HPV Vaccine Protects Against Genital Warts and Precancerous Growths (07-30-2010)

Results from a recent international study indicate that the vaccine Gardasil® (quadrivalent human papillomavirus [types 6, 11, 16, 18] recombinant vaccine) protects against genital warts and low-grade precancerous changes to the cervix, vulva, and vagina.... Continue Reading

Study Explores Prostate Cancer Among Men with Low PSA Levels (07-30-2010)

In a large U.S. cancer database, 14% of prostate cancer diagnoses occurred among men with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 4.0 ng/mL or lower. More than half of these men had cancer that was considered “low-risk,” but roughly three-quarters... Continue Reading

Painters May Have Higher Risk of Bladder Cancer (07-29-2010)

Occupational exposures appear to increase bladder cancer risk in painters, according to a study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Workers in certain occupations may face an increased risk of cancer due to exposures that they encounter... Continue Reading

FDA Advisory Committee Recommends that Avastin No Longer Be Approved for Breast Cancer (07-29-2010)

The Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted 12 to one that Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with paclitaxel should no longer be approved for initial therapy for metastatic HER2-negative... Continue Reading

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Regimen Promising for Metastatic Penile Cancer (07-28-2010)

A neoadjuvant (before surgery) combination of Taxol® (paclitaxel), Ifex® (ifosfamide), and Platinol® (cisplatin) produced clinically significant responses in patients with bulky regional lymph node metastases from penile cancer, according to the results... Continue Reading

Newly Diagnosed Ph+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients May Benefit from Sprycel/Chemotherapy Combination (07-28-2010)

The initial report of a Phase II study evaluating Sprycel® (dasatinib) combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph+ ALL) indicates that 94% of patients achieve a complete remission.... Continue Reading

Childhood Cancer Survivors Experience Elevated Risk of Premature Death Years after Diagnosis (07-27-2010)

Childhood cancer survivors may experience a persistently higher risk of premature death due to disease compared with the general population. These findings were recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.[1] The survival rate... Continue Reading

Study Evaluates Melanoma Trends in High-risk Region of United States (07-27-2010)

Melanoma incidence in Hispanic men and African-American women residing in Florida may be higher than in other regions of the United States. These findings were recently published in the journal Archives of Dermatology.[1] Many cases of melanoma are thought... Continue Reading

Mixed Findings on Combination Therapy for Nasopharyngeal Cancer (07-26-2010)

Results of a Phase III trial indicate that treating nasopharyngeal cancer with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy can significantly reduce disease progression but that the combination may also increase the rate of death from other causes. These... Continue Reading

Twenty Possible Causes of Cancer (07-26-2010)

The American Cancer Society along with three federal agencies have identified 20 potential causes of cancer that warrant further investigation, according to the results of a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives.[1] Many chemicals and environmental... Continue Reading

Higher Cancer Rates Among Children Conceived with IVF (07-23-2010)

Children conceived using in vitro fertilization (IVF) may have a higher risk of cancer compared with children born without IVF, according to a study published in Pediatrics. In vitro fertilization is a type of assisted reproductive technology that is... Continue Reading

Afinitor Promising in Treatment of Advanced Gastric Cancer (07-23-2010)

Afinitor® (everolimus) may be a promising treatment option for patients with metastatic gastric cancer who have undergone previous treatment, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Afinitor is an oral targeted therapy that... Continue Reading