Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

Pfizer’s XALKORI now available in Canada

Pfizer Canada is pleased to announce that XALKORI (crizotinib) is now available in Canada. Recently approved with conditions by Health Canada, XALKORI is an oral monotherapy for patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

31 May 2012

Exelixis commences cabozantinib phase 3 pivotal trial in mCRPC

Exelixis, Inc. today announced the initiation of COMET-1, a phase 3 pivotal trial of cabozantinib in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

31 May 2012

Gender link discovered for colorectal cancer

Researchers have identified three new colorectal cancer risk loci, including one on the X-chromosome, bringing the total number of independent loci associated with the disease to 20.

30 May 2012

Experimental drug shows promise for elderly chronic leukemia patients

The experimental drug ibrutinib is highly active and well tolerated in elderly, treatment-naive patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, US researchers report.

30 May 2012

Surprising life-quality benefit from early prostate cancer treatment

Treatment of early-stage prostate cancer may also improve quality of life if patients have previously suffered from obstructive urinary symptoms before undergoing treatment, shows US research.

30 May 2012

Insulin use linked to lung cancer risk in diabetes

Postmenopausal women with treated diabetes may be at an increased risk for lung cancer, particularly if they are on insulin, say researchers.

30 May 2012

Beyond chemotherapy to cure leukemia

The fight against cancer is not won in a single battle: long after a cancer has been beaten into remission, it can return. The reason for this is under debate, and much is unclear.

30 May 2012

Researchers identify mechanism key in drug allergy

Adverse drug reactions are a major issue that cause harm, are costly and restrict treatment options for patients and the development of new drugs. A groundbreaking finding by researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology could lead to a new way to dramatically improve drug safety by identifying drugs at risk to cause potentially fatal genetic-linked hypersensitivity reactions before their use in man.

30 May 2012

Insurers make patients pay hundreds more for cancer, arthritis drugs

Thousands of patients taking costly drugs for ailments such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis are being asked to shoulder a greater share of the expense. In other news, consumers are demanding access to their medical device data. Others are harnessing the internet to jumpstart medical research and share important experiences, including serious illnesses, with family and friends.

30 May 2012

CytRx INNO-206 doxorubicin conjugate shows anti-multiple myeloma effects

CytRx Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology, today announced that in animal and in vitro studies, its tumor-targeting doxorubicin conjugate INNO-206 showed anti-multiple myeloma effects and enhanced the anti-tumor effects of bortezomib, which is approved for the treatment of relapsed multiple myeloma.

30 May 2012

JTCC to present latest findings in blood-cancer research at ASCO annual meeting

Physicians and researchers at John Theurer Cancer Center at HackensackUMC, one of the nation's top 50 cancer centers, will present the latest findings in blood-cancer research at the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago on June 1-5. Their involvement in these studies is part of John Theurer Cancer Center's continued focus to bolster its research program.

30 May 2012

For many prostate cancer patients, new guidance is confusing

The recommendation that fewer men get screened for the disease goes against what many people believe should be appropriate, NPR reports.

30 May 2012

Genetic analysis on Korean mummy reveals unique HBV genotype C2 sequence

The discovery of a mummified Korean child with relatively preserved organs enabled an Israeli-South Korean scientific team to conduct a genetic analysis on a liver biopsy which revealed a unique hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C2 sequence common in Southeast Asia.

30 May 2012

Sequenom MassARRAY System detects EML4/ALK fusion gene in NSCLC

Sequenom, Inc., a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, today reported on a recently released publication in which the Sequenom MassARRAY System (for research use only) was used in a groundbreaking independent study that detected the transforming fusion gene EML4/ALK in non-small cell lung cancer.

30 May 2012

Nature Genetics publishes results from whole genome-wide study of recurrent HBV integration in HCC

The Asian Cancer Research Group (ACRG)—an independent, not-for-profit company established by Eli Lilly and Company, Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) and Pfizer Inc.—in collaboration with BGI—the world's largest genomics organization—today announced the publication of results from a whole genome-wide study of recurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Nature Genetics.

30 May 2012

Calcium supplements may raise heart attack risk

Increased dietary calcium intake has no overall cardiovascular benefits, and calcium supplements appear to raise the risk for myocardial infarction, warn investigators.

30 May 2012

Exelixis files NDA with FDA for cabozantinib to treat MTC

Exelixis, Inc. today announced that it has completed the filing of its rolling New Drug Application (NDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cabozantinib as a treatment for patients with progressive, unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer.

30 May 2012

QCMG establishes Illumina technology as core sequencing platform

Illumina today announced that the Queensland Centre for Medical Genomics (QCMG), home of Australia's International Cancer Genomics Consortium program, has established Illumina technology as its core sequencing platform in an expanded facility.

30 May 2012

Bristol-Myers Squibb forms International Immuno-Oncology Network

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced the formation of the International Immuno-Oncology Network (II-ON), a global collaboration between industry and academia that aims to further the scientific understanding of immuno-oncology. Immuno-oncology focuses on the potential of harnessing the intelligence of the body's own immune system to fight cancer.

30 May 2012

Studies outline dilemmas on new generic heart drugs, hormone replacement therapy

One heart drug's move to generic status has complicated treatment options for some patients and doctors, the Wall Street Journal reports. Also, another study raises concerns about hormone replacement therapy in women.

30 May 2012