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''.

Avastin plus Folfox4 chemotherapy significantly extends survival in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer

Genentech and Roche today announced that a randomized Phase III study of Avastin™ (bevacizumab) plus the FOLFOX4 chemotherapy regimen (oxaliplatin/5-FU/leucovorin), compared to FOLFOX4 alone, in second-line metastatic colorectal cancer patients achieved its primary endpoint of improving overall survival.

29 Nov 2004

Researchers have discovered that by blocking a specific enzyme, it is possible to check the spread of cancer

A team of Danish researchers have discovered that by blocking a specific enzyme, it is possible to check the spread of cancer in the body. This finding may be the first step towards preventing deaths due to cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

23 Nov 2004

FDA approves Tarceva (erlotinib)

OSI Pharmaceuticals and Genentech have announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved, after priority review, Tarceva (erlotinib) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.

20 Nov 2004

More clinical trials needed to evaluate the benefits of complementary therapies for cancer patients

Prof Leslie Walker says that many people benefit from relaxation therapy, hypnotherapy and guided imagery in which patients are taught to visualise their bodies' defences vanquishing tumours and promoting good health.

18 Nov 2004

New genetic test has proven useful as a prognostic tool for ovarian cancer

The identification of a gene expression profile using microarray technology may help clinicians better determine the prognosis of patients with advanced stage ovarian cancer and may eventually help provide targeted therapies for this hard-to-treat disease, according to a study led by investigators at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).

18 Nov 2004

Combining radiation therapy with surgery and chemotherapy helps patients with rare forms of thyroid cancer live longer

Combining radiation therapy with surgery and chemotherapy helps patients with rare forms of thyroid cancer live longer, according to a study published in the November 15, 2004, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology~Biology~Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

16 Nov 2004

New software for the investigation of cancer

NorayBio, a bioinformatics company located at the Bizkaia Technological Park (Basque Country) and specialising in developing software for the biosciences, has launched a new software for cancer research on to the market - BITIA, primarily aimed at research centres and cancer wards in hospitals.

16 Nov 2004

Study clarifies BRCA1 and BRCA2 links with other cancers

The largest population study ever done into the risk of cancer in families that fulfil the criteria for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation testing has confirmed that breast and ovarian cancers are the major concerns for geneticists and doctors counselling families.

14 Nov 2004

36% of cancer patients ages 65 and older participate in clinical trials

A new study finds that only 36% of cancer patients ages 65 and older participate in clinical trials, despite making up 60% of the U.S. cancer population. The study will be published November 15 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).

14 Nov 2004

New insight into how our body cells block the development of cancer

Scientists at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Cancer Cell Unit, at the University of Cambridge, have revealed a new insight into how our body cells block the development of cancer.

11 Nov 2004

UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Center treats patients with TomoTherapy

UT Southwestern Moncrief Cancer Center this week began treating patients with a TomoTherapy system utilizing image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). Moncrief is the first cancer center in Texas to offer radiation treatment delivered by the TomoTherapy Hi-Art System.

10 Nov 2004

First ever study of parental role in children's cancer treatment

A team of Detroit-based researchers, led by a behavioral scientist from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, has launched a unique study to learn how parents can best help their children deal with painful procedures required for cancer treatment.

9 Nov 2004

Researchers have documented a novel form of resistance in leukemia cells to an anti-cancer drug

Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Massey Cancer Center have documented a novel form of resistance in leukemia cells to an anti-cancer drug, which could help scientists develop new strategies for treating the disease.

8 Nov 2004

The Bush Medicare Prescription has changed the identity of medical oncology

Under previous law, Medicare covered chemotherapy as well as radiation treatment for cancer patients, but did not pay for oral-dose anti-cancer drugs, unless they were available in both oral and injectable form.

4 Nov 2004

European approval for Taxotere (docetaxel) in prostate cancer

Aventis, part of the sanofi-aventis Group announced today that the European Commission has approved Taxotere (docetaxel) Injection Concentrate for use in combination with prednisone as a treatment for men with androgen-independent (hormone- refractory) metastatic prostate cancer.

4 Nov 2004

Peripheral blood transplants from donors may be more harmful than bone marrow transplants in pediatric leukemia patients

A new study has shown for the first time that transplantation of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) from sibling donors may be more harmful than bone marrow in pediatric leukemia patients.

3 Nov 2004

Less risks for patients participating in early phase cancer drug trials

The risk of treatment-related (toxic) death for cancer patients enrolled in phase 1 clinical trials had decreased significantly over the past 12 years (from 1991 to 2002), according to an article in the November 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Nov 2004

Maxim Pharmaceuticals to withdraw NDA for advanced malignant melanoma

Maxim Pharmaceuticals has announced that based upon the negative outcome of it's confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial (M0104) studying Ceplene(TM) (histamine dihydrochloride) in combination with Interleukin-2 (IL-2) in advanced malignant melanoma patients with liver metastases, it plans to close the treatment protocol approved by the FDA earlier this year.

2 Nov 2004

Marie Curie Cancer Care and Cancer Research Technology extend relationship for cancer patient benefit

Cancer Research Technology Limited (CRT), the specialist oncology focussed technology transfer and development company, today announced the completion of a Technology Transfer Agreement with Marie Curie Cancer Care, one of the largest cancer charities in the UK.

2 Nov 2004

Gene silencing may provide hope for leukemia sufferers

Ever since the approval of Gleevec in 2001, a cancer-cell-specific drug used to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), the field of cancer therapeutics has been rushing full speed into the era of so-called "targeted" medicines.

1 Nov 2004