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Folic Acid May Be Beneficial in Patients with Recurrent Colorectal Adenoma Who Are Folate Deficient (11/20/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Health Professional Follow-Up Study and the Nurses’ Health Study have reported that folic acid supplementation in patients with recurrent colorectal adenoma was not protective or harmful in most patients. However, patients who were folate deficient had a significant 39% decrease in adenoma recurrence. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on October 28, 2009 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 Increase Risk of Cancer in Patients with Heart Disease (11/19/2009)
Researchers from Norway have reported that folic acid and B12 supplements in patients with ischemic heart disease increase the risk of cancer and all-cause mortality. The details of this study appeared in the November 18, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Society.
Early Morning Colonoscopies Detect More Polyps (11/13/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Veterans Administration of greater Los Angeles have reported that a greater number of polyps was detected among patients seen early in the morning than among patients seen later in the day. The reasons for this are uncertain, but it’s possible that the lower rate of polyp detection later in the day is the result of provider fatigue or less complete bowel preparation. These results were published in November, 2009 issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Excess Body Weight Linked with More Than 100,000 New Cancer Diagnoses Each Year in U.S. (11/12/2009)
According to estimates from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), excess body weight may be responsible for more than 100,000 new cancer diagnoses each year in the United States.
Israeli Jewish Holocaust Survivors May Have Increased Risk of Cancer (11/12/2009)
Researchers from Israel have reported that the incidence of all cancers, and especially breast and colorectal cancers, is higher among Israeli Jews who were potentially exposed to the Holocaust compared with those who were not. The details of this study were published in the November 4, 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Daily Aspirin May Decrease Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Lynch Syndrome (10/7/2009)
Researchers involved in the international multi-institutional study, CAPP2, have reported that the use of daily aspirin may reduce the incidence of colorectal adenomas and cancers in individuals with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or Lynch Syndrome. The details of this study were presented on September 21, 2009 at Europe’s largest cancer congress, ECCO 15-ESMO 34, in Berlin.
Nurses’ Health Study Helps Define Risk of Colon Cancer up to Age 70 Years (10/2/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Nurses’ Health Study have reported that women with a high risk factor profile for developing colon cancer can reduce risk by a healthier lifestyle. The details of this study appeared in the October 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Vectibix® plus Chemotherapy Improves Progression-free Survival After Initial Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (9/30/2009)
Researchers involved in the international randomized trial, PRIME, have reported that the addition of Vectibix® (panitumumab) to FOLFOX4 chemotherapy improves progression-free survival (PFS) compared with FOLFOX4 alone in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. This benefit was only observed in patients whose tumors did not contain a mutation in the KRAS gene (those with wild type). These results were presented at the Joint ECCO 15 -34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.
Vectibix® Improves PFS in Second-line Therapy of Colorectal Cancer with FOLFIRI (9/23/2009)
Researchers involved in an international randomized trial have reported that the addition of Vectibix® (panitumumab) to FOLFIRI (5-fluorourcil, Camptosar® [irinotecan], and leucovorin) improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with colorectal cancer with wild-type KRAS receiving second-line therapy. The details of this study were presented at the Joint ECCO 15-34th ESMO Congress in Berlin, September 20-24.
High Time Costs for Informal Care Givers of Cancer Patients (9/10/2009)
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have reported that the time spent by informal caregivers is significant and an important component in the overall burden of cancer care. The details of this study appeared in the September 4, 2009 issue of Cancer.
Adherence Important for Effectiveness of Diet in Preventing Colorectal Adenoma Recurrences (8/31/2009)
Researchers associated with the U.S. Polyp Prevention Trial have reported that high compliance with a low-fat, high-fiber diet is associated with a reduced risk of adenoma recurrence. The details of this study appeared in the September 1, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Addition of Vectibix® to Second-line Chemotherapy Improves Progression-free Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (8/27/2009)
A press release from Amgen has reported that patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer with KRAS wild-type have delayed cancer progression following treatment with Vectibix® (panitumumab) and chemotherapy.
FDG-PET Scans Reduce Number of Futile Surgeries for Hepatic Colorectal Metastases (8/25/2009)
Researchers from the Netherlands have reported that the use 18F-FDG PET scans reduced the number of futile surgeries for hepatic metastases from 45% to 28%. The details of this study appeared in the July 2009 issue of the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.
Regular Aspirin Use Decreases Mortality After the Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer (8/14/2009)
Researchers from Harvard Medical School have reported that regular aspirin use after the diagnosis of colorectal cancer decreases the risk or dying of colorectal cancer that expresses COX-2. The details of this study were published in the August 12, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Addition of Vectibix® to First-line Chemotherapy Improves Progression-free Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (8/11/2009)
Among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, the addition of the targeted therapy Vectibix® (panitumumab) to chemotherapy delayed cancer progression. This benefit was only observed in patients whose tumors did not contain a mutation in the KRAS gene. These results were made available in a press release from Amgen.
Pap Screening May Be Unnecessary for Teens (8/10/2009)
American women undergo cervical cancer screening at a younger age than their European counterparts, but this early screening may be unnecessary and possibly even harmful, according to three studies recently published in the British Medical Journal.
HIV-infected Individuals Have Increased Incidence of Colonic Neoplastic Lesions (7/23/2009)
Researchers from New York University have reported that HIV-infected persons have an increased incidence of colonic neoplasms and adenocarcinoma, which develop at a younger age than in uninfected individuals. The details of this study appeared in the August 2009 issue of Gut.
False-positive Results Are Common with Cancer Screening (7/21/2009)
Researchers affiliated with the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial have reported that the risk of obtaining a false-positive result from screening for prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer is high and becomes cumulatively higher with ongoing screening—after 14 screening tests, the cumulative risk of a false-positive is 60.4% for men and 48.8% for women. The results of this study were published in the May/June 2009 issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Meta-analysis Confirms that Diet and Lifestyle Choices Are Key to Preventing Colorectal Cancer (7/10/2009)
Researchers from Australia have reported that exercise, diet, and lifestyle choices are key factors in preventing colon cancer. The details of this study were published in the July 1, 2009 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
Medicare Denies Coverage for CT Colonoscopy for Colon Cancer Screening (6/29/2009)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently denied coverage of computed tomographic (CT) colonography for cancer screening. They concluded that there had not been enough studies in patients in the Medicare age group to warrant approval.
Age and Illness Increase Colonoscopy Risks (6/22/2009)
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and the University of North Carolina have reported that the risk of complications from colonoscopy is increased in the very elderly and in those with certain chronic health conditions. The results of this study were published in the June 16, 2009 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Preemptive Skin Treatment Reduces Skin Toxicity Associated with Vectibix® in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (6/10/2009)
Researchers affiliated with a U.S. multicenter trial have reported that skin treatment that is initiated prior to the start of treatment with Vectibix® (panitumumab) reduces the incidence and severity of skin toxicity and improves quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida, on June 1.
Surgery Unnecessary for Most Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (6/4/2009)
Researchers from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have reported that patients with newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer do not need to undergo surgical removal of their tumor unless the tumor is causing complications. The details of this study were presented at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida, on March 31.
No Benefit of Avastin® in Early-stage Colon Cancer (6/4/2009)
Researchers involved in an international multicenter study have reported that addition of Avastin® (bevacizumab) to post-surgery chemotherapy does not improve disease-free survival among patients with early-stage colon cancer. The details of this Phase III clinical trial were presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on May 31 in Orlando, Florida. These results were previously made available in a press release from Roche.
Study Assesses Risk of Gastrointestinal Perforation in Patients Treated with Avastin® (6/1/2009)
Researchers from Stony Brook University Medical Center have reported that gastrointestinal perforation is a potentially serious side effect of Avastin® (bevacizumab). The details of this study appeared in the June, 2009 issue of Lancet Oncology.
Adding Eloxatin® to Adjuvant 5-FU Leucovorin Improves Survival of Stage II-III Colon Cancer: Six-year Follow-up (5/21/2009)
Researchers affiliated with Multicenter International Study in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer (MOSAIC) study have reported that the addition of Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) (FOLFOX4) to 5-FU leucovorin improves (LV5FU2) five-year disease-free survival from 67.4% to 73.3% in patients receiving 5-FU-leucovorin. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on May 18, 2009.
Oncotype DX® Colon Cancer Test Predicts Recurrence Risk (5/19/2009)
Members of the QUASAR team have reported that the Oncotype DX® colon cancer test accurately estimates the risk of cancer recurrence among patients with Stage II colon cancer and may eventually help guide colon cancer treatment decisions. The details of this study will be presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), May 29-June 2 in Orlando, Florida.
Coffee Does Not Decrease Risk of Colorectal Cancer (5/5/2009)
Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health have reported that, contrary to the results of several previous studies, coffee consumption does not appear to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. The details of this study were reported in the April 1, 2009 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
Avastin® Fails to Provide Benefit in Early-stage Colon Cancer (4/27/2009)
According to the results of a Phase III clinical trial, the addition of the targeted therapy Avastin® (bevacizumab) to post-surgery chemotherapy does not reduce the risk of cancer recurrence among patients with early-stage colon cancer. These results were made available in a press release from Roche.
Oncotype DX® Colon Cancer Assay Predicts Risk of Cancer Recurrence (4/16/2009)
According to a press release from Genomic Health, the Oncotype DX® colon cancer assay—a genomic test similar to one already in use for breast cancer—has been shown to predict the risk of cancer recurrence among patients with Stage II colon cancer. This test may eventually help guide colon cancer treatment decisions.
Erbitux® plus FOLFIRI Reduces Time to Recurrence as First-line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (4/3/2009)
Researchers affiliated the CRYSTAL trial have reported that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to FOLFIRI chemotherapy reduces the risk of progression in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this study were published in the April 2, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
TheraSphere® Shows Promise in Treatment of Liver Metastases (3/19/2009)
Researchers from Northwestern University have reported that radioembolization of colorectal hepatic metastases with TheraSphere® (yttrium-90 microspheres) appears to produce sustained stable disease in some patients. Results of this Phase II trial appeared early online in Cancer on March 6, 2009.
Meta-analysis Confirms that Aspirin Helps Prevent Colorectal Adenomas (3/17/2009)
An international group of researchers have reported that daily use of aspirin may reduce the risk of colorectal adenomas, especially advanced lesions. The details of this study appeared in the February 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Mailed Reminders Promote Colorectal Cancer Screening (3/2/2009)
Researchers from Harvard University have reported that mailed reminders improve colorectal cancer screening rates. The details of this study appeared in the February 23, 2009 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Test May Help Predict Recurrence Risk in Early Colorectal Cancer (2/27/2009)
Researchers from Thomas Jefferson University, McGill University, and the Fox Chase Cancer Center have reported that testing lymph nodes for the presence of a protein known as guanylyl cyclase 2C (GUCY2C) may help predict risk of recurrence among colorectal cancer patients with no apparent lymph node metastases (pN0). These results were published in the February 18, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Calcium Rich Diet May Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk (2/26/2009)
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute have reported that high calcium intake is associated with a “lower risk of total cancer and cancers of the digestive system, especially colorectal cancer.” The details of this study appeared in the February 23, 2009 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Colorectal Cancer FOBT Screening Reduces Mortality (2/26/2009)
Researchers from Italy have reported that the implementation of colorectal cancer screening by a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) appears to reduce mortality, as evidenced by the disparity between mortality rates among regions that implemented FOBT screening at different times. The results of this study were published in the December 17, 2008 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Aspirin and/or Resistant Starch Have No Effect on Colorectal Cancer Incidence Among People with Lynch Syndrome (2/23/2009)
Researchers involved in an international multi-institutional study have reported that the use of aspirin and/or resistant starch has no effect on the incidence of colon cancer among individuals with Lynch Syndrome. The details of his study were published in the December 11, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Newer Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Tests Confirmed More Reliable Than Older Guaiac Tests for Detection of Colorectal Cancer (2/17/2009)
Researchers from Germany have reported that immunochemical tests for fecal blood are more accurate than the older guaiac test but different immunochemical tests have significant variability in accuracy. The details of this study were reported in the February 3, 2009 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Addition of Erbitux® to Avastin®-based Chemotherapy Harmful to Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (2/12/2009)
Researchers from the Netherlands have reported that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to the established regimen of Avastin® (bevacizumab), Xeloda® (capecitabine), and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) reduces progression-free survival and quality of life in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the February 5, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Postmenopausal Hormones Reduce the Risk of Colorectal Cancer (2/4/2009)
Researchers from the University of Minnesota have reported that the use of postmenopausal hormones reduces the risk of colorectal cancer for women. The details of this study appeared in the January 1, 2009 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention.
Avastin® plus Fluorouracil-based Chemotherapy Effective in Elderly with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (1/27/2009)
Researchers from Duke University have reported that patients 65 years of age or older benefit as much from Avastin® (bevacizumab) and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy as younger patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this analysis appeared in the January 10, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
The Evolving Role of EGFR Inhibitors in Colorectal Cancer—A Report from ASCO 2008 (1/23/2009)
Results from the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held May 30–June 2 in Chicago, Illinois, revealed significant steps towards the improvement of outcomes for patients with varying types of cancers. As seen during the past few years, attention has turned towards individualizing patient care through targeted therapies, optimizing patient selection for specific therapies, as well as a focus on quality of life and survivorship issues.
