Oncology

Thrifty Merrimack developing new cancer drugs at lower cost

Thomson Reuters — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:17:37 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Bill Berkrot

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Little known biotechnology company Merrimack Pharmaceuticals Inc has quietly built a large pipeline of experimental cancer treatments that it aims to deliver at a fraction of the cost spent by larger rivals.

That could translate into lower-cost treatments for large unmet needs, such as pancreatic cancer, at precisely the time when pressure is mounting to reduce runaway healthcare spending.

Peregrine Pharma agrees with FDA on lung cancer trial design

Thomson Reuters — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:15:49 +0000

Thomson Reuters

(Reuters) - Peregrine Pharmaceuticals said it reached an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the design of a late-stage trial for its experimental lung cancer drug.

The late-stage trial will compare a combination of chemotherapy and the drug, bavituximab, with chemotherapy alone.

The main goal of the trial would be to show an improvement in overall survival of patients.

Peregrine shares were up 19 percent at $1.83 in early trade on Monday on the Nasdaq.

Jolie's mastectomy spotlights legal battle over genes

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:00:17 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Movie star Angelina Jolie tested positive for a "faulty gene" at the center of a high-profile legal battle in the United States that challenges whether human genes can belong to a corporation.

Experts say it is unlikely that Jolie's story of how she decided to have a preventive double mastectomy will sway the Supreme Court, which is expected to rule in June on whether Myriad Genetics can hold patents on the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

But lawyers for the plaintiffs applauded the 37-year-old actress for mentioning that the cost of the tests is out of reach to many women.

Urologists echo call for discussion before PSA test

Thomson Reuters — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:37:49 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Genevra Pittman

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Urologists fell in line with other doctor groups on Friday in recommending careful consideration and discussion when it comes to screening for prostate cancer, rather than a gung-ho approach.

At its annual meeting in San Diego, California, the American Urological Association (AUA) recommended against screening average-risk men under age 55 or any man over 70 using prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood tests.

Doctors to older, heavy smokers: Get CT screening for lung cancer

Thomson Reuters — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:34:37 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Sharon Begley

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stepping into the debate over who should be screened for lung cancer, a leading medical specialty group issued new guidelines on Tuesday recommending that doctors offer annual low-dose CT (computed tomography) scanning to people whose age and smoking history puts them at significant risk of lung cancer.

Jolie finds more stardom with mastectomy revelation

Agence France-Presse — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:30:58 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Angelina Jolie has found another way to be a star.

Already a UN ambassador on refugee issues and an Oscar winner, Jolie is receiving accolades from health activists, doctors and fans for her revelation that she had had her breasts removed to reduce her cancer risk.

The 37-year-old actress underwent a double mastectomy to minimize the risk that she might develop breast cancer as a result of inheriting a "faulty gene," and chose to publicize her surgery as an example to other women and mothers.

Women hail 'brave' Jolie's mastectomy revelation

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:00:03 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Health activists, doctors and movie fans hailed glamorous Hollywood megastar Angelina Jolie on Tuesday for her decision to reveal that she had had her breasts removed to reduce her cancer risk.

What are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes? Primer on genetic mutations linked to cancers

The Canadian Press — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:04:43 +0000

The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Angelina Jolie's bombshell revelation of her double mastectomy due to a genetic cancer risk has brought renewed attention to specific genes linked to the development of both breast and ovarian cancers.

The Oscar-winning actress revealed in an op-ed piece in the New York Times that she carries the "faulty" BRCA1 gene and opted to remove her breasts as a preventive measure.

BRCA1 stands for breast cancer susceptibility gene 1. Both BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes known as tumour suppressors, which normally prevent cancer from developing.

Study finds one kind of mammogram less effective at detecting breast cancer

The Canadian Press — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:27:35 +0000

The Canadian Press

TORONTO - A study looking at technology used for mammography has found that one type is less effective at detecting breast cancer than others.

The Cancer Care Ontario study found digital direct radiography and screen film mammograms are better than digital computed radiography mammograms at uncovering breast tumours.

The research concluded that computed radiography, or CR, is 21 per cent less effective at detecting breast cancer than digital radiography, or DR.

Surgery can dramatically reduce genetic cancer risk

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:03:38 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Women whose genes put them at a high risk of contracting breast cancer can dramatically reduce the danger by having a double mastectomy -- but not eliminate it altogether, experts say.

The issue has been thrown into the spotlight with Hollywood star Angelina Jolie's announcement that she had her breasts surgically removed after tests revealed she carried a genetic mutation that can lead to cancer.

Rocker Ozzy Osbourne's wife, Sharon, did the same last year.

Angelina Jolie: I had double mastectomy

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 14 May 2013 09:31:20 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday that she has undergone a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of contracting breast cancer.

Jolie said she was speaking out to encourage other women with a family history of cancer -- her mother died of it age 56 -- to seek out information from doctors and make informed choices about their bodies.

She said she managed to keep the issue quiet and keep working. "But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience," she said.

Angelina Jolie: I had double mastectomy

Agence France-Presse — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:15:47 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Angelina Jolie revealed Tuesday that she has undergone a preventive double mastectomy to reduce her risk of contracting breast cancer.

She said she managed to keep the issue quiet and keep working. "But I am writing about it now because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience," she said.

Stigma hampering cervical cancer battle in India

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:33:43 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Social stigma is harming attempts to combat cervical cancer in India where more women die annually of the disease than anywhere else in the world, a new report said Friday.

More than a quarter of cervical cancer deaths worldwide occur in India, representing 72,825 a year according to the report by the US-based Cervical Cancer Free Coalition, although African nations have higher mortality rates.

US studies find genetic links in aggressive cancers

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 02 May 2013 23:15:19 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Some of the most devastating forms of cancer have genetic similarities even though they strike different body parts, according to new studies out Thursday.

The new research -- one study focused on a form of leukemia, in the New England Journal of Medicine, and a second on endometrial cancer, in Nature -- could offer a pathway to new, more effective treatments.

The new findings challenge the previous approach of classifying tumors based on the body part where they are first observed, and add fuel to the growing trend of differentiating tumors based on their genetic profile.

Cancer research often falls short

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:00:40 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Cancer research tends to involve small studies focused on a single therapy, often falling short of scientific standards seen in other medical investigations, said a study released Monday.

The trend may be driven by a desire to speed treatments to market, but raises questions about how well experimental cancer-fighting therapies will work in practice, said the findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association.