May 2010

If there was any remaining question regarding the revolutionary impact of the Internet on communication between physicians and patients, a recent report provides a most provocative answer. In a survey conducted by Manhattan Research, "Physicians in 2012: The Outlook on Health Information Technology", it was noted that 39% of physicians use some form of electronic media such as e-mail, instant messaging, and secure messaging to communicate with their patients.

According to a large study conducted at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010, eating well-done meat, especially red meat, may increase the risk of bladder cancer, particularly in individuals with genetic variants in their metabolism.

According to a pre-clinical study presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010, a regimen of nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) given in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin) may have potential in treating triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive, therapy- resistant, and highly metastatic subtypes of breast cancer.

A study presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 by researchers from the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, provides further evidence that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are promising chemopreventive agents with activity against colorectal cancer.

Although KRAS gene mutation is a well-established biomarker for a lack of response to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) antibodies in colorectal cancer, a study presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 sought to determine whether mutations in 9 genes known to be mutated in colorectal cancer, including AKT1, BRAF, CTNNB1, EGFR, KRAS (exon 3), NRAS, PIK3CA, PTEN, and TP53, could also predict response to Vectibix (panitumumab) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Metastatic melanoma has limited treatment options, but advances in the understanding of the oncogenic mutations that drive this cancer and how the immune system can be better modulated to fight melanoma provide a new generation of active approaches for patients.

Historically, most cancer treatments have been administered in oncology offices or hospitals, but oral medications are becoming increasingly common, and oral formulations of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and hormonal therapies are available.

The explosive growth of mainstream social networking sites has encouraged the development of smaller, niche networks designed to connect patients who share a diagnosis; however, no one platform has established itself as a central health-networking hub.

The FDA has added text messaging to the ranks of e-mail digests, RSS feeds, podcasts, and Websites that comprise MedWatch, the agency's safety information and adverse event reporting program.

The Life Beyond Cancer Foundation, formerly known as the US Oncology Foundation, has launched its new Website.

Enacted in 1986, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) was designed to protect the electronic documents of private citizens from undue interference by law enforcement officials.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure's partnership with KFC to raise funds and spread breast cancer awareness and educational messaging by selling chicken in specially designed pink buckets has generated considerable controversy, with some wondering what message this partnership is sending.

Provenge, an immunotherapy for patients with advanced prostate cancer, has become the first therapeutic vaccine for cancer ever approved by the FDA.