RxPG News : Therapy

Anthracycline induced heart damage can be reduced by prolonging infusion time

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 09:41:49 PST

Stretching out a dose of chemotherapy over six or more hours may reduce the risk of heart problems caused by certain commonly used cancer drugs, according to a new review of recent research.

Genomic signatures to guide the use of chemotherapeutics

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 18:59:00 PST

Scientists at Duke University's Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy have developed a panel of genomic tests that analyzes the unique molecular traits of a cancerous tumor and determines which chemotherapy will most aggressively attack that patient's cancer.

CDK2/FOXO1 as drug target to Prevent Tumors

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 01:11:00 PST

Mayo Clinic researchers have found that a protein that initiates a "quality control check" during cell division also directs cell death for those cells damaged during duplication. This knowledge represents a potential "bulls eye" for targeting anti-tumor drugs. The findings appear in the current issue of Science.

Telomerase inhibitors may revolutionize cancer therapy

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:19:00 PST

A new target for cancer therapy has been identified by Monash University scientists investigating the cell signalling pathways that turn on a gene involved in cancer development.

First ever shots of the cervical cancer vaccine administered in Queensland

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 03:41:00 PST

UQ Professor Ian Frazer administered the first shots of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil in Queensland this afternoon at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Gleevec can be toxic to the heart

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 19:27:00 PST

Gleevec, the wildly successful poster-child of a new generation of cancer drugs aimed at specific targets in the cancer cell, can be dangerous to the heart. Not only that, but other similarly based drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors could lead to heart problems as well, say researchers at the Center for Translational Medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.

Anti-cancer possibilities seen for certain monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Sat, 24 Jun 2006 16:25:00 PST

In 2005, professor Ramin Shiekhattar, Ph.D., at The Wistar Institute and his colleagues reported details about an enzyme involved in appropriately repressing sets of neuronal genes in non-neuronal cells.

AS101 protects the testis from the effects of paclitaxel

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 21:30:00 PST

It may be possible to protect the testes of cancer patients against the loss of fertility caused by chemotherapy, a scientist told the 22nd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Prague, Czech Republic on Tuesday 20 June 2006. Mr. Alon Carmely from Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel, said that his work showed for the first time that the injection of a drug that enhances the immune system could protect the testis from the effects of paclitaxel (Taxol), a widely used chemotherapy drug.

Microbeam Radiation Therapy (MRT) Could Improve Cancer Treatment

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:38:00 PST

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energys Brookhaven National Laboratory and colleagues at Stony Brook University, the IRCCS NEUROMED Medical Center in Italy, and Georgetown University say improvements they have made to an experimental form of radiation therapy that has been under investigation for many years could make the technique more effective and eventually allow its use in hospitals. Results on the improved method, which was tested in rats, will be published online this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Novel EGFR antibody mAb 806 targets tumors but not normal tissues

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 14:41:00 PST

The Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR) and Life Science Pharmaceuticals (LSP) today announced the results of the first clinical trial of monoclonal antibody (mAb) 806, which demonstrate that 806 specifically targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on a wide range of tumor types but has no uptake by normal tissues. This result is markedly different to other mAbs, which target wild-type (wt) EGFR on normal tissues.

Oral chemotherapy option soon for cancer

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 07:20:00 PST

Swiss pharmaceutical major Roche's study investigating Xeloda (capecitabine) in the first-line treatment of advanced stomach cancer has successfully met its primary endpoint, the company said Monday.

Radiotherapy timings for colon cancer may need adjustments

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 09:58:00 PST

Scientists have unexpectedly discovered that mice with the gene defect that causes colon cancer in humans can differ from normal mice in how they respond to radiation treatments. The large intestine carrying the gene defect in mice that received staggered doses of radiation was three to four times more resistant to the radiation than in control mice.

Fibrasorb - New device that could cut chemotherapy deaths

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:21:00 PST

A new method of delivering chemotherapy to cancer patients without incurring side effects such as hair loss and vomiting is being developed. The method, produced at the University of Bath, England, involves using tiny fibres and beads soaked in the chemotherapy drug which are then implanted into the cancerous area in the patient's body.

Serendipity versus planning - cancer drugs of the future?

