Latest News & Updates
Younger colorectal cancer patients at higher risk for a second colorectal cancer
Some people who have been successfully treated for one colorectal cancer will be diagnosed with a new primary colorectal tumor later on — a metachronous tumor. Follow-up with colonoscopy can identify these cancers early so they can be treated. However, it isn’t clear who might be at greatest risk for metachronous cancer.
Korean scientists reviewed over 5,400 cases of colorectal cancer treated at the Asan Medical Centre in Seoul between 1989 and 2004. Overall there were 39 metachronous colorectal cancers (0.7%) in that time. The new cancers were diagnosed from 6 months to nearly 18 years after treatment for the initial colorectal cancer with a third found more than 5 years later.
Patients with metachronous cancers were more likely to have had initial diagnosis:
- at an earlier age. Average age for the first cancer was 53.
- in the right colon.
- with cancers or polyps in other locations in the colon at the same time (synchronous tumors).
Writing in the May 2006 issue of Colorectal Disease I.J. Park and colleagues concluded,
We found that in patients aged < 50 years, existence of synchronous polyps or cancer influence on the development of metachronous colorectal cancer. Regular follow-up is necessary for early detection, even after 5 years, for these patients.
metachronous colorectal cancer
Posted by Kate Murphy on April 23rd, 2006
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What you can do from home to support those on The Hill
On Wednesday, April 26 C3 advocates will join with those of several other cancer-related organizations and visti the Washington, D.C. offices of Senators and Representatives as a part of One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) Lobby Day. The message they will deliver to Congress is our nation must get back on the path towards eliminating cancer death and suffering by 2015.
In order to get on the path and stay on it C3 joins its OVAC colleagues in urgeing Congress to do the following:
Invest in Cancer Research: Fund the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at $5.34 billion and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at $200 million.
Invest in Cancer Prevention and Control Programs: Fund the cancer and prevntion and control programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at $427.5 million.
Address the National Nursing Shortage: Fund the nursing programs at the Health Reaources and Services Administration (HRSA) for Fiscal Year 2007 at $175 million.
Not going to Washington? You can still help by calling your Senators and Representative on Wednesday, April 26. When they receive phone calls the same day as the visit they will see this needs their attention.
Here is how you do it:
Go to the C3 One Minute Advocate page. Look on the right side of the page for the item "Find Elected Officials." Enter your Zip Code and click "Go."
You should be on a page called "Elected Federal Officials" where your two U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative are listed. Click on "View Info" which is located below the offical’s photo.
This page contains the contact information for the elected official. Call the phone number and ask to speak with the legslative assistant in charge of health issues. Tell the person you urge the Senator or Representative to vote for the funding levels meantioned above. Ask if the official will do so. Leave your name and address so the office can contact you with a reply.
You may not speak with the legislative assistant for a varity of reasons. If that is the case you can leave a message for that person with the informaton you would have said directly to him or her.
You can also fax or email the office with the same information should you prefer this method.
Should you not hear from the office in a couple of weeks call again and ask the status of your request.
Let us know about your efforts by emailing C3.
You can make a difference.
Posted by Dusty Weaver on April 22nd, 2006
Posted in: Policy & Advocacy News | No Comments »
Mutated gene predicts resistence to Erbitux therapy and poorer overall survival
Erbitux™ (cetuximab) blocks EGFR, a receptor on colorectal cancer cells that promotes the growth of the cell. Some patients who are treated with Erbitux™ will respond to the drug, and their tumors will get smaller. For these patients, survival time is increased. Others show no response and have no improved survival.
French scientists explored some of the genes that are associated with the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) pathway for mutations that might affect response to Erbitux™. Looking at 30 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, they found that 11 (37%) responded to Erbitux treatment.
One mutated gene — KRAS — was significantly associated with lack of drug response. None of patients who responded had mutated KRAS, while nearly 70% of those who had no objective reductions in their tumors did have KRAS mutations.
In addition to Erbitux™ response, KRAS mutations predicted poorer survival. Patients with mutated KRAS in their tumor had a median overall survival time of 6.9 months compared to those without mutations whose median survival was 16.3 months.
Study results were reported in the April 15, 2006 issue of Cancer Research.
The research team, headed by Astrid Lievre, reported:
In conclusion, in this study, KRAS mutations are a predictor of resistance to cetuximab therapy and are associated with a worse prognosis.
Posted by Kate Murphy on April 21st, 2006
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Waist fat increase colon cancer risk in women
Women who have excess fat around their waists, so-called central adiposity, have an increased risk for colon cancer according to a study in the March 2000 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
Studying 24,000 women over 10 years, researchers in Australia measured waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratios (WHT) ratios at the beginning of the study. During the ten years, there were 212 colon cancers. Women whose waist measurements were larger than their hips, a sign of central adiposity, were about 30% more likely to have colon cancer than women with narrow waists. Larger waist measurements (waist circumference) increaed colon cancer risk by about 15%.
There was some evidence that additional central fat predisposed women in the study to cancers in the proximal colon or the first section of colon. Given their increased risk for colon cancer and the stronger possibility that the cancer might be located near the beginning of the colon, women with excessive waist fat probably should consider screening tests like colonoscopy that examine the entire colon.
Other studies have showed a similar increase in colorectal cancer risk for men with excess waist fat.
An article about the study is available from Reuters Health..
waist fat colon cancer risk colon cancer in women
Posted by Kate Murphy on April 20th, 2006
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Manufacturers can provide free drugs to low-income patients receiving Medicare Part D
Health and Human Services officials have clarified ways that drug manufacturers can continue to provide free medications to needy patients, even if those patients are enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription coverage.
HHS Inspector General Daniel Levinson clarifed his position on Tuesday, April 19, 2006 that there are “lawful avenues” for pharmaceutical companies to give financial assistance to needy Medicare patients.
Critical to such programs are:
- No Medicare payment is sought for free drugs.
- Assistance is based solely on financial need.
- There is a methodology for assistance that does not take into account the patient’s choice of a Medicare Part D drug plan.
In January 2006, HHS provided guidance to pharmaceutical companies and patient assistance programs to ensure that the programs operated legally and did not pressure any patient to take a particular drug.
There has been confusion over whether patients could be required to drop out of Part D in order to receive drug assistance or help with co-pays. In addition, some pharmaceutical company patient assistance programs have required that patients enroll in Part D. However, patients do not need to drop out of Part D or be compelled to enroll to meet federal requirements.
Pharmaceutical companies can help with Medicare Part D co-pays as long as there is no company pressure to persuade a patient to use a particular drug. Many companies are turning to not-for-profit organizations to provide counseling and financial help with co-pays through unrestricted grant programs to those organizations.
Posted by Kate Murphy on April 20th, 2006
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
