A new study showed that patients who received moisturizers, sunscreen, topical steroids, and antibiotics before treatment with panitumumab (Vectibix) were less likely to have a rash from treatment than patients who did not receive the skin treatments until the rash developed.
Researchers found that most patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer that has spread outside of the colon or rectum) do not need surgery to remove the primary tumor unless it is causing problems.
Researchers have developed and verified the first test that can predict the risk of recurrence (return of the cancer after treatment) for patients with stage II colon cancer.
Researchers analyzed tumors from 587 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer that has spread) for a mutated (changed) KRAS gene to determine which patients will benefit the most from treatment with a combination of chemotherapy and cetuximab (Erbitux).
Giving chemotherapy before and after surgery to remove cancer that has spread to the liver in patients with colorectal cancer significantly lowers the risk of the cancer returning to the liver. It is the first study to date to evaluate this treatment, and was led by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), with the participation of four major European cancer organizations.
In a new study of people with stage III colon cancer, doctors from the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) research group found that taking aspirin regularly lowered the risk of recurrence (return of the cancer) and death by approximately 50%.
People with stage III, and often stage II, colorectal cancer are given adjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy after surgery), to lower the risk that the cancer will return. Two reports from large phase III clinical trials evaluate the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer.
A new study from the University of Michigan and CHS National Cancer Control Center in Israel suggests that statins may be protective against colorectal cancer.
A new study found an association between the quality of life of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and variations in a set of genes called folate genes. The results of this study suggest that doctors may be able to identify and provide relief to those patients who are more at risk of certain side effects associated with cancer.