Colonoscopy Fails to Identify Many Colorectal Cancers (1/15/2009)
Researchers from Canada have reported that colonoscopy misses the majority of cancers on the right side of the colon and about one-third of cancers on the left side of the colon. These researchers estimated that colonoscopy may reduce colorectal cancer mortality by 60-70%, rather than 90% as previously estimated. The results of this study were published in the January 6, 2008 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Long-term Follow-up of Laparoscopic-assisted Versus Open Colectomy Trial (1/2/2009)
Researchers from the Netherlands have reported a small difference in three-year disease-free and overall survival in favor of open colectomy versus laparoscopically assisted surgery in patients with colon cancer. These differences, however, were not considered significant. The details of this study appeared in the January 2009, issue of Lancet Oncology.
Avastin® Increases Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (11/20/2008)
Researchers from Stony Brook University have reported that the use of Avastin® (bevacizumab) increases the risk of thromboembolism. The details of this review were published in the November 19, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Vitamin D Prevents Colorectal Adenomas (11/10/2008)
Researchers from several U.S. medical institutions have reported that higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels and high vitamin D intake are associated with a decreased incidence of colorectal adenomas and recurrent adenomas. The details of this meta-analysis were published in the November 1, 2008 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.
Vitamin Supplementation Has No Effect on Cancer Risk in Women (11/6/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study reported that supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B6, and B12 has no impact on the incidence of cancer. The details of this study appeared in the November 5, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Primary Physicians are not Recommending Cancer Screening of Medicaid Recipients (10/28/2008)
Researchers from the University of North Carolina have reported that primary care physicians were not recommending cancer screening for colorectal, breast and cervical cancer for half of the eligible patients. The details of this study appeared in the October 13, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancers with KRAS Mutations do not Benefit from Erbitux® (10/24/2008)
Researchers involved with a randomized study of Erbitux (cetuximab) versus best supportive care have reported that patients with locally advanced or metastatic colorectal tumors that have a mutated KRAS do not benefit from single-agent Erbitux. The details of this study were reported in the October 23, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
United States Preventive Task Force Provides Recommendations for Colorectal Cancer Screening (10/14/2008)
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recently issued recommendations for the screening of colorectal cancer. These recommendations were published October 7, 2008 in an early online publication in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Risk of Colon Cancer Associated with Genetic Variants (10/9/2008)
Researchers from several medical centers have reported that genetic changes in the surrounding region of the ADIPQ gene are associated with a decrease in the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Results such as these may aid in the understanding of genetic risk of various cancers, ultimately changing the way in which cancer is managed. These results were recently published in the October 1, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
African Americans Have More Colon Polyps on Screening Colonoscopy than Whites (9/25/2008)
Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University have reported that African-American men and women have a higher risk of larger polyps than White persons. The details of this study appeared in the September 24, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Study Confirms Utility of CT Colonography Screening (9/19/2008)
Researchers involved in a U.S. multicenter trial comparing CT colonoscopy with optical colonoscopy have concluded that CT colonography is accurate enough to be used as a routine screening technique in persons at average risk of developing colon cancer. The details of this study appeared in the September 18, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Incidence of Advanced Adenomas Low with a Rescreening Interval of Five Years (9/18/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Lilly Colorectal Cancer Prevention Program have reported that the risk of colorectal cancer five years after a screening colonoscopy is very low. The details of this study appeared in the September 18, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Early Skin Treatment Reduces Skin Reactions in Colorectal Cancer Patients Treated with Vectibix® (8/25/2008)
Among patients with colorectal cancer, skin treatment beginning on the day prior to therapy with Vectibix® (panitumumab) significantly reduces skin side effects associated with Vectibix compared with skin treatment after side effects occur. These results were presented at the 10th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer held in Spain in June 2008.
More Fruits and Veggies, Less Meat Reduces Colorectal Cancer (8/14/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study have reported that individuals who consume a diet that is rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy oils, contains sufficient dietary calcium and vitamin D, and is low in solid fats, added sugar, and red meats have a significantly reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer. These results were recently published in the July 1, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy Does Not Adversely Affect Quality of Life of Elderly Patients with Colorectal Cancer (8/11/2008)
Researchers from France have reported that patients 75 years of age or older with Stage III colon or rectal cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy did not have negative effects on quality-of-life parameters compared with patients not receiving adjuvant therapy. The details of this study appeared in the August 15, 2008 issue of Cancer.
Laparoscopic Surgery Reported More Effective than Open Surgery for Colon Cancer (7/25/2008)
Researchers from Barcelona, Spain, have reported that laparoscopic surgery was more effective than open surgery for the treatment of colon cancer. The details of this randomized trial appeared in the July 2008 edition of the Annals of Surgery.
Low Socioeconomic Status Increases Cancer Mortality (7/24/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Findings from the National Program Registries Patterns of Care Study have reported that low socioeconomic status is associated with a high mortality due to later diagnoses and less aggressive treatments for cancer. The details of this study were reported in the August 1, 2008 issue of Cancer.
Radiofrequency Ablation Effective for Lung Tumors (7/22/2008)
Researchers involved in a multicenter international trial have reported that the use of radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of lung cancer or pulmonary metastases provides an effective and safe therapeutic option for selected patients. These results were recently published in the July 7, 2008 issue of Lancet Oncology.
Higher Vitamin D Levels Result in Better Survival Among Colorectal Cancer Patients (7/17/2008)
Researchers from the Dana Farber Cancer Center have reported that patients with colorectal cancer who have higher levels of vitamin D in their blood prior to diagnosis have an improved survival compared with those with lower levels. These results were published in the June 20, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Erbitux®/Avastin® Combo Not Effective in Colorectal Cancer (7/7/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the CAIRO2 trial reported that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to Avastin® (bevacizumab), Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin), and Xeloda® (capecitabine) did not provide a clinical benefit and actually reduced progression-free survival in metastatic colorectal cancer. These findings are consistent with results from other trials indicating that the combination of agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF) pathways does not provide clinical benefit. These results were recently presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, Illinois.
Patients with KRAS Mutation Do Not Benefit from EGFR Inhibitors (6/20/2008)
Several presentations at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) reported confirmatory data that treatment with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors such as Erbitux® (cetuximab) and Vectibix® (panitumumab) is only effective among patients with the normal KRAS gene, while those with a mutated KRAS gene demonstrate virtually no response to these agents. In essence, global consent was achieved at this year’s ASCO that all patients eligible for EGFR-targeted therapies should first undergo KRAS testing prior to initiation of therapy.
Non-invasive Test Effective for Colorectal Cancer Screening (6/9/2008)
A new, non-invasive colorectal cancer screening test from Exact Sciences is now available and supported by the American Cancer Society and other major medical groups. Study results showing the test’s efficacy have been reported in the April 2008 supplement of Gastroenterology.
Family History Associated with Improved Survival from Colon Cancer (6/4/2008)
Researchers from several U.S. and Canadian Medical Centers have reported that patients with Stage III colon cancer with an affected family member have a better survival than patients with stage III colon cancer without a family history. The details of this study appeared in the June 4, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Physicians with More Training Perform More-effective Colonoscopies (5/8/2008)
Researchers from Korea have reported that a physician must perform at least 150 colonoscopies to be considered competent at the procedure. Details of the study were recently published in the April 2008 issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Pre-existing Antibodies Explain Severe Hypersensitivity Reactions to Erbitux® (5/6/2008)
Researchers from Vanderbilt University have reported that hypersensitivity reactions to Erbitux® (cetuximab) are related to the presence of IgE antibodies present before therapy. The details of this study appeared in the March 13, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Celebrex® Reduces Colon Adenomas (4/25/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the APC trial (Adenoma Prevention Celebrex) have reported that Celebrex® (celecoxib) reduces the rate of colon adenomas at five years and appears safe, even among patients with cardiovascular disease. These results were recently presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, April 12-16, in San Diego.
Drug Combination Decreases Recurrence Rate of Colon Polyps (4/22/2008)
Researchers from the University of California Irvine have reported that the combination of the difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and sulindac reduces the rate of colon adenomas by up to 95% among patients who have had prior colon polyps. These results were presented as a late-breaking abstract at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research held in San Diego, April 12-16, 2008.
Neoadjuvant Avastin®, Xeloda®, and Eloxatin® Safe in Patients with Colorectal Hepatic Metastases (4/21/2008)
Researchers from Austria have reported that a neoadjuvant regimen of Avastin® (bevacizumab), Xeloda® (capecitabine), and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) is well tolerated and effective in patients with colorectal metastases to the liver. The details of this study appeared in the April 10, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
CT Colonography Screening Deemed Cost Effective (4/21/2008)
Researchers from the United States and Italy have reported that the ability of computerized tomographic colonography (CTC) to detect abdominal aortic aneurisms and extracolonic cancers in addition to premalignant and malignant colonic neoplasms makes this technique cost effective as compared with colonoscopy or colonoscopy plus ultrasonography. The details of this study appeared in the April 14, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
EGFR FISH Assay May Identify Patients with Refractory Colorectal Cancer Who Benefit from Erbitux® (4/16/2008)
Researchers from Italy have reported that patients with refractory colorectal cancer who have high EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene copies by FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) are more likely to respond to treatment with Erbitux® (cetuximab). Details of the study were published in the April 2008 issue of the Annals of Oncology.
Erbitux® and Camptosar® Improves Outcomes of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients (4/15/2008)
Researchers affiliated with an international randomized study (EPIC) have reported that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to Camptosar® (irinotecan) was more effective than Camptosar alone in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive metastatic colorectal cancer who had failed fluoropyrimidine and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) therapy. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on April 7, 2008 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Fluctuation in Weight May Influence Risk Certain Cancers (4/10/2008)
Researchers in Austria have reported that large weight gains or losses may influence an individual’s risk for developing certain types of cancer. Complete details of the study were published in the April 2008 issue of the Annals of Oncology.
U.S. Capacity Deemed Adequate for Large Scale CT Colonography Screening (4/9/2008)
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have reported that, at 64, there is an adequate number of slice multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) systems in the Unites States for mass screening by CT colonography (CTC). The details of this study were published in the April 2008 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Perioperative Chemotherapy Improves Outcome of Metastases to the Liver (3/25/2008)
Researchers involved in an international multicenter randomized trial have reported that perioperative chemotherapy improves outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer metastases to the liver. The details of this study appeared in the March 22, 2008 issue of The Lancet.
High BMI Associated with Increased Risk of Cancer (2/21/2008)
Researchers from the UK have reported that persons with an increased body mass index (BMI) have a higher incidence of several cancers. The details of this study were published in the February, 2008, issue of Lancet Oncology.
Physicians Influence Rates of Colorectal Screening (2/20/2008)
Researchers from California have reported that healthcare providers can greatly influence the rates at which patients undergo screening for colorectal cancer. The results of this study appeared in an early on line publication in Cancer February 11, 2008.
Quantitative Gene Expression May Predict Outcomes of Patients with Stage II-III Colon Cancer (2/6/2008)
Researchers collaborating with Genomic Health have identified genes that could help predict risk of recurrence and potential benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II-III colon cancer. The details of two studies were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal (ASCO-GI) conference in January of 2008 in Orlando, Florida.
Survival Benefit of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II Colorectal Cancer (1/22/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the QUASAR trial have reported that adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colorectal cancer improves survival by 3.6%. The details of this study appeared in the December 15, 2007 issue of The Lancet.
CellSearch Granted 510(k) Marketing Clearance for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (12/26/2007)
Veridex, LLC has been granted 510(k) marketing clearance for their CellSearch system for the monitoring of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Avastin® Associated Bowel Perforation Defined (12/4/2007)
Researchers from the MD Anderson Cancer Center have reported that the incidence of bowel perforation among patients receiving Avastin (bevacizumab) for a variety of malignancies was 1.7%. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the Annals of Oncology on November 16, 2007.
Erbitux® Alone Improves Outcomes in Refractory Colorectal Cancer (11/26/2007)
Researchers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore have reported that Erbitux (cetuximab) alone improves overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with relapsed and refractory advanced colorectal cancer. The details of this study were published in the November 15, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Increasing Body Mass Associated with Increasing Cancer Incidence and Mortality (11/19/2007)
Researchers affiliated with the UK Million Women Study have reported that increasing body mass index (BMI) is associated with an increased risk of 10 specific types of cancer out of 17 evaluated. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication on November 6, 2007 in the British Medical Journal.
CT Colonography Detects Extracolonic Abnormalities in Elderly with Symptoms (11/9/2007)
Researchers from the UK have reported that CT colonography should replace barium enemas in older patients with lower gastrointestinal symptoms due to the high rate of detecting extracolonic abnormalities. The details of this study appeared in the November 1, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Erbitux®/Avastin®/Camptosar® More Effective than Erbitux and Avastin in Refractory Colorectal Cancer Patients Not Responding to Camptosar Alone (10/26/2007)
Researchers involved in the BOND-2 Study have reported that the addition of Avastin (bevacizumab) to Erbitux (cetuximab), with or without Camptosar (irinotecan), appears effective for patients with advanced colorectal cancer who do not respond to Camptosar alone. The details of this study appeared in the October 10, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Surgery Can Cure Selected Patients with Colorectal Liver Metastases (10/25/2007)
Researchers from two US and one Austrian medical center have reported that patients surviving 10 years following the surgical removal of colorectal liver metastases can consider themselves cured. Furthermore, the authors state: “In well-selected patients, there is at least a one in six chance of cure.” The details of this study appeared in the October 10, 2007 issue of the Journalof Clinical Oncology.
