5 Feb 2010

Pazopanib drug slows the progression of RCC in patients by 54%

The drug pazopanib (Votrient) slowed the progression of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a form of kidney cancer, in patients by 54% percent, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

5 Feb 2010

Merck announces $1.5M funding commitment over three years to BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Today, Merck is pleased to announce its $1.5 million funding commitment over three years to the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) in support of its research program entitled "Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS", known as the "seek & treat" program, which will expand HIV treatment and care for hard-to-reach residents in Prince George and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

5 Feb 2010

Oxford Finance Corporation announces $25M credit facility to EUSA Pharma

Oxford Finance Corporation today announced that it is the agent and primary lender for a $25 million credit facility provided to EUSA Pharma. MidCap Financial and Silicon Valley Bank are co-lenders in the transaction.

5 Feb 2010

BioClinica signs three-year, multi-million dollar deal with Cephalon

BioClinica, Inc., a leading global provider of clinical trial services, has signed a three-year, multi-million dollar deal with Cephalon, Inc. for clinical trial technology and support services.

From Clario 5 Feb 2010

Pfizer, DxS sign agreement to develop a diagnostic test kit for CDX-110 to treat patients with GBM

Pfizer Inc. and DxS (a wholly owned subsidiary of QIAGEN N.V.) today announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop a companion diagnostic test kit for PF-04948568 (CDX-110), an immunotherapy vaccine in development for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

5 Feb 2010

Progenics Pharmaceuticals to present preclinical data of multiplex PI3K inhibitors

Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the presentation of preclinical data on a series of novel compounds that simultaneously blocked two critical pathways involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells.

4 Feb 2010

ASTRO and ACR release practice guidelines for new radiation treatments

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American College of Radiology (ACR) have released practice guidelines for image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the February issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO.

4 Feb 2010

Oncology News and Research

Further Reading

Leading researchers discuss latest breakthroughs and best forms of cancer prevention

Picis introduces LYNX C/Point revenue management solution for chemotherapy clinics

Study validates Transgenomic's COLD-PCR technology for colorectal tumor-associated KRAS mutation detection

Denosumab exhibits superiority over Zometa in treatment of prostate cancer men with bone metastases

CRT, AstraZeneca announce alliance to develop new anti-cancer drugs

Genta commences Phase 2 trial of tesetaxel on first subject

Breast cancer: Lower dose of radiotherapy in fewer, larger doses as effective as higher total dose

Silence Therapeutics strengthens patent portfolio of RNAi therapeutics in solid tumor treatment

Increased Medicare reimbursement leads to rise in outpatient bladder cancer surgeries

EpiCept announces at-the-market program for selling common stock shares

Radiation oncologists push for safety standards

New ICD-9-CM database provides FDA-approved and off-label uses for therapeutic drugs

Nearly 50% of essential services provided for cancer treatment not reimbursed by Medicare

Pazopanib drug slows the progression of RCC in patients by 54%

Merck announces $1.5M funding commitment over three years to BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Oxford Finance Corporation announces $25M credit facility to EUSA Pharma

BioClinica signs three-year, multi-million dollar deal with Cephalon

Pfizer, DxS sign agreement to develop a diagnostic test kit for CDX-110 to treat patients with GBM

Progenics Pharmaceuticals to present preclinical data of multiplex PI3K inhibitors

ASTRO and ACR release practice guidelines for new radiation treatments

A best-practice guide for laboratory services in oncology trials eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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