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''.

New microchip to detect type and severity of cancer

UofT researchers have used nanomaterials to develop a microchip sensitive enough to quickly determine the type and severity of a patient's cancer so that the disease can be detected earlier for more effective treatment.

29 Sep 2009

Radiation treatment after prostate cancer surgery eradicates recurrent cancer

The largest single-institution study of its kind has found few complications in prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy after surgery to remove the prostate. Men in this study received radiotherapy after a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test following surgery indicated their cancer had recurred.

29 Sep 2009

Winners of Paul Marks Prize 2009

Three young investigators who have taken significant steps toward advancing the understanding of cancer will be the recipients of this year's Paul Marks Prize for Cancer Research, a prize awarded biennially since 2001 to scientists under the age of forty-six by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

29 Sep 2009

NovoCure initiates newly-diagnosed GBM clinical trial

NovoCure, Ltd., a privately held medical device company focused on developing the Novo-TTF device, a non-invasive portable medical device for the treatment of cancer, announced the completion of a new funding round today. Key investors in this round included Pfizer Inc, Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation and Index Ventures.

29 Sep 2009

Celsion Corporation to purchase over 1 million shares of common stock in a registered direct offering

Celsion Corporation, an innovative oncology drug development company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative oncology drugs, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with a select group of institutional investors to sell 2,018,153 shares of common stock and warrants to purchase up to 1,009,077 shares of common stock in a registered direct offering.

29 Sep 2009

Estrogen withdrawal may play a significant role in joint pain during breast cancer treatment

Aromatase inhibitors, the same drugs that have buoyed long-term survival rates among breast cancer patients, also carry side effects including joint pain so severe that many patients discontinue these lifesaving medicines. New University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine research, however, has uncovered patterns that may help clinicians identify and help women at risk of these symptoms sooner in order to increase their chances of sticking with their treatment regimen.

29 Sep 2009

Proton therapy center to treat pediatric and adult cancer patients

The development of a proton therapy center in the Pacific Northwest has taken a significant step forward with the signing of a letter of intent between the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and ProCure Treatment Centers Inc. (ProCure). SCCA and ProCure announced the agreement today and are moving the project forward to bring this advanced form of radiation therapy to adult and pediatric cancer patients.

29 Sep 2009

The CDH Proton Therapy Center announces arrival of a 220-ton cyclotron for treating cancer

A 220-ton cyclotron, the core of what will soon be Illinois’ most advanced radiation treatment center, has ended a 5,000-mile journey that began in Belgium, arriving at the construction site of the CDH Proton Therapy Center, a ProCure Center, located in suburban Warrenville. Capable of accelerating protons, the cyclotron is the core piece of equipment used in proton therapy, an alternative to X-ray radiation that spares healthy tissue and results in far fewer short- and long-term treatment side effects.

28 Sep 2009

World’s first Cesium-131 implant for recurrent head and neck cancer performed

IsoRay, Inc. (Amex: ISR) announced today that on August 5, 2009, Dr. Bhupesh Parashar from the Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr. David Kutler of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, and Dr. Jason Spector of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center performed the world’s first Cesium-131 implant for a recurrent head and neck cancer (buccal mucosa).

28 Sep 2009

Halozyme Therapeutics announces Phase 1 clinical study to assess three insulin analogs

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the commencement of a Phase 1 clinical study that will assess the effects of three approved prandial (mealtime) insulin analogs administered with its proprietary rHuPH20 (PH20) hyaluronidase enzyme compared to each of the analogs alone. This randomized, three-way cross-over design, euglycemic clamp study will compare the postprandial pharmacokinetics (PK) and glucodynamics (GD) of the insulin analogs.

28 Sep 2009

Child health experts to gather in Italy for Excellence in Paediatrics conference

Obesity, the flu pandemic and diabetes are just three of the hot topics that will be explored when top child health experts gather in Italy for Excellence in Paediatrics from 3 to 6 December 2009.

28 Sep 2009

Phase 2 clinical trial results of IMO-2055 announced

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced the presentation of final data from a clinical trial evaluating IMO-2055, an agonist of Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 9, as monotherapy in patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). The data are being presented during the Eighth International Kidney Cancer Symposium being held in Chicago, September 25-26, 2009.

28 Sep 2009

FDA grants accelerated approval for Allos Therapeutics’ FOLOTYN

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALTH) today announced that last night the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for FOLOTYNTM (pralatrexate injection) for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

28 Sep 2009

Pfizer to commence Phase 3 trial of oral c-Met and ALK inhibitor

Pfizer Oncology announced today that it will initiate a global, Phase 3 clinical trial of its investigational oral c-Met and ALK inhibitor, PF-02341066, versus standard of care chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying the ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinases) fusion gene, who have progressed on one prior treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy.

26 Sep 2009

Morphotek announces preliminary data from Phase II trial of farletuzumab

Morphotek(R), Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Corporation of North America, today announced preliminary data from a Phase II trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of farletuzumab in platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer subjects experiencing their first relapse. Farletuzumab (MORAb-003) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the Folate Receptor Alpha (FRA).

26 Sep 2009

Folotyn approved for the treatment of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Folotyn (pralatrexate), the first treatment for a form of cancer known as Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma (PTCL), an often aggressive type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

25 Sep 2009

NIH calls for identifying better methods to predict the risk of developing breast cancer

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the most common non-invasive lesion of the breast, presents unique challenges for patients and providers largely because the natural course of the untreated disease is not well understood. Because most women diagnosed with DCIS are treated, it is difficult to determine the comparative benefits of different treatment strategies versus active surveillance, meaning systematic followup.

25 Sep 2009

Recipients of the Lundbeck Neonatal Nursing Career Path Scholarship announced

The National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) is proud to announce the recipients of the Lundbeck Neonatal Nursing Career Path Scholarship. The program, made possible through a grant from Lundbeck Inc. (formerly Ovation Pharmaceuticals), supports clinical neonatal nurses who seek to advance their education and become neonatal nurse practitioners.

25 Sep 2009

Dyax to present an update of its clinical development programs

Dyax Corp., a developer of novel biotherapeutics for unmet medical needs, announced today that Gustav A. Christensen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dyax, will present at the Fourth Annual JMP Securities Healthcare Focus Conference, being held October 5-6th at The New York Palace Hotel in New York City, NY.

25 Sep 2009

Phase III PLATO study proves that ticagrelor is more effective than clopidogrel

New data from the phase III PLATO study showed that ticagrelor (BRILINTA((TM))) provided greater reduction of cardiovascular (CV) events (composite of CV death, heart attack and stroke) than clopidogrel (9.02% vs. 10.65%,>

25 Sep 2009