Survival Data for Erbitux to be Included in Product Labeling (10/12/2007)
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an update to ImClone Systems Incorporated targeted agent Erbitux (cetuximab) product labeling to include survival data. The new data to be used in the product labeling includes data demonstrating an improved overall survival with the use of single-agent Erbitux versus placebo in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
Higher White Blood Cell Counts Associated with Increased Risk of Cancer in Postmenopausal Women (10/11/2007)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Research Group have reported that postmenopausal women with higher levels of white blood cells (WBCs) have a higher risk of developing specific types of cancer and dying from cancer. The details of this study were reported in the September 24, 2007 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
New Study Supports Routine CT Colonography for Screening for Colorectal Cancer (10/10/2007)
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have reported that computed tomographic colonography (CTC) is as effective as optical colonoscopy (OC) for screening for colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the October 4, 2007 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Higher Rates of Colorectal Cancer in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (10/5/2007)
Researchers from Hong Kong have reported that patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have a higher rate of colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer than individuals without CAD. These results were published in the September 26, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
No Clear Link between Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Colon Cancer Risk (10/5/2007)
A pooled analysis of 14 cohort studies has shown that higher intake of fruits and vegetables does not appear to reduce the risk of colon cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on September 25, 2007.
Fecal Immunochemical Test Detects High Percentage of Left Sided Adenomas and Colon Cancers (10/4/2007)
A multicenter US trial has determined that a fecal immunochemical test for fecal occult blood (FOB) detected a higher percentage of left-sided colorectal cancers than a sensitive guaiac test (GT). The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on September 25, 2007.
Lack of KRAS Mutations Predicts Response of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer to Vectibix™ (10/2/2007)
Researchers from Belgium and Italy have reported that the efficacy of Vectibix (panitumumab) for treating metastatic colorectal cancer is limited to patients with tumors lacking KRAS mutations. The details of this study were presented at the 14th European Cancer Conference (ECCO) in Barcelona, Spain.
Study Evaluates Risk of Small Intestine Cancer in Lynch Syndrome (9/26/2007)
Researchers from the Netherlands have reported that the lifetime risk of small intestine cancer among individuals with Lynch Syndrome is roughly 4%. The details of this study appeared in the September, 2007 issue of Gut.
Large Meta-Analysis Confirms that Statins do not Reduce Risk of Colorectal Cancer (9/12/2007)
Researchers from Greece have reported that a meta-analysis involving 1.5 million persons did not support the claim that statins reduced the risk of colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the August 10, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Risk of Arterial Thromboembolic Events Following Avastin® Therapy Defined (9/10/2007)
Researchers involved in 5 randomized trials have reported that treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, breast cancer, or non–small lung cancer with a combination of Avastin (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy results in a higher risk of arterial thromboembolic events than treatment with chemotherapy alone. These results were published in the August 15, 2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Diet High in Choline Linked with Increased Risk of Colorectal Polyps (9/4/2007)
Researchers from Harvard University affiliated with the Nurses’ Health Study have reported that a high intake of choline—a nutrient found in foods such as red meat, eggs, poultry, and dairy products—may be linked with an increased risk of colorectal polyps. The details of this study appeared in the August 15, 2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Rate of Colorectal Cancer Screening with Colonoscopy in First-degree Relatives Needs Improvement (9/4/2007)
Researchers from Germany have reported that screening colonoscopy rates for individuals with a first-degree relative diagnosed with colorectal cancer remain suboptimal. It is recommended that patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer are made aware that their first-degree relatives have an increased risk of developing the disease and participate in appropriate screening. The details of this study appeared in the September 1, 2007 issue of the Annals of Oncology.
Addition of Avastin® to FOLFOX Produces High Activity in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (8/24/2007)
Researchers from Greece have reported that the addition of Avastin® (bevacizumab) to FOLFOX provides impressive results and is well tolerated as treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the August 2007 issue of BMC Cancer.
Diet Linked with Colon Cancer Survival (8/21/2007)
Researchers affiliated with CALGB study 89803 have reported that a diet high in meat, fat, refined grains, and sweets may increase the risk of cancer recurrence and death among patients with Stage III colon cancer. The details of this study appeared in the August 15, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
No Signs of Synergistic Anti-Tumor Activity for the Addition of Vectibix™ (Panitumumab) to Chemotherapy Plus Avastin® (Bevacizumab) for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (8/15/2007)
Researchers involved in the Panitumumab Advanced Colorectal Cancer Evaluation (PACCE) trial have reported that the addition of Vectibix (panitumumab) to chemotherapy plus Avastin (bevacizumab) does not improve outcomes of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 9th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona, June 28- July 1, 2007.
Adding Camptosar® to 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin Does Not Improve Outcome in Stage III Colon Cancer (8/13/2007)
A multicenter trial has determined that the addition of Camptosar® (irinotecan) to 5-fluorouracil (fluorouracil) and leucovorin does not improve outcomes compared to fluorouracil/leucovorin alone in the treatment of Stage III colon cancer. The details of this study appeared in the August 10, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Vectibix™ Effective as Single Agent for Colorectal Cancer (8/8/2007)
Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles have reported that weekly Vectibix™ (panitumumab) has single agent activity in previously treated patients with colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in Cancer on August 2, 2007.
Neulasta® Decreases Neutropenia in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Receiving Every 2 Week Chemotherapy (8/8/2007)
Researchers involved in a multi-center US randomized Phase II trial have reported that Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) was effective in preventing grade 3-4 neutropenia in patients with locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer receiving one of three chemotherapy regimens. The details of this study were presented at the 9th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona, June 28- July 1.
CT Colonography Helpful in Patients with Incomplete Colonoscopy (8/7/2007)
Researchers from Israel and the US have reported that CT colonography may be an accepted procedure for evaluation of non-visualized parts of the colon after incomplete colonoscopy. The details of this study were reported in the August, 2007 issue of Radiology.
sBLA Accepted for Filing and Review for Cetuximab (Erbitux®) (8/3/2007)
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing and review a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for ImClone Systems Incorporated’s targeted agent Erbitux (cetuximab). The sBLA is seeking the inclusion of improved overall survival in the product labeling for Erbitux when used as third-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Patient Time Requirements for Screening Colonoscopy Defined (7/31/2007)
Researchers from the University of North Carolina have reported that screening colonoscopy requires a substantial time commitment when the time for preparation and time for recovery is calculated. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the American Journal of Gastroenterology in June of 2007.
Further Evidence that Low Vitamin D Increases Risk of Colorectal Cancer (7/24/2007)
Researchers from Harvard University have reported that low plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations increase the risk of colorectal cancer. The details of this study were published in the July 10, 2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Little Evidence That Lycopene Reduces Cancer Risk (7/23/2007)
According to a review conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is “no credible evidence” that lycopene reduces the risk of cancers such as prostate cancer, and “very limited evidence” that tomato consumption reduces risk. The review was published in the July 10,2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Studies Question Survival Benefit of Initial Aggressive Combination Therapy for Advanced Colorectal Cancer (7/16/2007)
Two randomized trials published in the July 14, 2007 issue of The Lancet suggests that initial single agent therapy with 5-FU (fluorouracil) Xeloda (capecitabine) or Camptosar® (irinotecan) may be equivalent to more aggressive combination therapy for initial treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.
Picoplatin, a Third Generation Platinum Compound, Evaluated for SCLC, Prostate Cancer and Colorectal Cancer (7/13/2007)
At the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in June, there were three studies presented which suggest that picoplatin, a third generation platinum compound, may have significant activity for treatment of refractory cancers.
Computed Tomography Colonography Deemed Cost Effective Method of Screening for Colorectal Cancer (6/27/2007)
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have reported that computed tomography colonography (CTC) with “nonreporting of diminutive lesions was found to be the most cost-effective and safest screening option” for colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the June 1, 2007 issue of Cancer.
Folic Acid Supplementation May Increase Colorectal Neoplasia in Persons with Adenomas (6/8/2007)
Researchers involved in a multicenter US trial have reported that folic acid supplementation in patients did not prevent and may have increased the incidence of recurrent colorectal adenomas. The details of this study appeared in the June 6, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Regular Aspirin Use Decreases Risk of Colorectal Cancers that Over-Express COX-2 (5/24/2007)
Researchers from Harvard Medical School have reported that regular aspirin use decreases the risk of developing COX-2 positive colorectal cancer by 36% but has no effect on tumors with weak or absent expression of COX-2. The details of this study appeared in the May 24, 2007 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
Long-Term Follow-Up Confirms Efficacy of Aspirin for Prevention of Colorectal Cancer (5/16/2007)
Researchers involved in the British Doctors Aspirin Trial and the UK-TIA Aspirin Trial have reported that long-term aspirin use is associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer after 10 or more years of use. The details of these two studies appeared in the May 12, 2007 issue of The Lancet.
Vectibix™ Improves Progression-Free Survival of Patients with Refractory Colorectal Cancer (5/8/2007)
Researchers involved in an international study have reported that Vectibix™ (panitumumab) improved progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with chemo-refractory colorectal cancer when compared to best supportive care. The details of this randomized study appeared in the May 1, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Long-term Aspirin Use Modestly Lowers Cancer Risk (5/4/2007)
Researchers affiliated with the American Cancer Society have reported that daily long-term use of adult-strength aspirin appears to modestly lower the overall incidence of colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer. The details of this study were published in the April 18, 2007 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Erbitux® Improves Outcomes in Advanced Colorectal Cancer (5/3/2007)
Two studies presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) indicate that Erbitux® (cetuximab) improves treatment outcomes in patients with previously-treated metastatic colorectal cancer.
Persons at High-Risk for Colorectal Cancer not Being Screened (4/30/2007)
Researchers from Spain have reported a low rate of screening of first-degree relatives of patients with colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in as an early on-line publication in Gut on March 30, 2007.
Progress Being Made in Screening by MR Colonography without Bowel Cleansing (4/20/2007)
Researchers from Germany have reported that magnetic resonance (MR) colonography screening in an average risk population had a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 90.2% for detection of adenomatous polyps >5 mm. The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in Gut on March 6, 2007.
sNDA Submitted for Xelox (3/30/2007)
Roche has announced the submission of a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of XELOX (Xeloda® (capecitabine) plus Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin)) with or without Avastin® (bevacizumab) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Quantitative Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Test is Reliable (3/27/2007)
Researchers from Israel have reported that fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) using a quantitative immunochemical technique had high sensitivity and specificity for detecting cancer and adnenomas in a high risk population. The details of this study appeared in the February 20, 2007 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine
US Preventive Services Issues Guidelines for Aspirin, NSAID’s and Cox-2 Inhibitors for prevention of Colorectal Cancer. (3/19/2007)
The March 6, 2007 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine contains guidelines issued by the US Preventive Service Task Force on primary prevention of colorectal cancer with aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) inhibitors.
1-2000 IU/Day of Vitamin D Recommended for Prevention of Colorectal Cancer (3/9/2007)
A meta-analysis performed by researchers from several US medical centers suggests that the risk of colorectal cancer can be decreased 50% by high doses of vitamin D. The details of this study appeared in the March, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Disparities Persist in Colorectal Cancer Screening (2/27/2007)
Researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin have reported that non-White Medicare beneficiaries are roughly half as likely as White Medicare beneficiaries to be screened for colorectal cancer.
Variables Affect Rate of Missed Cancers on Colonoscopy (2/26/2007)
Researchers from Canada have reported that colonoscopies performed in an office or performed by an internist or family physician carry a higher risk of missing colorectal cancers compared to colonoscopies performed in a hospital setting or performed by a gastroenterologist.
Afternoon Colonoscopies Less Successful than Morning Colonoscopies (2/6/2007)
Researchers from MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, have reported that colonoscopies are more likely to be unsuccessful if performed in the afternoon compared to those performed in the morning.
Choice of Endoscopist Affects Frequency of Adenoma Detection by Colonoscopy (2/6/2007)
Researchers from the University of Indiana have reported that the individual performing the colonoscopy is a more important predictor for detecting adenomas than age or male gender.
Surgeon and Hospital Characteristics Influence Colon Surgery Outcomes (1/30/2007)
A multicenter study has shown that colon cancer patients experience fewer postoperative complications when they are treated by a surgeon who performs a high number of colon cancer surgeries. In addition, the risk of death after colon cancer surgery is lower among patients treated at a high-volume hospital.
Statins Not Protective Against Colorectal Cancer (1/24/2007)
Researchers from Boston University have reported that the use of cholesterol statins does not appear to reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Risk of Non-Screening Colonoscopy Defined (1/23/2007)
Researchers from Kaiser Permanente of Northern California have reported the complication rate observed following colonoscopies performed for medical reasons.
Medicare Coverage of Colonoscopy Increased Early Detection of Colon Cancer in Elderly (1/19/2007)
Researchers from Yale University have reported that use of screening colonoscopy and early detection of colon cancer in the elderly increased after Medicare began providing reimbursement for colonoscopy.
Fast Gastroenterologists Detect Fewer Colorectal Adenomas with Colonoscopy (1/12/2007)
Researchers from the University of Illinois have reported that gastroenterologists who perform a screening colonoscopy in less than 6 minutes detect significantly fewer adenomas than gastroenterologists who take 6 minutes or more to perform the procedure.
Optical Colonoscopy Followed by PET/CT Colonography Results in Optimal Staging of Colorectal Cancer (12/7/2006)
Researchers from Germany have reported that PET/CT colonography after a diagnostic optical colonoscopy provided the most accurate staging of colorectal cancer when compared to CT followed by PET or CT alone.
