This has been an amazing year with unexpected findings.

We were all convinced that when we added Erbitux and Avastin to our chemotherapy, it would work in the adjuvant setting, which means with FOLFOX for 6 months after the successful removal of colon cancer.

But it did not work. Neither Avastin nor Erbitux showed any benefit. How is that possible? Read the rest of this entry »

Adding Avastin® (bevacizumab) to chemotherapy for early stage colon cancer didn’t reduce the risk that cancer would return.

In fact, preliminary results of the AVANT trial found that chemotherapy alone worked better in preventing recurrences of stage III and high-risk stage II colon cancer, according to a news release from Roche, sponsors of the international clinical trial.

This is the second trial in which adding Avastin to chemotherapy after surgery for early stage colon cancer failed to show a disease-free survival benefit.  The C-08 trial found that, although Avastin did improve disease-free survival during the first year of treatment, the benefit had disappeared by the third year.

The results of the AVANT trial have been eagerly awaited since conclusions of the similar C-08 trial were announced in 2009. Read the rest of this entry »

Once is not enough for FOBT!

Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)  is an effective colorectal cancer screening method, but it needs to be repeated every one or two years to reduce the risk of dying from colon or rectal cancer.

But almost half of a group of insured patients initially screened with fecal occult blood testing didn’t follow-up with another FOBT within two years, as recommended. Read the rest of this entry »

Taking a daily multivitamin didn’t improve survival or reduce the risk that colon cancer would come back for stage III patients enrolled in a clinical trial of chemotherapy after surgery.

Although about half of patients in the trial took a multivitamin supplement during their treatment, the vitamin didn’t improve their outcomes, nor did it reduce side effects.  At the same time, multivitamin use didn’t have a detrimental effect. Read the rest of this entry »

The FDA has sent warning letters to five manufacturers of e-cigarettes telling them that they cannot market the devices as a way to quit smoking without FDA approval.

If manufacturers claim that e-cigarettes treat a disease — in this case, nicotine addiction — they have to prove to the FDA that the product is both safe and effective for its intended use.  All five manufactures say that the products help users to stop smoking, but none have sought FDA approval.

In addition, FDA intends to regulate e-cigarettes under its new powers from the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.  In a letter to the Electronic Cigarette Association, the FDA said,

FDA intends to regulate electronic cigarettes and related products in a manner consistent with its mission of protecting the public health.

Currently e-cigarettes contain no health warnings, and marketing is often targeted at young people. Read the rest of this entry »