Approximately 16% of Worldwide Cancers Caused By Preventable Infections

Two million cancer cases each year—or roughly 16 percent of cancers worldwide—are the result of preventable and treatable infections such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and Hepatitis C (HCV), according to the results of a study published in The Lancet Oncology.[1] … Continue reading →

Chemotherapy During Pregnancy Not Linked with Developmental Problems in Kids

According to a study presented at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress, children born to women who received chemotherapy during pregnancy do not appear to have an increased risk of heart or cognitive problems. Since relatively few women are diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy, data regarding the effects of chemotherapy during pregnancy are limited. Determining [...]

Clinical Trial Participation Is Inadequate

A large proportion of cancer patients do not enroll in clinical trials, and those who do participate may not adequately represent age groups, cancer stages, cancer types, and racial and ethnic groups. These findings were recently reported in the Annals of Surgery. Clinical trials are the process through which medications ultimately become approved by the [...]

Reduced Chemotherapy Regimen May Be Effective in Neuroblastoma

According to results of a Phase III clinical trial, patients with intermediate-risk neuroblastoma may be effectively treated with reduced doses of chemotherapy given over a shorter period. These findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Neuroblastoma is a disease in which cancerous cells form in the nerve tissues of the adrenal gland, [...]

Hycamtin/Cyclophosphamide Delays Progression of Recurrent Neuroblastoma

Children with recurrent or refractory neuroblastoma experienced an improvement in progression-free survival when treated with the combination of Hycamtin® (topotecan) plus cyclophosphamide; overall survival, however, was not improved compared with Hycamtin alone. These results from a Phase II, randomized trial were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.[1] Neuroblastoma—a cancer that develops in nerve [...]

Immunotherapy Improves Outcomes for Patients with High-risk Neuroblastoma

According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial that will be presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), use of an investigational immunotherapy treatment reduced the risk of relapse and improved survival among patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma is a disease in which cancerous cells form [...]