NEWS
New Therapies Offer Much-Needed Options for Patients with Melanoma
The much-anticipated findings from two phase III clinical trials of new therapies for patients with metastatic melanoma did not disappoint those in attendance at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago last week.
The trials confirmed that the molecularly targeted agent vemurafenib and the immunotherapy agent ipilimumab (Yervoy) offer valuable new options for a disease in which effective treatments have been lacking. Read more > >
Ovarian Cancer Screening Method Fails to Reduce Deaths from the Disease
Risk of complications from screening methods outweighs benefitLonger Imatinib Treatment for GIST Improves Survival
The regimen was generally well tolerated and may become standard treatmentHigh-Dose Methotrexate Extends Event-Free Survival for Children with Leukemia
The regimen may become new standard of care for these patientsCombining Chemotherapy with Bevacizumab Improves Outcomes for Ovarian Cancer Patients
Potentially serious side effects necessitate further follow-upExperimental Drug Shrinks Tumors in Rare Sarcoma
No accepted standard of care currently exists for these patientsInternational Study Tests Additional Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer
The randomized phase III trial reports positive but preliminary resultsPatient Navigation Leads to Fewer Missed Oncology Appointments
At Chicago hospital, more patients completed treatment as well
BREAKING NEWS
New Substances Added to HHS Report on Carcinogens
Last Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services added eight substances to its Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may put people at increased risk for cancer. Formaldehyde and aristolochic acids are listed as known human carcinogens, and six other substances were added as reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.
For more information, read the NIEHS press release.
IN DEPTH
Exemestane Substantially Reduces Breast Cancer Risk
For the first time, study shows an aromatase inhibitor can prevent breast cancer in high-risk women
Perfect Match: Unraveling the Origin of XMRV
Scientists trace the source of a retrovirus previously linked to human disease
Featured Clinical Trial: Combining Second-Line Targeted Therapies for Advanced Kidney Cancer
Will combining approved second-line therapies boost survival?
Cancer Advocates at ASCO: Connecting for a Cause
Advocates learn from researchers then share knowledge with their communities
UPDATES
FDA Update
- FDA Announces Changes to Sunscreen Labels
- No Link Found between Hypertension Drugs and Cancer
- Thermography Is No Substitute for Mammography, FDA Warns
Notes
- NCI Director Announces New Staff Appointments
- Abstracts Sought for Annual Molecular Markers in Cancer Meeting
- Research to Reality Cyber-Seminar Will Feature Community Impact Program
- NCI Cancer Classroom Webinar Series Continues June 28
Selected articles from past issues of the NCI Cancer Bulletin are available in Spanish.
The NCI Cancer Bulletin is produced by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which was established in 1937. Through basic, clinical, and population-based biomedical research and training, NCI conducts and supports research that will lead to a future in which we can identify the environmental and genetic causes of cancer, prevent cancer before it starts, identify cancers that do develop at the earliest stage, eliminate cancers through innovative treatment interventions, and biologically control those cancers that we cannot eliminate so they become manageable, chronic diseases.
For more information about cancer, call 1-800-4-CANCER or visit http://www.cancer.gov.
NCI Cancer Bulletin staff can be reached at ncicancerbulletin@mail.nih.gov.
