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Oncology/Hematology

News, opinions and meeting coverage in oncology/hematology.

ER Presentation Not the End for Colon Cancer Patients

SAN FRANCISCO -- Curative therapy is still a possibility, even if a colon cancer patient is seen for the first time in the emergency department with acute symptoms, researchers said here.

Gastric Ca Survival Rates Down, Chemo Use Up

SAN FRANCISCO -- A decline in survival rates in stage IV gastric cancer coincides with the increased use of chemotherapy rather than radiation and surgery, researchers found.

Robin Gibb Looks at 'Spider Medicine' for Liver Cancer, Sources Say

茂禄驴Robin Gibb, a member of the BeeGees singing group, was hospitalized recently for complications related to liver cancer, a diagnosis that was made several months ago, according to several publications, and is reportedly investigating alternative treatments.

FDA Revokes Avastin Approval for Breast Cancer

WASHINGTON -- The FDA has announced that bevacizumab (Avastin) is no longer approved for the treatment of breast cancer; the Genentech drug retains its other indications and will remain on the market.

AMA Adopts Policies on Circumcision, Gun Safety

The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a number of new policies at its interim meeting, including policies on male circumcision, physician discussion of gun safety, and a new medical coding system that will go into effect in 2013.

Withdrawal Tough With Novel Drug for Myelofibrosis

The novel Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor ruxolitinib relieves myelofibrosis symptoms, but withdrawal from the drug can be severe, researchers warned.

Steve Jobs Loses Long Fight With Pancreatic NET

Apple founder Steve Jobs, 56, died Wednesday after a nearly eight-year struggle with complications stemming from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Anemia Worsens Surgical Outcomes

Patients who are anemic before going into surgery are at greater risk of death and other complications, researchers found.

Medtronic Infusion Pump Recalled

Battery problems with two of Medtronic's SynchroMed II implantable infusion pumps have forced the company to recall them, according to the FDA, although the recall only affects products not yet implanted.

MBCS: Lumpectomy 'Safe' for Young Breast Cancer Patients

SAN FRANCISCO -- Lumpectomy doesn't carry higher recurrence or mortality risk than mastectomy for young women with breast cancer, two separate studies found.

Colonoscopy Pioneer William Wolff Dead at 94

One of the pioneers of modern colonoscopy, William Wolff, MD, has died at the age of 94.

Rare-Cancer Charity Founder Dies at 40

Jennifer Goodman Linn, founder of the rare-cancer-research charity Cycle for Survival, died last month after a seven-year battle with sarcoma. She was 40.

Medicare to Keep Paying for Avastin

WASHINGTON -- Medicare will continue to pay for bevacizumab (Avastin) when it's used to treat metastatic breast cancer, even if the FDA decides to remove that indication from the drug, a spokesman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said.

FDA Warns of High-Grade Prostate Ca Risk With BPH Drugs

WASHINGTON -- The FDA has issued a warning of an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer with the 5-alpha reductase inhibitors finasteride (Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart), currently approved to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy.

ASCO: Abagovomab No Help in Ovarian Cancer

CHICAGO -- Results from a study using the experimental monoclonal antibody drug abagovomab to protect women with advanced ovarian cancer from recurrence have been disappointing, researchers reported here.

ASCO: Targeted Agent Slows Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

CHICAGO -- Women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer had a 50% improvement in progression-free survival when bevacizumab (Avastin) was added to chemotherapy, results of a multicenter randomized trial showed.

ASCO: Flaxseed No Help for Hot Flashes

CHICAGO -- Flaxseed will not ease hot flashes for women with menopausal symptoms or breast cancer survivors taking anti-estrogen drugs, according to clinical trial results.

ASCO: Methotrexate Boost Improves ALL Outcomes

CHICAGO -- There's new life in an old drug for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

ASCO: Real-World Study Confirms Cervical Cancer Screening Guidelines

CHICAGO -- Screening for cervical cancer using Pap or HPV testing can safely take place every three years for women over 30, a researcher reported.

SID: No Skin Cancer Risk Seen With Prednisone

PHOENIX -- Use of systemic corticosteroids did not increase the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer in a prospective study, contradicting previous evidence from several retrospective studies, investigators reported here.

