Investigational Drug Improves Outcomes among Prostate Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases (02-3-2012)

In a Phase III clinical trial, the investigational drug radium-223 chloride improved survival and delayed bone complications among men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and bone metastases. These results will be presented at the 2012 Genitourinary... Continue Reading

New Targeted Drug Improves Prostate Cancer Survival (02-2-2012)

Among men with metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer, treatment with the investigational drug MDV3100 delayed cancer progression and improved overall survival. These results will be presented at the 2012 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Prostate... Continue Reading

Erivedge Approved for Basal Cell Skin Cancer (02-1-2012)

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the targeted therapy Erivedge™ (vismodegib) for the treatment basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has spread to other parts of the body or that is locally advanced and cannot be treated with surgery... Continue Reading

Avastin May Improve Breast Cancer Response Rates (01-30-2012)

Among women with HER2-negative breast cancer that has not spread to distant sites in the body, the addition of Avastin to neoadjuvant (before-surgery) chemotherapy may increase the likelihood of a complete response to treatment (a disappearance of detectable... Continue Reading

Drug May Delay Need for Prostate Cancer Treatment (01-26-2012)

Among men who choose active surveillance for early-stage prostate cancer, Avodart® (dutasteride) may delay cancer progression and the need for cancer treatment. These results were published in The Lancet. The management of early prostate cancer may involve... Continue Reading

Melanoma Drug Accelerates Secondary Skin Cancers In Some Patients (01-23-2012)

Zelboraf® (vemurafenib) improves outcomes among patients with advanced melanoma that harbors a BRAF gene mutation, but also accelerates the development of squamous cell carcinoma in some patients. A study that explores the reasons for these secondary... Continue Reading

Gene Mutation Linked with Increased Risk of Prostate Cancer (01-17-2012)

Researchers have identified a rare, inherited gene mutation that appears to substantially increase the risk of prostate cancer. These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. For several types of cancer, researchers have identified... Continue Reading

Ovarian Suppression During Chemotherapy Fails to Improve Post-Treatment Menstrual Function (01-12-2012)

Among young women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, use of the drug triptorelin to suppress ovarian function during treatment does not appear to improve post-treatment menstrual function. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical... Continue Reading

Robotic Surgery May Not Reduce Common Prostatectomy Side Effects (01-11-2012)

Among men who undergo radical prostatectomy for the treatment of early-stage prostate cancer, robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery may not result in better urinary or sexual function than traditional, open surgery. These results were published in the... Continue Reading

Study Finds No Evidence That PSA Screening Reduces Prostate Cancer Mortality (01-10-2012)

Updated results from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial show no evidence that annual screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test reduces deaths from prostate cancer. These results were published in the... Continue Reading

Combined HER2 Treatment Improves Outcome of Advanced Breast Cancer (12-15-2011)

Among women with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer, treatment with a combination of HER2-targeted therapies may produce better outcomes than treatment with only a single HER2-targeted therapy. These results were published in the New England Journal... Continue Reading

Afinitor Delays Breast Cancer Progression (12-14-2011)

Among postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer that had become resistant to hormonal therapy, the combination of Afinitor® (everolimus) and Aromasin® (exemestane) delayed cancer progression to a greater extent than Aromasin alone. The results... Continue Reading