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 04:29:00 PST

New anticancer drugs are usually developed specially for the job, but occasionally they are borrowed from another field of medicine, and applied speculatively in cancer. Tamoxifen was designed as an anti-oestrogen, based on the observation that at least a third of breast cancers depend on female sex hormones such as oestrogen for survival. Tamoxifen has shown to be an exceptionally effective molecule in cancer treatment; It was never planned to be a preventive agent, but so it has proved to be! It is now licensed to be used to prevent breast cancer in certain women at high risk of the disease.

Scientists one step closer to cancer vaccine

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:42:00 PST

Scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have helped to identify a molecule that can be used as a vaccination agent against growing cancer tumours. Although the results are so far based on animal experiments, they point to new methods of treating metastases.

Possibility of Separating Anticancer Properties of Vitamin D Revealed

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 20:49:00 PST

At the right dose, vitamin D is important for bone development and may help protect against the development of several cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. However, large quantities designed to exploit the vitamins anticancer properties can lead to a toxic overdose of calcium in the blood. Now, research done at Georgetown Universitys Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center indicates that it may be possible to separate the anticancer properties of vitamin D from its other functions.

Vitamin D can be modified to produce only anti cancer effects

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 02:07:00 PST

Sunitinib Approved for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) and Kidney Cancer

Sat, 28 Jan 2006 12:29:00 PST

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced approval of Sutent (sunitinib), a new targeted anti-cancer treatment for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a rare stomach cancer, and advanced kidney cancer. Today's action marks the first time the agency has approved a new oncology product for two indications simultaneously.

AKT blocks cancer cell motility

Wed, 23 Nov 2005 04:57:00 PST

In investigating the molecular mechanisms of cancer cell motility â€“ the unique property that enables cancer to spread from its primary origin to other parts of the body â€“ researchers have uncovered a surprising role for the AKT/PKB (protein kinase B) enzyme, providing important new insights into cancer metastasis and suggesting that current efforts to develop cancer therapies by inhibiting AKT may be inadvertently promoting the spread of the disease.

Cetuximab to be Considered for the Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 02:18:00 PST

ImClone Systems Incorporated and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified ImClone Systems that it has accepted for filing the Company's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for ERBITUX(R) (Cetuximab), an IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in the treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN).

How antigen presenting cells are crucial to graft-versus-leukemia's cancer-killing effect

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:30:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Michigan's Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered the secret weapon behind the most powerful form of cancer immunotherapy known to medicine.

Cranberry Compound Can Prevent Metastasis

Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:25:00 PST

Scientists have discovered a new compound in cranberries that works in a completely new way to prevent metastasis, the spread of cancer to other parts of the body.

Response to Cancer Vaccine Enhanced by Chemotherapy

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 04:17:00 PST

A study of a cancer vaccine in mice has found that the vaccine induces a tumor-specific immune response that is enhanced when used with chemotherapy regimens that include 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

Marine toxins can knock out the cancer cells

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 07:59:00 PST

Vibrantly colored creatures from the depths of the South Pacific Ocean harbor toxins that potentially can act as powerful anti-cancer drugs, according to research findings from University of Wisconsin-Madison biochemists and their Italian colleagues.

"Hitchhiking" Viruses as Cancer Drug Delivery System

Mon, 19 Sep 2005 12:40:00 PST

A Mayo Clinic research team has devised a new virus-based gene therapy delivery system to help fight cancer. Researchers say their findings will help overcome hurdles that have hindered gene therapy cancer treatments.

Pegfilgrastim Significantly Reduces the Incidence of Febrile Neutropenia

Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:13:00 PST

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN), the world's largest biotechnology company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an update to the Neulasta(R) (pegfilgrastim) prescribing information to include data from a landmark Phase 3 study demonstrating the white blood cell booster helps protect patients with most types of cancer undergoing moderately myelosuppressive chemotherapy from infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia (low white blood cell count with fever), one of the most serious side effects of chemotherapy.

Ligand Treatment of Treg Cells Enhanced Anti-Tumor Immunity

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 02:08:00 PST

A special stretch of genetic material may turn off the immune suppression that stymies attempts to fight cancer with a vaccine, said researchers at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) at Houston.

