Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

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

Positive results from Sciele Pharma's second pivotal study of PSD502 for the treatment of PE

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

19 Nov 2009

Interim data from Geron's ongoing imetelstat trial presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC conference

Geron Corporation today announced the presentation of interim data from its ongoing trial of imetelstat (GRN163L), a telomerase inhibitor drug, in patients with refractory, advanced solid cancers at the 2009 AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston.

19 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 19, 2009

Today's headlines are overwhelmingly focused on yesterday's major health policy development: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid finally unveiled the much-anticipated Senate health bill.

19 Nov 2009

Embryonic stem cells raise hope of cellular replacement therapy for liver failure

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, known for their capacity to proliferate indefinitely and differentiate into almost all types of cells including hepatocytes, have raised the hope of cellular replacement therapy for liver failure. There have been several protocols available for hepatic fate specification from ES cells, however, most of the protocols currently used result in low yield or purity of functional hepatocytes. Valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, has been demonstrated to facilitate the hepatic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. However, little is know about whether VPA could induce the hepatic differentiation of ES cells.

19 Nov 2009

EIN News launches "Mesothelioma News Today"

EIN News, an online leader in industry news monitoring and press syndication, has today added a new publication to its portfolio of health-related international news sites for industry professionals and analysts: Mesothelioma News Today (http://mesothelioma.einnews.com).

19 Nov 2009

IASLC staging classification: A new approach to evaluate and treat lung cancers

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) will hold an expert roundtable and Web cast announcing the recent publication and impact of the IASLC's Staging Manual in Thoracic Oncology containing the recently released 7th Edition of TNM in Lung and Pleural Tumours.

19 Nov 2009

Recent progress of Delcath Systems in drug delivery platform reported

Delcath Systems, Inc., a medical technology company developing the Delcath Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion (PHP(TM)) System, a minimally invasive drug delivery platform for the regional treatment of cancer metastatic to the liver, today reported on the Company's recent progress.

19 Nov 2009

System to help identify patients at high risk of developing delirium

A specialist in caring for elderly patients, Turner-Hubbard is a geriatric nurse practitioner trained to quickly spot the sudden changes in mental status that signal the onset of the sudden, severe confusion known as delirium. She knows the hospital “triggers” that can bring on fluctuations in behavior: blood loss during surgery, anesthesia, pain medications and anti-anxiety drugs, infections, dehydration, IV lines and catheters, as well as being immobilized for an extended period of time.

19 Nov 2009

Washington Global Health Alliance completes internal coordination study of global health

The Washington Global Health Alliance, a group representing 26 life-sciences businesses, institutions and governmental organizations, has completed an internal coordination study demonstrating the significant influence of its primary partners in the mission of global health.

19 Nov 2009

New photocontrolled molecular switch regulates paralysis in living organisms

In an advance with overtones of Star Trek phasers and other sci-fi ray guns, scientists in Canada are reporting development of an internal on-off "switch" that paralyzes animals when exposed to a beam of ultraviolet light. The animals stay paralyzed even when the light is turned off. When exposed to ordinary light, the animals become unparalyzed and wake up.

19 Nov 2009

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders. The discovery is such a crucial part of immunology that UAB researchers, in conjunction with Japanese researchers, are asking that the gene linked to this antibody receptor be renamed to better describe its role in early immune responses.

19 Nov 2009

Breastcancer.org opposes proposed new guidelines for mammograms

"The recommendation to change breast screening is a huge step backwards," says Dr. Marisa Weiss, a leading breast oncologist and founder and president of Breastcancer.org.

19 Nov 2009

eHealthInsurance releases six-point checklist to get the most out of Medicare coverage

eHealthInsurance, the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses, that now offers a new online Medicare resource, www.eHealthMedicare.com, today released a six-point checklist to help Medicare recipients make informed decisions about their Medicare options.

19 Nov 2009

Findings suggest athletes abuse non-approved therapeutic compounds for performance enhancing effects

Researchers from the German Sport University Cologne in Germany found that non-steroidal and tissue-selective anabolic agents such as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) are being sold on the black market for their performance enhancing qualities.

19 Nov 2009

Report on unexplained liver haemorrhage after metastasis radiofrequency ablation published

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common cancers in the world. Approximately one in four of these patients have metastases at diagnosis, liver being the most common site involved. Although historically it was considered that liver metastases meant a very poor prognosis, today, due to improved systemic therapy, many patients will be candidates for local hepatic treatments such as surgery or less aggressive radiofrequency ablation.

19 Nov 2009

BioAlliance Pharma wins first prize in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 2009

BioAlliance Pharma SA, a company dedicated to the treatment and supportive care of cancer and AIDS patients, today announced that it has won first prize in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 2009TM ranking of France's fastest-growth technology companies.

19 Nov 2009

USPSTF's new guidelines for mammography: The Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education disagrees

The United States Preventive Services Task Force has announced new guidelines for when a woman should be getting a mammography. The Maurer Foundation's Founder, Breast Surgeon Dr. Virginia Maurer, has made an official statement regarding her research and beliefs on the subject.

19 Nov 2009

Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

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

VisEn Medical launches two new agents for imaging quantification

Positive results from Sciele Pharma's second pivotal study of PSD502 for the treatment of PE

Interim data from Geron's ongoing imetelstat trial presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC conference

First Edition: November 19, 2009

Embryonic stem cells raise hope of cellular replacement therapy for liver failure

EIN News launches "Mesothelioma News Today"

IASLC staging classification: A new approach to evaluate and treat lung cancers

Recent progress of Delcath Systems in drug delivery platform reported

System to help identify patients at high risk of developing delirium

Washington Global Health Alliance completes internal coordination study of global health

New photocontrolled molecular switch regulates paralysis in living organisms

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Breastcancer.org opposes proposed new guidelines for mammograms

eHealthInsurance releases six-point checklist to get the most out of Medicare coverage

Findings suggest athletes abuse non-approved therapeutic compounds for performance enhancing effects

Report on unexplained liver haemorrhage after metastasis radiofrequency ablation published

BioAlliance Pharma wins first prize in Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 2009

USPSTF's new guidelines for mammography: The Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education disagrees

Industry Focus: Cell & Gene Therapy eBook

Synthetic Biology and the Pursuit of Living Diagnostics

Modular, Scalable, Intelligent: How n6 Is Rethinking NGS Library Prep

Evolving spectrophotometry for modern biopharma workflows

Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

Industry Focus: Cell & Gene Therapy eBook

Synthetic Biology and the Pursuit of Living Diagnostics

Modular, Scalable, Intelligent: How n6 Is Rethinking NGS Library Prep

Evolving spectrophotometry for modern biopharma workflows

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