Doxil® and Paraplatin® Superior to Taxol® and Paraplatin for Relapsed Ovarian Cancer(10/1/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (CCIG) trial CALYPSO have reported that Doxil®, also marketed as Caelyx® and Myocet® (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and Paraplatin® (carboplatin) was more effective and better tolerated than Taxol® (paclitaxel) and Paraplatin for partially platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (patients who relapse between six and 12 months). The details of this study were presented at the Joint ECCO 15 – 34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.
New Monoclonal Antibody, Farletuzumab, May Have Activity in Relapsed Ovarian Cancer(10/1/2009) Researchers involved in a multicenter Phase II clinical trial have reported that the addition of farletuzumab (MORab-003) to a taxane and a platinum compound increases the response rate in women with platinum-sensitive relapse compared with historical controls. The details of this study were presented at the Joint ECCO 15 – 34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress in Berlin, September 20-24, 2009.
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.
Women Report Symptoms to Primary Care Physicians Prior to Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer(9/1/2009) Researchers from the UK have reported that women with ovarian cancer usually report symptoms to primary care physicians before the diagnosis. These researchers suggest that these symptoms should be included in guidelines for diagnostic testing. The details of this study appeared online in the British Medical Journal on August 25, 2009.
Many High-risk Women Opt for Preventive Removal of Breasts and Ovaries(8/24/2009) Researchers from the University of Manchester in the UK have reported that many women who are considered to be at high risk for developing breast or ovarian cancer are choosing to undergo preventive mastectomy and/or oophorectomy in order to reduce their risk of developing the disease. The details of this study were reported in the August 1, 2009 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.
Fertility Preservation Appears to Be Safe for Young Women with Early-stage Ovarian Cancer(8/17/2009) Researchers from Columbia University have reported that preservation of the non-cancerous ovary and the uterus appears to be safe for young women with Stage IA or IC ovarian cancer and allows women to preserve their fertility. These results were published early online in Canceron August 10, 2009.
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.
Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy Increases Incidence of Ovarian Cancer(7/16/2009) Researchers from Denmark have reported that estrogen and/or progestin administration in the peri- and postmenopausal period of women increases the incidence of ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in the July 15, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Initiating Treatment Due to Elevated CA125 Marker Does Not Improve Survival in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(6/3/2009) Researchers affiliated with the MRC and EORTC trial (MRC OV05/EORTC 55955 trials) have reported that early treatment for recurrent ovarian cancer based on a rising CA125 marker does not appear to improve overall survival compared with treatment that is started upon presentation of symptoms. The details of this study were presented at the Plenary Session of the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida, on May 31.
Combination of Hycamtin® and Taxotere® Shows Promise in Treatment of Recurrent Gynecologic Cancers(5/18/2009) Researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have reported that among women with recurrent ovarian or endometrial cancer, 25% experienced a partial or complete response to treatment with Hycamtin® (topotecan) and Taxotere® (docetaxel). The results of this Phase II clinical trial will be published in the June 2009 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Oophorectomy for Benign Disease Increases Heart- and Cancer-related Deaths(4/30/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Harvard Nurses’ Health study have reported that women who have a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy for benign disease have a lower risk of developing ovarian cancer but a higher risk of all-cause mortality, including cancer deaths, than women who have a hysterectomy without ooophorectomy. The details of this study appeared in the May 1, 2009 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Alimta® Has Activity in Platinum-resistant Ovarian Cancer(4/21/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Gynecologic Oncology Group have reported that Alimta® (permetrexed) has significant activity for the treatment of recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on March 30, 2009 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
New ACOG Guidelines Recommend Routine Genetic Risk Assessment(4/9/2009) The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) recommend routine assessment of a woman’s risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in order to identify those who may benefit from a more thorough hereditary cancer risk assessment. Women who eventually undergo genetic testing and are found to carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have options available to manage their increased risk of cancer. These guidelines were published in the April 2009 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Tests Detect Ovarian Cancer at Early Stage, But Benefits Still Uncertain(3/20/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Medical Research Council in the United Kingdom have reported that CA125 testing and/or transvaginal ultrasound may detect ovarian cancer at an earlier stage. However, it remains uncertain whether screening will improve survival and whether the benefits will outweigh the risks. The results of this study were published in an early online article in Lancet Oncology on March 11, 2009.