Metallic Iron based Magnetic Nanoparticles for Potential New Cancer Treatment

Thu, 08 Sep 2005 01:23:00 PST

Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have created highly magnetized nanoparticles based on metallic iron that could one day be used in a non-invasive therapy for cancer in which treatment would begin at the time of detection.

Potential Cancer Treatment by Magnetic Nanoparticles

Tue, 30 Aug 2005 20:05:00 PST

Celecoxib able to control chemotherapy resistant tumor cells

Tue, 30 Aug 2005 19:23:00 PST

A close structural relative of the celebrated COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib (brand name: Celebrex) is a potent tumor fighter, able to wipe out tumor cells that are resistant to conventional chemotherapies, according to an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Southern California.

Inhibiting EAT-2 with medications could boost NK cell activity

Mon, 29 Aug 2005 22:57:00 PST

Dr. André Veillette, a researcher at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), and his team will publish in the upcoming issue of the prestigious journal Nature Immunology of Nature Publishing Group, a discovery that could significantly advance the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases. Current treatments frequently achieve only limited results with these types of diseases, which affect hundreds of thousands of Canadians.

Cancer defense by manipulating energy regulation of cells

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 16:35:00 PST

In an ongoing effort to fight disease by manipulating energy regulation of cells, a collaborative study led by Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) has demonstrated that cells lacking a tumor-suppressing kinase called LKB1 can still maintain healthy energy levels when they become stressed. This energy regulation is essential for keeping cells from dying off too quickly. The study's results could signal new advances for combating cancerous tumor growth, but also type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Irradiation impairs reading development of young children

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 16:30:00 PST

Largest study of its kind finds irradiation impairs reading development of young children even if they receive lower dose because they face an average risk of treatment failure

Some Cancer Patients Treated With Cetuximab May Require Magnesium Supplementation

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 04:59:00 PST

Some cancer patients being treated with cetuximab (Erbitux) may develop abnormally low blood levels of magnesium (hypomagnesemia) and require supplementation, according to a new study.

Tie-1 significantly inhibits tumor progression in murine models

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 23:06:00 PST

Dyax Corp. (Nasdaq: DYAX) announced today its presentation at the Drug Discovery Technology Conference (Boston Convention Center), highlighting the Company's discovery that antibody targeting of Tie-1 leads to the inhibition of primary tumor growth in murine models.

Orphan Drug Application Filed for NOV-002 for Treating Refractory Ovarian Cancer

Fri, 17 Jun 2005 09:56:00 PST

Novelos Therapeutics, Inc. (OTC BB: NVLT), a biotech company focusing on oxidized glutathione for use in fighting cancer and hepatitis, today announced that it has filed an orphan drug application with the U.S. FDA for the Company's lead compound, NOV-002. The application focuses on the investigation of combination therapy of NOV-002 with standard chemotherapy for treating refractory (chemotherapy resistant) ovarian cancer. A response from the FDA is expected by mid August.

Treating 'chemobrain' by using dexmethyphenidate (d-MPH)

Wed, 08 Jun 2005 13:00:00 PST

Patients who take medication for cancer often find themselves with a new problem when their treatment ends.
It's called "chemobrain," a common consequence of chemotherapy that causes memory problems, confusion and difficulty in concentrating.

A bioadhesive miconazole tablet is an effective way to treat oropharyngeal candidiasis

Tue, 07 Jun 2005 12:01:00 PST

A bioadhesive tablet containing the antifungal drug miconazole is an effective and convenient means of treating oropharyngeal candidiasis, which is the most frequently occurring infection in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, scientists report today at the 2nd ESMO Scientific & Educational Conference (ESEC) in Budapest, Hungary.

p53-based Targets as Novel Cancer Treatment Strategies

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 10:22:00 PST

ADVEXIN(R) and INGN 225, investigational cancer therapies currently being evaluated in Phase 3 and Phase 2 trials, respectively, by Introgen Therapeutics, Inc. , were highlighted today in a special session, titled "The Clinical Trial Data on Ad-p53 Gene Therapy of Cancer" at the American Society of Gene Therapy 8th Annual Meeting (ASGT).

