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''.

Mammography appears to detect women with low-risk breast cancer

As a woman ages, her chances of being diagnosed with a lower-risk breast tumor increase, according to a novel study led by UCSF which found that for women over 50, a substantial number of cancers detected by mammograms have good prognoses.

20 Dec 2011

RPCI receives ASCO's QOPI certification, Leapfrog Top Hospital recognition

Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) has again been recognized at the national level for providing high-quality, patient-centered care. One of only three National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in New York State, RPCI this month received Leapfrog Top Hospital recognition for the second consecutive year and earned Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) Certification from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

20 Dec 2011

Top-line results from AstraZeneca and Targacept's TC-5214 Phase 3 study on MDD

AstraZeneca and Targacept, Inc. today announced top-line results from the second of four RENAISSANCE Phase 3 studies investigating the efficacy and tolerability of TC-5214 as an adjunct therapy to an antidepressant in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) who do not respond adequately to initial antidepressant treatment.

20 Dec 2011

Smoking in women associated with skin cancer: Study

A new study has found a link between tobacco use and skin cancer especially in women. The study found that women who had squamous cell skin cancer were more likely to have smoked than those who were free from the disease. And those who smoked at least 20 years were twice as likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer - a less aggressive form of skin cancer as melanoma.

19 Dec 2011

MDA doctors challenge breast cancer brachytherapy study

A recent study on a sophisticated form of radiation treatment for breast cancer is inaccurate and has caused unnecessary concern among many patients, according to four top physician researchers.

19 Dec 2011

Newgen acquires novel oncology development programs from Kanion

NewGen Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the acquisition of three novel oncology development programs from Kanion USA, Inc. and Kanion Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd..

19 Dec 2011

Zalicus commences Z944 Phase 1 clinical trial for treatment of acute and inflammatory pain

Zalicus Inc. a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel treatments for patients suffering from pain and immuno-inflammatory diseases, today announced the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the pharmacokinetics and safety of Z944, a novel oral T-type calcium channel blocker with demonstrated preclinical potential for the treatment of acute and inflammatory pain.

19 Dec 2011

Soybean compounds can increase effectiveness of radiation treatment for lung cancer

A Wayne State University researcher has shown that compounds found in soybeans can make radiation treatment of lung cancer tumors more effective while helping to preserve normal tissue.

19 Dec 2011

IGN joins BCCA Genome Science Center

Illumina, Inc. today announced that the British Columbia Cancer Agency's (BCCA) Genome Science Center has joined the Illumina Genome Network (IGN). IGN is designed to link researchers needing large-scale whole human genome sequencing with leading institutions that provide this application as a service using industry-leading Illumina sequencing platforms.

19 Dec 2011

arGEN-X to advance SIMPLE Antibody platform for treatment of autoimmune disorders

arGEN-X, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of human monoclonal antibodies from its proprietary SIMPLE Antibody platform, announced today it has received a grant of €1.3 million to further advance its powerful discovery platform for addressing challenging disease targets.

19 Dec 2011

Scientists discover a way to keep normal and cancer cells alive in the lab

In a major step that could revolutionize biomedical research, scientists have discovered a way to keep normal cells as well as tumor cells taken from an individual cancer patient alive in the laboratory - which previously had not been possible. Normal cells usually die in the lab after dividing only a few times, and many common cancers will not grow, unaltered, outside of the body.

19 Dec 2011

HPV test outshines Pap smears for detection of early cervical cancers

A new trial involving nearly 40,000 women in the Netherlands showed that testing for the human papillomavirus, or HPV allowed doctors to detect abnormal cervical cells earlier and prevent more cases of cervical cancer than administering pap smears alone.

18 Dec 2011

Baxter receives FDA approval for ADVATE to prevent hemophilia A

Baxter International Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ADVATE [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant) Plasma/Albumin Free Method] for routine prophylaxis to prevent or reduce the frequency of bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia A.

From Baxter International Inc. 17 Dec 2011

Combination of bevacizumab and chemoradiation safe, effective for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The trial conducted by the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) shows the feasibility to deliver bevacizumab to the current chemoradiation standard without any apparent increased adverse side effects.

17 Dec 2011

Many maternal deaths from pre-eclampsia in the UK linked with substandard care

An editorial published this week in the Lancet online highlights the shocking fact that many maternal deaths in the UK are associated with substandard care and are potentially preventable.

17 Dec 2011

Scientists devise a way to reduce side effects of lung cancer therapy

Scientists may have a way to double the efficacy and reduce the side effects of radiation therapy.

17 Dec 2011

Behavioral interventions reduce STIs and improve condom use

Behavioral interventions aimed at reducing sexual risk behaviors, such as unprotected sex, are effective at both promoting condom use and reducing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) long after the initial intervention, according to a new report in the December 15 issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

16 Dec 2011