Oncology

Controversy over the value of proton beam radiation continues to harass clinicians as the therapy emerges to be extremely useful in some, but not all, cancers. Additionally, payers sometimes refuse to cover treatment costs due to lack of evidence of efficacy.

With the aim of understanding why some patients respond better to a particular drug, NCI has launched the Exceptional Responders Initiative, to generate molecular profiles of tumors that respond well to a particular treatment.

Research published this month in the journal Cancer Research, found that increased expression of the enzyme PAD2 in young mice could lead to skin tumors that could progress to invasive squamous cell carcinoma.

The ASCO statement corroborates the need for regulation of laboratory-developed tests, which are increasingly being used to guide personalized treatment in oncology as well as other therapeutic areas.

Due to existing payment structures and practice patterns for colonoscopy, reducing endoscopist reimbursement may diminish access to and quality of colorectal cancer screening.

The guidelines have been published in 2 journals: Breast and Annals of Oncology.

The drug is the first in it's class - an antibody designed to engage 2 different targets simultaneously.

The biosensor, which can detect the oxidative stress marker 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, is 5-times more sensitive than the ELISA test that is commonly used to identify biomarkers.

The approval in CLL is supported primarily by data from a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in combination with rituximab in 220 patients with relapsed CLL who were not able to tolerate standard chemotherapy. The approval in FL, is supported by data from a single-arm phase 2 study (Study 101-09) of Zydelig monotherapy in 125 iNHL patients refractory to rituximab and alkylating-agent-containing chemotherapy.

The study, conducted in pancreatic cancer patients in Norway, was presented at the annual meeting of the International Contrast Ultrasound Society in Chicago.

The study, published in Lancet Oncology, found that ramucirumab significantly improved survival by over 2 months.

The study, published this week in Nature Genetics, is the product of an international collaboration that has identified 23 new loci that could lead to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

Although approved last September in the European Union, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence had refused to cover the drug at the company-dictated price, which resulted in patients paying out-of-pocket.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, wants a policy revamp on screening guidelines for the women who fall in this category.

The antibody, an inhibitor of the enzyme lysyl oxidase-like-2, combined with gemcitabine, did not have a significant effect on progression-free survival compared to the placebo with gemcitabine arm, in pancreatic cancer patients.

Research presented at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology identified VEGF-A and TGF-beta as markers of treatment decision in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The results of a phase 1b study, presented at the AACR special conference "Targeting the PI3K-mTOR Network in Cancer," found that Alpelisib could overcome resistance to the anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab, and the two regimens together were quite beneficial.