Analysis of:
Corrections Weaken Cancer Study (online.wsj.com)
Lung cancer screening does not appear to prevent death at least in this study.
Analysis of:
Roche Files Avastin for Wider Label in EU (www.therapeuticsdaily.com)
Avastin ( Roche/Genentech) extended time to progression when combined with Docotaxel ( Sanofi-Aventis) in patients with metastatic breast cancer as compared to Docotaxel alone, but did not prolong survival. Unlike approval by the FDA,the EMEA is more cost conscious and may be reluctant to...
Analysis of:
Roche Files Avastin for Wider Label in EU (www.therapeuticsdaily.com)
"The filing is supported by data from the phase III Avado trial, which investigated Avastin in combination with docetaxel compared wwith docetaxel alone in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer, Roche said in a statement."
Analysis of:
Pricey Drugs Put Squeeze on Doctors (online.wsj.com)
Doctors can not remain in the middle between pharmaceutical companies and insurance and health plans. Reimbursement for oreal and IV drugs should be comparable , in order to avoid over-prescription of IV drugs , even if they are not as efficacious or more toxic. The patient's helath plan ( the government...
Analysis of:
Phase III Study Comparing Cisplatin Plus Gemcitabine With Cisplatin Plus Pemetrexed in Chemotherapy-Naive Patients With Advanced-Stage Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer (jco.ascopubs.org)
Pemetrexed (lilly) with Cisplatinum is less toxic and may be more efficacious in a subset of patients with advanced NSCLC than Gemcitibine ( another Lilly compound) /Cisplatin combination. he real question is how this comapres to Avastin ( Genentech) or even the antibody Cetuximab ( Imclone) in...
Analysis of:
Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (content.nejm.org)
The New England Journal of Medicine report confirms that Bayer/Onyx Nexavar prolongs median survival and time to progression in patients with advanced HCC. This trumor is a world wide health problem, so such positive news, although old, in a reputable journal, will lead to wider use of this oral...
Analysis of:
Increased EGFR Gene Copy Number Detected by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization Predicts Outcome in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Cetuximab and Chemotherapy (jco.ascopubs.org)
In a US multicenter Phase II study, Erbitux ( Imclone) added to efficacy of Carboplatinum and Palcitaxel in a subset of NSCLC patients whose tumors had extra copies of EGFR that is targeted by Cetuxiamb. FISH techniques still has problems with standardization and larger number of patients are needed...
Analysis of:
Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (content.nejm.org)
Sorafenib increases time to progression and median survival in HCC. (World wide a major neoplasm)
Analysis of:
Detection of Mutations in EGFR in Circulating Lung-Cancer Cells (content.nejm.org)
Peripheral blood in patients with metastatic non small cell lung cancer (NSCLCA) can determine the presence of EGFR mutations in circulating cancer cells that will reveal sensitivity to TKI's- Erbitux (ImClone & BMS), Tarceva (Genentech) and even Iressa (AZ).