Small Cell Lung Cancer News and Research

RSS

Small cell lung cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the lung. Small cell lung cancer is an aggressive (fast-growing) cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. The cancer cells look small and oval-shaped when looked at under a microscope.

New biomarkers can predict patients' response to certain drugs

Recent advances in cancer therapeutics have led to the discovery of biomarkers that can predict patient response to certain drugs. Screening for mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGRF) prior to non-small cell lung cancer treatment, for example, has been shown to indentify patients who are likely to respond to treatment with erlontinib. This maximizes the drug's impact, and spares patients who are not likely to benefit from being subjected to potentially debilitating side effects.

19 Nov 2009

Opiate-based painkillers can increase tumor-cell proliferation, says new study

Although morphine has been the gold-standard treatment for postoperative and chronic cancer pain for two centuries, a growing body of evidence is showing that opiate-based painkillers can stimulate the growth and spread of cancer cells.

19 Nov 2009

Interim data from an ongoing phase 1 dose-escalation trial of XL147 reported

Exelixis, Inc. today reported interim data from an ongoing phase 1 dose-escalation trial of XL147 (SAR245408) in combination with the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib in patients with advanced solid tumors.

19 Nov 2009

Data on Synta Pharmaceuticals' STA-9090 synthetic inhibitor of Hsp90 presented

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today announced that preclinical data presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics shows that STA-9090, a novel, synthetic inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), demonstrated strong activity in multiple tumor models.

18 Nov 2009

Study to test anti-tumor effects of AEOL 10150 initiated

Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the initiation of a study to test the anti-tumor effects of AEOL 10150 when combined with radiation and chemotherapy in nude mice bearing human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) xenografts.

18 Nov 2009

Erbitux recognized as one of the major clinical cancer advances of 2009

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has once again recognized Erbitux® (cetuximab) as one of the major clinical cancer advances of 2009. This year Erbitux was selected by ASCO for providing the first significant increase in survival for 30 years in the treatment of patients with 1st-line recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

16 Nov 2009

Bend Memorial Clinic to begin Phase III lung cancer trial

The Bend Memorial Clinic is recruiting patients for a Phase III lung cancer trial aimed at preventing the disease’s recurrence in previously treated patients. Specifically, the trial is evaluating the potential of an immunotherapy called Antigen-Specific Cancer Immunotherapeutic (ASCI) for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

11 Nov 2009

Poniard Pharmaceuticals to present picoplatin Phase 2 trial data at the AACR-NCI -EORTC conference

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Company will present updated clinical data from its randomized, controlled Phase 2 trial of picoplatin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) and final results from its Phase 1 cardiac safety trial.

11 Nov 2009

Potential new drug for lung cancer eliminates tumors in mice

A potential new drug for lung cancer has eliminated tumours in 50% of mice in a new study published today in the journal Cancer Research. In the animals, the drug also stopped lung cancer tumours from growing and becoming resistant to treatment. The authors of the research, from Imperial College London, are now planning to take the drug into clinical trials, to establish whether it could offer hope to patients with an inoperable form of lung cancer.

11 Nov 2009

PET scanning emerges as an important tool in the evaluation of lung cancer

A rapid decline in metabolic activity on a PET scan after radiation therapy for non-small cell lung cancer is correlated with good local tumor control, according to a study presented by researchers at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital at the 51st ASTRO Annual Meeting.

7 Nov 2009

Abraxis BioScience reports $96.6 million net revenues for third quarter of 2009

Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a fully integrated biotechnology company, today reported unaudited financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2009.

5 Nov 2009

ArQule reports financial results for the fiscal quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009

ArQule, Inc. today reported its results of operations for the fiscal quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

5 Nov 2009

Idera Pharmaceuticals announces financial results for the third quarter of 2009

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

5 Nov 2009

Cell Therapeutics reports financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. today reported recent achievements and financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009, which included a 45% decrease in the net loss attributable to common shareholders for the nine month period in 2009 compared to the same period in 2008.

5 Nov 2009

FDA approves SPA Protocol Amendment for Lucanix Phase III clinical trial

NovaRx Corporation announced today that the Company has successfully negotiated and received FDA approval for a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) Protocol Amendment to the pivotal Lucanix® Phase III clinical trial in patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

4 Nov 2009

Non-small cell lung cancer patients who undergo PCI decrease their risk of developing brain metastases

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with preventative brain radiation (called prophylactic cranial irradiation or PCI), significantly decrease their risk of developing brain metastases (cancer spread in the brain) by more than 50 percent (from 18 percent to 8 percent), compared to those who did not receive the treatment, according to a randomized study presented at the plenary session November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

4 Nov 2009

Combination of high-dose radiotherapy and chemotherapy shows encouraging results in treating LSCL

Treating limited stage small cell lung cancer(LSCL) with a combination of accelerated high-dose radiotherapy and chemotherapy has shown encouraging results, opening the door to larger scale investigation, according to new research from The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

4 Nov 2009

PET imaging is not the basis for increasing dosage level

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of non-small cell lung cancer prior to receiving radiation therapy should not be the basis for determining areas that may benefit from higher doses of radiation, according to research presented by investigators at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital at the 51st ASTRO Annual Meeting (Abstract #2583/B-186).

4 Nov 2009

SBRT stops the growth of cancer for 98% of patients with NSCLC

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) stopped the growth of cancer at its original site in the lung for three years among nearly 98 percent of patients with early non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are unable to have the cancer surgically removed, according to an updated three-year study presented November 2, 2009, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

3 Nov 2009

New study to assess preventative brain radiation therapy for lung cancer patients

A new study is taking a closer look at the benefits versus risks for lung cancer patients to undergo preventative brain radiation therapy as a means to stop cancer from spreading to the brain.

3 Nov 2009