Kepivance® Decreases Oral Mucositis in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. (11/27/2006)
The results of a randomized multicenter trial demonstate that Kepivance (palifermin, keritinocyte growth factor) given before chemotherapy reduces the incidence of severe oral mucositis in patients receiving 5-FU/leucovorin for metastatic colorectal cancer.
Delay in Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer Increases Mortality (11/21/2006)
Researchers from Columbia University have reported that elderly patients with colon cancer who begin adjuvant chemotherapy more than 3 months after surgery have an increased risk of dying of colon cancer or from other causes.
Obesity Increases Risk of Recurrence and Death for Early Stage Colon Cancer (11/17/2006)
Researchers affiliated with the National Surgical Adjuvant and Bowel Project (NSABP) have reported that patients who have received adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer and have a body mass index (BMI) >35 kg/m2 have an increased risk of recurrence and death compared to normal weight patients.
Red Wine May Help Reduce Colorectal Cancer (11/8/2006)
Researchers from New York’s Stony Brook University have reported that drinking three or more glasses of red wine per week reduced the risk of developing precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer.
Ferritin Levels Used to Determine Need for Colonoscopy in Anemic Men (11/7/2006)
Researchers from the University of Minnesota have suggested that anemic men with ferritin levels below 100 ng/mL should undergo colonoscopy to rule out colon cancer.
Danish Patients with Colorectal Cancer Prefer 5-FU/Leucovorin to Xeloda (10/26/2006)
Researchers from Denmark have reported that patients with colorectal cancer preferred to be treated with intravenous fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin rather than oral Xeloda® (capecitabine).
Avastin® Improves PFS Following XELOX or FOLFOX for Colorectal Cancer (10/13/2006)
Researchers involved in the NO16966 international trial have reported XELOX is as effective as FOLFOX, though more convenient, as initial therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the addition of Avastin (bevacizumab) to either treatment regimen improves progression-free survival (PFS).
Increasing Acceptability of CT Colonography by Health Care Providers (10/2/2006)
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have reported the results of screening CT colonography (CTC) in over 1000 individuals with 99% coverage by third party payers.
Researchers Estimate That Deaths From Colorectal Cancer Can Be Significantly Decreased (10/2/2006)
Researchers from the Netherlands and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have estimated that risk modification, screening and treatment could reduce the colorectal cancer mortality by 50% by the year 2020.
Vectibix™ (Panitumumab) Approved for Recurrent Colorectal Cancer (9/29/2006)
Vectibix is the first entirely humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).
Researchers Continue to Improve Identification of Lynch Syndrome (9/29/2006)
Two new models have been developed to predict an individual’s risk of carrying a gene mutation linked with Lynch syndrome. Use of these models may guide decisions about genetic testing.
Eloxatin®, 5-FU, Leucovorin Regimen Safe and Effective for Elderly with Colorectal Cancer (9/19/2006)
Researchers involved in 4 randomized trials evaluating Eloxatin, 5-FU, leucovorin (FOLFOX4) for adjuvant, first line or second line therapy of colorectal cancer have reported that selected patients 70 years of age or older tolerate and derive benefit from this regimen.
Patients Prefer Conventional Colonoscopy to CT Colonoscopy or Barium Enema (9/5/2006)
A multi-center study has concluded that patients prefer conventional colonoscopy (CC) to computed tomography colonoscopy (CTC) or barium enema (BE) as screening tests for colon cancer. It was suggested that patients prefer CC over CTC and BE because they received conscious sedation during CC but not during CTC or BE.
Celebrex® Reduces Recurrent Colorectal Adenomas but Increases Cardiovascular Risks (8/31/2006)
Two randomized trials have shown that Celebrex® (celecoxib) reduced the risk of recurrent colorectal adenomas. However, the use of Celebrex was associated with an increased risk in cardiovascular side effects.
Surgery Is Optimal Treatment for Solitary Liver Metastases from Colorectal Cancer (8/29/2006)
Researchers from M.D. Anderson Cancer center have reported that surgery remains the treatment of choice for patients with operable single liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.
Single Negative Colonoscopy Associated with Low Risk of Colorectal Cancer (7/27/2006)
Researchers from Germany have reported that persons who have a single previously negative colonoscopy have 74% lower risk of colorectal cancer compared to persons who have never had a colonoscopy.
Physical Activity May Reduce Recurrences and Deaths from Stage III Colon Cancer (7/20/2006)
Researchers affiliated with the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) have reported that patients diagnosed with Stage III colon cancer who are physically active at six months following therapy have significantly lower rates of cancer recurrences and death from the disease than patients who are not physically active. The details of this prospective observational study were published on July 6, 2006 in an early online edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
New Onset Rectal Bleeding Associated with High Rate of Colorectal Cancer (7/12/2006)
Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that 5.7% of persons over the age of 45 years who present with new rectal bleeding in a primary care setting are found to have colorectal cancer and an additional 4.9% were found to have adenomas.
ACG Concludes That Virtual Colonoscopy Is Not Ready for Routine Screening for Colorectal Cancer (7/11/2006)
The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Action Plan on Colorectal Cancer Prevention has determined that computed tomography-colonography (CTC; virtual colonoscopy) is not ready for approval as an “effective and cost-effective strategy for colorectal cancer prevention.”
Xaliproden Reduces Neuropathy of FOLFOX 4 Regimen (7/6/2006)
Researchers from Scotland have reported that xaliproden (SR57746A) reduces the risk of grade 3-4 peripheral neuropathy associated with Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) in patients with colorectal cancer. The details of this randomized study were presented at the June 2006 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in Atlanta, Georgia.
Anemia Affects Response to Chemotherapy for Advanced Colorectal Cancer (7/3/2006)
Researchers from Italy have reported that anemic patients with advanced colorectal cancer have a lower response rate to chemotherapy than non-anemic patients. The details of this analysis were published in the July 3, 2006, issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
Panitumumab Provides Clinical Benefit in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Failing Standard Chemotherapy (6/14/2006)
Interim results from two multicenter phase II studies indicate that panitumumab provides clinical benefit in a significant portion of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose disease has failed standard chemotherapy. Importantly, responses to panitumumab were independent of tumor EGFR expression.
Gene Expression Profiling Predicts Recurrence in Stage II/III Colon Cancer (6/8/2006)
According to the results of a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a quantitative RT-PCR assay of 757 genes in fixed paraffin-embedded tissue identified a large number of genes associated with recurrence-free interval in patients with stage II or stage III colon cancer.
Confirmation That Cetuximab (Erbitux®) Provides Benefit in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Who Fail Camptosar® (6/6/2006)
Researchers from Germany have reported that the combination of Erbitux (cetuximab) and Camptosar (irinotecan) provides meaningful benefit among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have failed prior Camptosar-based therapies. These results were presented at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Addition of Cetuximab (Erbitux®) to Xeloda®/Eloxatin® Improves Responses in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (6/5/2006)
Researchers from Switzerland recently reported that the addition of cetuximab (Erbitux®) to Xeloda (capecitabine) and Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) significantly improves responses as first-line therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Radiolabeled CEA Antibody Safe and Effective in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (6/4/2006)
A radiolabeled antibody against the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), 131I-labetuzumab, appears to be an effective and well tolerated therapeutic strategy in the treatment of colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver. These results were presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Very Elderly May Derive Less Benefit From Colonoscopy (5/25/2006)
Researchers from the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle have reported that the increase in life expectancy that results from screening colonoscopy is less for very elderly patients than for younger patients.
Ten-Year Interval Between Colonoscopies Endorsed by New Study (5/24/2006)
Researchers from Canada have reported that a repeat colonoscopy 10 years after a negative study is an appropriate interval for screening for colorectal cancer.
Tarceva Alone Has Palliative Effects in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (5/16/2006)
Researchers from Canada have reported that Tarceva (erlotinib) alone produces disease stabilization lasting a median of 8 weeks in 39% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Factors Associated with Failure to Complete Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage III Colon Cancer Identified (5/15/2006)
Researchers from the University of Washington and other Northwest institutions have reported that elderly patients with stage III colon cancer were less likely to complete adjuvant chemotherapy if they were female, widowed, very elderly, or required readmission to the hospital.
Study Supports Five-Year Interval for Screening with Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (5/12/2006)
Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic have reported that colorectal cancer screening with flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years produces similar results to screening every three years.
Fruits and Vegetables Prevent Colorectal Adenomas in Women (5/11/2006)
Researchers affiliated with the Nurses’s Health Study (NHS) have reported that women who were in the highest quartile of fruit and vegetable consumption had a significant reduction in the risk of developing colorectal adenomas.
European Study Suggests Xeloda® is Cost Effective Compared to 5-FU-LV for Colon Cancer (5/2/2006)
Researchers from the UK have determined that Xeloda (capecitabine) is more economical to administer that 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this analysis appeared in the April 24, 2005 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
Xeloda®, Eloxatin® and Tarceva® Effective for Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (4/28/2006)
Researchers from the Dana Farber Cancer Center have reported that the combination of oral Xeloda (capecitabine), intravenous Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) and oral Tarceva (erlotinib) is an effective palliative regimen for patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this phase II study appeared in the April 20, 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Camptosar® and Eloxatin® Safe and Effective for Initial Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (4/25/2006)
Researchers from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have reported that the combination of Camptosar (irinotecan) and Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) is an effective drug combination for the initial therapy of metastatic colorectal cancer.
XELOX Is Well Tolerated First-Line Regimen for Elderly Patients With Advanced Colorectal Cancer (4/24/2006)
Researchers from Spain have reported that the combination of Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) known as XELOX is a well tolerated regimen for patients 70 years or older with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Panitumumab Improves Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Refractory Colorectal Cancer (4/3/2006)
Amgen has announced that Panitumumab was superior to best supportive care (BSC) for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had failed standard therapies.
Antidepressants May Decrease the Incidence of Colorectal Cancer (3/29/2006)
Canadian researchers have reported that the use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Zoloft, Lexopro, Paxil, Prozac and Celexa is associated with a 30% reduction in colorectal cancer incidence.
Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation May Not Prevent Colorectal Cancer (3/6/2006)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Health Initiative have reported that daily supplementation with calcium and vitamin D for 7 years had no effect on the incidence of colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women.
Virtual Colonoscopy with Computer-Aided Polyp Detection Performs as Well as Optical Colonoscopy (2/27/2006)
Researchers from the National Institutes of Health have reported computed tomographic (CT) virtual colonoscopy coupled with computer-aided polyp detection detects most polyps that are eight millimeters in size or larger. These results were comparable to results achieved with optical colonoscopy.
Low-Fat Diet Does Not Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk (2/21/2006)
According to the results of the Women’s Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial, risk of colorectal cancer was not significantly reduced among postmenopausal women assigned to a diet low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Patients Prefer Xeloda® Over 5-FU for Colon Cancer Cancer (2/14/2006)
Researchers from Scotland have reported that patients with colorectal cancer who have received treatment with 5-FU/leucovorin or Xeloda (capecitabine) prefer Xeloda. The details of this crossover study were reported in the February 2006 issue of Annals of Oncology.
Use of Sequential Fecal Occult Blood Tests for Colorectal Cancer Screening (2/9/2006)
Researchers from Scotland have reported that the use of a more sensitive immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FOBT) to retest persons positive by guaiac testing helps define the need for colonoscopy.
Xaliproden May Reduce Side Effect Caused by Eloxatin® in Colorectal Cancer (2/6/2006)
According to results presented at the 2006 ASCO/ASTRO Gastrointestinal Cancer symposium, the agent xaliproden, still in clinical trials, appears to reduce the risk of peripheral neuropathy, a common side effect associated with the use of the chemotherapy agent Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) in patients with colorectal cancer.
CoFactor™ (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate) May Enhance Activity of 5-FU in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (2/3/2006)
Adventrx announced the results of a phase II study of CoFactor (5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, ANX 510) and 5-FU for initial therapy of patients with colorectal cancer.
Women and Elderly Not Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage III Colon Cancer (12/8/2005)
Cancer Researchers from the National Cancer Institute, American College of Surgeons, the Carolinas Medical Center and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have reported that the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer has increased since 1990 but with a lower application to black patients with high-grade tumors, women and elderly patients.
Meta-Analysis Suggests Diabetes Increases Incidence of Colorectal Cancer (11/29/2005)
Researchers from Sweden have reported that patients with diabetes mellitus have a 30% increase in the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Xeloda®/Eloxatin®/Avastin® (XeloxA) Highly Active in Newly Diagnosed Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (11/18/2005)
Researchers from Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina have reported a 57% complete and partial remission rate for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer following treatment with treatment with Xeloda (capecitabine) and Eloxatin (oxapliatin) and Avastin (bevacizumab), termed the XeloxA regimen.
Phase II Trial of Panitumumab Plus FOLFIRI for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (11/11/2005)
Researchers from Northwestern University have reported that the combination of the panitumumab (ABX-EGF) and 5-fluorourcil, Camptosar® (irinotecan), and leucovorin (FOLFIRI) shows promising results for the initial treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Room for Improvement in Screening for Colorectal Cancer in Primary Care Setting (10/18/2005)
Researchers from the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit have reported that 54% of persons seen in a primary care setting received recommended colorectal cancer screening.
