In two separate studies, researchers found that two new drugs belonging to a group of drugs called PARP inhibitors may help treat some types of breast cancer. PARP inhibitors stop cancer cells from repairing damage from chemotherapy, which may make cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy.
Researchers found that patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors had no or low levels of a protein called MSH2, benefitted more from chemotherapy after surgery than patients with high levels of MSH2.
Researchers found that a vaccine called BiovaxID delayed the return of a type of B-cell lymphoma, called follicular lymphoma, by about 14 months for patients whose lymphoma was in remission (the temporary or permanent absence of disease) after treatment with prednisone (multiple brand names), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Clafen, Neosar), and etoposide (VePesid, Toposar) – a combination called PACE.
A new study shows that patients who received a specialized treatment vaccine with interleukin-2 (IL-2; a standard treatment for advanced melanoma) for melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body lived almost five months longer than patients who received only IL-2.
This study showed that for some people who have non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a mutation (change) to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in the tumor, treatment with the drug gefitinib (Iressa) slowed cancer growth.
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).
Surgery to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes in women with mutations (changes) in certain breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) reduces the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers, according to a long-term study. This reduction in risk varies according to the type of mutation. For example, women with mutations in the BRCA1 gene have a larger decrease in ovarian cancer risk following the surgery, while those with BRCA2 mutations have a larger decrease in breast cancer risk.
According to a new study, variations in genes that metabolize (break down) certain types of anticancer drugs may explain why some survivors of childhood cancer experience heart problems, such as congestive heart failure, later in life.
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.