Tarvacin Plus Docetaxel Significantly Inhibits Breast Tumor Growth

Fri, 27 May 2005 18:03:00 PST

The published report shows that 3G4 (a murine equivalent of the company's Tarvacin(TM) monoclonal antibody) in combination with docetaxel results in a 93% inhibition of human breast cancer growth in mouse models. The researchers found that docetaxel increases the exposure of the 3G4 target on tumor blood vessels but not healthy tissue. Patient enrollment in a Tarvacin(TM) Phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of all solid tumors, including breast cancer, is expected to commence this month at three clinical sites.

Capecitabine as a Convenient Oral Treatment for Colon Cancer Patients

Mon, 23 May 2005 10:28:00 PST

Data presented this week further strengthens the wealth of evidence showing that Xeloda(R) (capecitabine), an innovative oral chemotherapy, should replace the current standard treatment of intravenous 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (i.v. 5-FU/LV) for colon cancer patients in the adjuvant (post-surgery) setting.

LErafAON-ETU : a Liposome Entrapped c-raf Antisense Oligonucleotide for Advanced Cancer

Sat, 21 May 2005 10:42:00 PST

NeoPharm (Nasdaq:NEOL) announced that preliminary Phase I clinical trial data for the Company's NeoLipid(TM) compound LErafAON-ETU was published in the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting Proceedings. ASCO was held May 13-17, 2005 in Orlando, Florida.

Prostate Cancer Vaccine gets Special Protocol Assessment by FDA

Thu, 19 May 2005 09:35:00 PST

Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its second Phase 3 clinical trial of GVAX(R) vaccine for prostate cancer. The SPA is a process that allows for official FDA evaluation of a Phase 3 clinical trial and provides trial sponsors with binding written agreement that the design and analysis of the study are adequate to support a license application submission if the study is performed according to the SPA.

Gliadel® Wafer Plus Temozolomide Show Promising Results in High Grade Malignant Glioma

Wed, 18 May 2005 09:58:00 PST

Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced findings from a study of GLIADEL(R) Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine) and temozolomide used in combination to treat adult patients with newly diagnosed high grade malignant glioma. The data were presented at the 41st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, FL.

Gemcitabine Based Regimens Improve Quality of Life in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Wed, 18 May 2005 09:49:00 PST

Data presented today(1,2,3) from ongoing clinical trials show that therapies based on Eli Lilly and Company's (LLY) Gemzar(R) (gemcitabine, HCl) administered prior to surgery have a positive impact on survival, tumor shrinkage and quality of life among patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Velafermin Shows Promising Results in Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Oral mucositis

Wed, 18 May 2005 09:37:00 PST

The final results from this Phase I study suggest velafermin (CG53135) is well tolerated following intravenous administration with data supporting the Company's ongoing Phase II trial and strategy of investigating a single-dose of velafermin (CG53135) for the prevention of oral mucositis (OM).

FDA Accepts Sorafenib into Pilot 1 Program

Wed, 04 May 2005 21:43:00 PST

Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NYSE: BAY - News) and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONXX - News) today announced that sorafenib (formerly BAY 43-9006) has been accepted into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Pilot 1 Program for continuous marketing applications.

IND Filed for CRA-024781, a Novel Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor

Tue, 03 May 2005 09:50:00 PST

Celera Genomics (NYSE:CRA), an Applera Corporation business, today announced that it has submitted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for CRA-024781, a novel histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor. Pending clearance by the FDA, Celera Genomics plans to initiate Phase 1 clinical trials.

IORT Increases Survival Rates in Advanced Rectal Cancer

Sun, 01 May 2005 09:24:00 PST

Intraop Medical Corporation (OTCBB:IOPM), manufacturer of the Mobetron(R), announced that according to research presented at a recent international meeting, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) increases survival rates in patients with advanced or recurrent rectal cancer.

IND Filed for XL820, a Novel Anticancer Compound

Tue, 26 Apr 2005 12:07:00 PST

Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL - News) has submitted an investigational new drug application (IND) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for XL820. This novel small molecule anticancer compound potently inhibits receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) implicated in tumor proliferation and vascularization. XL820 is the fifth compound to advance in clinical development from Exelixis' internal drug discovery capabilities. Pending clearance by the FDA, Exelixis intends to initiate a Phase I clinical trial for XL820.

