September 2007

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 farther in pursuit of knowledge and discovery. In this issue: 1) University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI: Gene Fusions Switch on Prostate Cancer 2) Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA: New, Powerful Lung Tumor Suppressor Gene Found, and more

The topics covered in this issue include: 1) Exemestane Is a Cost-Effective Alternative to Tamoxifen in Estrogen Receptor%u2013Positive Breast Cancer 2) A More Accurate Way of Deciding Which Prostate Cancers to Treat? 3) Senate Proposal Would Increase Payments to Oncologists%u2026 and more

Two presentations are highlighted from the meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in Chicago, IL: 1) Navigating Multiple Pathways: Evolving Strategies and Future Directions in Targeted Therapies 2) Two Studies Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Lapatinib (Tykerb) in Advanced Breast Cancer

Physicians' Financial News focuses on newsworthy and/or notable companies in the oncology/biotech sector. In this issue: 1) Amgen: Amgen Oncology Under Review 2) Myriad Genetics, Inc.: Launches Test to Predict Toxicity to 5-FU 3) GPC Biotech AG: Pulls NDA for Prostate Cancer Drug, and more

The Clinical Trials reported in this issue include: PHASE IV: Obesity a Major Risk Factor for Multiple Myeloma PHASE III: 1) Long-Term Safety of Adjuvant Trastuzumab (Herceptin) 2) Bevacizumab (Avastin) Helps Slow Tumor Growth in Patients with Advanced or Recurrent Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer 3) Addition of Bevacizumab To Interferon Alfa 2a Nearly Doubles Median Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Previously Untreated Advanced Kidney Cancer, and more

Articles in this issue include: 1) England: GAMEC for Untreated or Relapsed Refractory Germ-Cell Tumors Preventing Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 2) Australia: Immunodeficiency May Be Linked to Multiple Cancer Types 3) Sweden: Long-Term Steroid Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis Has One Benefit, at Least 4) Netherlands: Increasing Survival of Infants With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, and more

Final results for the complete cohort of 300 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) receiving the FCR (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab)regimen were presented at this year%u2019s American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.

Chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, but it has never been compared in a randomized trial with active symptom control (ASC) alone.

Like the Vikings of old, scientists are hoping a new "longboat" drug delivery system will compromise the walls of resistant cancer cells and fight them with high-dose chemotherapy released only when they are inside.

An experimental intra-arterial delivery system injects high-dose chemotherapy directly into the ocular tumor and may not only save the eye, but the vision as well.

Cell Genesys has announced that it has completed recruitment of more than 600 patients into VITAL-1, the first of two ongoing Phase III clinical trials of GVAX immunotherapy for prostate cancer.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a nonprofit alliance of 21 leading cancer centers worldwide, develops and publishes clinical practice guidelines to promote the importance of continuous quality improvement. The primary goal of all its initiatives is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of oncology practice so patients can live better lives.

In keeping with our goal of reporting on the practical aspects of oncology, in this issue we highlight the new National Comprehensive Cancer Network%u2019s (NCCN) updated clinical practice guidelines for kidney and cervical cancers.