Fertility Drugs Are Not Associated with an Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer(2/11/2009) Researchers from Denmark have reported that use of fertility drugs (gonadotrophins, clomifene citrate, human chorionic gonadotrophin, and gonadotrophin releasing hormone) do not increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in the February 5, 2009 issue of the British Medical Journal.
Obesity Linked with Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer(1/9/2009) Researchers from the National Cancer Institute have reported that obese women are almost twice as likely to develop ovarian cancer as those who are a healthy weight. These results were published early online in Cancer on January 6, 2009.
Study Confirms That Dietary Flavonoids Reduce Risk of Ovarian Cancer(9/2/2008) Researchers from Italy have reported that high consumption of plant-based foods that contain flavonoids may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by nearly half. These results were recently published in the August 15, 2008 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
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.
Neulasta® on First Day of Chemotherapy May Be More Convenient for Gynecologic Cancers(3/18/2008) Researchers from the University of Alabama have reported that the administration of Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) on the first day of chemotherapy among women with gynecologic cancers may be as effective as and more convenient than second-day administration. These results were recently reported at the 2008 annual Society of Gynecologic Oncologists meeting.
Thalomid® Improves Response to Hycamtin® for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(3/4/2008) Researchers from the University of Minnesota have reported that the addition of Thalomid® (thalidomide) to Hycamtin® (topotecan) improves response rate in women with recurrent ovarian cancer. The details of this study were published in the January 15, 2008 issue of Cancer.
Test Evaluating Combination of Biomarkers Highly Accurate in Detecting Ovarian Cancer(2/21/2008) Researchers from several US medical centers have reported that a test evaluating a combination of six biomarker appears to be highly accurate in detecting ovarian cancer. These results were recently published in the February 15, 2008 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.
Experience of Technician Affects Accuracy of Gynecologic Ultrasound in Ovarian Cancer Screening(2/15/2008) Researchers from the UK have reported that the expertise of the technician performing gynecologic ultrasound not only affects the accuracy of the test results but also initial management of patients with suspected ovarian cancer. These results were published in the February 2008 issue of The Lancet Oncology.
Oral Contraceptives Reduce Risk of Ovarian Cancer(2/7/2008) Researchers from the UK affiliated with the Collaborative Group on Epidemiology Studies of Ovarian Cancer have reported that oral contraceptives reduce the long-term risk of ovarian cancer and have prevented approximately 100,000 deaths from ovarian cancer. The details of this report appeared in the January 26, 2008 issue of the Lancet.
Further Evidence in Favor of Care for Ovarian Cancer Patients by Gynecologic Oncologists(2/5/2008) Researchers from several California academic medical centers have reported that patients under 55 years of age with Stages IC–II ovarian cancer were more likely to receive chemotherapy if they received treatment from a gynecologic oncologist. The details of this report appeared in the January, 2008 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Residual Tumor Predictive of Survival of Patients with Stage IV Ovarian Cancer(12/11/2007) Researchers affiliated with Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) have reported that patients with more than 5 cm residual disease after surgery have the shortest progression-free (PFS) and overall survivals (OS). The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on November 19, 2007.
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.
Avastin® Effective for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(11/30/2007) Data from two Phase II studies suggest that Avastin® (bevacizumab) is effective and reasonably well tolerated for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer. The details of these studies appeared in the November 20, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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.
Partial Hold on Telcyta® Development Removed(10/26/2007) The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed the partial hold it had placed on the clinical development of Telik, Inc’s investigative small molecule Telcyta (canfosfamide HCL, TLK286).
Avastin® Plus Chemotherapy Effective for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(10/3/2007) Researchers involved in a multicenter trial have reported that patients with recurrent ovarian cancer have improved responses and more toxicity when cytotoxic chemotherapy is added to Avastin (bevacizumab). The details of this study appeared in an early on-line publication in the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer on July 21, 2007.
Study of Annual Screening for Ovarian Cancer by Transvaginal Sonography Inconclusive(9/5/2007) Japanese Researchers have reported that screening for ovarian cancer with annual transvaginal sonography (TVS) and CA125 may not be an effective strategy for the detection of early ovarian cancer. The results of this study were published in an early on-line publication in the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer on July 21, 2007.
