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News, opinions and meeting coverage in oncology/hematology.

Drug Works in AI-Resistant Breast Cancer

SAN FRANCISCO -- A tamoxifen-like drug slowed progression of advanced breast cancer previously treated with a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, results of a small Japanese trial suggested.

Afinitor Helps Breast Tx in Older Patients

SAN FRANCISCO -- Older patients with advanced breast cancer had significant improvement in progression-free survival when everolimus was added to exemestane, a new analysis of a randomized trial showed.

Young Women Skip Mammo After USPSTF Recs

SAN FRANCISCO -- Rates of screening mammography among women younger than 50 declined within 2 months of a negative recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and have remained below baseline rates, according to a study reported here.

Device May Cut Re-Excision Rate in Breast Cancer

SAN FRANCISCO -- Re-excision after breast-conserving surgery occurred 50% less often with intraoperative margin assessment by a device that distinguishes cancer cells from normal tissue, results of a randomized study showed.

Anemia a Risk with Low-Dose IVIG, Too

Even small doses of intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) can cause acute, severe anemia, researchers warned.

Lying Prone for Radiation Best for Breast Tx

Lying face down for radiation therapy lessens the amount of collateral damage to breast cancer patients' heart and lungs, researchers found.

Adult Lungs Can Sprout New Growth

The lungs may have greater capacity for regeneration in adults than thought, according to a case report of new growth after lung cancer resection.

Smokers Have Higher Squamous Cell Skin Ca Risk

Smokers have a more than 50% increase in risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and the risk remained elevated, even among those who'd kicked the habit, researchers found.

FDA Rejects Merck Sarcoma Drug

WASHINGTON -- The FDA has rejected the approval application for the sarcoma drug ridaforolimus, according to drug developer Merck.

ASCO: Low-Dose Radiation OK in CNS Lymphoma

CHICAGO -- Whole-brain radiation at about half the standard dose is safe and effective after chemotherapy for patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma, researchers are reporting.

FDA: Revlimid Linked to Second Cancers

Treatment of multiple myeloma with lenalidomide (Revlimid) as maintenance therapy is associated with an increased risk of second primary cancers, the FDA warned.

Smoking Cuts Risk of Benign Brain Tumor

The risk of developing an acoustic neuroma was greatly reduced among male smokers, but not among those who take snuff, researchers reported.

Doctors Say 45 Common Tests 'Overused'

Nine specialty groups have listed tests and treatments that are frequently overused, such as antibiotics for sinus attacks and CT scans for low back pain, in the first phase of a long-term project.

Extreme Obesity Adds More Risk in Hysterectomy

AUSTIN, Texas -- Increasingly severe obesity drives up complication rates after hysterectomy, and outcomes continually worsen with rising body mass index, according to results from a study reported here.

Clinical Notes: Beware the Seat Heater

麻豆传媒 debuts a new regular feature, a roundup of clinical news you might otherwise have missed. This week we led with a report that heated car seats can leave passengers with "toasted skin syndrome."

Early VTE Therapy OK After Brain Bleed

HOUSTON --The risk of re-bleeding after intracranial hemorrhage did not increase when patients received early prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE), a retrospective review showed.

Komen Official Quits After Controversy

A vice-president at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has resigned in the wake of the controversy surrounding the organization's decision -- since reversed -- to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer programs.

Oral Shield Cuts Radiation to Normal Tissue

PHOENIX -- Patients with head and neck cancer had substantial sparing of oral mucosa when they used custom-made dental stents to shield normal tissue from radiation therapy, data from a small clinical series showed.

Jaw Necrosis Common after Radiation for Oral Cancer

PHOENIX -- Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw occurred more than twice as often in patients treated for oral cancer as reported in the literature, according to a population-based study.

Docs Contradict NCAA on Sickle Cell Trait Tests

The American Society of Hematology is challenging the major college sports organization over its policy on sickle cell trait testing for athletes.

ER Presentation Not the End for Colon Cancer Patients

SAN FRANCISCO -- Curative therapy is still a possibility, even if a colon cancer patient is seen for the first time in the emergency department with acute symptoms, researchers said here.

Gastric Ca Survival Rates Down, Chemo Use Up

SAN FRANCISCO -- A decline in survival rates in stage IV gastric cancer coincides with the increased use of chemotherapy rather than radiation and surgery, researchers found.

Robin Gibb Looks at 'Spider Medicine' for Liver Cancer, Sources Say

茂禄驴Robin Gibb, a member of the BeeGees singing group, was hospitalized recently for complications related to liver cancer, a diagnosis that was made several months ago, according to several publications, and is reportedly investigating alternative treatments.

FDA Revokes Avastin Approval for Breast Cancer

WASHINGTON -- The FDA has announced that bevacizumab (Avastin) is no longer approved for the treatment of breast cancer; the Genentech drug retains its other indications and will remain on the market.

AMA Adopts Policies on Circumcision, Gun Safety

The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a number of new policies at its interim meeting, including policies on male circumcision, physician discussion of gun safety, and a new medical coding system that will go into effect in 2013.

Withdrawal Tough With Novel Drug for Myelofibrosis

The novel Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor ruxolitinib relieves myelofibrosis symptoms, but withdrawal from the drug can be severe, researchers warned.

MBCS: Lumpectomy 'Safe' for Young Breast Cancer Patients

SAN FRANCISCO -- Lumpectomy doesn't carry higher recurrence or mortality risk than mastectomy for young women with breast cancer, two separate studies found.

Rare-Cancer Charity Founder Dies at 40

Jennifer Goodman Linn, founder of the rare-cancer-research charity Cycle for Survival, died last month after a seven-year battle with sarcoma. She was 40.

ASCO: Methotrexate Boost Improves ALL Outcomes

CHICAGO -- There's new life in an old drug for high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Low Testosterone May Affect Cancer Survivors

Male cancer survivors with low testosterone levels experience reduced energy and sexual function, and thus might benefit from hormone replacement therapy, a new study found.

ASH: Drugs Effective in Chronic ITP Not Appropriate as First-Line Treatment

SAN FRANCISCO -- Rituximab (Rituxan) and eltrombopag (Promacta) are "too aggressive and too expensive" for use as first-line therapies against chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, agreed participants in an exclusive 麻豆传媒 roundtable discussion.

With Boxed Warning, Oral Eltrombopag Okayed by FDA for Chronic ITP

PHILADELPHIA -- The FDA has approved oral eltrombopag (Promacta) for refractory chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), the drug's maker announced.