Neutropenia News and Research

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Neutropenia is a hematological disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of neutrophils, the most important type of white blood cell, in the blood.

Gene test not needed if cancer drug irinotecan given in low dose

Investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have shown that when the cancer drug irinotecan is given in low doses for multiple days, it eliminates the need to delay treatment to perform costly genetic testing that determines if the patient is at risk for serious treatment side effects, such as neutropenia.

20 Jun 2007

Priority review granted for oral formulation of HYCAMTIN (topotecan)

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced that its new drug application (NDA) for ORAL HYCAMTIN (topotecan) capsules, a treatment for relapsed small cell lung cancer (SCLC), has been granted Priority Review by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

14 Jun 2007

Studies try to shed light on impact of race

Statistics show lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in African-Americans, with 21,550 new cases expected to be diagnosed and 16,700 deaths expected this year.

3 Jun 2007

Genta Incorporated announces phase 3 trial of Genasense in patients with advanced melanoma

Genta Incorporated has announced that the Company will conduct a new randomized controlled Phase 3 trial of its lead anticancer product, Genasense (oblimersen sodium) Injection, in patients with advanced melanoma.

19 Apr 2007

OncoGenex Technologies announces data from a Phase II clinical trial of OGX-011

The primary objective of this study was to assess the objective response rates (reduction in tumor size) when OGX-011 is combined with docetaxel in patients with metastatic or locally recurrent breast cancer.

18 Apr 2007

Gleevec available to patients in post-surgical GIST study

Investigators will begin offering Gleevec(R) (imatinib mesylate)* tablets to patients receiving placebo in a major North American clinical trial after an interim analysis showed participants with Kit-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors treated with Gleevec following surgery were significantly less likely to experience a return of their cancer compared to those not taking this innovative therapy.

15 Apr 2007

Targeted therapies improve colon cancer survival rates

People diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer that has spread to distant organs, such as White House spokesman Tony Snow, are much more likely to survive today than even just a few years ago, due to the recent and continued emergence of improved therapies, say cancer experts.

3 Apr 2007

FDA approves generic Ciprofloxacin injection

The Food and Drug Administration has approved several Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) for generic versions of Bayer Corporation Pharmaceutical Division's CIPRO I.V., a drug to treat certain bacterial infections.

29 Aug 2006

FDA approval for Gemzar for ovarian cancer

Eli Lilly and Company announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Gemzar (gemcitabine HCl) for use in the treatment of women living with recurrent ovarian cancer.

18 Jul 2006

FDA grants accelerated approval for Sprycel (dasatinib)

FDA grants accelerated approval for Sprycel (dasatinib), a new oral treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML),

29 Jun 2006

First drug treatment for late-stage cervical cancer approved

FDA has approved a combination of Hycamtin (topotecan hydrochloride) and cisplatin for use as the first drug treatment for women with late-stage cancer of the cervix.

18 Jun 2006

Bortezomib extends lung cancer survival

Adding the new molecularly targeted agent bortezomib to a standard chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and carboplatin prolongs survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, according to results from a phase II trial.

9 Jun 2006

Trastuzumab results promising for HER-2 positive breast cancer patients

Researchers have shown that patients who receive trastuzumab at the same time as post-chemotherapy radiation treatments for HER-2 positive breast cancer have no more risk for major side effects or complications than those who do not receive the drug.

7 Jun 2006

Sperm donor passes rare dangerous disease on to four children

According to a new report in the U.S., a sperm donor may have unwittingly passed an extremely rare and dangerous genetic ailment to five children born to four couples.

22 May 2006

Therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma remains inadequate

The recent FDA approvals of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib based on their activity in metastatic renal cell carcinoma have excited the medical oncology community

9 Mar 2006

Study proves the effectiveness of Vfend for the treatment of candidemia

Using Vfend (voriconazole) for the treatment of nonneutropenic patients with candidemia, an often-fatal hospital-acquired bloodstream infection, is as effective as a regimen of two older antifungals and carries fewer serious side effects than that regimen.

7 Nov 2005

Capecitabine and Gemcitabine help battle pancreatic cancer

The prognosis of pancreatic cancer is poor but new therapies such as gemcitabine have contributed to improving the outcome for patients. Data presented at the 13th European Conference (ECCO) revealed that using the combination of gemcitabine and capecitabine increased overall survival in some patients.

3 Nov 2005

Interferon combined with ribavirin treatment is effective for children with chronic Hepatitis C virus

Nearly half of 118 children with chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treated with a combination of interferon-alpha-2b and an optimized dose of ribavirin achieved sustained viral response, and side effects were generally mild.

3 Nov 2005

Toxicity from chemotherapy in lung cancer patients could help predict treatment efficacy

Chemotherapy is standard treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, although benefits are modest and toxicity substantial. Massimo Di Maio and colleagues hypothesised that neutropenia, a haematological toxicity, could be a predictor of drug activity and treatment efficacy.

30 Aug 2005

Combination antiretroviral drug therapy may reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission

Two new studies support the hypothesis that combination antiretroviral drug therapy may reduce the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission through breastfeeding, findings that could have significant implications in the developing world.

29 Jul 2005