Richard Coker, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine REFERENCE: Lancet online: 20th April, 2006-04-20
The preparedness of Europe for the possible onslaught of avian flu is assessed in a publication in the Lancet comparing the activities of 29
European countries. Lead author Richard Coker at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine told Audio Medica’s Peter Goodwin how these plans will affect individual doctors and medical professionals.
Thalidomide Adds to Multiple Myeloma Chemotherapy Benefit in Older Patients
ABSTRACT: Lancet 2006;367:825 George Canellos, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
The combination of thalidomide together with standard agents melphalan and predisone has been found to be an effective first-line treatment for older patients with multiple myeloma. George Canellos discusses the findings published in The Lancet of an Italian multicenter study led by Antonio Palumbo from Turin.
Dasatinib Ready for Imatinib-Resistant Philadelphia-Chromosome Positive Leukemias?
REFERENCE: AACR CP-2 Clinical Plenary Session, Monday April 3rd 2006 Charles Sawyers, University of California, Los Angeles
The BCR-ABL kinase-targeting drug dasatinib seems poised for use in patients whose Philadelphia-chromosome positive leukemias are resistant to imatinib. Charles Sawyers from the University of California gave the Clinical Plenary Session of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in Washington, DC his assessment of study findings to date.
Cetuximab Enhances Radiation in Head and Neck Cancer
ABSTRACT: N Engl J Med 2006;354:567 James Bonner, University of Alabama, Birmingham
A combination of the epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor cetuximab and radiotherapy has brought better responses and survival among patients with locoregionally advanced head and neck cancer. This finding is published in the New England Journal of Medicine by James Bonner and his group in Birmingham, Alabama.
Panitumomab Response and Survival in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
REFERENCE: American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, 2006, Plenary Session, Monday 3rd April Marc Peeters, University of Ghent
A fully human anti-epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody has been investigated for treating colorectal cancer and has achieved benefits after standard therapies have failed, according to results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in Washington DC. Marc Peeters from the University of Ghent presented results from patients for whom standard therapy with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, or irinotecan had already failed.
Preventive Vaccines Soon for Human Papillomavirus
REFERENCE: AACR Educational Sessions, Saturday April 1st 2006 Luisa Lina Villa, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, São Paulo, Brasil
The dream of eliminating cervical cancer was shared during an educational session of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Luisa Lina Villa presented the latest data on the quadravalent vaccine for human papillomavirus, protective against four subtypes of the virus: the oncogenic types 16 and 18 and the wart-casuing HPV 6 and 11 subtypes.
Karen Wright, University of Bath British Society of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting 20-23 March 2006, Birmingham UK. Abstract 334
The possibility that cannabis could become a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease has emerged from a study of cell cultures conducted at the University of Bath. Karen Wright reported to the Birmingham conference that the survival of colonic epithelial cells was enhanced by exposure to cannabinoids.
Christopher Kong, Glasgow Royal Infirmary British Society of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting. Birmingham, March 20-23, 2006
A combination of a drug and an photophoresis machine has been used in an attempt to inactivate white cells among patients with Crohn’s disease. The experimental treatment uses the combined action of methoxypsoralen and ultra-violet light to produce a biological effect which could benefit patients whose Crohn’s disease is refractory to other forms of treatment. At the British Society of Gastroenterology Annual Meeting held in Birmingham Christopher Kong presented early data from a group of five patients receiving what is called photoimmune therapy.