Avastin® Can be Added Safely to First Line Chemotherapy for Ovarian Cancer(9/5/2007) Researchers from the Hoag Cancer Center and the Desert Regional Cancer Center in California have reported that an outpatient regimen of Taxol® (paclitaxel), Platinol® (carboplatin) and Avastin (bevacizumab) can safely be administered to patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in the July-August, 2007 issue of the International Journal of Gynecological Oncology.
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.
Gemzar® and Doxil® Equally Effective for Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer(7/5/2007) A multicenter trial has determined that Gemzar (gemcitabine) and Doxil (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) are equally effective for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The details of this randomized trial appeared in the July 1, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
High Response Rate to Doxil® and Eloxatin® in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(6/29/2007) Researchers from Italy have reported that the combination of Doxil (Caelyx®, Myocet®, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and Eloxatin (oxaliplatin) has significant activity for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in the July, 2007 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Annual Transvaginal Sonography Assists Early Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer(5/16/2007) Researchers from the University of Kentucky have reported that annual transvaginal sonography (TVS) results in the early diagnosis of some women with ovarian cancer but was not helpful in women with normal ovarian size. The details of this study appeared in the May 1, 2007 issue of Cancer.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Linked to Ovarian Cancer(5/3/2007) Researchers from the UK affiliated with the Million Women Study have reported that the use of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) is linked to an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. The details of this study appeared in an early online article on April 19, 2007 in the Lancet.
Aranesp® and Epoetin Alfa Do Not Increase Blood Clots in Ovarian Cancer(5/2/2007) Researchers from the University of North Carolina have reported that use of Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa) or epoetin alfa (Procrit® or Epogen®) does not appear to increase the risk of developing medical complications due to blood clots in patients with ovarian cancer who have chemotherapy-induced anemia. The details of this study appeared in the May 2007 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Surgery for Isolated Nodal Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer Provides Favorable Survival(4/10/2007) Researchers from John Hopkins and the Cedar-Sinai Medical Center have reported that patients with ovarian cancer who have a recurrence in a lymph node have favorable survival when the involved lymph node is entirely or almost entirely removed. The details of this study appeared in the March 2007, issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Doxil® and Paraplatin® Effective for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(11/30/2006) Researchers from France have reported that Doxil, also marketed as Caelyx® and Myocet®, (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and Paraplatin (carboplatin) produces a 38% complete response rate in women with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer.
Doxil®/Gemzar® Confirmed Effective for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(9/1/2006) Researchers from Austria have confirmed that the combination of Doxil (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and Gemzar (gemcitabine) is active and well tolerated for the treatment of platinum-refractory ovarian cancer.
Cancer Benefits of Oral Contraceptives May Outweigh Cancer Risks(8/25/2006) Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that the use of oral contraceptives increased the risk of developing cervical cancer but decreased the risk of developing ovarian cancer or endometrial (uterine) cancer.
Gemzar® Approved for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(7/19/2006) The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved Gemzar® (gemcitabine) for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer. The approved indication includes the use of Gemzar in combination with Paraplatin® (carboplatin) in patients whose cancer has returned or progressed at least six months following prior treatment.
Dietary Flavonoids May Decrease Risk of Ovarian Cancer(4/6/2006) Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health have reported that the incidence of ovarian cancer can be reduced with increased consumption of dietary flavonoids found in tea, red wine, fruits and vegetables.
Prophylactic Surgery Reduces Gynecologic Cancers in Lynch Syndrome(1/23/2006) Researchers from several U.S. medical centers have reported that women with Lynch syndrome who undergo prophylactic hysterectomy with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy a have a significant reduction in ovarian and uterine cancer compared to controls not undergoing surgery.
Nolvadex® and Zoladex® Effective Palliation for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(10/19/2005) Researchers from the United Kingdom have reported that 50% of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer had disease control for six months or more following treatment with Nolvadex (tamoxifen) and Zoladex (goserelin).
PET Scans Help Predict Response to Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer(8/31/2005) Researchers from Germany have found that fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is a useful technique for determining responses to chemotherapy in women with advanced ovarian cancer.
Surgery May Benefit Some Women with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(4/20/2005) Two recent phase II studies suggest that some women with recurrent ovarian cancer may benefit from secondary surgery. The first study from Japan was reported in the April 11, 2005 issue of the British Journal of Medicine. The second study was reported by Turkish researchers in the April 2005 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Pertuzumab (Omnitarg™) Demonstrates Activity in Refractory Ovarian Cancer(4/11/2005) According to results presented at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXII, the monoclonal antibody pertuzumab demonstrates anti-cancer activity in patients with ovarian cancer that has stopped responding to standard therapies.
