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''.

USPTO rejects MonoSol's patent infringement claims against BDSI

The United States Patent & Trademark Office has informed BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. that it has rejected all claims by MonoSol Rx, LLC (MonoSol) in its US Patent No. 7,425,292 (the '292 Patent) which is currently being asserted against BDSI and its commercial partners for ONSOLIS.

23 Feb 2012

Pediatricians should screen all children for vitamin D deficiency

As study after study shows the fundamental role vitamin D plays in disease and health, vitamin D deficiency — which often develops insidiously in childhood — should be on every parent's and pediatrician's radar, say physicians from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

23 Feb 2012

Vemurafenib nearly doubles survival for patients with metastatic melanoma

Investigators from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) and 12 other centers in the United States and Australia have found that a new drug for patients with metastatic melanoma nearly doubled median overall survival.

23 Feb 2012

NK cells play an important role in rejection of porcine chondrocytes transplantation

Researchers from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) have studied for the first time the response of human NK cells (Natural Killer) against porcine chondrocytes (cartilage cells).

23 Feb 2012

Researchers discover how mTOR protein leads to cancer metastasis

Uncovering the network of genes regulated by a crucial molecule involved in cancer called mTOR, which controls protein production inside cells, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have discovered how a protein "master regulator" goes awry, leading to metastasis, the fatal step of cancer.

23 Feb 2012

Enrollment complete in Onyx Phase 3 ASPIRE trial for relapsed multiple myeloma

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has reached the target enrollment in the ASPIRE trial, a Phase 3 international clinical trial evaluating carfilzomib in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and low dose dexamethasone in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma.

23 Feb 2012

Roche grants in vitro diagnostics product license for real-time PCR technology to LTC

Roche and Life Technologies Corporation announced today that they have entered into two license agreements to allow LTC to expand its PCR offerings for diagnostics applications.

23 Feb 2012

FDA approves new supplies of drugs that are facing shortages

The United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) have approved new suppliers for two crucial cancer drugs, easing critical shortages that had been concerning patients and families particularly of the children with leukemia. But there are currently 283 separate prescription drugs in short supply or unavailable nationwide, and regulators and manufacturers say shortages are a long-term problem that will continue to scare patients and doctors.

22 Feb 2012

Bid to raise awareness of risks and symptoms of ovarian cancer: The 2012 Teal Ribbon Day

Ovarian Cancer Australia has found less than one per cent of women know they're at risk if there's a family history of ovarian cancer on their father's side. And only 42 per cent know a history on their mother's side puts them at increased risk.

22 Feb 2012

Simple blood test may provide early detection of cancer

A simple blood test is being developed by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva, Israel that may provide early detection of many types of cancer.

22 Feb 2012

FDA approves APP's preservative-free Methotrexate Injection

APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fresenius Kabi Pharmaceuticals Holding, Inc., announced today that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market preservative-free Methotrexate Injection, USP. APP currently manufactures Methotrexate Injection with preservative.

22 Feb 2012

Researchers discover mechanism of thermostat protein

Johns Hopkins and National Taiwan University researchers have discovered more details about how an energy sensing "thermostat" protein determines whether cells will store or use their energy reserves.

22 Feb 2012

BioLineRx BL-7010 may reduce gluten toxicity in patients with celiac disease

BioLineRx, a biopharmaceutical development company, announced the publication of pre-clinical results demonstrating that BL-7010, an orally available treatment for celiac disease, reduces gluten toxicity (the negative effect of gluten on the patient's body).

22 Feb 2012

Biotech company defends patent on gene mutation for breast cancer

A US biotechnology company is defending the granting of a controversial patent over a common genetic mutation for breast cancer, rejecting accusations it amounts to the privatization of the human body.

21 Feb 2012

Work place carcinogens responsible for 5,000 cases of cancer annually

According to researchers carcinogens in the workplace are causing about 5,000 cancers each year and medical experts say not enough is being done to reduce the risks.

21 Feb 2012

Genomic instability allows malignant cells to acquire more deadly characteristics

Genomic instability caused by an erosion of the protective caps on chromosomes, followed by activation of an enzyme that reinforces those aps, allows malignant cells to evade destruction and acquire more deadly characteristics, researchers report in an Online Now article at the journal Cell.

21 Feb 2012

Medco fourth-quarter total net revenues increase 12.2% to record $19.0 billion

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today reported record fourth-quarter 2011 GAAP diluted EPS of $1.08, an increase of 22.7 percent, which includes expenses associated with the pending merger with Express Scripts, Inc. of $43.6 million before provision for income taxes. When excluding these merger-related expenses, diluted EPS increased 29.5 percent over fourth-quarter 2010.

21 Feb 2012

Elekta to highlight Clarity with Autoscan at Radiosurgery Society meeting

Clarity soft tissue visualization system now provides an Autoscan option for automated ultrasound scanning from outside of the treatment room, employing a motorized probe positioned at the patient's perineum.

From Elekta 20 Feb 2012

DNA ‘nanorobot’ effectively targets cancer leaving healthy cells untouched: Study

Researchers have developed ‘nano-sized’ probes built from DNA that can seek and destroy cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched. These ‘nanorobots’ release their drug payload only when they reach and identify their target and are believed to improve many treatments for disease.

20 Feb 2012

EC approves Plexxikon's Zelboraf to treat BRAF mutation-positive MM

Plexxikon Inc., a member of Daiichi Sankyo Group, today announced that the European Commission has approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib) for the monotherapy treatment of adult patients with BRAFV600 mutation-positive unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

20 Feb 2012