March 2008

Physicians' Financial News focuses on news-making and/or notable companies in the oncology biotechnology sector. In this issue: Novartis: Novartis Leverages Formidable Size and Pipeline to Maintain Strong Oncology Position Roche AG: Ventana Medical Systems Taken Over by Roche Schering Plough: Potential Melanoma Treatment Granted Priority Review Amgen: Studies Suggest Expanded Role for Vectibix in Colorectal Cancer OxiGene: Potential Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Treatment Hits a Key Phase II Target

The Academy delivers the latest news on biotech and oncology research, providing a link between the clinical world of cancer care and the university researchers who are pushing the envelope of knowledge and discovery. In this issue: 1) University of California, San Francisco: Novel Mapping Technique Has Potential to Improve Brain Surgery 2) Indiana University School of Medicine: Combination of Taxol and Avastin Yields Robust Results for Breast Cancer 3) M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas: New Test Has Potential To Heighten Myelodysplastic Syndrome Assessment Accuracy 4) James P. Wilmot Cancer Center,University of Rochester Medical Center: Alternate Lymphoma Option Shows Promise 5) The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota: Cell Line Research Further Affirms Obesity as a Breast Cancer Risk Factor

Topics covered in this issue include: 1) National Managed Care Plans Stop Paying for Anesthetic in Colonoscopy 2) Managed Care Organizations Will not Pay for Care Resulting From Preventable Errors 3) Is Progression-Free Survival a Real Clinical Benefit? 4) Do Practice Patterns Reflect National Recommendations in Gallbladder Cancer? 5) National HMO Bases Chemotherapy Coverage on Guideline Compendium 6) Pap Test Screening: Better Testing Versus More Frequent Office Visits 7) CMS Issues Instructions for EPO Claims Reporting

The Clinical Trials reported in this issue include: PHASE III: 1) Central Nervous System Stimulant for Brain Tumors 2) Paclitaxel and Carboplatin Treatment for Patients With Lung Cancer 3) The 100-Month Analysis of the ATAC Trial 4) Radical Nephrectomy not as Beneficial as Partial Nephrectomy for Small Renal Tumors in Younger Populations 5) Combination Therapy Reduces Prostate Cancer Death Rates 6) Bortezomib Produced Significant Complete Remission Rates in Front-Line Multiple Myeloma Trial PHASE II: 1) Subcutaneous Amifostine Treatment for Head and Neck Carcinoma

Articles in this issue include: United Kingdom: The Pill's Anti-Ovarian Cancer Effect Lasts for Decades The Netherlands: Catheter-Related Infection Prevention Improves With Specialized Rinse Italy: Obesity May Help Survival in Women Who Have Endometrial Cancer Germany: One-Two Punch for B-cell Lymphoma in the Elderly South Korea: Predicting Survival by Counting Metastatic Lymph Nodes Poland: Do Chest X-Rays in Young Women Raise the Risk of Breast Cancer? Australia: Concurrent or Sequential Anthracycline and Docetaxel?

In this issue: Bortezomib (Velcade) Granted Priority Review Status for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Reports from American Society of Hematology: Advances in Thrombosis: (1) AMG 531 Demonstrates Efficacy in Sustaining Platelet Counts in Splenectomized Patients With Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Phase III Study (2) Low–Molecular-Weight Heparin Reduces the Cost of Venous Thromboembolism Treatment Compared With Unfractionated Heparin

What if lung cancer recurrence could be prevented for years after surgery by giving simple recall injections every two years?

The 30th Annual Charles A. Coltman, Jr. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) was held December 13-16, 2007, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas. Our editors highlight the newest research and emerging trends in treatment and care.

In this issue, Oncology & Biotechnology News' editors focus on the 30th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held in December. In addition,such departments and monthly columns as Physicians' Financial News, Global Reports, Clinical Trial Reports, The Academy, and Reimbursement and Managed Care News offer the practicing oncologist the perspectives needed to keep abreast of the industry.