Doxil® Recommended for Relapsed Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer(3/25/2005) Researchers from nine academic cancer centers have concluded that Doxil® (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) is the first choice for non-platinum-based chemotherapy for relapsed ovarian cancer. The details of this extensive review were published in the January 2005 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Radiation Therapy May Be of Benefit in Women with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(3/16/2005) Researchers from Loyola University have reported that involved field radiation therapy is effective in controlling local recurrences of ovarian cancer, especially after optimal debulking surgery. The details of this phase II study appeared in the March 2005 issue of Gynecologic Oncology.
Doxil® Has Full Approval for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(3/14/2005) Recently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval for Doxil® for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who have failed platinum-based chemotherapy.[1] Previously, Doxil® had only been indicated for patients with metastatic disease who had not responded to either platinum or taxane-based therapy.
AvastinTM May Be Effective in Ovarian Cancer(3/9/2005) Researchers from the University of California Irvine have published a case report documenting activity of Avastin® (bevacizumab, rhu MAB VEGF) in a patient with refractory ovarian cancer.
Age is Associated with Survival of Women with Ovarian Cancer(2/22/2005) After comparing survival rates of older and younger women with ovarian cancer, Swiss researchers have concluded that age is an important prognostic factor. The details of this report appeared in the December 2004 issue of Surgical Oncology.
Doxil® Receives Full Approval for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(2/17/2005) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently expanded the indication for Doxil® (doxorubicin hydrochloride liposome injection) to include patients with ovarian cancer that has progressed or stopped responding to platinum-based therapies. The prior indication for Doxil® in ovarian cancer included only patients with metastatic disease who were refractory to both platinum- and paclitaxal-based therapies.
Combination Chemotherapy for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer Shows Promise(2/8/2005) A recent article in the Annals of Oncology reports that women with ovarian cancer who have received multiple chemotherapy regimens may benefit from chemotherapy with Doxil® (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin) and Navelbine® (vinorelbine).
Doxil® Superior to Topotecan in Recurrent Ovarian Cancer(12/2/2004) A recent phase III study indicates that for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer, treatment with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD, Doxil®) significantly prolongs survival when compared to treatment with the drug topotecan. This study was presented at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXII: Innovative Cancer Therapy for Tomorrow meeting on November 11, 2004 in Phoenix, AZ.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy May Benefit Some but Not all Patients with Stage I Ovarian Cancer(10/20/2004) The results of a recent review published in the November 1, 2004 issue of Cancer indicate that adjuvant treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy produces improved survival and reduced risk of recurrence in women with stage I ovarian cancer compared to surgery alone.
Dexamethasone Safe for Use in Antiemetic Regimens in Women with Ovarian Cancer(9/24/2004) Researchers from Germany have reported that there is no evidence that glucocorticoid administration (usually dexamethasone) has an adverse effect on ovarian cancer patients. The details of this report appeared in the October 1, 2004 issue of Cancer.
EphA2 Expression May Identify More Aggressive Ovarian Cancers(9/3/2004) Results of a study recently published in the August 1, 2004 issue of Clinical Cancer Research identified a protein, EphA2 in patients with ovarian cancer that is associated with cancer progression and decreased patient survival.[1] Patients with high levels of EphA2 may benefit from more aggressive treatment or novel treatment approaches compared to patients with lower levels.
Ovarian Cancer Associated with More Severe Early Symptoms than Previously Thought(6/17/2004) Researchers from the University of Washington have reported that women with ovarian cancer often have “more severe or frequent symptoms than expected” which warrants further diagnostic testing when symptoms occur. The details of this clinical study appeared in the June 9, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Wine Consumption Associated with Lower Risk of Ovarian Cancer in Australian Women(4/23/2004) Researchers from the University of Brisbane have reported that women who drink one or more glasses of wine per day have a 40% reduction in the risk of developing ovarian cancer. This report appeared in the April 2004 issue of
Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.