ASCO GU: Switch to Degarelix Slows PSA

ORLANDO -- PSA progression slowed significantly in prostate cancer patients switched to degarelix (Firmagon) after 12 months of leuprolide therapy, data from an open-label extension study showed.

ASCO GU: Rise in PSA Slowed by Pomegranate

ORLANDO -- Prostate cancer patients had a six-month gain in PSA doubling time when treated with pomegranate extract, according to data reported here.

ASCO GU: Long Learning Curve for Robotic Prostate Removal

ORLANDO -- Three experienced surgeons needed more than 1,600 cases to achieve acceptable outcomes with robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, data from a retrospective chart review showed.

ASCO Breast: Gamma Imaging Tops Breast Ultrasound

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Breast-specific gamma imaging (BSGI) outperformed breast ultrasound for evaluating patients with indeterminate mammograms in a retrospective comparison of the two imaging techniques, researchers reported here.

ASCO: Survival No Better After Axillary Node Surgery

CHICAGO -- Routine removal of axillary nodes in breast cancer patients with lymph node involvement does not improve survival or lessen the risk of relapse, a researcher said here.

ASCO: Value of RT After Lumpectomy Questioned

CHICAGO -- Postlumpectomy radiation therapy had minimal impact on outcomes in older patients with early-stage breast cancer, data from a larger intergroup trial showed.

ASCO: Cancer Survivors Get Benefit from Yoga

CHICAGO -- Gentle stretching, breathing, and other exercises in a regular yoga program may ease sleep and fatigue problems common among cancer survivors, a randomized trial found.

New Study Looks at Long-Term Effects of Cell Phones

A consortium of five European countries has launched a new cohort study to monitor the health effects of human exposure to radio frequencies emitted by mobile phones.

SGO: Low Cancer Risk with Septated Ovarian Tumors

SAN FRANCISCO -- Septated ovarian tumors have a low risk of malignancy and can be followed safely with ultrasound, data from a large prospective cohort study showed.

ASCO GU: BP Reveals Hit or Miss for Targeted Tx

SAN FRANCISCO -- Early response to preoperative targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma may indicate efficacy, while treatment-induced hypertension may be another marker after surgery, according to studies reported here.

ASCO GU: Urine Screening Not Worth the Money in Bladder CA

SAN FRANCISCO -- Adding urine tests to standard cytoscopy for surveillance after non-muscle invasive bladder cancer may increase cost without boosting detection, according to a prospective cost-effectiveness study.

Low Testosterone May Affect Cancer Survivors

Male cancer survivors with low testosterone levels experience reduced energy and sexual function, and thus might benefit from hormone replacement therapy, a new study found.

ASCO GI: Targeted Agent Slows Neuroendocrine Tumors

ORLANDO -- Patients with progressive pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors lived twice as long without progression when treated with sunitinib (Sutent) compared with placebo, data from a French clinical trial showed.

The Top 10 Medical Advances of the Decade

From genome to hormones, doctors pick the top medical advances of the decade.

ASCO Breast: Even 'Tweens Fear Breast Cancer

SAN FRANCISCO -- Fear about breast cancer starts early, as girls see it affect those close to them and hear reports in the media, researchers found.

ASCO: Ginger Eases Chemo-Related Nausea

TORONTO -- Half a teaspoon of ground ginger a day can significantly reduce the nausea associated with chemotherapy, researchers found.

Medicare Finalizes Denial of Virtual Colonoscopy Coverage

BALTIMORE -- CT colonography for colorectal cancer screening will not be covered under Medicare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has confirmed.

Medicare to Cover More PET Scans for Cancer Diagnosis

BALTIMORE -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced expanded coverage of PET scans for Medicare patients suspected of having most cancers.

Fish, Shellfish Associated with Advanced Prostate Protection

SAN FRANCISCO -- Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly those found in dark fish and shellfish, are associated with protection against aggressive prostate cancer, a case-control study showed.

Men Encouraged to Consider Medication to Prevent Prostate Cancer

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Millions of healthy men ages 55 and older should talk to their physicians about taking a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor such as finasteride (Proscar) or dutasteride (Avodart) to prevent prostate cancer, according to a guideline issued by two medical groups.

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