Bivalirudin For Angioplasty: Expensive Heparin?

Tony Gershlick

Tony Gershlick, University of Leicester
Adnan Kastrati, Deutsches Herzzentrum, Munich
Using bivalirudin instead of heparin during angioplasty wasn’t any better for preventing death, MI or urgent revascularisation in the 4,500-patient ISAR-REACT 3 study presented at the ACC annual meeting. Tony Gershlick and Adnan Kastrati discuss the study with Peter Goodwin and Sara Freeman.

Tropical Health Research: London Scientist Honored

Brian Greenwood

Brian Greenwood, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Brian Greenwood has won the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for his numerous achievements in tropical disease research. He talked with Derek Thorne about his work, including the pivotal research proving that bed nets can help prevent malaria.

Audio Journal of Oncology Volume 16 Number 9

Scientific Editors: George Canellos (Boston), Pat Price (Manchester), Gianni Bonadonna (Milan), Gordon McVie (Milan)
Commenting Expert: Emiel Rutgers, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam

Angel Rodriguez

In this edition:

1. Lapatinib: Targets Breast Cancer Stem Cells?

Angel Rodriguez, Baylor College, Houston

2. No Help Adding Neoadjuvant Capecitabine

Gunter von Minckwitz, German Breast Group, Neu-Isenberg

3. MRI Aids Breast Surgery Planning

David Martinez-Cecilia, University Hospital Reina Sofia, Córdoba

4. Aromatase Inhibitors: No Extra Heart Risk

Alain Monnier, Centre Hospitalier de Belfort, Montbéliard

5. NAB Paclitaxel For Metastatic Breast Cancer?

William Gradishar, Northwestern University, Chicago

Peter Goodwin and Sara Freeman interview conference speakers in Berlin regarding lapatinib’s apparent effect on breast cancer “stem cells”; the lack of additional benefit from adding capecitabine to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy; evidence that MRI improves surgical planning for breast cancer; news that aromatase inhibitors do not add to cardiovascular risk when used in adjuvant therapy instead of tamoxifen; and (from a satellite symposium) an assessment of the role of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel in therapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Audio Journal of Oncology Volume 16 Number 8

Scientific Editors: George Canellos, Pat Price, Gordon McVie, Gianni Bonadonna

In this edition:

Bevacizumab and Survival in Metastatic Breast Cancer

Source: N Engl J Med 357:26
George Canellos, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Progresson-free survival, but not overall survival, was extended in patients with metastatic breast cancer who were randomly assigned to receive paclitaxel with bevacizumab as compared with paclitaxel alone.

Risks From Stopping Cancer Trials Early

Source: Annals of Oncology, April 9th, 2008
Giovanni Apolone, Mario Negri Institute, Milan
Stuart Pocock, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
New research highlights the dangers of stopping cancer clinical trials early following interim analysis before originally planned sample sizes have been reached, especially when surrogate end points are used.

Remove Thrombus Before Primary Angioplasty!

Felix Zijlstra

Felix Zijlstra, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
Thrombus aspiration before percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction has multiple benefits, according to data from the 1000-patient TAPAS study presented at the ACC meeting. Senior investigator Felix Zijlstra told Sara Freeman about the potentially practice-changing findings.

Heart Failure Drug Prevents Renal Damage?

Barry Massie

Barry Massie, San Francisco VA Medical Center
COMMENT: Aaron Kugelmass, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit
The adenosine A1-receptor antagonist rolofylline appears to prevent renal impairment and improve acute heart failure symptoms. Barry Massie and Aaron Kugelmass discussed findings from the 300-patient PROTECT pilot study with Sara Freeman.

Risks From Stopping Cancer Trials Early!

Giovanni Apolone

In this edition of Audio News, presented by Peter Goodwin, Giovanni Apolone (Mario Negri Institute, Milan) and Stuart Pocock (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), talk about:

Risks From Stopping Cancer Trials Early!
- A report from Annals of Oncology, April 9th, 2008.

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Never Too Old For Hypertension Treatment!

Nigel Beckett

Nick Boon

Nigel Beckett, Imperial College, London
COMMENT: Nick Boon, British Cardiovascular Society, London
Even very old patients benefit greatly if you treat their hypertension. This is the finding of the randomized HYVET study of 4,000 patients with average age 83. Peter Goodwin talked with investigator Nigel Beckett, who presented details at one of the ACC sessions, and from the chairperson and British Cardiovascular Society President, Nick Boon who added his comments.

Routine Angioplasty Recommended After Thrombolysis

Warren Cantor

Tony Gershlick

REFERENCE: Abstract 2404-3 SCAI-ACCi2 Late-Breaking Clinical Trials II: Acute Myocardial Infarction
Warren Cantor, University of Toronto
COMMENT: Tony Gershlick, Leicester University
A new study has shown important gains from adding angioplasty routinely to therapy for all patients receiving thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction if it is available within 6 hours. This comes from the 1 000-patient TRANSFER-AMI study which Warren Cantor presented to the ACC. He talked with Peter Goodwin who also discussed the findings with Tony Gershlick.