CoFactor : A Folate-Based Biomodulator Drug Starts Phase III Trial for the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Tue, 26 Apr 2005 12:00:00 PST

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX:ANX) today announced that it has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) to initiate a Phase III pivotal clinical trial with CoFactor for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. CoFactor is the Company's biomodulator designed to enhance the activity of the widely used cancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

Role of 2-methoxyestradiol in Treating Various Types of Cancer

Thu, 21 Apr 2005 14:09:00 PST

EntreMed, Inc. today announced the results of multiple in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies confirming the mechanisms-of-action for 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2 or Panzem(R)) in treating various types of cancer. The results from these studies, conducted by EntreMed researchers and their collaborators, were presented at the 96th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research being held this week in Anaheim, California.

FDA Gives ANDA Status to Vinorelbine for its Indication in Unresectable, Advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 09:17:00 PST

American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. (Nasdaq: APPX - News) today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) of Vinorelbine Tartrate Injection, 10 mg (base)/mL, the generic equivalent of GlaxoSmithKline's Navelbine®. According to IMS, sales of vinorelbine tartrate were approximately $61 million in 2004. The company expects to commence marketing this product in the near term.

Trilogy(TM) System for Image-Guided Radiosurgery is an Ultra-precise Treatment that Uses Real-Time X-ray Imaging Capabilities

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 18:14:00 PST

Providence Medical Center in Kansas City has become the first cancer treatment center in the Central U.S. to use the new Trilogy(TM) system from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR - News) for image-guided radiosurgery (IGRS), an ultra-precise treatment that uses new, real-time X-ray imaging capabilities to target cancer and neurological lesions.

Trabectedin for the Treatment of Relapsed Ovarian Cancer Starts Phase III Trial

Mon, 04 Apr 2005 16:33:00 PST

PharmaMar today announced that, in collaboration with its partner Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. (J&JPRD), a pivotal, international, multicentre Phase III clinical trial in ovarian cancer patients has been initiated with YONDELIS(R) (trabectedin).

MORAb-003 :A Humanized Monoclonal Antibody for Chemo-Refractory Ovarian Tumors Starts Phase I Study

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 09:32:00 PST

Morphotek, Inc. today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration has accepted its Investigational New Drug (IND) Application for treatment of advanced ovarian
cancer with MORAb-003, a humanized monoclonal antibody. The Phase I clinical study is designed as an open label single dose escalation safety study in patients with chemo-refractive ovarian cancer.

Cysmethynil : A New Anti-Cancer Compound that Blocks the Icmt Protein Activation

Mon, 28 Mar 2005 11:30:00 PST

Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists have discovered a potential new drug that inhibits destructive cell signals that drive the growth of one-third of all cancers. The scientists showed they could block the growth of cultured colon cancer cells using this new compound, called cysmethynil.

GTI-2040 : A Novel Antisense Drug Improves Efficacy of a Number of Chemotherapies

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 08:32:00 PST

Lorus Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and technologies for the management of cancer, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary GeneSense Technologies Inc. has received notice from the European Patent Office of its intention to grant the GeneSense application for a patent of its novel antisense drug GTI-2040.

A SDF-1 Receptor Antagonist Shows Significant Reduction of Metastatic Lung Nodules Associated with Osteosarcoma

Sun, 20 Mar 2005 08:15:00 PST

Chemokine Therapeutics Corp., a biotechnology company developing drugs in the field of chemokines and cytokines, has announced that investigators at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reported a two-thirds reduction in the number of visible metastatic lung nodules using the Company's investigational drug CTCE-9908 in a pre-clinical study of osteosarcoma.

Helical Tomotherapy : Most Advanced form of Image-Guided Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

Tue, 15 Mar 2005 18:19:00 PST

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando is among the first centers in the world to possess and treat cancer patients with the TomoTherapy HI·ART ® system.

Considered to be the most advanced form of image-guided intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), the system will be used to treat head, neck, prostate, lung and breast cancer.

