Automated Telephone Outreach with Speech Recognition Does Not Improve Colorectal Screening(2/11/2010) Researchers from Harvard University have reported that an automated telephone outreach with speech recognition (ATO-SR) program did not improve rates of screening for colorectal cancer (CRC). The details of this study were published in the February 8, 2010 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
CT Colonography Safe and Effective in Older Individuals(2/8/2010) Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have reported that CT colonography is a safe and effective colorectal screening procedure in persons 65-79 years of age. The details of this study appeared in the February, 2010 issue of Radiology.
Human IgG Antibody Profiles May Detect Colorectal Cancer(1/20/2010) Researchers from Ireland have reported that human IgG antibody profiles may distinguish symptomatic patients with and without colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the January, 2010 issue of Gut.
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.
Older Patients with Stage III Colorectal Cancer Receive Less Toxic Adjuvant Chemotherapy(3/17/2010) Researchers affiliated with a RAND Corporation study have reported that older patients in the community with Stage III colorectal cancer “received less-toxic and shorter chemotherapy regimes, and those treated had fewer adverse events than younger patients.” The details of this study were published in the March 17, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Xeloda® and Eloxatin® Before Chemoradiotherapy and Surgery Promising for Poor-risk Rectal Cancer(3/2/2010) Researchers from the UK and Australia have reported that neoadjuvant Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) before chemoradiotherapy and surgery is a promising approach for the treatment of patients with poor-risk rectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the March 2010 issue of the Lancet Oncology.
Prior Regular Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Improves Survival of Patients with Colorectal Cancer(1/11/2010) Researchers affiliated with the California Teachers Study Group have reported that women with colorectal cancer who have a history of regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) have an improved survival compared with non users. The details of this study appeared in the December 15, 2009 issue of Cancer.
Physical Activity Associated with Lower Risk of Death in Men with Localized Colorectal Cancer(12/22/2009) Researchers affiliated with the Health Professionals Follow-up Study have reported that physical activity was associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer-specific and overall mortality in men with non-metastatic colorectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the December 14/28 issue of the Archives of Internal 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.
Vectibix® Improves Outcome of Previously Treated Colorectal Cancer(2/3/2010) 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 who are receiving second-line therapy. These results were presented at the 2010 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
Review Confirms Effectiveness of Avastin® plus Chemotherapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer(1/19/2010) Researchers from the UK and Canada have reported that a review of five trials confirms the effectiveness of adding Avastin® (bevacizumab) to chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. The details of this review appeared in an early online publication in the Annals of Oncology on November 25, 2009.
Erbitux® Improves Response Rate to Chemotherapy for Colorectal Liver Metastases(11/30/2009) Researchers from Germany and Austria have reported that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to FOLFOX6 or FOLFIRI improves response rates of patients with hepatic colorectal metastasis, which allows for more effective surgical resection. The details of this study appeared early online on November 25, 2009 in Lancet Oncology.
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.
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.
Patient Home
