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''.

Revival of a unique and proven cancer treatment, neutron therapy

Northern Illinois University has announced plans to revive a unique and proven cancer treatment that blends advanced medical science with accelerator physics developed at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a Department of Energy laboratory in Batavia, Ill.

7 Dec 2004

Revlimid clinical data in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma presented

Celgene Corporation announced today that data evaluating clinical results on Revlimid (lenalidomide) as a new therapeutic approach for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) was presented at the American Society of Hematology 46th Annual Meeting in San Diego.

7 Dec 2004

Combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone may be a promising treatment for multiple myeloma

The combination of two pills -- thalidomide and dexamethasone -- may be an effective alternative to the intravenous chemotherapy commonly prescribed to patients with multiple myeloma, according to a large collaborative study conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and led by a Mayo Clinic investigator.

7 Dec 2004

Gauging the risk from prolonged low-level radiation

Everyone knows that high doses of radiation are dangerous, but the effects of long-term exposure to low-level radiation is poorly understood. RISC-RAD, a new European Union backed research project, seeks to identify our tolerance threshold so as to optimise protective measures.

7 Dec 2004

Thalidomide shows promise in fighting myeloma

Thalidomide, a drug often used to treat symptoms of leprosy and in testing to fight HIV, is now demonstrating activity in fighting a common cancer that occurs in bone marrow, myeloma.

6 Dec 2004

New advances in sickle cell disease

Excruciating pain episodes, recurrent pneumonias, strokes, severe infections, chronic hemolytic anemia, and secondary pulmonary hypertension are common complications of sickle cell disease, a life-threatening inherited defect in blood that causes normally disc-shaped red blood cells to take on a sickle shape.

6 Dec 2004

Children with sickle cell disease who are at risk for a stroke need ongoing blood transfusions to reduce their risk

“This important study shows the value of continuing periodic blood transfusions in preventing the serious and debilitating consequences of stroke,” says NHLBI Acting Director Barbara Alving. “At the same time, there are risks of chronic transfusions and the decision to continue with this treatment must be made on a case-by-case basis.”

6 Dec 2004

Study shows long-term benefits for chronic myeloid leukemia patients receiving therapy with imatinib

CHU in Poitiers, France, yesterday announced results of a study showing that newly diagnosed patients with a certain form of leukemia who are treated early with imatinib are more likely to achieve complete cytogenetic responses (the elimination of leukemic cells, a major goal of therapy) and have improved long-term outcomes.

6 Dec 2004

Researchers step closer to cure for common childhood cancer

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant disease caused by the abnormal growth and development of white blood cells (WBC) in the bone marrow and blood. ALL is the most common cancer occurring in children with an annual rate of approximately 30 to 40 new cases per million.

5 Dec 2004

Single dose phase I data on CG53135 for the prevention of oral mucositis

CuraGen Corporation has announced results presented from a Phase I clinical trial with CG53135 for the prevention of oral mucositis (OM) in patients receiving high dose chemotherapy (HDCT) followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) at the ASH 46th Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA.

5 Dec 2004

Herpes virus offers new hope in search for cure for cancer

In laboratory studies at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, researchers have successfully treated the most common malignant abdominal tumor of childhood: neuroblastoma tumors.

4 Dec 2004

Methylphenidate improves attention, behavior of children surviving acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors

Children who suffer from behavioral and learning problems after their central nervous systems have been exposed to chemotherapy or radiation appear to benefit from treatment with methylphenidate (MPH), the drug commonly known by the brand name Ritalin®.

4 Dec 2004

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) inhibits important pathways that spur cancer growth

A new clinical study has shown that imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) has activity in AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Imatinib inhibits important pathways that spur cancer growth, resulting in the regression of KS tumors within 4 weeks in some patients. The study will be published November 30 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO).

30 Nov 2004

Botox reduces pain and spasms during breast reconstruction after mastectomy

Botox, known for reducing wrinkles, also can be used to reduce pain and spasms during breast reconstruction after mastectomy, according to results of a recent University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) study.

29 Nov 2004

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

Oncology News and Research

Further Reading

Revival of a unique and proven cancer treatment, neutron therapy

Revlimid clinical data in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma presented

Combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone may be a promising treatment for multiple myeloma

Gauging the risk from prolonged low-level radiation

Thalidomide shows promise in fighting myeloma

New advances in sickle cell disease

Children with sickle cell disease who are at risk for a stroke need ongoing blood transfusions to reduce their risk

Study shows long-term benefits for chronic myeloid leukemia patients receiving therapy with imatinib

Researchers step closer to cure for common childhood cancer

Single dose phase I data on CG53135 for the prevention of oral mucositis

Herpes virus offers new hope in search for cure for cancer

Methylphenidate improves attention, behavior of children surviving acute lymphoblastic leukemia, brain tumors

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) inhibits important pathways that spur cancer growth

Botox reduces pain and spasms during breast reconstruction after mastectomy

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

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

FDA approves Tarceva (erlotinib)

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

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

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

Cancer Research eBook

Innovations in baculovirus–insect cell expression systems

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Natural products: the next frontier in drug discovery

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