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''.

Bowel cancer surgery survival rates “worrying” experts

In a new study that looked into post-operative death rates for one of the most common cancers, trends look worrying. On average 6.7% of patients died within a month of undergoing surgery for bowel cancer in England between 1998 and 2006. Patients face a seven-fold higher risk of dying after surgery in some NHS trusts than others, the study shows.

11 Apr 2011

UMMC Professor receives American College of Physicians' highest honor

Dr. Joe Files, professor of medicine and director of the Division of Hematology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has received his mastership from the American College of Physicians, joining a select group of Mississippi physicians who have received the national organization’s highest recognition.

11 Apr 2011

Endo Pharmaceuticals to acquire American Medical Systems

Endo Pharmaceuticals and American Medical Systems today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Endo will acquire AMS, a leading provider of world-class devices and therapies for male and female pelvic health, for $30 per share, or $2.9 billion in cash, which includes the assumption and repayment of $312 million of AMS debt.

11 Apr 2011

Research on rare cancers

A cancer diagnosis can be a life-changing event. Many questions arise, with one of the first being, "Where should I be treated?" Patients diagnosed with rare cancers may have difficulty finding a physician knowledgeable in treating their type of cancer.

11 Apr 2011

Cellix expands European distribution network with Tebu-bio

Cellix are pleased to announce the signing of a distribution agreement with tebu-bio SAS. tebu-bio has a well-established pan-European presence, recognised by the international scientific community with local offices in France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Spain and the UK.

11 Apr 2011

Pfizer to support immatics' IMA901 Phase III trial in advanced renal cell carcinoma

immatics biotechnologies GmbH, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing advanced therapeutic vaccines that are active against cancer, today announced that Pfizer has agreed to support its pivotal Phase III trial with IMA901, its therapeutic cancer vaccine for advanced renal cell carcinoma.

11 Apr 2011

Lonza, Roche sign agreement to commercialize MycoTOOL PCR-test

Roche and Lonza announced today that they have entered into a co-exclusive distribution agreement for the commercialization of Roche's MycoTOOL mycoplasma PCR assays.

11 Apr 2011

New nonviral method to create cardiac cells

Johns Hopkins scientists have developed a simplified, cheaper, all-purpose method they say can be used by scientists around the globe to more safely turn blood cells into heart cells. The method is virus-free and produces heart cells that beat with nearly 100 percent efficiency, they claim.

11 Apr 2011

NCI, ASH, AMEH join to improve care for patients with AML

A workshop being held today will serve as the launch of a unique project that unites the American Society of Hematology, the Agrupaci-n Mexicana para el Estudio de la Hematolog-a, and the National Cancer Institute in pursuit of a common goal: improving the care of patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

11 Apr 2011

Reduction in alcohol prices increases alcohol-related mortality

Does a reduction in the price of alcohol result in an increase in deaths due to alcohol? This was the subject of a study following a significant reduction in taxes in Finland in 2004 (30% for spirits, 3% for wine).The abolition of import quotas by the EU in 2004 also made it possible to import from other member countries and this led to an increase of approximately 10% in alcohol consumption in Finland.

8 Apr 2011

Elekta to highlight Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion radiosurgery solution at AANS 2011

At the 2011 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting, April 9-13 at the Colorado Convention Center, Elekta (booth #1717) will highlight characteristics of Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ that separate the system from other radiosurgery solutions.

From Elekta 8 Apr 2011

BSD Medical second quarter net loss decreases 19% to $1,554,000

BSD Medical Corporation, a leading provider of medical systems that treat cancer and benign diseases using heat therapy, today reported financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended February 28, 2011.

8 Apr 2011

Amgen acquires Bergamo, expands operations in Brazil

Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology company, announced today the expansion of its operations in Brazil, including the acquisition of Bergamo, a privately-held Brazilian pharmaceutical company.

8 Apr 2011

Hospira focuses on clinical surveillance systems to help reduce antimicrobial resistance

As part of World Health Day 2011, the World Health Organization is calling on policy makers, providers, the public and the healthcare industry to take action to combat the serious health threat of antimicrobial resistance.

8 Apr 2011

Cancer screening updates

Everyone in England aged 55 to 59 will be invited for a new test which could dramatically cut their chances of developing bowel cancer. This new test could save an extra 3,000 lives every year after the UK National Screening Committee gave the nod for it to be added to the NHS programme. The test known as Flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) differs to the current faecal occult blood (FOB) test, which relies on people sending off stool samples.

7 Apr 2011

Positive top-line results from Roche's T-DM1 Phase II trial in HER2-positive MBC

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biotechnology company that develops targeted antibody-based anticancer products, today announced that Roche has disclosed positive top-line results from the first randomized trial assessing trastuzumab emtansine in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

7 Apr 2011

Vismodegib is an effective treatment for patients with basal cell carcinomas

A new drug is effective in preventing new basal cell carcinomas in patients with an inherited predisposition to the disease.

7 Apr 2011

Powerful natural formula is an effective treatment for men with prostate cancer

Researchers at Indiana University and Methodist Research Institute publish the dramatic effects of a natural formula against prostate cancer. This is the second in-depth study supporting the effectiveness of this formula against the disease.

7 Apr 2011

DSP, BBI sign license agreement for BBI608

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. and Boston Biomedical, Inc., today announced that they have signed a Product Option License Agreement for BBI608 for all oncology indications in Japan and exclusive right of negotiation for BBI608 for the United States and Canada.

7 Apr 2011

Roche LightCycler 480 PCR System to be used at Koch Institute for advanced cancer research

Roche announced today that the David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT will be using the Roche LightCycler® 480 System, a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system for the analysis of gene expression and genetic variation, in advanced cancer research.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 7 Apr 2011