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.
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.
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.
Extended Lymphadenectomy May Not Improve Outcomes of Patients with Rectal Cancer(9/29/2009) Researchers from the UK have reported that extended lymphadenectomy for rectal cancer may not improve outcomes and may increase the risk of urinary and sexual dysfunction. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in Lancet Oncology on September 20, 2009.
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.
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.
Neoadjuvant Xeloda®, Eloxatin®, and Radiotherapy Highly Effective for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer(5/4/2009) Researchers from Italy have reported that neoadjuvant Xeloda® (capecitabine), Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin), and radiotherapy results in a high rate of complete and near complete responses in patients with Stage II-III rectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the May 1, 2009 issue of Annals of Oncology.
Neoadjuvant Radiation Therapy Prevents Local Recurrences of Operable Rectal Cancer(3/9/2009) Researchers affiliated with a multicenter international randomized trial have reported that a short course of preoperative radiotherapy is effective treatment for patients with operable rectal cancer. The details of this randomized trial were published in the March 7, 2009 issue of the Lancet.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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