Radioactive Monoclonal Antibody May Improve Survival After Complete Resection of Isolated Hepatic Colorectal Cancer (9/26/2005)
Researchers from Germany and Immunogenetics, Inc. have reported that the radioactive monoclonal antibody 131I-labetuzumab improves long-term survival in patients with colorectal cancer who undergo salvage surgery for isolated hepatic metastases.
Beer and Alcohol Spirits Increase Risk of Colorectal Neoplasia (9/19/2005)
Researchers from Stony Brook University have reported that people who drink more than eight glasses of beer or eight alcohol spirits per week may be more than twice as likely to have colorectal neoplasia detected during screening colonoscopy than people who did not drink or who drank less. They also observed that drinking one to eight glasses of wine per week had a 45% reduction in colorectal neoplasia.
Chemotherapy Plus Immunotherapy May Improve Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (9/1/2005)
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute have reported promising results of adding granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) to chemotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Twelve Hour Infusion of Eloxan® plus Xeloda® Effective Regimen for Resistant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (8/30/2005)
Researchers from Italy have reported a high disease control rate following treatment with the Xelox regimen (Eloxan, oxaliplatin and Xeloda, capecitabine) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer who have failed Fluoroplex® (5-fluorouracil) and Camptozar® (irinotecan) therapy.
Regular Long-term Aspirin and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Reduce Risk of Colorectal Cancer (8/24/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Health Study have reported that long-term aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer in a time and dose dependent manner.
Laparoscopy with Intraoperative Ultrasound Sonography Helpful in Evaluating and Treating Colorectal Hepatic Metastasis (8/22/2005)
Researchers from Portland, Oregon, have reported that laparoscopy with intraoperative ultrasound sonography is a valuable method of evaluating and managing isolated hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer by detecting inoperable patients and by treating patients without laparotomy.
Many Patients Infected with HIV Not Receiving Screening for Colorectal Cancer (8/16/2005)
Researchers from New York University School of Medicine have reported that a substantial number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients 50 years of age or older are not being screened for colorectal cancer.
Camptosar®/5-FU Improves Response Rate and Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (8/1/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Gastrointestinal Group Study 40986 reported the outcomes of a phase III trial showing that Camptosar (irinotecan)/infusional 5-FU/LV improves response rates and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Statins May Improve Response Rate to Neo-Adjuvant Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer (7/28/2005)
Researchers from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have reported that patients receiving statins during neo-adjuvant chemoradiation therapy had a higher complete pathological response than patients not taking statins.
Virtual Colonography Detects Disease Outside the Colon (7/27/2005)
Researchers from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco and the University of California at San Francisco have reported that CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) detects clinically important lesions outside the colon.
Results of Mass Screening for Colon Cancer by Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Reported (7/11/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial have reported cancer and polyp detection rates from baseline sigmoidoscopy screening in the primary care setting. They reported a high acceptance rate for this screening procedure.
Long-Term Low-Dose Aspirin Does Not Prevent Cancer (7/6/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Health Study have reported that long-term low-dose aspirin use does not lower the risk of breast, colorectal, or other cancers.
Red and Processed Meat Consumption Increases Risk of Colorectal Cancer (6/17/2005)
A large European study involving almost a half million men and women has confirmed the increased risk of colorectal cancer associated with a high intake of red and processed meat.
Regular Aspirin Use Improves Outcome of Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer (5/25/2005)
Researchers affiliated with Cancer Leukemia Group B (CALGB) have reported that regular aspirin use after surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer reduced the incidence of recurrent disease and death by approximately 50%.
Laparoscopic Surgery for Colorectal Cancer Evaluated (5/20/2005)
Researchers from the UK have concluded that laparoscopic-assisted surgery for colon cancer is as effective as open surgery in the short term. However, they suggest that routine use in rectal cancer is not justifiable.
PTK/ZK In Addition to FOLFOX Provides Benefit in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer and High LDH Levels (5/16/2005)
According to results from the Colorectal Oral Novel Therapy for the Inhibition of Angiogenesis and Retarding of Metastases – First Line (CONFIRM-1) study, the addition of PTZ/AK (PTK787/ZK 222584) to FOLFOX in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer may provide benefit compared to FOLFOX alone, particularly in the subgroup of patients with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. The results were presented at a plenary session at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Addition of Cetuximab (Erbitux®) to FOLFOX4 Appears Promising as First-Line Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (5/15/2005)
Researchers from Europe recently reported high activity with the combination of Erbitux (cetuximab) plus FOLFOX4 as initial therapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer.
Addition of High-Dose AvastinTM to FOLFOX4 Improves Survival in Recurrent Colorectal Cancer (5/15/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) recently reported that the addition of high-dose Avastin (bevacizumab) to the chemotherapy regimen FOLFOX4 improves survival in the treatment of advanced, recurrent colorectal cancer.
Avastin™ Adds to Effectiveness of 5-Fu/Leucovorin in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (5/2/2005)
Researchers involved in an international, multi-center, randomized trial have concluded that the addition of Avastin™ (bevacizumab) to 5-FU and leucovorin improves overall response rates and prolongs progression-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer who are not suitable for initial treatment with irinotecan.
Panitumumab Demonstrates Anti-Cancer Activity in Colorectal Cancer (4/6/2005)
According to results presented at the Chemotherapy Foundation XXII, the monoclonal antibody panitumumab (formerly ABX-EGF) demonstrates anti-cancer activity in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Celebrex® and Vioxx® for Colorectal Adenoma Prevention Increased Cardiovascular Events (3/25/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the Adenoma Prevention with Celecoxib (APC) study have reported that Celebrex® (celecoxib) increased serious cardiovascular events. Similar conclusions were reached by the Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on Vioxx (APPROVe) Trial. Both studies were reported in the March 17, 2005 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
SU11248 is Effective in Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (2/23/2005)
According to information published on the Pfizer website, a randomized trial evaluating SU11248 in Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate)-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) was stopped early due to positive results. Patients in the placebo arm are now receiving SU11248.
Smoking Cessation Should be Stressed in Patients with HNPCC (2/14/2005)
According to results recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, smoking significantly increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer in patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Physicians should discuss smoking cessation programs with patients with HNPCC.
Colonoscopy Most Effective in Detecting Colorectal Cancer (1/28/2005)
Researchers comparing barium enema, virtual colonoscopy and optical colonoscopy have concluded that optical colonoscopy remains the gold standard for the screening of colorectal cancer. The details of this comparative study appeared in the January 22, 2005 issue of the Lancet.
Insurance Status Affects Morbidity and Mortality from Colorectal Cancer Surgery (1/26/2005)
A recent article in the journal Cancer suggests that patients who are uninsured or those who receive Medicaid benefits may be at greater risk for developing postoperative complications and dying after surgery for colorectal cancer.
Red Meat Consumption Increases Risk of Colorectal Cancer (1/21/2005)
Researchers associated with the American Cancer Society, Emory University and the National Cancer Institute have published evidence “that prolonged high consumption of red and processed meat may increase the risk of cancer in the distal portion of the large intestine.” This study was published in the January 12, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Six-Sample Home Fecal Occult Blood Testing More Accurate Than Single Test in Doctor’s Office (1/20/2005)
Researchers affiliated with the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study #380 Group have reported that screening with a single digital fecal occult blood test (FOBT) “is a poor screening method for colorectal cancer” and does not substitute for “at-home 6-sample” fecal occult blood tests. Another survey concluded that “Mortality reductions demonstrated with FOBT in clinical trials may not be realized in community practice because of the common use of in-office tests and inappropriate follow-up of positive results.”
Virtual Colonoscopy Compared to Optical Colonoscopy and Barium Enema (1/13/2005)
A multi-center study has concluded that optical colonoscopy is more sensitive than virtual colonoscopy or air contrast barium enema in detecting polyps and cancers. This report appeared as an early online publication on December 17, 2004 in The Lancet.
Much of the U.S. Unscreened for Colorectal Cancer, Despite Availability (1/12/2005)
Two articles recently published in the December 2004 issue of Gastroenterology indicate that colorectal screening rates remain low compared to screening rates for other types of cancer. Both studies indicate that there is unused capacity for colorectal cancer screening within the current medical system.
Selenium Levels Associate with Risk of Recurrent Polyps (1/5/2005)
The results of a study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicate that patients with higher levels of selenium in their blood are significantly less likely to develop new colon polyps, which may decrease their risk of colorectal cancer.
Fecal DNA Better Than Fecal Occult Blood Test for Colorectal Cancer Screening (1/3/2005)
Researchers associated with the Colorectal Cancer Study Group have reported that fecal DNA screening detected 40.8% of invasive cancers and adenomas with high-grade dysplasia, compared to 14.1% detected by fecal blood screening.
CT Colonography Found Valuable in Staging Colorectal Cancer (12/30/2004)
Researchers from Korea have reported that “CT colonoscopy is valuable in staging the tumor and in detecting additional polyps or cancers in areas not evaluated by conventional colonoscopy.” The details of this report appeared in the January 2005 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Genetic Mutations Not Being Detected Early Enough In Families with Hereditary Colorectal Cancer (12/22/2004)
According to the results of a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, genetic mutations associated with an increased incidence of colorectal cancer are not being detected early enough. These findings have led to the recommendation that families at risk for developing colorectal cancer be more closely monitored.
Patient Education Fails to Increase Colorectal Screening (12/20/2004)
A recent report in the Annals of Internal Medicine indicates that colorectal cancer screening tools are underutilized, despite efforts to improve patient education regarding the importance of colorectal screening.
Oxaliplatin combined with 5FU and Lecovorin Approved for Adjuvant Therapy of Stage III Colon Cancer (11/22/2004)
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the combination of Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin), 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin, for adjuvant treatment of stage III colon cancer following complete resection of the tumor. This approval was based on the results of a multi-center trial carried out by researchers affiliated with the Multi-center International Study in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer (MOSAIC). This study found that the addition of oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®) to 5-FU-leucovorin improved disease-free survival by 5% compared to 5-FU-leucovorin. The details of this study appeared in the June 3, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy Decreases Recurrences in Stage II Colorectal Cancer (11/16/2004)
Researchers affiliated with the European QUASAR Collaborative Group have reported that adjuvant 5FU and folinic acid “produces a small (3%) survival benefit for stage II patients, sufficient to outweigh the inconvenience and cost for high-risk younger patients. Longer follow-up and meta-analyses of all trials are needed to clarify the balance of benefits and dis-benefits for older patients.” These results were presented at the 2004 meeting of the European Society of Clinical Oncology in Vienna, Austria, October 29-November 2.
Analysis Supports Screening Sigmoidoscopy at 5-Year Intervals (10/25/2004)
According to the results of a study published in the September 2004 issue of Gastroenterology, increasing the frequency of sigmoidoscopy screening for colorectal cancer beyond the current 5-year standard in patients with an initial negative sigmoidoscopic exam would not produce significant improvement in detection.
Antioxidant Vitamins May not Prevent GI Cancers (10/8/2004)
A Cochrane report has concluded that researchers were unable to find evidence that supplementation with antioxidants prevents gastrointestinal cancers and in fact actually appears to increase overall mortality. The details of this review and meta-analysis appeared in the October 2, 2004 issue of the Lancet.
More Cancers Missed by Colonoscopy than Suspected (10/8/2004)
Virtual colonoscopy has demonstrated that optical colonoscopy may miss more colon cancers than once believed, particularly small cancers in the fold of tissues or at the anal entrance. The details of this report appeared in the September 7, 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Elderly Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Benefit from Chemotherapy (9/15/2004)
Researchers have performed an analysis of 22 European trials from 8 countries designed to evaluate 5-FU-based therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer and concluded that patients 70 years of age or older who are “fit” benefit from chemotherapy to the same degree as younger patients. The details of this report appeared in October 2004 issue of the Annals of Oncology.
Physicans May be Performing Too Many Colonoscopies for Low-Risk Patients after Polypectomy (8/19/2004)
Researchers from the NCI and the University of North Carolina have concluded that some physicians may be inappropriately performing surveillance colonoscopies beyond the recommendation of guidelines, particularly for patients with hyperplastic polyps and low-risk lesions, such as a small adenoma. The researchers assert that these results indicate “an unnecessary demand for endoscopic resources.” The details of this study appeared in the August 17, 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
ASCO does not Recommend Routine Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II Colon Cancer (8/12/2004)
The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Cancer Care Ontario Program in Evidence-Based Care’s Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group failed to find evidence in the literature for routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy for the treatment of stage II colon cancer. The ASCO study and the Canadian study were published ahead of print on June 15, 2004 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Cetuximab (Erbitux®) Plus Camptosar® More Effective Than Cetuximab Alone For Colorectal Cancer Resistant to Camptosar® (7/26/2004)
Researchers from Europe reported that the combination of cetuximab (Erbitux) plus Camptosar® more than doubled the response rate in Camptosar®-refractory epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive colorectal cancer patients.
High Dietary Intake of Calcium and Milk Associated with Lower Risk of Colorectal Cancer (7/15/2004)
Researchers affiliated with the Pooling Project of Prospective Studies of Diet and Cancer have reported that a diet rich in milk and calcium is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. The details of this report appeared in the July 7 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Study Finds Virtual and Actual Colonoscopy Equally Effective in Detecting Large Polyps in Persons at Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer (7/8/2004)
Screening for Fecal Occult Blood Decreases Colorectal Cancer Deaths (6/28/2004)
Researchers from France have reported that testing for fecal occult blood (FOB) every 2 years reduces deaths from colon cancer by 11%. The details of this study appeared in the June 2004 issue of Gastroenterology.
