The HCPLive conference coverage page features articles, videos, and expert-led live coverage from major medical meetings throughout the year.
PRIME Trial Offers More Good News for Panitumumab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
September 24th 2009Preliminary data from a phase 3 study show that panitumumab (Vectibix) added to standard FOLFOX chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer significantly improves PFS in patients with wild-type KRAS.
Studies Demonstrate Effectiveness of Exemestane in Early Stage Breast Cancer
September 24th 2009Updated data from IES (Intergroup Exemestane Study) showed that sequencing therapy with tamoxifen followed by exemestane (Aromasin) prolonged disease-free survival and overall survival in postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer.
Novel TAK-1 Inhibitor Reduces Resistance of Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Chemotherapy
September 24th 2009Dr David Melisi, National Cancer Institute, Naples, Italy, and colleagues presented data at ECCO 15-ESMO 34 today identifying the transforming growth factor (TGF) beta-activated kinase-1 enzyme, known as TAK-1, as a possible target in pancreatic cancer.
ABCSG-24 Finds Neoadjuvant Capecitabine Improves Complete Response in Early Stage Breast Cancer
September 24th 2009The Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG) presented new data from the ABCSG-24 trial, which has been investigating adjuvant treatment with capecitabine (Xeloda) plus a standard chemotherapy regimen of epirubicin and docetaxel (Taxotere) in women with early stage breast cancer.
On the Road to Personalizing Radiation Therapy
September 24th 2009Developing targeted pharmacotherapies to personalize cancer care has become the mantra in oncology, and now a team of scientists from The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Canada has taken the first step toward targeting radiotherapy dosages to individual patients by assessing the genetic characteristics of individuals with hypersensitivity to radiation therapy.
Progression-free Survival Significantly Improved in Breast Cancer Patients on Sorafenib
September 24th 2009Sorafenib (Nexavar) significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with breast cancer, according to the results of the SOLTI-0701 study presented at the ECCO 15 – ESMO 34 Joint Congress by José Baselga, MD, ESMO president and a member of the ECCO executive committee, and head of oncology, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
Questioning Cancer Research Priorities
September 24th 2009Approximately three quarters of funding for cancer research goes to biology research and drug development in Europe, and this concerns Professor Richard Sullivan, King’s Health Partners Integrated Cancer Centre in London and chairman of the European Cancer Research Managers Forum.
Can HPV Vaccination Eradicate Cervical Cancer?
September 24th 2009Prof Cuzick told an attentive audience at the ECCO 15-ESMO 34 Joint Congress that he believes new HPV vaccines on the horizon, which are effective against 9 strains of HPV, coupled with a shift to molecular HPV screening, could allow countries to eradicate cervical cancer within their borders.
Targeting Soft-Tissue Sarcoma with Heat During Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes
September 24th 2009Heating soft-tissue sarcomas during chemotherapy was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of recurrence and death, according to data presented by Professor Rolf Issels, professor of medical oncology, Klinikum Grosshadern Medical Center, University of Munich in Germany.
Researchers Propose Standard of Care for Patients with Partially Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer
September 24th 2009Many clinicians continue to puzzle over the best way to treat patients with ovarian cancer who relapse 6 to 12 months after treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy regimen. These women are typically categorized as “partially” platinum-sensitive.
BRAF Mutation Analysis has Clinical Value in Stage III Colon Carcinoma
September 23rd 2009In a poster presented at the ECCO 15 - ESMO 34 Joint Congress, Arantza Fariña, MD, and colleagues from the PAMM Laboratory for Pathology and Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, the Netherlands, noted that stage III colon carcinoma patients with the BRAF V600E mutation had a significantly worse prognosis.
Pain Increases Risk for Malnutrition and Poor Performance Status in Cancer Patients
September 23rd 2009In a poster presented at the ECCO 15 – ESMO 34 Joint Congress, KM Mallath and colleagues from the Department of Digestive Diseases and Clinical Nutrition, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India, noted that cancer pain is an important independent risk factor for poor performance status in newly diagnosed patients and significantly associated with malnutrition.
Meta-analysis of Cetuximab plus Chemotherapy Confirms Benefit in NSCLC
September 23rd 2009A meta-analysis of four phase II and III trials confirmed the benefit found for cetuximab added to platinum-based chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The findings were reported at the ECCO 15 - ESMO 34 Joint Congress by Jean-Louis Pujol, MD, of Montpellier Academic Hospital, Montpellier, France.
How Do Patients Perceive Oral Oncology Drugs?
September 23rd 2009In a poster presented at the ECCO 15 – ESMO 34 Joint Congress, Dr B. Homet and colleagues from the Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital “12 de Octubre,” Madrid, Spain, outlined the results of a study sought to assess patient opinions on both oral and intravenous (IV) cancer treatments.
Novel Agent Motesanib (AMG-706) Active in Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer
September 23rd 2009Motesanib diphosphate (AMG-706) is a novel compound that has demonstrated activity in a number of solid tumors, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and breast cancer.
Aspirin Associated with Lower Incidence of Colon Cancer in Patients with Lynch Syndrome
September 22nd 2009In a press conference at ECCO 15-ESMO 34, Professor John Burn, Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle University, United Kingdom, discussed follow-up results to a trial he and his colleagues conducted that investigated the effectiveness of ordinary aspirin in preventing colon cancer.
Does Endocrine Therapy Increase the Risk of Cardiac Events in Men with Prostate Cancer?
September 22nd 2009In what is being touted as a practice-changing study, Mieke Van Hemelrijck, a cancer epidemiologist at King’s College, London, and associates found that men with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer who receive hormone therapy have a much greater risk of developing cardiac problems.
Amgen Reports Solid Trial Results for Denosumab in Breast and Other Solid Tumors
September 22nd 2009Although an FDA Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee recommended in August against approving Amgen’s denosumab (Prolia) as a treatment to reduce bone complications in patients with advanced breast cancer, updated data presented today at ECCO/ESMO might elicit a different opinion from an ODAC panel, if convened.