Monthly Archives: August 2006

Audio Journal of Global Health Issues: WHO Strategy Prevents Trachoma

By admin | Published: August 31, 2006

Jeremiah Ngondi, Cambridge University

REFERENCE: Lancet 2006; 368: 589-95
A new investigation shows that trachoma (and resulting blindness) can be prevented by the World Health Organisation’s SAFE strategy, which involves surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental change, if this is applied effectively in endemic areas. Jeremiah Ngondi of Cambridge University told Derek Thorne about the findings of a cross-sectional study published in the Lancet.

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Posted in Global Health | Tagged antibiotics, surgery, trachoma | Leave a comment

ASCO Audio Journal of Oncology – September 1st, 2006

By admin | Published: August 30, 2006

Mark Socinski

Bruce Johnson

Neil Shah

Doug Smith

Sunitinib Multi-Targeted Oral Anti-Angiogenic Therapy Responses in Lung Cancer

REFERENCE: Abstract 7001
Mark A. Socinski, Univerisity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
The use of anti-angiogenic therapy for treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer received a boost at the 2006 ASCO Annual Meeting in Atlanta by results from a study looking at the use of sunitinib, a multi-targeted oral drug that achieved partial responses and stable disease among pretreated patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Mark Socinski from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said the results suggest that sunitinib may be even more useful when used in earlier stages of treatment.

Sunitinib in Lung Cancer: Results Assessed

REFERENCE: ABSTRACT 7001, ASCO 2006 Annual Meeting, Atlanta
Bruce Johnson, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
During the ASCO meeting, Bruce Johnson commented on the findings presented by Mark Socinski. Peter Goodwin asked him to assess the possible value of sunitinib and the scope of such targeted agents for treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Dasatinib: Possible Option for treating Patients in Chronic Phase Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Resistant to Imatinib

REFERENCE: Abstract 6507
Neil Shah, University of California, San Francisco
One of the options for treating patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia resistant to imatinib might be the new targeted therapy dasatinib. ASCO delegates heard more from Neil Shah, of the University of California in San Francisco.

Vaccine Promise for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

REFERENCE: Abstract 6509
Doug Smith, Johns Hopkins Cancer Center, Baltimore
A vaccine for chronic myeloid leukemia has produced molecular remissions in a small number of patients. Results were presented at the 2006 ASCO meeting by Doug Smith of Johns Hopkins Cancer Center in Baltimore, who described to Derek Thorne how the vaccine has been performing, and why chronic myeloid leukemia might be a good disease in which to use this approach.

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Posted in AJO, ASCO, Oncology | Tagged dasatinib, imatinib, leukemia, lung, myeloid, sunitinib | Leave a comment

Audio Journal of Global Health Issues: Dementia Prevention By Mid-Life Risk Score Assessment?

By admin | Published: August 19, 2006

Miia Kivipelto, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm

REFERENCE: Lancet Neurology On Line: August 3rd, 2006

A 20 year study in Finland has identified important risk factors for dementia. Investigator Miia Kivipelto from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm told Sarah Maxwell about her group’s findings and about the prospects for using these data to help prevent disease.

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Posted in Global Health, Medicine | Tagged dementia, disease, risk | Leave a comment

ASCO Audio Journal of Oncology – August 15th 2006

By admin | Published: August 14, 2006

Joan Houghton

Elizabeth Barrett-Connor

Fran Balkwill

carl christoph schimanski ASCO Audio Journal of Oncology August 15th 2006

Carl Christophe Schimanski

Adjuvant Anastrozole for Patients With Breast Cancer: Long-Term Safety Results From the ATAC Study

REFERENCE: Lancet Oncol 2006;7:633
Joan Houghton, University College, London
The case for using aromatase inhibitors rather than tamoxifen as adjuvant endocrine treatment for postmenopausal patients with breast cancer was strengthened recently by the latest report from the ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) study just published in the Lancet Oncology. Joan Houghton from London University explained to Sarah Maxwell how the safety of anastrozole has now been confirmed by five-year mature data from more than 6,000 patients.

Raloxifene for Cancer Prevention More Benefit Than Risk?

REFERENCE: N Engl J Med 2006;355:125
Elizabeth Barrett-Connor, University of California, San Diego
The findings of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shed new light on breast cancer chemoprevention by looking at the selective estrogen modulator raloxifene. Data on 10,000 women, who were recruited primarily to test the drug’s activity for preventing cardiovascular disease, showed a powerful effect in preventing breast cancer. The investigators suggest that in women at risk of osteoporosis, raloxifene may be a better agent for preventing breast cancer than tamoxifen.

Chemokines: Mediators of Invasion and Metastasis–New Targets for Ovarian Cancer Therapy?

REFERENCE: American Association for Cancer Research 97th Annual Meeting April 1-5, 2006, Washington DC. Education Session
Fran Balkwill, Barts Hospital, London
Chemo-attractant molecules called chemokines that direct the migration of immune cells around the body could become important new weapons in the cancer doctor’s therapeutic armory, according to Fran Balkwill who chaired an education session at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. In difficult-to-treat diseases like ovarian cancer, chemokine modulation offers the possibility of contributing alternative targeted components to anticancer regimens.

Chemokines: Keys to Controlling Liver Cancer Metastasis?

REFERENCE: American Association for Cancer Research 97th Annual Meeting April 1-5, 2006, Washington DC. Abstract 406
Carl Christophe Schimanski, University of Mainz
The chemokine in the human body known as CXCR4 might be an omnipresent inductor of the metastatic process, according to Carl Schimanski who presented data on CXCR4 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma biopsies and related it to metastatic tumor properties in patients. He told the AACR conference that the recent availability of chemokine antagonists holds out the promise of modulating metastasis and extending patient survival.

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Posted in AJO, ASCO, Oncology | Tagged anastrozole, breast, chemokine, metastasis, raloxifene, tamoxifen | Leave a comment