Investigational Drug Improves Outcomes among Prostate Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases (02-3-2012)

In a Phase III clinical trial, the investigational drug radium-223 chloride improved survival and delayed bone complications among men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and bone metastases. These results will be presented at the 2012 Genitourinary... Continue Reading

New Targeted Drug Improves Prostate Cancer Survival (02-2-2012)

Among men with metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer, treatment with the investigational drug MDV3100 delayed cancer progression and improved overall survival. These results will be presented at the 2012 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Prostate... Continue Reading

Erivedge Approved for Basal Cell Skin Cancer (02-1-2012)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the targeted therapy Erivedge™ (vismodegib) for the treatment basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has spread to other parts of the body or that is locally advanced and cannot be treated with surgery... 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

Abnormal Chromosome Influences Outcome of Rare Brain Tumor (01-25-2012)

For patients with uncommon brain tumors known as oligodendrogliomas, the presence of a specific chromosomal abnormality is linked with a better prognosis and responsiveness to chemotherapy. These results were released early (prior to presentation at an... Continue Reading

Test Holds Promise for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer (01-24-2012)

A test that detects a particular protein in the blood (PAM4) correctly identified roughly two-thirds of patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer. These results were presented at the 2012 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Pancreatic cancer is one... Continue Reading

Melanoma Drug Accelerates Secondary Skin Cancers In Some Patients (01-23-2012)

Zelboraf® (vemurafenib) improves outcomes among patients with advanced melanoma that harbors a BRAF gene mutation, but also accelerates the development of squamous cell carcinoma in some patients. A study that explores the reasons for these secondary... Continue Reading

Oncotype DX Colon Cancer Test Changes Treatment in Close to One-Third of Patients (01-20-2012)

A survey of oncologists suggests that the Oncotype DX colon cancer test changes treatment recommendations for 29 percent of patients with Stage II colon cancer. These results will be presented at the 2012 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Gene expression... Continue Reading

Regorafenib Shows Promise Against Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (01-19-2012)

The investigational drug regorafenib improves survival and delays cancer progression among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that has worsened in spite of other treatments. These results will be presented at the 2012 Gastrointestinal Cancers... Continue Reading