Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines Updated (03-21-2012)

According to updated recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force, options for cervical cancer screening include a Pap test every three years for women between the ages of 21 and 65, or—for women between the ages of 30 and 65—a Pap test... Continue Reading

Combination of Herceptin and Tykerb May Provide Breast Cancer Benefit (03-20-2012)

For the neoadjuvant (before surgery) treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, a combination of Herceptin® (trastuzumab) and Tykerb® (lapatinib) may be more effective than either drug alone. These results were published in The Lancet. Approximately... Continue Reading

Zelboraf Improves Melanoma Survival (03-16-2012)

Among patients with previously treated metastatic melanoma that carries a certain gene mutation, the targeted drug Zelboraf® (vemurafenib) resulted in a median overall survival of 16 months. This is a substantial improvement over what has been seen in... Continue Reading

Survival Continues to Improve Among Children and Adolescents with ALL (03-15-2012)

Between 1990 and 2005, five-year survival for children and adolescents with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) increased from 83.7 percent to 90.4 percent. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. ALL—a fast-growing cancer of... Continue Reading

Lymphoma During Pregnancy Can Have Good Outcomes (03-14-2012)

Among women who are diagnosed with lymphoma during pregnancy, the outcomes for both mother and baby are often good. This was true for women who began lymphoma treatment during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, as well as women who deferred treatment... Continue Reading

Carfilzomib Promising in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (03-13-2012)

The investigational drug carfilzomib, in combination with Revlimid® (lenalidomide) and low-dose dexamethasone, produced high response rates in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma. The results of this Phase I/II clinical trial were presented at the... Continue Reading

Study Identifies Risk Factors Including Hepatitis C and Alcohol for Developing Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Liver Cancer) (03-12-2012)

Liver cancer incidence has increased over time in the United States, and chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus now plays an important role in many cases. These results were published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The liver is the largest organ in... Continue Reading

Estrogen Alone May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk (03-12-2012)

Postmenopausal women who take hormone therapy consisting of estrogen alone may have a reduced risk of developing or dying from breast cancer. These findings—from longer-term follow-up of the Women’s Health Initiative trial of estrogen alone—were... Continue Reading

Tamoxifen Benefits Subset of Women with DCIS (03-9-2012)

Among women who have estrogen receptor-positive ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast, adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment with tamoxifen may reduce the risk of subsequent breast cancer. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. DCIS... Continue Reading

Diesel Exhaust Linked with Lung Cancer Deaths (03-8-2012)

According to a large study conducted among non-metal miners in the United States, diesel exhaust increases the risk of death from lung cancer. These studies were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Lung cancer remains the leading... Continue Reading

FDA Updates Use of Gleevec for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (02-29-2012)

In changes approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the prescribing information for Gleevec® (imatinib) now notes that three years of adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment results in better survival than one year of adjuvant treatment among... Continue Reading

Targeted Drugs Produce Complete Responses in Some Patients with Metastatic Kidney Cancer (02-28-2012)

Some patients with metastatic kidney cancer experience a complete response (a complete disappearance of detectable cancer) after treatment with Sutent® (sunitinib) or Nexavar® (sorafenib), but researchers have not yet been able to predict which patients... Continue Reading