Patterns of Use of Erythropoiesis-stimulating Agents in Medicare Population Reported(11/19/2009) Researchers from Columbia Medical Center have reported that by 2002, 45.9% of Medicare recipients with common cancers were treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) such a Procrit® (epoetin alfa) and Aranesp® (darbepoietin). The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on November 10, 2009.
Erythropoiesis-stimulating Agents Increase Mortality in Cancer Patients(12/11/2008) Researchers affiliated with the EPO IPD Meta-Analysis Collaborative Group have reported that erythropoiesis-stimulatin agents (ESAs), such as Epogen® (epoetin alfa) and darbebpoetin (Aranesp®), increase on-study mortality by 17% and decease overall survival by 6% compared with control patients. The details of this study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society Hematology on December 6, 2008 in San Francisco.
Age of Blood Used for Transfusions May Affect Incidence of Infection(10/30/2008) Researchers affiliated with Cooper University Hospital in Camden NJ have reported that transfused blood stored longer than 29 days was associated with an increased risk of infection compared to blood stored for a shorter period of time. The details of this study were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, which was held October 25-28 in Philadelphia.
Aranesp® Improves Quality of Life in Anemic Patients Not Receiving Chemotherapy(9/8/2008) Researchers affiliated with South Carolina Oncology Associates have reported that the administration of Aranesp® (darbepoetin) to patients with cancer-related anemia not receiving chemotherapy or radiatiotherapy improves quality-of-life parameters. The details of this study appeared in the October issue of Supportive Cancer Therapy.
Intravenous Iron Improves Response to Aranesp®(4/4/2008) Two randomized clinical trials published in the April 1, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology demonstrated that the administration of intravenous iron and Aranesp® (darbepoetin) improved hemoglobin response compared with Aranesp alone in patients with chemotherapy-related anemia.
Celebrex® May Improve Cachexia in Patients with Cancer of the Head, Neck and Gastrointestinal Tract(8/14/2007) Researchers from the University of North Carolina have reported that treatment of patients with cancer cachexia with Celebrex (celecoxib) resulted in weight gain, increased body mass index (BMI) and improved quality of life (QOL) measurements. The details of this study were published early on-line on July 5, 2007 in Head and Neck.
Adenosine Triphosphate Improves Nutritional Status of Advanced NSCLC Patients(3/14/2002) According to a study recently published in the
Journal of Clinical Oncology, adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP) appears to improve energy intake and reduce muscle wasting associated with advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.
Mucositis
Kepivance® Reduces Mucositis Associated with High-dose Methotrexate(9/10/2008) Researchers from Germany have reported that Kepivance® (palifermin, keratinocyte growth factor) reduces the incidence and severity of oral mucositis associated with high-dose methotrexate. The details of this study were reported in the September issue of the Annals of Oncology.
Chlorhexidine or Oral Cooling Decrease Chemotherapy-induced Mucositis(3/31/2008) Researchers from Denmark have reported that chlorhexidine mouth washes or oral cooling decreases the incidence and severity of oral mucositis associated with 5 FU and leucovorin-based chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer. The details of this randomized study appeared in an early online publication in Cancer on February 15, 2008.
Kepivance® May Decrease Oral Mucositis Following High-Dose Chemotherapy(1/8/2007) There were several clinical studies presented at the 2006 meeting of the American Society of Hematology in December which suggest that Kepivance (palifermin) is effective in decreasing the incidence, severity and duration of severe oral mucositis in patients with hematologic diseases receiving high-dose Alkeran® (melphalan) (200 mg/m2) or high-dose BEAM (carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan) followed by autologous stem cell infusion.
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.
Kepivance® Reduces Mucositis After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Without Impact on Acute GVHD(11/9/2006) Researchers from the University of Minnesota and Michigan have reported that the administration of Kepivance (palifermin, keritinocyte growth factor) before and after allogeneic stem cell transplantation reduces the incidence and mean severity of mucositis in patients receiving a total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning regimen.
Ginger Supplements Reduce Chemotherapy-induced Nausea(5/20/2009) Researchers from the University of Rochester-affiliated Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) have reported that use of ginger supplements in combination with conventional antinausea drugs reduces chemotherapy-induced nausea to a greater extent than antinausea drugs alone. The details of this study will be presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando Florida, May 29-June.
Rezonic™ Enhances Effects of Zofran® and Dexamethasone for Prevention of Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting(5/15/2009) Researchers involved in an international randomized study have reported that cancer patients receiving Rezonic™ (casopitant) in addition to Zofran® (ondansetron) and dexamethasone have better control of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) than patients receiving only Zofran and dexamethasone. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on May 11, 2009 in Lancet Oncology.
Acupressure Wristbands Relieve Nausea from Radiation Therapy(4/16/2009) Researchers from the University of Rochester have reported that acupressure wristbands can reduce nausea among cancer patients receiving radiation therapy. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management on March 28, 2009.
Aloxi® Superior to Kytril® for Delayed Nausea and Vomiting Due to Chemotherapy(2/24/2009) Researchers from Japan have reported that the combination of Aloxi® (palonosetron) and dexamethasone was as effective as Kytril® (granisetron) and dexamethasone for prevention of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINC) but was superior for prevention of delayed CINC. The details of this study appeared in the February 2009 issue of Lancet Oncology.
Physicians and Nurses Underestimate the Incidence of Delayed Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting(5/13/2004) Researchers from 14 medical practices in Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, the UK, and the US have reported that physicians and nurses underestimate the incidence of delayed, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. This prospective study was supported by Merck and Company and was published in the May 15, 2004 issue of
Cancer.