Calcium Supplementation May Decrease Incidence of Colon Polyps (6/24/2004)
Researchers affiliated with the Calcium Polyp Prevention Study have reported that patients taking 1200 mg or more of calcium carbonate had a decreased incidence of colon polyps. This reduction may translate into a reduction in the incidence of colon cancer. The details of this study appeared in the June 16, 2004 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Adjuvant Eloxatin® and 5-FU-leucovorin Improves Survival of Colorectal Cancer (6/16/2004)
Researchers affiliated with Multicenter International Study in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer (MOSAIC) study have reported that the addition of oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®) to 5-FU-leucovorin improves disease-free survival by 5% compared to 5-FU-leucovorin. The details of this study appeared in the June 3, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Xeloda® Produces Improved Recurrence-Free Survival and Safety Profile over 5FU/LV in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (6/11/2004)
A phase III study (X-act study) of adjuvant capecitabine (Xeloda®) for metastatic colon cancer demonstrated trends toward improve disease-free survival and overall survival supported by statistically superior recurrence-free survival when compared to 5-FU/LV. Coupled with a demonstrated improved safety profile, these results suggest that Xeloda® may be an attractive replacement for 5-FU/LV in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Stage B Colorectal Cancer Produces Small, but Significant Survival Advantage (6/11/2004)
Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that chemotherapy produces a small (1%-5%) survival benefit for patients with stage B colorectal cancer. These results were presented in an oral session of the 40th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in New Orleans, Louisiana, June 4-8, 2004.
Irinotecan/5-FU/LV (IFL) Does Not Provide a Survival Advantage over 5FU/LV for Stage III Colon Cancer (6/10/2004)
A phase III trial showed that irinotecan (Camptosar®)/5-FU/LV (IFL) showed no improvement in overall survival and failure-free survival compared to 5-FU/LV in patients with stage III colon cancer. Furthermore, Camptosar®/5-FU/LV was associated with a greater degree of neutropenia, neutropenic fever, and death on treatment compared to 5-FU/LV. These results were presented in a late-breaking oral abstract at the 40th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in New Orleans LA, June 4-8, 2004.
Statin Use Associated with Reduced Risk of Colorectal Cancer (6/10/2004)
A population-based, case-control study demonstrated that HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are associated with a 46% reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer after adjustment for other known risk factors. This paper was presented in the Plenary session of the 40th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology held in New Orleans LA, June 5-8, 2004.
Bevacizumab (Avastin™) plus Chemotherapy Improves Survival of Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (6/7/2004)
A multicenter randomized trial has shown that the addition of Avastin™ to irinotecan, 5-FU and leucovorin improves outcomes of newly diagnosed patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this report appeared in the June 3, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Randomized Study Shows that Laparascopic Colectomy for Colon Cancer is Safe (5/14/2004)
Researchers affiliated with the Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy Study Group of the Laparoscopic Colectomy Trial have reported that laparoscopic assisted surgery is a safe and acceptable technique compared to open conventional colectomy. The details of this multi-center trial appeared in the May 13, 2004 issue of
The New England Journal of Medicine.
Computed Tomographic Colonoscopy Not Found as Effective in Multicenter Trial as in Prior Single Center Trials (4/15/2004)
Researchers from nine US Medical Centers have concluded that “computed tomographic colonography by these methods is not yet ready for widespread clinical application. Techniques and training need to be improved.” The results leading to these conclusions were published in the April 14, 2004 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Virtual Colonoscopy Detects Polyps 10 mm or Larger in Average Risk Individuals (3/30/2004)
Researchers from NYU Medical Center have published a report documenting the detection of polyps 10 mm or greater in average risk individuals by virtual colonoscopy. The results of this study were published in the March 2004 issue of
Radiology.
1
Oral Xeloda® Can Substitute for IV 5-FU and Leucovorin for Treatment of Colorectal Cancer (3/30/2004)
Researchers from the US, Belgium, UK, France, Canada, Spain, Germany, and Italy have found that Xeloda (capecitabine) is a suitable replacement for IV 5-FU as the backbone of colorectal cancer therapy.
Plant Derived Immunomodulator, PSK, Improves Outcomes of Stage II-III Colorectal Patients (3/4/2004)
Japanese researchers have reported that the administration of oral protein-bound polysaccharide Krestin (PSK) plus tegafur/uracil (UFT) improves outcome of patients with stage II-III colorectal cancer compared to oral UFT alone. The details of this randomized trial were reported in the March 8, 2004 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
1
Hormone Replacement Therapy Decreases Incidence of Localized but not Regional or Metastatic Colon Cancer (3/4/2004)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) reported that estrogen and progestin hormone replacement decreased the incidence of invasive colorectal cancer by 50% compared to placebo. However, a higher percentage of women taking estrogen and progestin had regional and metastatic colon cancer resulting in approximately the same incidence of more advanced disease as the placebo group. This randomized trial was published in the March 4, 2004 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
FDA Approves Avastin™ for Upfront Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (2/26/2004)
On February 26, 2004, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Avastin™ plus combination chemotherapy for the initial treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Avastin™ is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is thought to play an important role in tumor angiogenesis and blocking this activity should have an anti-tumor effect. Clinical trials of Avastin™ have been carried out for the past 2-3 years without evidence of significant clinical activity. The primary side effects of Avastin™ identified in phase II studies include venous thrombosis and hypertension.
FDA Approves Cetuximab (Erbitux®) for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (2/20/2004)
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on February 12, 2004 the approval of Erbitux® for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Erbitux® was approved under the FDA’s accelerated approval program, which allows the FDA to approve products for cancer and other serious or life-threatening diseases based on early evidence of a product’s usefulness.
High-Glycemic Load Increases Risk of Colorectal Cancer (2/17/2004)
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and UCLA have reported that a diet with a high dietary glycemic load may increase the risk of colorectal cancer in women. This report was published in the February 4, 2004 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Higher Doses of Aspirin Associated with Lower Risk of Colon Adenomas (2/9/2004)
Researchers from Harvard Medical School have reported that higher doses of aspirin are associated with a greater preventative effect against colon adenomas than lower doses. The results of this analysis were published in the February 3, 2004 issue of the
Annals of Internal Medicine.
1
Elevated C-Reactive Protein Associated with Increased Risk of Colon Cancer (2/4/2004)
Researchers from Johns Hopkins and Harvard have reported that individuals with an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) are at increased risk for the development of colon cancer. This report appeared in the February 4, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy May Benefit Patients with Peritoneal Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer (1/30/2004)
Researchers from Sweden suggest that patients who have peritoneal metastasis but no distant metastasis may benefit from 5-FU given intraperitoneally. This phase II study was reported in the January 2004 issue of the
British Journal of Cancer.
Serum Leptin Levels Linked to Increase Risk of Colon Cancer (1/21/2004)
Researchers in Sweden reported that increased levels of leptin are associated with an increase in the incidence of colon cancer. This association was not found with rectal cancer. The researchers speculate a direct role of leptin in causing colon cancer. This report appeared in the January 2004 issue of the
International Journal of Cancer.
1
Calcium Supplements Decrease Incidence of Recurrent Colorectal Adenomas (12/8/2003)
A multicenter randomized trial has determined that calcium and vitamin D supplementation lowers the recurrence of colorectal adenomas after removal of an initial adenoma. The results of this randomized trial were published in the December 3, 2003 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Virtual Colonoscopy Compares Well to Optical Colonoscopy for Screening for Colon Cancer (12/4/2003)
A multicenter trial has concluded that virtual colonoscopy compares favorably with optical colonoscopy as a screening test for colon cancer. The results of this study appeared in the December 4, 2003 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine.
1 An accompanying editorial suggests that virtual colonoscopy may be the best screening test for colon cancer.
2
Promising Results Combining Alimta® with Other Agents in Advanced Colorectal Cancer (11/20/2003)
Based on the single agent activity of Alimta®, Eloxatin®, and Camptosar® in the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), investigators are now evaluating combinations of these drugs. According to a presentation at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXI, one study combining Alimta® and Eloxatin® has already suggested efficacy as first-line treatment and further studies are ongoing.
Aspirin Suppresses Earliest Pre-malignant Lesions in the Colon (11/13/2003)
Researchers from Israel have reported that aspirin use is associated with a reduction in the density of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) of the colon. These observations may explain why aspirin use is associated with a lower incidence of colon cancer. The results of this study appeared in the November 2003 issue of Gut.
1
Virtual Colonoscopy has the Potential for Being a Useful Screening Technique (9/16/2003)
Two recent clinical trials suggest that virtual colonoscopy could be a useful screening test which is better accepted by the population than conventional colonoscopy, but not as good at detecting smaller lesions. These articles were published in the August and September 2003 issues of
Gastroenterology.
Vaccine (Oncophage®) Promising For Colorectal Cancer (9/9/2003)
Researchers from Italy reported in the August 15, 2003 issue of
Clinical Cancer Research that immune responders to vaccination with HSPPC-gp96 (Oncopage®) have an improved outcome from metastatic colorectal cancer.
Fluorouracil-Based Adjuvant Therapy Does Not Benefit Colon Cancer Patients with Microsatellite Instability (7/23/2003)
Researchers from several medical centers in the US and Canada have reported that testing of colon cancers for microsatellite instability can predict response to adjuvant fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. These results were published in the July 17, 2003 issue of
The New England Journal of Medicine.
Obese Women with Stage II-III Colon Cancer Have Increased Mortality (7/21/2003)
Researchers affiliated with the Eastern Cancer Oncology Group reported in the July 15, 2003 issue of
Cancer that obese women have a poorer survival following adjuvant therapy for stage II-III colon cancer than do non-obese women.
Avastin™ Plus Gemzar®: An Active Regimen for Pancreatic Cancer (6/23/2003)
At the 2003 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers from the University of Chicago presented the results of a phase II study of bevacizumab (Avastin ") and
Gemzar® for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The observed a one year survival of 54% which was considered “encouraging”.
Night-Shift Workers at Higher Risk for Colorectal Cancer (6/17/2003)
In the June 4 2003 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers affiliated with the Nurses’ Health Study have reported a possible 35% increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in long-term night shift workers.
Cetuximab (Erbitux®) And Camptosar® More Effective Than Cetuximab Alone For Colorectal Cancer (6/10/2003)
In an oral session of the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June of 2003, researchers from Europe reported that the combination of Erbitux® plus Camptosar® more than doubled the response rate in Camptosar® refractory epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive colorectal cancer patients. compared to Erbutux® alone. Erbitux® is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the extracellular domain of EGFR, competitively inhibiting the binding of extracellular ligand. When Erbitux™ is bound, it appears to stimulate internalization of EGFR.
Antiangiogenic Drug, Bevacizumab (Avastin"), Improves Response of Colorectal Cancer to Combination Chemotherapy (6/10/2003)
At the 2003 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Dr. Herbert Hurwitz from Duke University Medical Center presented the results of a randomized multi-center trial demonstrating the effectiveness of Avastin™ plus combination chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. This paper was presented as a late breaking oral presentation and the abstract has not yet been published. The summary of this study was published in the ASCO Daily News for June 2, 2003.
Beta Carotene Increases Colorectal Adenoma Incidence in Smokers and Drinkers but is Preventative in Abstainers (5/21/2003)
Researchers from Dartmouth, USC, University of Minnesota, and the Cleveland Clinic reported in the May 21, 2003 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute that supplementation with beta carotene increased the incidence of colorectal adenomas in smokers and drinkers but decreased incidence in abstainers.
Beta Carotene Increases Colorectal Adenoma Incidence in Smokers and Drinkers but is Preventative in Abstainers (5/21/2003)
Researchers from Dartmouth, USC, University of Minnesota, and the Cleveland Clinic reported in the May 21, 2003 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute that supplementation with beta carotene increased the incidence of colorectal adenomas in smokers and drinkers but decreased incidence in abstainers.
High Intake of Dietary Fiber Associated with Lower Incidence of Colon Adenomas and Cancer (5/6/2003)
Two recent reports in the May 3, 2003 issue of
Lancet support the role of dietary fiber in preventing adenomas and colon cancer.
High Intake of Dietary Fiber Associated with Lower Incidence of Colon Adenomas and Cancer (5/6/2003)
Two recent reports in the May 3, 2003 issue of
Lancet support the role of dietary fiber in preventing adenomas and colon cancer.
Keratinocyte Growth Factor May Decrease Chemotherapy Induced Mucositis (4/17/2003)
Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) is a normal cytokine which is present in many tissues and is produced in response to tissue injury. KGF stimulates growth of epithelial cells in tissues which have receptors for this cytokine. It is generally thought that KGF is an important component of the body’s repair mechanism. Keratinocyte growth factor has been synthesized and has undergone clinical testing in animals and normal human volunteers.
Screening Sigmoidoscopy Can Reduce Risk of Distal Colo-Rectal Cancer by 76% (4/16/2003)
Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA. Have determined that screening sigmoidoscopy can reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer by approximately 76%. They reported their results in the April 16 2003 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Acceptability of Genetic Testing for Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (4/15/2003)
Mutations of specific genes increase the risk of cancer. However, the body has a built in repair mechanism to correct most mutations before cancer develops. The body’s DNA mismatch repair system recognizes one type of mutation and corrects it by substituting the right chemical structures in the gene. However, there can be mutations of the genes of the repair system.