Electronic Brachytherapy : The Next Generation Radiotherapy

Sun, 13 Mar 2005 08:41:00 PST

The delivery of localized radiation treatment directly to cancer sites using high dose rate x- rays on demand has significant potential to improve cancer treatment, according to a recent symposium on Electronic Brachytherapy at the 15th Annual Meeting of the American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO).

Temozolomide Brings New Hope for Glioblastoma Patients

Thu, 10 Mar 2005 07:40:00 PST

A large international study conducted by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC) Clinical Trials Group demonstrated that the addition of a novel chemotherapy agent, Temozolomide (brand name: Temodal(R)) to radiation therapy increases survival in patients suffering from glioblastoma, a very aggressive form of a brain tumour. Further, molecular analyses of the tumour allowed for the identification of those patients most likely to benefit from this type of treatment. The findings are leading to a new standard of care for patients with this fast growing and devastating cancer. The results of this landmark trial are published in two companion papers in this weeks' edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

A Novel RAF kinase and VEGFR Inhibitor as Single Agent Therapy for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Under Trial

Wed, 09 Mar 2005 08:37:00 PST

BAY 43-9006, a novel investigational drug candidate, has demonstrated anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic properties - two important anticancer activities. In preclinical models, BAY 43-9006 inhibited tumor cell proliferation by targeting the RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway at the level of RAF kinase.

A Novel Murine Monoclonal Antibody, 3G4 , Targets Phospholipids to Treat Cancer

Tue, 08 Mar 2005 14:43:00 PST

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.announced today the publication of data in 'Clinical Cancer Research' demonstrating significant anti-tumor activity in various tumor models using the murine monoclonal antibody 3G4, an equivalent of the company's Tarvacin(TM), that recognizes anionic phospholipids exposed on the surface of tumor blood vessels. These studies were performed by researchers at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

A Vaccine For Carcinoma Cervix

Fri, 04 Mar 2005 10:06:00 PST

Scientists have published results in the Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine that show that both vaccines protect against those two types of HPV, and now both vaccines are being studied in larger studies involving tens of thousands of women. The vaccines are given as a series of three shots given a few months apart.

Mapatumumab :TRAIL receptor 1 Agonistic Human Monoclonal Antibody for Advanced Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Reaches Phase 2 Trial

Fri, 04 Mar 2005 09:37:00 PST

Human Genome Sciences, Inc.announced today that it has completed the enrollment and initial dosing of patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial of HGS-ETR1 (mapatumumab) in advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Electrochemical Ablation Technique Brings New Hope For Locally Advanced Pancreatic Carcinoma

Thu, 03 Mar 2005 17:12:00 PST

Genetronics Biomedical Corporation , a late stage developer of oncology and other therapies using electroporation to deliver drugs and nucleic acids, announced today that it has initiated a Phase I clinical trial to treat pancreatic cancer using its MedPulser® Tumor Ablation System. The FDA has granted Genetronics orphan designation for this indication.

A Technologically Advanced Tool for Difficult-to-Treat Cancers

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 21:08:00 PST

The Elekta Beam Modulator(TM) is a precision multi-leaf collimator designed for use with Elekta's medical linear accelerators. It shapes the radiation beam to more closely conform to the exact shape of the tumor, thereby allowing greater accuracy and smaller treatment fields. This makes Elekta technology ideal for targeting typically difficult-to-treat cancers of the lung and spine, as well as other sites in the body.

Pegfilgrastim Significantly Reduces the Incidence of Febrile Neutropenia in Patients on Chemotherapy

Sun, 27 Feb 2005 13:43:00 PST

The phase 3 study showed that administering pegfilgrastim beginning in the first and subsequent cycles of chemotherapy reduced the incidence of febrile neutropenia (low white blood cell count with fever), a serious complication of cancer chemotherapy typically associated with infection, by more than 90 percent.

How Tumor Cells Acquire Resistance to Kinase Inhibitors

Tue, 22 Feb 2005 21:32:00 PST

Acquired resistance to chemotherapy is a major obstacle to successful cancer treatment. Understanding the mechanisms by which tumors become resistant to a particular agent is key to identifying new drugs or combination regimens.

