American Society of Clinical Oncology

A team of investigators from University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center sought to determine whether adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia might have genetic biomarkers that predict treatment response.

Although the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was very contentious in Congress, Richard L. Schilsky, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Chicago in Illinois and president of ASCO; and John Niederhuber, MD, director of the National Cancer Institute, were in complete agreement that it was a boon to cancer research.

In the past several years, enough studies have identified negative consequences associated with hormonal therapy in postmenopausal women that what was once standard therapy is becoming ancient practice.

Two important prostate cancer studies conducted at Fox Chase Cancer Center were released at ASCO: 1) a long-term study that showed low oxygen levels in prostate tumors can predict recurrence; and 2) the finding of a genetic marker that may predict early onset of prostate cancer.

Besides the emphasis on personalized medicine at this year's ASCO Meeting, there is also a focus on addressing the rising costs of administering cancer care, which are currently increasing at a rate of 15% annually.

Researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center conducted a phase III trial that assessed the use of a peptide vaccine, known as gp100:209-217 (200M), in combination with Interleukin-2.

The American Cancer Society has just unveiled its Circle of Sharing social Web application, designed to help patients with cancer and their families and friends to better coordinate support and care information as they navigate cancer treatment.

Although participants in clinical trials are not charged for the chemotherapy drugs to treat their cancers, they pay for the drugs used to counter treatment-related effects, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea, pain, and opioid-induced constipation.

In the largest study to date, ginger in combination with a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist antiemetic was found to significantly reduce CINV in patients with cancer.

In yet another example of the need to personalize cancer care, researchers from the Kinki University School of Medicine in Osaka, Japan, found that endothelial growth factor receptor mutations predicted treatment response in Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer.