REFERENCE: Abstract 5002, 2006 ASCO Annual Meeting; N Engl J Med 2006, 354:34-43
ROBERT OZOLS, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia
The combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin has become the standard treatment for ovarian cancer, but it is not entirely satisfactory. Is it possible to find an improvement, either by using another chemotherapeutic agent, or by employing intraperitoneal therapy? Robert Ozols of the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia tells Derek Thorne about the recent evidence and looks ahead to the future.

REFERENCE: J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 132, Supplement 13:7
WILLIAM SEE, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
COMMENT: Robert Ozols
A new option has emerged for patients with locally advanced prostate cancer that may avoid the need for castration. According to a study just published in the Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology the nonsteroidal antiandrogen bicalutamide may provide a similar benefit to that of castration, but with more acceptable side effects. William See of the Medical College of Wisconsin discussed his team’s findings with Derek Thorne.

REFERENCE: J Clin Oncol, 24:3735-3746
RUTH LUPU, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute
COMMENT: Robert Ozols
Despite promising results for the breast cancer agent trastuzumab, only a minority of breast tumors have the appropriate genetic profile for treatment – which includes overexpressed Her-2. However, a new paper in the Journal of Clinical Oncology might lead to an increase in the number of eligible patients. Ruth Lupu described her team’s study, which looked at tumorigenic cells that overexpress heregulin, an activator of Her-2.