Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

Humanitas Clinic treats first cancer patient using TrueBeam technology

A 54-year-old head & neck cancer patient has become the first person in Italy to be treated using a revolutionary new linear accelerator that can deliver radiotherapy twice as fast as conventional therapy machines. The Humanitas Clinic in Rozzano-Milan carried out the treatment last week, becoming only the third hospital in Europe to begin clinical treatments using TrueBeam from Varian Medical Systems.

13 Oct 2010

ImmunoCellular develops ICT-107 cell-based vaccine for GBM treatment

ImmunoCellular Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel immune-based cancer therapies, today announced that it has developed an innovative method for manufacturing the company's lead product candidate, ICT-107, a dendritic cell-based vaccine for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

13 Oct 2010

TrovaGene receives patent for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection

TrovaGene, Inc. a developer of transrenal molecular diagnostics to facilitate personalized medicine, received notice of U.S. Patent 7,803,929 entitled "Kits for diagnosis and monitoring of pathogenic infection by analysis of cell-free pathogenic nucleic acids in urine."

13 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 13, 2010

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations looks at the number of people denied health coverage by major insurers, arguments before the Supreme Court on the right to sue vaccine makers, concerns about the FDA's plans on reviewing medical devices and doctors moving from private practice to hospital work.

13 Oct 2010

Canadian Cancer Society announces 'Feast for the Fight' fundraising event

Torontonians along parts of Yonge Street will have the chance to feel good while enjoying a night on the town with Feast for the Fight, a new fundraising event by the Canadian Cancer Society. Like a meal paired with fine wine, Feast for the Fight matches some of Toronto's finest restaurateurs with the country's leading cancer charity, culminating in a philanthropic dining experience.

13 Oct 2010

Fourth annual luncheon benefits MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital

Golf great Jack Nicklaus and veteran CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz take the stage Oct. 19 at the Hilton Americas-Houston for the 2010 Houston A Conversation With a Living Legend benefiting The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The fourth annual luncheon, featuring an exclusive onstage interview, benefits the MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital and already has raised more than $472,000.

13 Oct 2010

New York Stem Cell Foundation names first six NYSCF Investigators

In an expansion of its ongoing effort to promote the next generation of stem cell scientists, The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) today named the first six NYSCF Investigators. Each of the NYSCF-Robertson and NYSCF-Helmsley Investigators will receive up to $1.5 million over the next five years to expand their own laboratories, train other scientists and foster innovative high-risk/high reward research to explore the therapeutic potential of stem cells derived from humans and model organisms.

13 Oct 2010

First Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day on November 10, 2010

The World NET Community announces the first Worldwide NET Cancer Awareness Day on November 10, 2010 to raise awareness about cancers called neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) and the need for timely detection and diagnosis. More than 90% of all NET patients are incorrectly diagnosed and initially treated for the wrong disease. Misdiagnoses or delayed diagnoses mean that NET patients are treated on average five to seven years for the wrong disease; often the correct diagnosis is not made until the disease has spread (metastasized).

13 Oct 2010

Food allergies are becoming more common in U.S. children

The scary reality is that food allergies are becoming more and more common in the United States. In the last 10 years there has been an 18 percent increase in children with food allergies. In fact, one in 22 children has a food allergy. That means most likely there is at least one child in each classroom with a food allergy. Halloween parties and trick or treating are just a few of the end of fall activities that can heighten the danger for kids with food allergies.

13 Oct 2010

Cancer Research UK launches programme to turn genetic revolution into better treatment for cancer patients

Cancer Research UK has launched a multimillion pound programme, alongside the Technology Strategy Board's Innovation Platform, to help turn the genetic revolution into better treatment for cancer patients.

13 Oct 2010

Scientists identify gene that could predict breast cancer patients' response to tamoxifen

Scientists have identified a gene which could help predict whether a breast cancer patient will respond to taking tamoxifen. The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer today (Wednesday), showed a potential link between the activity of a gene called BCAR4 and the likelihood that a breast cancer tumour will not respond to tamoxifen - widely used to treat women with breast cancer.

13 Oct 2010

Survey finds majority of people supported breast cancer awareness in past 12 months

Most people have supported breast cancer awareness within the past 12 months, according to a survey by Memolink of more than 3,500 of its members. Memolink.com is a leading online rewards program.

13 Oct 2010

Studies examine risk factors for hospital readmission

In two studies published today in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, the risk factors for readmission to the hospital are examined based upon general medicine inpatients and those with at least two admissions in a six-month period. Alongside clinical factors such as having cancer, chronic diseases such as heart failure or lung disease, or being on high-risk medications, the studies identified other factors which increase the likelihood of a patient being readmitted which could help hospitalists focus in on these groups.

13 Oct 2010

Patients with advanced cancer undergo common non-beneficial cancer screening tests

A sizeable proportion of patients with advanced cancer and a life expectancy of only a few years continue to undergo common cancer screening tests that are unlikely to provide meaningful benefit, according to a study in the October 13 issue of JAMA.

13 Oct 2010

Gene Biodesign joins Roche NimbleGen Certified Service Provider Program

Roche NimbleGen announced today that Taipei-based genomic services provider Gene Biodesign Enterprises Co. has officially joined the Roche NimbleGen Certified Service Provider (CSP) Program.

13 Oct 2010

Study demonstrates chitosan/IL-12 is an effective anti-tumor immunotherapy

A new study by a University of Arkansas biomedical engineer and his colleagues at the National Cancer Institute demonstrates further promise for chitosan/interleukin-12 as an effective anti-tumor immunotherapy.

13 Oct 2010

Imprime PGG and cetuximab increase overall response rate in metastatic colorectal cancer

A combination of Biothera's Imprime PGG and cetuximab (Erbitux) doubled the overall response rates for second- and third-line metastatic colorectal cancer patients participating in a Phase Ib/IIa clinical trial. The completed trial results were released yesterday at the 35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress.

13 Oct 2010

Genmab and Lundbeck enter agreement to develop antibody therapeutics

Genmab A/S announced today an agreement to create and develop human antibody therapeutics for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) with H. Lundbeck A/S. Genmab will create novel human antibodies to three targets identified by Lundbeck. Lundbeck will have access to Genmab's antibody creation and development capabilities, including its state of the art, fully automated pre-clinical antibody screening and characterization capabilities and its proprietary stabilized IgG4 and UniBody therapeutic antibody platforms.

13 Oct 2010

Threshold announces TH-302 Phase 1/2 clinical trial interim results

Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced interim results from an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial in various solid tumors related to its hypoxia-activated prodrug, TH-302. The results were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Meeting being held in Milan, Italy.

13 Oct 2010

Stem cell-enriched autologous fat treatment safe for breast reconstruction after cancer surgery

Since 2003, breast augmentation utilizing stem cells from autologous fat has been developed enabling silicon-free breast reconstruction following cancer surgery. Till now though, it was unclear whether this might reactivate the cancer again. However, University of Pittsburgh researchers led by Prof. Albert Donnenberg have now demonstrated that stem cell-enriched autologous fat is safe even in the presence of inactive tumor cells.

13 Oct 2010