Doxil® and Gemzar® is Active and Tolerable for Second-Line Therapy of Ovarian Cancer(10/2/2003) Researchers from Italy have reported the results of a phase II trial of
Doxil® and
Gemzar® for patients with ovarian cancer who have failed primary treatment. They suggest that this is a tolerable and active drug combination for second line therapy of ovarian cancer. The results of this trial appeared in the October 6, 2003 issue of the
British Journal of Cancer.
1
Doxil® More Cost Effective than Topotecan for Second Line Treatment of Ovarian Cancer(9/12/2003) Spanish researchers have reported that “pegylated liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride is an efficient therapy and can be used as a cost-saving option for treatment of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who have failed a first-line platinum-containing regimen.” The results of this analysis were presented in the September 15, 2003 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.
1
The Addition of Paclitaxel to Paraplatin® or Platinol® Improves Outcomes of Platinum Sensitive Ovarian Cancer Recurrences(6/30/2003) An international randomized trial (ICON4/AGO-OVAR-2/2) has determined that the combination of Paraplatin® or Platinol® with paclitaxel is superior to a platinum drug alone in recurrent platinum-sensitive patients. These findings were recently presented at the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and published in the June 21, 2003 issue of
Lancet. (1-3)
Paraplatin® Followed by Taxotere® and Gemzar® Effective for Ovarian Cancer(6/18/2003) Evaluation of three different regimens in patients who underwent induction therapy with Paraplatin indicate that Paraplatin® followed by
Taxotere® and
Gemzar® on a three week schedule offers the best response with acceptable toxicity. Researchers from England reported these findings at the 39th meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June of 1003 in Chicago.
Cigarette Smoking Associated with An Increased Incidence of Ovarian Cancer(5/12/2003) Researchers from the Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine reported that long term cigarette smoking is associated with more than a two-fold increase in incidence of ovarian cancer. The results of this study were published in the May 2003 issue of the
European Journal of Cancer.
Combination of Intravenous and Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Effective for Ovarian Cancer(4/10/2003) In the April 1, 2003 issue of the
Journal of Clinical Oncology researchers affiliated with the Southwest Oncology Group have reported the results of a phase II clinical trial of combining conventional intravenous (IV) chemotherapy with intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy for the treatment of women with stage III ovarian cancer.
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.
Taxotere® Active in Women with Ovarian Cancer who have Failed Paclitaxel(2/27/2003) The combination of paclitaxel and Paraplatin® is the most common chemotherapy regimen for the initial treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic ovarian cancer. The limiting toxicity of this drug combination is neurotoxicity. Although the combination of paclitaxel and Paraplatin® is associated with a high response rate, the majority of women with stage III and IV ovarian cancer ultimately relapse and will need salvage chemotherapy. There is in-vitro evidence to suggest that
Taxotere® and paclitaxel are not completely cross resistant and clinical responses to Taxotere® have been observed in patients who have failed Paraplatin® and paclitaxel. The response rate of patients with ovarian cancer who have failed Paraplatin® and paclitaxel and were treated with Taxotere® has been determined in a Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) clinical trial. The results of this clinical trial were published in the February 2003 issue of
Gynecologic Oncology.
1
Adjuvant Chemotherapy Benefits Most Women with Stage I-II Ovarian Cancer(1/23/2003) Stage I cancer of the ovary is localized and has not spread to other pelvic or abdominal organs, lymph nodes or sites outside of the abdomen. Stage I ovarian cancer is curable in the majority of patients with optimal surgical removal of the cancer. Despite surgical removal of the cancer, 5-20% of patients with stage I ovarian cancer will experience a recurrence of their cancer. Some, but not all, clinical trials have demonstrated that adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for patients with stage I ovarian cancer improves survival compared to treatment with surgery alone. Patients diagnosed with stage II ovarian cancer have cancer that is limited to the ovaries and other pelvic organs, but has not spread to the upper abdomen, lymph nodes or sites outside the abdomen. For stage II cancers, adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin-based regimens is the standard of treatment because the recurrence rates with surgery alone are significant.