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.
Neulasta® Facilitates Chemotherapy Administration and Reduces Febrile Neutropenic Hospitalizations(9/28/2007) Researchers involved in an international randomized trial have reported that the prophylactic administration of Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) is associated with improved chemotherapy delivery, reduces febrile neutropenia (FN) and decreases hospitalization compared to current practice of neutropenia management. The details of this study were presented at the European CanCer Organization (ECCO) 14th European Cancer Conference meeting in Barcelona, Spain.
Prophylactic Colony-Stimulating Factors have No Effect on Mortality but Decrease Infections(9/25/2007) Researchers from Canada have reported that the use of prophylactic hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) decrease febrile neutropenia and infection but have no impact on survival. The details of this meta-analysis were reported in the September 18, 2007 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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.
Prophylactic G-CSF Reduces Febrile Neutropenia and Early Infectious Deaths(7/24/2007) Researchers from the University of Rochester, the University of Washington and Duke University have concluded that the prophylactic use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) reduces febrile neutropenia and early deaths due to infections in adult patients receiving chemotherapy. The details of this study appeared in the July 10, 2007 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Long-Term Use of Eltrombopag for Chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) Reported(12/27/2007) Researchers affiliated with an international study have reported that long-term use of eltrombopag is safe and effective for the treatment of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This study was presented at the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in Atlanta, Georgia, December 10-11, 2007.
Romiplostim (AMG531) Effective in Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura(12/12/2007) Researchers have reported that romiplostim (AMG531) is an effective agent for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). The results of several clinical trials involving romiplostim were presented at the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Hematology, December 8-10 in Atlanta Georgia.
AMG 531 Maybe Effective in Treating Thrombocytopenia in Patients with MDS(6/11/2007) Researchers affiliated with The AMG 531 in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Study Group have reported that AMG 531 can reduce bleeding and transfusion events in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The details of this study were presented at the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June.
Autologous Cryopreserved Platelets Now A Practical Alternative for Platelet Transfusion Support(6/27/2002) Most chemotherapeutic agents are myelosuppressive, causing neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, especially when used in moderate to high doses. The advent of platelet transfusions in the mid-1960s led to a marked decrease in bleeding complications from chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia. Originally, platelets were collected from single units of whole blood donated to blood banks and pooled in units of 6 to 8 for transfusion purposes. However, in order to reduce the risks of alloimmunization and occult disease, transmission platelets were subsequently collected from single volunteer or family member donors. Collection of platelets from a single donor is accomplished by an apheresis technique where platelets are extracted and red blood cells and plasma are returned to the donor. At the present time, over 60% of all platelets administered by blood banks in the U.S. are from single donors. In some areas, this percentage is even higher. Single donors can also be selected to be “compatible” with the recipient in many instances where immunization is present. Immunization occurs from transfusions of red blood cells or platelets, but many women will be immunized by pregnancy and do not respond to fresh platelets from allogeneic donors when administered for the first time. The ability to cryopreserve platelets has been available for a decade or more but the methodology requires a cryopreservative, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), which can be toxic to patients and must be removed before administration and patients with normal platelet levels yield inadequate numbers of platelets.
Bone Complications
Denosumab Delays Skeletal-related Events in Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases(9/22/2009) Researchers involved in a multicenter Phase III study have reported that denosumab is at least as effective as Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in delaying skeletal-related events (SREs) in cancer patients with bone metastases. The details of this study were presented at the ECCO 14- ESMO 34 Congress in Berlin on September 20 as a late-breaking abstract.
Denosumab Shows Bone Benefits in Two Pivotal Studies(8/11/2009) Denosumab increases bone mineral density (BMD) and reduces the risk of vertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis as well as men treated with androgen deprivation therapy for non-metastatic prostate cancer, according to the results of two pivotal studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Denosumab Effective in Patients with Bone Metastases(8/10/2009) Among patients with bone metastases from cancers other than breast cancer or prostate cancer, the investigational drug denosumab was as effective as Zometa® (zoledronic acid) at reducing the risk of bone complications such as fracture. The results of this Phase III clinical trial were made available in a press release from Amgen.
Denosumab More Effective than Zometa® in Patients with Bone Metastases(7/10/2009) A press release from Amgen has reported that denosumab was more effective than Zometa® (zoledronic acid) for the prevention of bone complications in women with metastatic bone disease from breast cancer. These results were obtained in a large Phase III clinical trial comparing denosumab to Zometa for prevention of bone complications.
Denosumab Benefits Patients with Bone Metastases Who Have Received Bisphosphonates(4/6/2009) Researchers from France have reported that patients with bone metastases who are treated with denosumab have a greater reduction in urinary N-telopeptide and fewer skeletal-related events than patients continuing to receive bisphosphonates. The details of this study appeared in the April 1, 2009 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Fentanyl Buccal Tablets Effective for Control of Pain in Opioid-tolerant Patients with Chronic Cancer Pain(5/14/2009) Researchers from the University of Utah have reported that fentanyl buccal tablets (FBT) (Fentora®) were effective and had a favorable safety profile for the management of patients with persistent cancer pain who had breakthrough pain on opioids. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in Cancer on April 16, 2009.
Acetaminophen Improves Narcotic Pain Control in Cancer Patients(8/25/2004) Researchers from Australia have reported that the use of acetaminophen for patients with advanced cancer receiving opioids decreases pain and improves well-being. This placebo-controlled study appeared in the August 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
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.
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