Epstein Barr virus may provide an ideal target for anti-cancer therapy

Thu, 17 Feb 2005 21:33:00 PST

A typically innocuous virus found in 90 percent of people worldwide is the key to a new treatment for a cancer particularly common in North Africa and Southeast Asia.

How green tea extract works to counteract the development of cancer

Wed, 16 Feb 2005 15:54:00 PST

Numerous epidemiologic and animal studies have suggested that green tea extract provides strong anti-cancer effects in several human cancers, including bladder cancer. It has been shown to induce death in cancer cells, as well as inhibiting the development of an independent blood supply that cancers develop so they can grow and spread. In the UCLA study, which brought together researchers from UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center, School of Public Health, Center for Human Nutrition and the departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Surgery, Urology and Epidemiology, scientists were able to show that green tea extract interrupts a process that is crucial in allowing bladder cancer to become invasive and spread to other areas of the body.

New insight into how tumor cells can become resistant to anti-cancer therapy

Tue, 18 Jan 2005 12:46:00 PST

The scientists observed that a protein called P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which causes resistance to chemotherapy in many tumor types, is able to physically "jump" or transfer between tumor cells and retain its functional properties, protecting otherwise sensitive cells from the effects of anti-cancer treatment in vivo and in vitro. According to the authors, the research is the first to demonstrate that a protein transferred between cells retains its function long enough to allow the recipient cells to survive potentially toxic drug concentrations and ultimately develop intrinsic resistance.

Timing appears essential to combining antiangiogenesis and radiation therapy

Tue, 21 Dec 2004 17:13:00 PST

Although the earliest clinical trials of the cancer-fighting potential of antiangiogenesis drugs did not have the dramatic results that some hoped for, subsequent trials showed that combining agents that suppress blood-vessel growth with therapies that destroy cancer cells can improve patient survival. In the December issue of Cancer Cell, researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) describe how timing may be crucial to successfully combining angiogenesis inhibitors with radiation treatment and reveal more about exactly how these drugs work to fight cancer, which is somewhat different from earlier theories.

Use of iNKT cells boosts tumor vaccination strategy

Thu, 16 Dec 2004 17:51:00 PST

T cell responses to natural infection are orders of magnitude greater than those observed in cancer patients in response to current vaccination protocols. Optimizing tumor vaccination protocols will require a deeper understanding of the signals that the immune system coordinates in order to respond to pathogenic infection. In the December 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Vincenzo Cerundolo and colleagues from the University of Oxford report a vaccination approach in mice in which intravenous delivery of a protein antigen plus a type of NK T cells, known as iNKT cells, enhanced the immune response and cleared an established tumor.

Cloned gene from sea animal may prove key in cancer drug development

Sat, 11 Dec 2004 18:36:00 PST

Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, and their colleagues have taken a significant step forward in developing a new method to produce drug compounds with potential to treat various types of cancer.

First integrated immune cell response promises hope in cancer vaccine research

Thu, 04 Nov 2004 00:47:00 PST

There are many therapeutic cancer vaccines designed to harness the immunological system to limit the growth or spread of cancer under investigation in early-phase clinical trials. However, the vast majority are being developed with little or no immunological monitoring to determine whether and how the human immune system is responding to the vaccine being studied. The Cancer Vaccine Collaborative (CVC), a partnership established by the Cancer Research Institute in New York and the international Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research (LICR), has announced that it is the first to demonstrate that vaccination with a cancer-specific recombinant protein antigen has successfully induced a fully integrated immunological response in humans.

Trials of Cyclooxygenase (COX) Inhibitors for Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Thu, 12 Feb 2004 13:56:00 PST

Numerous compounds are examined by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for their potential to prevent or treat cancer. One class of compounds, cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, is currently being tested in both prevention and treatment clinical trials. Epidemiologic studies have shown that people who regularly take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin and ibuprofen to treat conditions like arthritis, have lower rates of colorectal polyps, colorectal cancer, and death due to colorectal cancer. NSAIDs block cyclooxygenase enzymes, which are produced by the body when there is inflammation and are also produced by precancerous tissues. Inhibition of COX-2 may help treat and prevent cancer, while inhibition of COX-1 may induce certain medical problems, like stomach bleeding, that occur when NSAIDS are taken regularly for long periods of time.