Drugs That Normalize Gene Expression Show Promise in Lung Cancer (02-27-2012)

A combination of two drugs—Vidaza® (azacitidine) and the investigational drug entinostat—has shown promise in the treatment of some patients with advanced, previously treated, non-small cell lung cancer. These results were published in Cancer Discovery. Lung... Continue Reading

Evidence That Colonoscopy Reduces Deaths from Colorectal Cancer (02-24-2012)

Removal of polyps during colonoscopy substantially reduces the risk of death from colorectal cancer, providing further support for use of colonoscopy as a colorectal cancer screening test. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Colorectal... Continue Reading

NIH Panel Supports Active Surveillance as Option for Low-Risk Prostate Cancer (02-23-2012)

According to the conclusions of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) State-of-the-Science Conference, active surveillance is a viable option for the management of low-risk prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (other... Continue Reading

Combined Treatment Provides Benefit for Nasopharyngeal Cancer (02-22-2012)

Among patients with Stage II nasopharyngeal cancer (a type of head and neck cancer), adding chemotherapy to radiation therapy resulted in better survival than radiation therapy alone. These results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer... Continue Reading

Study Suggests B Vitamin and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Don’t Reduce Cancer Risk (02-21-2012)

Among people with a history of cardiovascular disease, taking dietary supplements of B vitamins and/or omega-3 fatty acids does not appear to reduce the risk of cancer. These results were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Dietary supplements... Continue Reading

Lynch Syndrome Also Linked with Breast and Pancreatic Cancer (02-17-2012)

A study of families with Lynch Syndrome has expanded the list of cancers related to the condition: carriers of a Lynch Syndrome gene mutation also appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. These results were published in... Continue Reading

Combination of Campath and Fludarabine Provides Benefit in CLL (02-16-2012)

Among people with previously treated, relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), treatment with a combination of Campath® (alemtuzumab) and fludarabine results in better outcomes than treatment with fludarabine alone. These results were... Continue Reading

Aggressive Rectal Cancer More Common in Young Adults (02-15-2012)

Signet cell rectal cancer—an aggressive type of rectal cancer—is almost five times more common in patients under the age of 40 than in older patients. These results were presented at the 97th Annual Clinical Congress of theAmericanCollege of Surgeons. The... Continue Reading

Inlyta Approved for Advanced Kidney Cancer (01-31-2012)

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Inlyta® (axitinib) for the treatment of advanced renal cell (kidney) cancer that has not responded to another drug used for this condition. Inlyta is a drug that is taken orally, as a pill. It works by... Continue Reading

Avastin May Improve Breast Cancer Response Rates (01-30-2012)

Among women with HER2-negative breast cancer that has not spread to distant sites in the body, the addition of Avastin to neoadjuvant (before-surgery) chemotherapy may increase the likelihood of a complete response to treatment (a disappearance of detectable... Continue Reading

BRCA Mutations Influence Ovarian Cancer Outcomes (01-27-2012)

Among women with ovarian cancer, those who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation appear to have better overall survival than those who do not have a BRCA gene mutation. These results were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Inherited... Continue Reading

Drug May Delay Need for Prostate Cancer Treatment (01-26-2012)

Among men who choose active surveillance for early-stage prostate cancer, Avodart® (dutasteride) may delay cancer progression and the need for cancer treatment. These results were published in The Lancet. The management of early prostate cancer may involve... Continue Reading