GLG News by Hematologists who Treat Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Gene driven nicotine receptors will predispose to increased smoking. What will this lead to?? Increased addiction due to mutations increases cancer risk.

Drug (monoclonal ab?) failed in a phase III trial vs chemotherapy (not particularly effective.)

Biological efficacy has been shown for a number of cancer vaccines. Clinical efficacy has been shown in few of them. Clinical benefit just in one: idiotype vaccine for B-cell lymphoma. TroVax still has to clear the last hurdle, and likely also the second one.

Vectibix's undue toxicity without obvious benefits punctures Amgen's hope of finding a first or even second line use for this EGFR directed monoclonal antibody.

OXiGENE, Inc's., ZYBRESTAT(TM) (fosbretabulin), a vascular disrupting agent (?) is being given with Taxol/Carboplatin (T/C) in a randomized Phase II study. Soooo T/C with or without ZYBRESTAT.

 "A Johnson & Johnson foot gel used by diabetics may increase the risk of cancer and death, U.S. health officials said on Thursday in announcing an investigation into the issue."

Phase II results ++

"Belly Fat" in middle age can be associated with the development of dementia as one ages.

Support from a cigarette manufacturer raises questions as to the conclusions from this study which says early detection by repetitive CT's can improve cancer cure rates by early detection. (making smoking safer?)

Hormone blocking therapy is added to radiation, unnecessarily, in early prostate cancer patients. The result in early stage patients is unnecessary side effects and reduced quality of life. Go figure.