Single Agent Gemzar® or Navelbine® Equally Effective and Less Toxic Than Combination for Treatment of Elderly with NSCLC (3/19/2003)
Until recently, many elderly patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCL) were treated only with supportive care. It is estimated that only 20% of elderly patients with advanced lung cancer ever receive chemotherapy. Previous studies, however, have suggested that palliative chemotherapy in this group of patients increased the average survival by approximately one month and the one year survival by 9%. These results are comparable with those achieved in younger patients with this disease treated with chemotherapy. As a generality, combination chemotherapy offers better palliation for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC than do single agents. However, the situation is less clear for patients older than age 70 years because of existing co-morbidities. In the March 2003 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Italian researchers reported the results of a randomized trial which suggests that single agent chemotherapy is as effective as combination chemotherapy for elderly patients with NSCLC.
Randomized Trials Confirm Benefit of Aspirin in Preventing Colorectal Adenomas (3/13/2003)
There have been several retrospective comparative studies suggesting that aspirin may lower the risk of colorectal cancer by decreasing the formation of precursor adenomas. These studies were based on information provided by individuals concerning aspirin intake and these data were correlated with the incidence of colorectal cancer. In addition to these, epidemiology studies in animals have also suggested that aspirin has a chemopreventive effect in preventing adenomas. In the March 6, 2003 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine, the results of two randomized trials were presented which documented the effects of aspirin in preventing colorectal adenomas.
Relative Risks of Colonoscopy and Sigmoidoscopy Defined (2/13/2003)
It is currently recommended that all persons over the age of 50 years who are at average risk for colon cancer have screening for colon cancer with biannual testing for fecal occult blood and a sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. However, sigmoidoscopy can only detect polyps and cancers in the lower 40% of the bowel while colonoscopy visualizes the entire colon. There has been reluctance to advise the use of colonoscopy as a routine screening procedure due to the increased risks involved in this procedure. Colonoscopy is performed in the operating room under heavy sedation or anesthesia and has more complications, especially perforation which can lead to death, than sigmoidoscopy. Although the risk of perforation from colonoscopy in the hands of a skilled physician is considered small, it is admitted by most reviewers who have evaluated this issue that there are not enough skilled physicians in the U.S. to make colonoscopy a practical screening procedure for everyone. Thus, physicians and patients need to make choices about screening procedures.
Randomized Trial Does Not Show Benefit For Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy For Colorectal Cancer Metastatic to Liver (2/3/2003)
The liver is the most frequent site of metastasis for patients with colorectal cancer and is the second most frequent cause of cancer death in this patient population. There have been a variety of treatments used for the majority of patients with colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver who are inoperable, including: intravenous chemotherapy, intra-arterial chemotherapy, interferon-alfa, conformal radiation therapy, radioactive lipitiol, liver transplantation, embolization, chemoembolization, cryotherapy, radiation-delivering microspheres and radiofrequency ablation. The most commonly used methods are intravenous chemotherapy with 5-FU and folinic acid or the same drugs administered intra-arterially. There are theoretical reasons to suggest that direct intra-arterial chemotherapy should be more effective and less toxic than intravenous administration. However, intra-arterial infusions require placement of a catheter into the hepatic artery and maintenance of this catheter for the duration of treatment.
Insurance not a Factor in Low Rate of Screening for Colorectal Cancer (1/9/2003)
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Screening is thought to be very important for the prevention and early treatment of colorectal cancer in average risk individuals. It is currently recommended that all patients over the age of 50 be screened regularly for colorectal cancer. Additionally, people with a personal or family history of adenomatous polyps or colorectal cancer may begin screening much earlier.
Radiofrequency Ablation Superior to Cryosurgery for Treatment of Inoperable Primary or Secondary Liver Cancer (1/9/2003)
Currently, the only curative treatment option for primary or secondary liver cancer is surgical resection. However, only a small percentage of patients are eligible for surgery because the majority of patients have cancer that has replaced too much of the liver or spread outside the liver to other parts of the body. There are several non-surgical options for palliative treatment of inoperable primary or secondary liver cancer including percutaneous cryosurgery and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. Cryosurgery utilizes extremely low temperatures to destroy cancers while radiofrequency ablation entails the use of an electric current that is passed into the area of cancer. Both techniques use ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to place a needle probe into the cancer. Although both cryosurgery and radiofrequency ablation have been shown to be effective treatments for inoperable primary or secondary liver cancer, there have been no direct comparisons of these techniques. In the December 2002 issue of
Archives of Surgery, French researchers have compared the two techniques and concluded that percutaneous radiofrequency ablation produces more long lasting remissions than percutaneous cryosurgery.
Bevacizumab (Avastin"), a Monoclonal Antibody Against Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Active in Colon Cancer (1/6/2003)
There is compelling evidence that angiogenesis plays a major role in the growth and spread of many cancers. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a factor that regulates normal and pathologic angiogenesis and has been implicated in the growth or several types of cancer including colon cancer. These observations have led to the development of antibodies that inhibit VEGF. There is evidence from animal models that anti-VEGF antibodies and chemotherapy are more effective than either modality alone. Avastin" is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody to VEGF which is currently being tested in number of clinical trials.
Yttrium 90 Labeled Microspheres Enhance Palliation of Liver Metastasis (11/27/2002)
Patients with large bowel cancer frequently have metastasis to the liver. Whenever possible, such lesions are removed surgically. However, the majority of patients with bowel cancer metastatic to the liver have inoperable lesions. Treatment of patients with bowel cancer metastatic to the liver includes systemic chemotherapy, hepatic artery chemotherapy and embolization. More recently, microspheres containing radioactive yttrium 90 (SIR-Spheres®) have been evaluated, usually in combination with hepatic artery infusion. These microspheres produce high levels of local radiation in the area of injection. Recently, researchers from Australia compared the efficacy of hepatic artery chemotherapy with hepatic artery chemotherapy plus the infusion of SIR-Spheres®. They reported their findings in the December 2002 issue of the
Annals of Oncology.
Further Evidence That a High Dietary Fiber Diet Does Not Prevent Recurrence of Colon Polyps (11/7/2002)
In non-randomized trials, it has been suggested that diets high in bran fiber and low in fats prevent the development of colon cancer by preventing the development of adenomatous polyps. Similar findings have been made in regard to diets high in fiber from fruits and vegetables. In 2000, the Phoenix Colon Cancer Prevention Network published results of a randomized trial casting doubt on these observations.
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In this study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers randomly allocated 1,429 men and women, ages 40 to 80 years, who had previously had one or more colorectal adenomatous polyps to receive a high-fiber wheat bran dietary supplement or a low-fiber wheat bran dietary supplement. The results demonstrated that approximately 50% of persons from both groups developed additional polyps. It was concluded that a dietary supplement of wheat bran did not reduce the risk for developing pre-cancerous adenomatous polyps of the colon and rectum.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Issues Recommendations for Hormone Replacement Therapy (10/23/2002)
On October 15, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued guidelines for hormone replacement therapy. This document was prepared after the recent publications which cast doubt on the benefits of women taking hormonal therapy after menopause. These recommendations can be reviewed in total at http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov and http://www.guideline.gov. This is the first update since 1996.
Motexafin Gadolinium (Xcytrin®) Improves Results of Whole Brain Radiation Therapy in Patients with Cancer Metastatic to Brain (10/14/2002)
Cancers often consist of areas of low oxygen concentration which complicates treatment. Hypoxic cells are more resistant to the effects of radiation than well-oxygenated tissues and there have been many candidate drugs for increasing oxygenation of cancers (radiosensitizers), none of which have been very successful. Xcytrin® (motexafin gadolinium) is a new type of radiation sensitizer that sensitizes both oxygenated and hypoxic cells to the effects of radiation. Xcytrin® also localizes selectively in tumors and this can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Laboratory and preclinical studies suggested that Xcytrin® could potentiate the effects of radiation for the treatment of cancers. In 1999, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania determined the optimal dose of Xcytrin® that could be given to patients with a variety of cancers receiving radiation therapy in a phase I trial.
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Temodol® Improves the Response Rate to Radiation Therapy for Cancer Metastatic to Brain (10/11/2002)
Temozolomide (Temodol®) is an analog of the alkylating agent procarbazine which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of recurrent brain tumors. Current research with this drug primarily involves treatment of newly diagnosed brain tumors. However, researchers in Greece have evaluated the effectiveness of Temodol® for the treatment of cancer metastatic to brain. At the 2002 meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, the researchers reported that the addition of Temodol® to whole-brain radiation therapy resulted in significantly higher response rates of brain metastases compared to whole brain radiation alone.
National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable Publishes Strategy For Prevention of Colorectal Cancer (10/9/2002)
The National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable (NCCRT) was founded in 1997 by the American Cancer Society and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal of this organization is to promote methods of preventing colorectal cancer. In the October 2002 issue of
Cancer, these researchers presented a summary of the failure of the U.S. population to take advantage of screening methods of detecting early pre-cancerous lesions of the bowel. They point out that screening methods could reduce the 56,600 deaths per year from colorectal cancer by 50%. They estimate that the life-time risk of the population for developing colorectal cancer is 6%.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery Following Whole Brain Radiation Therapy Improves Palliation of Patients with Cancer Metastatic to Brain (10/8/2002)
Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is the most frequent palliative modality for patients with cancer metastatic to the brain. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), also called gamma knife therapy or 3-dimensional radiation therapy, can deliver precise doses of radiation to tumor sites while sparing normal tissue. Stereotactic techniques are used to treat a variety of cancers and are widely accepted as superior to non-precise radiation techniques. Since 1996, researchers from 34 medical institutions affiliated with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group have been carrying out a study to document the benefits of SRS in individuals with cancers that are metastatic to the brain. They have concluded from this study that SRS adds significantly to the palliation achieved with WBRT alone. They reported these results at a plenary session of the annual meeting of the
American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in October of 2002.
Intraspinal Implantable Drug System Effective in Controlling Pain Due to Metastatic Cancer (10/1/2002)
The management of pain is an important component for the treatment of most patients with metastatic cancer. It is estimated that 5-15% of patients with metastatic cancer have pain that is refractory to oral and i.v. narcotics. Intraspinal implantable drug delivery systems (IDDSs) deliver small doses of morphine directly to the spinal fluid, theoretically requiring smaller doses of narcotics. Although this system is known to be effective, there have been no randomized controlled trials. Researchers in the U.S. and Europe affiliated with the Implantable Drug Delivery Systems Study Group have determined that IDDSs are better than conventional pain management techniques. They reported these results in the October 2002 issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Further Evidence that Adjuvant Therapy is Effective in Elderly Stage III Colon Cancer Patients (10/1/2002)
Randomized trials have clearly demonstrated that adjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with stage III colon cancer by approximately 30%. However, few elderly patients are entered on these randomized trials and it has not been certain that such patients benefit from adjuvant therapy. This issue is of particular interest since the incidence of colon cancer is 11 times higher in patients over 65, compared to those who are younger. In a review of 7 separate clinical trials that were conducted to evaluate adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II or III colon cancer, there were no differences in survival rates between older and younger patients
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. A second single institution study concluded that age was not a predictor of relapse or overall survival in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II-III colon cancer
2
. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and the Pritzker School of Medicine have used information from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER)-Medicare data to evaluate the effects of adjuvant therapy for stage III colon cancer in elderly patients
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. The results of this analysis were published in the October 2002 issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Intensive Eloxatin™, Camptosar®, 5 FU and Leucovorin Regimen Promising for Metastatic Colon Cancer (9/30/2002)
For the past two decades, the standard palliative treatment for patients with metastatic colon cancer has been 5 FU and leucovorin. Over the past several years, Camptosar® has been evaluated and found to be equivalent or better than 5-FU/leucovorin. More recently, Eloxatin" has also emerged as a very active agent for the treatment of colon cancer. The exact sequence of administration of these active drugs for the treatment of patients with colon cancer is unknown. One approach is to administer all active drugs up front in order to obtain the maximum initial response. In some situations, a maximum initial response to chemotherapy could allow some inoperable patients to become operable. Researchers in Italy have evaluated a regimen of intensive treatment with the combination of Eloxatin", Camptosar®, 5 FU and leucovorin. They reported their results in the October 2002 issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Dutch Prospective Study Confirms Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer with Low Dietary Folate Intake (9/24/2002)
An adequate intake of folic acid is achieved by eating fresh fruits and vegetables. In previous retrospective studies, researchers have documented an approximate 35% increase in the risk of colorectal cancer in persons who consume the lowest amount of folic acid, compared to persons who consume the highest amount of folic acid. These observations have led to three large ongoing clinical trials evaluating chemoprevention of colorectal cancer with folic acid supplements. In the September 2002 issue of Cancer, Dutch researchers report the first prospective study of dietary folic acid intake on the incidence of colon and rectal cancer. This study started in 1986 and has a 7.3 year follow-up. Since 1986, the researchers have followed 120,852 men and women aged 55-69 years. There were 760 colon cancers and 411 rectal cancers during the follow-up period. For men and women, the risk of colon cancer was reduced by 27% in persons with the highest folic acid intake, compared to the lowest intake. For rectal cancer there were no differences in women, but men with high folic acid intake had a 34% reduction of cancer rates. The researchers found no differences in outcomes when they analyzed for the form of folic acid (i.e. whether it was in the form of polyglutamates or monoglutamates). They also found suggestive evidence that men who consume higher amounts of alcohol combined with inadequate intakes of folate and methionine are at a higher risk of developing rectal carcinoma.
