Phase III Sutent Trial for Colorectal Cancer Discontinued

Pfizer announced yesterday, June 30, 2009, that they are discontinuing a phase III trial comparing FOLFIRI chemotherapy alone to FOLFIRI with added Sutent® (sunitinib).

Based on results so far, the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) determined that a significant reduction in progression-free survival was not statistically possible.  No new safety concerns were identified. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on July 1st, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: clinical trials, sunitinib, Sutent

Colorectal Cancer News in Brief: June 25

Farrah Fawcett died on Thursday, June 25, 2009 of anal cancer that had spread to her liver.  She was 62.  Anal cancer is much more rare than either colon or rectal cancer, affecting about 5,300 Americans in 2009. 710 will die from it.

In other headlines, the Caterpillar company works with Peoria hospitals and doctors to ensure quality colonoscopy for their employees and a Swiss laboratory will be the first to offer a blood screening test for colorectal cancer.

In research, MRI colonography is useful for patients who can’t have a full colonoscopy before surgery, screening colonoscopies are increasing for Medicare enrollees, and scientists have found factors in tumors that make nerves more sensitive to pain.

Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on June 27th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 1 Comment »
Tags: cancer pain, Epigenomics, Farrah Fawcett, magnetic resonance colonography, Medicare

Poverty, Lack of Insurance Barriers to Reducing Colon Cancer

Although new diagnoses of colon and rectal cancer are decreasing in the United States, the benefit does not reach everyone.

No matter where they lived, incidence of colorectal cancer dropped significantly between 1995 and 2004 for white Americans aged 65 and over, most of whom have Medicare that covers colonoscopy screening.  However, colorectal cancer rates for whites from 50 to 64 did not fall if they lived in rural areas or counties where there was poverty, lack of insurance, or few primary care providers.

African Americans only benefited from reduced incidence if they were over 64 and living in an affluent community. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on June 25th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: colorectal cancer incidence, disparities

Hepatic Perfusion Treatment Improves Survival and Shrinks CRC Liver Tumors

Colorectal cancer patients whose cancer had spread to their livers benefited from surgery during which heated chemotherapy was pumped directly to their livers. Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) shrank tumors and increased survival time.  It may be a hopeful new approach to treating colorectal cancer that is widespread in the liver.

Median survival time after the treatment was a little over 17 months.  A third of patients lived two years or more.

A clinical trial of a similar hepatic perfusion technique without open surgery is currently available at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on June 24th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: hepatic perfusion, liver metastases

Colorectal Cancer News in Brief: June 19

In studies reported this week  fewer specialists managing colorectal cancer were found in US counties with large African American populations, older adults with cancer had significantly worse physical and mental health, and palliative sedation at the end of life did not hasten death.

In other headlines, colorectal cancer screening for the uninsured will begin on July 1 in Minnesota, and if screening reveals cancer, treatment will be covered under the Minnesota Medical Assistance program.  The FDA warned consumers not to use Zicam nasal gel or swabs to avoid loss of smell, and doctors advised patients on long-term Xeloda therapy to carry a letter from their oncologist explaining possible loss of fingerprints if they travel internationally. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on June 20th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: disparities, fingerprints, free colonoscopies, palliative sedation, Zicam