Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

UCH introduces RapidArc technology from Varian Medical Systems

Two female brain tumor patients have become the first people in the south of England to be treated using a faster form of radiotherapy that extends more advanced care to more patients. RapidArc technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) makes it possible to deliver image-guided IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy) two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT.

20 Nov 2009

Data from second positive pivotal study of PSD502 for treatment of PE presented

At the annual meeting of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA), Inc. in San Diego, Sciele Pharma, Inc., a Shionogi Company and Plethora Solutions Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plethora Solutions Holdings PLC ("Plethora")., today presented data from its second positive pivotal study of PSD502 for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE).

20 Nov 2009

H1N1: Bridging the knowledge gap

A commentary in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases brings to light the gaps in knowledge on the transmission of a common pathogen - the influenza virus - and its impact on decisions about how best to protect health care workers. Infectious diseases specialist Leonard Mermel, DO, medical director of infection control for Rhode Island Hospital, looks at the ongoing debate in light of the H1N1 pandemic, what past research tells us about the spread of influenza, and what is missing in the debate. His commentary is currently available in an online first edition.

20 Nov 2009

New program to address mental health issues of youth and children

Every year, thousands of youngsters in Ontario experience a mental health crisis, yet the vast majority end up waiting months for psychiatric assessment and treatment because of the severe shortage of these specialists. Now a groundbreaking new program is bridging the gap between kids and care.

20 Nov 2009

Scientists identify and characterize different antioxidant compounds from foods

Scientists at the University of Granada have identified and characterized for the first time different antioxidant compounds from foods such as olive oil, honey, walnuts and a medicinal herb called Teucrium polium.

20 Nov 2009

ACS' mammography screening guidelines receives support from ACoS

The American College of Surgeons (ACoS) today released comments strongly supporting current American Cancer Society (ACS) screening mammography guidelines that recommend women get a mammogram every year, starting at age 40.

20 Nov 2009

2009 Report Card, an overall assessment of efforts to reduce lung cancer's mortality released

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) released its annual National Report Card on Lung Cancer, an overall assessment of efforts to reduce lung cancer's mortality.

20 Nov 2009

Gastrointestinal symptoms may interfere with nutritional management of ED patients

Eating disorders (ED) patients display a high prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms and functional gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. These symptoms may interfere with their nutritional management. Ingestion of fructose-sorbitol (F-S) is an established means of gastrointestinal symptom provocation in irritable bowel syndrome patients.

20 Nov 2009

Individualized decision between woman and her provider is the best choice for mammograms

The controversy around mammography emphasizes that the best decision on screening is made by a woman and her health care provider. Balancing a woman's individual medical history, risks, and concern level about breast cancer is a decision at the individual level using guidelines as a guide and not as something fixed in concrete," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

20 Nov 2009

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals declares proposed public offering of common stock

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the pricing of a public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at $9.75 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $48.75 million.

19 Nov 2009

"Micro-endoscopes" to detect tumors at earlier stages being developed

Traditional endoscopes provide a peek inside patients' bodies. Now, a University of Florida engineering researcher is designing ones capable of a full inspection.

19 Nov 2009

Health organizations commend Alberta government for passage of bill to sue tobacco companies

A coalition of prominent health organizations is applauding the Alberta government for passing a bill that will hold tobacco companies accountable for their tremendous impact on the healthcare system.

19 Nov 2009

Low-level laser therapy increases tumour growth in skin cancer

High irradiances of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) should not be used over melanomas. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Cancer studied the pain relieving, anti-inflammatory 'cold laser', finding that it caused increased tumour growth in a mouse model of skin cancer.

19 Nov 2009

Ligon Discovery raises $1 million

Ligon Discovery, Inc., which uses proprietary small molecule microarray technology to find drugs against high-value targets, today announced that it has raised $1M in seed financing led by incTANK Ventures. The company will use the capital to complete its initial discovery campaign that will screen over 100 high-value disease protein targets. With this investment, incTANK Ventures General Partner Christian Bailey joins the board.

19 Nov 2009

AcroMetrix introduces the OptiQual HPV Genotype Panel

AcroMetrix, a leading manufacturer of quality control material for clinical diagnostic and blood testing laboratories, announced today the launch of its OptiQual HPV Genotype Panel. Designed to help clinical laboratories comply with CLIA guidelines for qualitative molecular assays that detect Human Papillomavirus (HPV), this addition to AcroMetrix’s line of women’s health products can assist laboratorians with the validation and verification of their molecular HPV tests.

19 Nov 2009

Insurers say they won't alter mammogram coverage despite new guidelines

Insurance companies say mammogram coverage is unlikely to change despite the debate over the effectiveness of breast cancer screenings for women in their forties.

19 Nov 2009

Aegera Therapeutics commences AEG35156 Phase 2B study for AML

Aegera Therapeutics Inc. announced today the dosing of the first patient in a randomized Phase 2B study of AEG35156, a targeted antisense therapeutic in mid-stage development for multiple oncology indications.

19 Nov 2009

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

Everyone has been trying to come up with a good nickname for the 10 years we're concluding next month. Terror Era really sounds like too much of a downer. How about the Decade of Medical Backtracking? Somewhere between the reports that Pap smears and tests for prostate cancer aren't all they were cracked up to be and the news that a high fiber diet doesn't do anything to prevent cancer, the health establishment began looking decidedly nonomniscient. Then this week, a federal task force reported that most women don't need annual mammograms (Gail Collins, 11/18).

19 Nov 2009

WaferGen Biosystems launches new SmartChip Service for gene-expression profiling of thousands of genes

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., a leading developer of state-of-the-art genetic analysis systems, today announced a new, innovative service for gene-expression profiling of thousands of genes using the SmartChip(TM) Real-Time PCR System. By taking advantage of the SmartChip Real-Time PCR system, WaferGen will offer universities, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies a service that utilizes pathway-specific gene panels to discover and validate new biomarkers.

19 Nov 2009

VisEn Medical launches two new agents for imaging quantification

VisEn Medical Inc., a leader in fluorescence in vivo imaging from research through medicine, announced today the commercial launch of its new OsteoSense® 800 imaging agent for targeting areas of bone turnover and microcalcification in vivo. The new 800 nm OsteoSense agent complements VisEn's OsteoSense 680 and 750 products, and is expected to further expand the utilization of this agent family in enabling in vivo detection, measurement and monitoring of skeletal changes in a wide range of disease states, including arthritis, osteoporosis, and cancer metastasis.

19 Nov 2009