A combination of Xeloda and Eloxatin (XELOX) was better than standard 5-FU and leucovorin chemotherapy in reducing recurrences of stage III colon cancer after surgery.  Significantly more patients receiving XELOX were alive without cancer three years after treatment began.

Roche announced results of a Phase III clinical trial that compared XELOX chemotherapy to bolus 5-FU and leucovorin.  The trial, nicknamed XELOXA (NO16968), enrolled almost 1,900 patients in 29 countries.

Its primary goal was to see if combining the oral drug Xeloda® (capecitabine) with Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) could improve disease-free survival for stage III colon cancer patients. Read the rest of this entry »

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved labeling changes for Vectibix and Erbitux to reflect studies that found the two drugs are not effective in patients whose tumors have mutated KRAS.

The FDA has updated the indication and usage for Vectibix™  (panitumumab) and Erbitux® (cetuximab) to include a statement that:

Retrospective subset analyses of metastatic or advanced colorectal cancer trials have not shown a treatment benefit for ERBITUX or VECTIBIX in patients whose tumors had K-ras mutations in codon 12 or 13 and that the use of ERBITUX or VECTIBIX is not recommended for the treatment of colorectal cancer with these mutations. Read the rest of this entry »

We don’t really know the exact cause of most canker sores. However we know they develop with certain foods such as citrus or acidic fruits and vegetables including lemons, oranges, pineapples, apples, figs, tomatoes, and strawberries or these can make the problem of canker sores worse.

But there are other reasons which might also trigger canker sores such as a sharp tooth surfaces, braces, or ill-fitting dentures. In cases of these sores, a dentist should be consulted too. Read the rest of this entry »

In research this week, chemotherapy directly to the liver after surgery had good outcomes, enrollment of women in clinical trials lags, and children who were physically abused grow up to have more cancers.  A proposed screening test for heart disease may result in radiation-induced cancers.

In other headlines, the Chalk River nuclear reactor won’t be back producing medical isotopes before the end of the year.  Zoot Suit Boogie, a play focused on colorectal cancer for Hispanics, is scheduled for July 20 in Houston, and ASCO is looking for artwork for its 2010 wall calendar. Read the rest of this entry »

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new opiate drug for severe breakthrough cancer pain.  However, Onsolis® will only be available through a restricted distribution program.

As part of an FDA-required Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, only health care providers, pharmacies, and patients registered with the FOCUS program will be able to prescribe, dispense, and use the medicine. Read the rest of this entry »