Obesity Increases Risk of Ovarian Cancer in Women with no Other Risk Factors(10/2/2002) Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect early when it is curable. Thus, efforts have been made to identify women at high risk who may benefit from screening such as trans-vaginal sonography. Approximately 5-10% of all women with ovarian cancer have a genetic predisposition to the disease. Women with a family history (mother or sister) of ovarian cancer are at an increased risk of developing the disease. The majority of hereditary ovarian cancers occur in women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which are located on chromosomes 17 and 13, respectively. Women with the BRCA1 gene have an 85% risk of developing breast cancer, a 60% risk of developing ovarian cancer by age 70 and an increased risk of colon cancer. Individuals with the BRCA2 gene are also at an increased risk, although their risk is lower than those with the BRCA1 gene.
Breast Cancer Patients with a Family History of Breast Cancer are at High Risk for Developing Ovarian Cancer(9/23/2002) Women who carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a high incidence of breast and ovarian cancer. However, these genes account for a relatively small number of the total cases of breast and ovarian cancer. It is thought that other unidentified genes may play a role in causing breast and ovarian cancer. Swedish researchers have evaluated the association of early onset breast cancer, before the age of 40, with the subsequent development of ovarian cancer. They found a very high incidence of ovarian cancer in young women with breast cancer who had a family history of breast or ovarian cancer. They reported their results in the September 2002 issue of
The Lancet.
Long Term Hormone Replacement with Estrogen is Associated with Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer(7/31/2002) Breast cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer are hormonally sensitive cancers. It is well known that estrogen administration increases the risk of breast cancer and uterine cancer. For hormone replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms, the addition of progestin to estrogen appears to lower the risk of uterine cancer. The risk of ovarian cancer following hormone replacement therapy is less clear than for breast and uterine cancer. In the July 17 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from the National Cancer Institute now report that prolonged administration of estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of ovarian cancer.
New Phase III Data Show Taxotere®/Carboplatin Treatment for Ovarian Cancer as Effective and Less Neurotoxic Than Standard Therapy(5/31/2002) Orlando, Florida (May 21, 2002) – The anti-cancer drug combination of Taxotere® (docetaxel) and carboplatin demonstrated less neurotoxicity and was equally effective as the standard treatment of paclitaxel and carboplatin when used as first-line treatment in patients with advanced ovarian cancer, according to data presented today at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Bilateral Oophorectomy Reduces the Risk of Ovarian and Breast Cancer in Women who are Carriers of a BRCA1 or BRCA2 Mutation(5/23/2002) Women with germ-line BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer as compared with the general population. These women often undergo bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. However, the magnitude of the risk reduction is not clear. Papillary serous peritoneal cancers have been reported in women who have undergone prophylactic oophorectomy, but this risk has also not been clearly defined. In addition, prophylactic oophorectomy reduces the risk of breast cancer by about 50 percent in both carriers of BRCA1 mutations and genetically uncharacterized women. Two recent studies have focused on the magnitude of cancer prevention achieved by prophylactic oophorectomy in women at high risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
New Biomarker May be Useful for the Detection of Ovarian Cancer(4/11/2002) Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and several other institutions have identified a tumor marker that may be useful for detection of occult ovarian cancer. They reported their findings in the April 3 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) May Be Associated with Increased Risk of Ovarian Cancer(4/8/2002) In the April issue of the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Swedish researchers reported that women who took estrogen replacement therapy or estrogens with sequentially added progestins may be at increased risk of ovarian cancer. However, they did not advise changing current prescribing habits of HRT.
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 with Advanced Ovarian Cancer Survive Longer When Treated by a Gynecologic Oncologist(3/1/2002) Researchers at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Utah evaluated the survival of patients with ovarian cancer. They compared outcomes of patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer and seen by a gynecologic oncologist versus patients not seen by a gynecologic oncologist. Of 848 epithelial ovarian cancer cases diagnosed in Utah residents during the period 1992-1998, 333 (39.3%) were seen by a gynecologic oncologist at some time during their cancer diagnosis and/or treatment.
Weekly Platinol® and Daily Oral Etoposide is Highly Effective in Platinum Pretreated Ovarian Cancer(2/14/2002) Researchers from the Netherlands have reported a high response rate in women with platinum refractory ovarian cancer to treatment with weekly Platinol® and daily oral etoposide. They treated 98 women with Platinol® at either 50 or 70 mg m-2 weekly for six weeks plus oral etoposide at a dose of 50 mg daily. Of these 98 patients, 38 had a platinum treatment-free interval of more than 12 months, 32 had an interval between 4 and 12 months and 28 had progressed during or within 4 months after last platinum therapy.
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