Obesity is a Risk Factor for Colorectal Cancer in Premenopausal but not Postmenopausal women (9/19/2002)
Obesity in men has been associated with an increased incidence of colorectal cancer. However, studies in women have failed to show this association. Researchers from the Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine believe that the failure to show an association between obesity and colorectal cancer in women is because age has not been taken into consideration. In the August 2002 issue of the journal
Gut, researchers report that premenopausal obese women have a two-fold increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer.
Swiss Study Confirms Ability of Virtual Colonoscopy to Detect Lesions 10 mm or Greater in Size (9/5/2002)
Virtual colonoscopy, also called colonography, is a technique that uses rapid computerized tomography (CT) scanning with conventional or electron beam (EB) machines combined with sophisticated computer programs. Patients undergoing virtual colonoscopy have the same extensive bowel purging as those undergoing actual colonoscopy and have the same insufflation of air to outline the bowel. The important part of this approach is the computer programs that can produce images of the colon that mimic an actual colonoscopy. Virtual colonoscopy has been evaluated more and more over the past several years in order to determine how virtual colonoscopy compares to actual colonoscopy. This is important since actual colonoscopy is the best way to detect and monitor pre-malignant polyps, but is limited by the need for heavy sedation or anesthesia and a small but definite risk of perforation of the bowel. In addition, there are not enough skilled physicians to perform colonoscopy on all individuals who should have it done for screening for colon cancer. A previous study from the U.S. clearly demonstrated that almost all lesions in the colon that were 10 mm or greater could be detected by virtual colonoscopy, but not smaller lesions.
Murine Monoclonal Antibody in Adjuvant Setting Does Not Improve Outcome of Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer (8/30/2002)
The focus of much cancer research over the past decade has been in developing biological treatments for cancer. This intensive research has led to the development of effective antibodies such as Rituxan® for treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Herceptin® for the treatment of breast cancer. Other monoclonal antibodies have been linked to radioactive isotopes or toxins with proven therapeutic activity. However, not all biological developments have proven successful. In the August 31, 2002 issue of
The Lancet, researchers from 27 centers in Europe have reported the failure of one murine monoclonal antibody, edrecolomab, for the adjuvant treatment of patients with stage III colon cancer.
St. John's Wort (SJW) Interferes With the Metabolism of Irinotecan (8/23/2002)
One of the major concerns about the use of alternative or complimentary medicines is the interactions with conventional treatments for cancer. Patients and physicians have to be cognizant of the interactions of alternative or complementary therapies with chemotherapeutic agents used to treat cancer. St. John's Wort (SJW) is an herbal medicine used to treat depression. Unfortunately, SJW has an effect on the cytochrome P450 enzyme system and drug-transporting proteins. St. John’s Wort induces the expression of the cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 isoform in intestinal and hepatic cells and induces the expression of MDR1 P-glycoprotein in intestinal cells. Irinotecan is eliminated via CYP3A4- and P-glycoprotein-mediated routes. Thus, SJW could interfere with the action of irinotecan in patients with colon cancer. Researchers in Holland determined the effects of SJW on the metabolism of irinotecan in 5 patients and reported their results in the August 20, 2002 issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute. They concluded that patients with colon cancer receiving irinotecan should not receive SJW.
Eloxatin® (Oxaliplatin) Approved for Colorectal Cancer in the United States (8/15/2002)
The Food and Drug Administration approved Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) for the treatment of colorectal cancer. The standard chemotherapy combination for metastatic colorectal cancer is 5-FU/LV plus Camptosar® (irinotecan). Eloxatin® is approved for use in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) for advanced colorectal cancer that has progressed or recurred following therapy with Camptosar®/5-FU/LV.
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No Differences in Outcomes of African-American or Caucasian Patients Receiving Adjuvant Therapy for Resected Colon Cancer (8/12/2002)
Several studies have shown that African-Americans have a poorer survival than Caucasian patients following the diagnosis of colon cancer. It has been unclear as to whether these differences have a biological basis or are related to socioeconomic status or access to appropriate treatments. In the August 7, 2002, issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers from several U.S. medical centers presented data strongly suggesting that African-Americans and Caucasians with stage II and III colon cancer had similar survivals and toxicities associated with adjuvant therapy. This study appears to rule out biological differences between African-Americans and Caucasians as a cause for the poorer survivals noted in other studies.
Virtual Colonoscopy Detects Larger Neoplasms of Colon (8/6/2002)
Virtual colonoscopy is a technique that uses rapid computerized tomography (CT) scanning with conventional or electron beam (EB) machines combined with sophisticated computer programs. Patients undergoing virtual colonoscopy have the same extensive bowel purging as those undergoing actual colonoscopy and have the same insufflation of air to outline the bowel. The important part of this approach is the computer programs that can produce images of the colon that mimic an actual colonoscopy. Virtual colonoscopy has been evaluated more and more over the past several years in order to determine how virtual colonoscopy compares to actual colonoscopy. This is important since actual colonoscopy is the best way to detect and monitor pre-malignant polyps, but is limited by the need for heavy sedation or anesthesia and a small but definite risk of perforation of the bowel. In addition, there are not enough skilled physicians to perform colonoscopy on all individuals who should have it done for screening for colon cancer.
U.S. Guidelines for Screening of Colorectal Cancer Published (7/23/2002)
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has published the latest guidelines for the screening of average risk adults over the age of 50 years for colon cancer in the July issue of the
Annals of Internal Medicine. Full details of the guidelines are also available from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Web site at http://www.preventiveservices.ahrq.gov and in print through the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse (800-358-9295).
Lack of Benefit and Potential Harm Halts Clinical Trial of Hormone Replacement for Post-Menopausal Women (7/10/2002)
Hormone replacement with estrogen plus progestin is often used to treat menopausal symptoms and to prevent osteoporosis and subsequent bone fractures. There has also been conflicting evidence that hormone replacement prevents heart disease. The association of hormone replacement with breast and uterine cancer has been well known, but usually these cancers present in early stages and do not affect survival. Estrogen and progestin are usually given together for women who have an intact uterus in order to prevent uterine cancer. Women who have had a hysterectomy usually are given estrogen alone. Researchers affiliated with the Women's Health Initiative have now reported that hormone replacement is not associated with prevention of heart disease, although overall survival was not affected one way or the other. Their results were published in the July 17 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Spanish Surgeons Confirm Benefits of Laparoscopy-Assisted Colectomy for Stage I-III Colon Cancer (7/1/2002)
Over the past decade, laparoscopy-assisted colectomy has emerged as a viable treatment alternative to open surgery for resectable colon cancer. However, no randomized controlled trials have clearly defined the differences between the two approaches. It is generally conceded that laparoscopy-assisted colectomy requires more special skills and training than open colectomy, making large cooperative group trials difficult to perform. However, previous studies had suggested that laparoscopy-assisted colectomy reduced morbidity and hospital time for patients when compared retrospectively to open colectomy. On the negative side, there were reported cases of cancer occurring in the “port site” suggesting that laparoscopy-assisted colectomy could contribute to the spread of cancer. To resolve these issues, Spanish researchers randomly allocated 219 patients with stage I-III colon cancer to receive laparoscopy-assisted colectomy or open colectomy. This study began in 1993 and the results were published in the June 29, 2002 issue of the journal
The Lancet.
Raltitrexed and Oxaliplatin (TOMOX) is an Effective and Easy to Administer Regimen for Patients with Colorectal Cancer (6/19/2002)
Standard palliative treatment regimens for patients with advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer usually include 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. However, new drug combinations continue to be evaluated. Italian researchers from 13 cancer centers recently reported the results of treating newly diagnosed patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with the combination of raltitrexed and oxaliplatin (TOMOX).
Low Rate of Detection of Colorectal Cancer by Colonoscopy in 40-49 Age Group (6/14/2002)
Screening for colon cancer is usually begun at age 50 because of the increase in incidence of colon cancer after this age. However, it has been noted that approximately 7% of cases occur in younger asymptomatic individuals. Therefore, researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine evaluated the effectiveness of screening colonoscopy in individuals age 40-49. They reported their findings in the June 6 issue of
The New England Journal of Medicine.
A Regimen of Camptosar®, Oxaliplatin, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and Leucovorin is Highly Active for the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (6/6/2002)
Treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer remains palliative, stimulating the development of new treatment regimens. Bolus and continuous infusion of 5-FU with leucovorin until recently was the most active regimen. Two new chemotherapy agents that have demonstrated anti-cancer effects for colorectal cancer are Camptosar® and oxaliplatin. Camptosar® has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of colorectal cancer and the combination consisting of Camptosar®/5-FU/LV is now considered the standard initial chemotherapy treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Oxaliplatin is approved for the treatment of colorectal cancer in Europe and Asia and is currently in the last phases of clinical trials in the United States.
Virtual Colonoscopy Can be Used for Follow-up of Patients who have had Surgery or Radiation Therapy (5/15/2002)
Conventional colonoscopy sometimes fails to visualize the entire colon in patients who have a history of surgery and/or radiation therapy to the abdomen and/or pelvis. In addition, colonoscopy is not without risk and is an unpleasant experience for patients. Virtual colonoscopy, using similar methods to cleanse the bowel, is being explored as an alternative to colonoscopy. In this procedure, sophisticated computer programs simulate an actual colonoscopy.
Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin is an Active Drug Combination for Treatment of Advanced Colorectal Cancer (4/24/2002)
The results of a Swiss study evaluating the combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin for treatment of advanced colorectal cancer were recently published in the
Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Advanced Age is not a Contraindication to Adjuvant Chemotherapy for High-Risk, Resected Colon Cancer (4/22/2002)
Researchers in Pennsylvania have concluded that advanced age is not a barrier to receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for high risk cancer of the colon. Adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with stage III cancer of the colon. However, it is unclear whether or not toxicities outweigh benefits in elderly patients. Thus, elderly patients with resected stage III colon cancer often do not receive adjuvant chemotherapy.
Gene Therapy with ONYX-015 Shows Responses in Patients with Colon Cancer Metastatic to the Liver (4/19/2002)
ONYX-015 is a tumor-selective, modified adenovirus that has been genetically engineered to replicate in and kill cancer cells that have abnormal p53 pathway while sparing normal cells that have functioning p53 protein. P53, a protein that protects the cell from developing into a tumor cell, is the most commonly altered gene in human cancer.
Study Documents Effectiveness of Single Sigmoidoscopy at Age 60 in Detecting Cancer of the Colon (4/16/2002)
English investigators have reported in the April 13 issue of the
Lancet that flexible sigmoidoscopy screening regimen is acceptable, feasible, and safe. They found a high prevalence of cancer with a referral rate for colonoscopy of 5%.
Mortality from Major Cancer Surgery and Morbidity From Prostate Surgery Lower in High Volume Hospitals Than in Low Volume Hospitals (4/16/2002)
There were two reports in the April 11 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine which strongly support the concept that patients facing major cancer surgery should select a high volume hospital near where they live.
St John’s Wort Interferes with Action of Camptosar® in Patients with Colorectal cancer (4/12/2002)
Camptosar® (CPT-11) is an important drug for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Its metabolism is extremely complex, with the involvement of several enzymes and drug-transporting proteins. Cytochrome P450 isozyme 3A4 (CYP3A4) mediated oxidation of CPT-11 is the principal elimination route of CPT-11 and leads to the formation of a series of inactive compounds, including APC.
Follow Up After Curative Resection for Colorectal Cancer Improves Survival (4/9/2002)
Researchers in England have reported in the April issue of the
British Medical Journal that intensive follow-up after curative surgery for colorectal cancer improves survival. They reviewed evidence from clinical trials of follow up of patients after curative resection for colorectal cancer. They performed this study because of an apparent lack of direct evidence that intensive follow up after initial curative treatment for colorectal cancer leads to increased survival.
Four Weeks of Anticoagulation Better Than One Week Following Cancer Surgery (4/5/2002)
Researchers from Sweden, Italy, England and Israel have reported in the March 28 issue of the
New England Journal of Medicine that prolonged anticoagulation versus one week of anticoagulation is better for patients undergoing abdominal cancer surgery.
Plasma Free Metanephrines Best Test for Excluding or Confirming Pheochromocytoma (4/3/2002)
A multicenter international study has determined that plasma free metanephrines provide the best test for excluding or confirming the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. The data establishing this was published in the March 20 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Women Experience Greater Toxicity With 5-FU-Based Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer (3/21/2002)
Researchers from the US and Canada have evaluated the toxicities in men and women associated with fluorouracil (5-FU)–based chemotherapy given on 5 consecutive days at doses of 370 to 450 mg/m2. They analyzed data from 1,093 women and 1,355 men treated with 5-FU. They found an increased incidence of stomatitis, leukopenia, alopecia and diarrhea but not of nausea, and vomiting in women. Half of the women experienced severe toxicity compared to only a third of the men (P < .0001). The differences were consistent across treatment cycles. Response rates and survival distributions were the same for both sexes. These researchers concluded that women experience toxicity more frequently and with more severity than men following 5-FU–based chemotherapy in a 5-day bolus schedule. They also suggest “these data raise the question of whether the recommended initial dose of 5-FU–based chemotherapy for women shouldbe lower than that for men”.
Randomized Trial Fails to Document Major Short-term Quality-of-Life Benefits from Laparoscopic-Assisted Colectomy Compared with Open Colectomy for Colon Cancer (2/21/2002)
The Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy (COST) Study Group performed a randomized trial comparing short-term quality of life outcomes of laparoscopic-assisted colectomy versus open colectomy for colon cancer. The results of this trial were recently published in the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
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