Oncotype DX® Predicts Recurrence Risk in Node-negative and Node-positive Breast Cancer Treated with Tamoxifen or Arimidex (03/09/2010)
Among postmenopausal women with early, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer treated with either tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) or Arimidex® (anastrozole), the Oncotype DX test predicts the risk of distant cancer recurrence in both node-negative and node-positive patients. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Addition of Hormone Therapy to Radiation Improves Survival in Intermediate-risk, Early-stage Prostate Cancer (03/09/2010)
Short-term hormone therapy delivered before and during moderate-dose radiation therapy improves survival and reduces risk of recurrence compared with radiation alone in men with intermediate-risk, early-stage prostate cancer. The results of this Phase III study were presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

Cystoscopy Alone Is the Most Cost-effective Way to Monitor for Recurrence of Bladder Cancer (03/09/2010)
The addition of a urine test to standard cystoscopy screening in order to monitor for bladder cancer recurrence unnecessarily increases the cost of monitoring as well as the risk for a false-positive result and does not improve tumor detection, according to the results of a study presented at the 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

PCA3 Test May Help Guide Prostate Biopsy Decisions (03/08/2010)
The PCA3 urine test may help guide decisions about the need for repeat prostate biopsy in men with a negative initial biopsy but elevated PSA. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Genitourinary Cancer Symposium.

Cabazitaxel Shows Promise in Advanced Prostate Cancer (03/05/2010)
Among men with metastatic, hormone refractory prostate cancer that has progressed after Taxotere® (docetaxel)-based chemotherapy, the investigational chemotherapy drug cabazitaxel may improve survival. The results of this Phase III clinical trial will be presented at the ASCO 2010 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

Benefit of Velcade on Myeloma Survival Added to Prescribing Information (03/05/2010)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved expanded prescribing information for Velcade® (bortezomib). Velcade’s label now includes results from the VISTA study, which show that Velcade improves long-term overall survival among patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma.

Cervical Vaccine Provides Little Benefit for Older Women (03/04/2010)
Women over the age of 40 are not likely to benefit from a vaccine designed to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV), according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.1 HPV has been shown to cause cervical cancer.

Cryoablation Effective for Renal Cancer (03/04/2010)
Stereotactic percutaneous cryoablation and laparoscopic renal cryoablation are effective treatments for selected patients with kidney cancer, according to the results of two studies published in the Journal of Urology.

Laparoscopic Surgery and Open Surgery Produce Similar Complication Rates in Prostate Cancer (03/03/2010)
Laparoscopic prostatectomy and open radical prostatectomy produce similar outcomes and carry similar rates of postoperative complications, according to the results of a study published in an early online version of the Journal of Urology.

Tykerb plus Herceptin More Effective Than Tykerb Alone for Metastatic Breast Cancer That Has Progressed on Herceptin (03/03/2010)
Among women with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer that has progressed during treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab), the combination of Tykerb® (lapatinib) and Herceptin appears to be more effective than Tykerb alone. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and were previously presented at the 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Abiraterone Produces Promising Results in Men with Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer (03/02/2010)
According to the results of Phase II clinical trials, the investigational drug abiraterone appears to be active in men with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Avastin May Delay Progression of Ovarian Cancer (02/25/2010)
Among women with advanced ovarian cancer, treatment with a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy, followed by maintenance treatment with Avastin, may result in better progression-free survival than chemotherapy alone.

Avastin Fails to Prolong Survival in Stomach Cancer (02/25/2010)
Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy does not extend overall survival in patients with inoperable, advanced or metastatic stomach cancer, according to the results of a phase III trial released by Roche.

Afinitor and Temodar Active against Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (02/24/2010)
The combination of Afinitor® (everolimus) and Temodar® (temozolomide) appears to be active against advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The details of this Phase I/II study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Variability in Prostatectomy Results Not Entirely Explained by Experience of the Surgeon (02/23/2010)
Even among surgeons with a similar degree of experience, rates of prostate cancer recurrence after open radical prostatectomy can vary greatly. These results were published in the Journal of Urology.

Rituxan Approved for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (02/22/2010)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Rituxan® (rituximab) to include the treatment of certain patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Iressa® Improves Survival in Patients with NSCLC Harboring EGFR Mutations (02/19/2010)
Patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have a mutation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) experienced a better progression-free survival when treated with Iressa® (gefitinib) rather than the standard doublet therapy consisting of Platinol® (cisplatin) and Taxotere® (docetaxel). The results of this study were published in the Lancet Oncology.

Children with Ewing’s Sarcoma or Astrocytoma Most Likely to Experience Late Recurrence (02/19/2010)
Late recurrence of childhood cancers appears to occur most often in Ewing’s sarcoma and astrocytoma, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence and Death (02/19/2010)
Among women who are at least one year beyond a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer, regular aspirin use may reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence and death. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Some Chinese Herbs May Increase Risk of Urinary Tract Cancer (02/18/2010)
The use of Chinese herbal products that contain aristolochic acid is associated with an increased risk of urinary tract cancer, according to the results of a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.