Ben Leach

Articles

Supreme Court Limits Ability to Patent Genes in Landmark Decision

June 13th 2013

After years of varying decisions by lower courts regarding the patents held on a test for genetic mutations associated with breast cancer, the US Supreme Court has ruled that a segment of DNA in isolation is a natural product and not eligible for patent protection.

Trebananib Significantly Improves PFS in Ovarian Cancer

June 12th 2013

Treatment with the investigational agent trebananib resulted in a significant reduction in the risk of progression or death in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, according to a phase III study.

FDA Rejects Tivozanib for Kidney Cancer, Recommends Additional Clinical Study

June 10th 2013

The FDA has rejected a new drug application for tivozanib for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma, recommending an additional clinical trial to address concerns over existing clinical data.

BRCA1/2 Linked to Poor Prognosis in Prostate Cancer

June 7th 2013

A new study suggests that germline mutations of BRCA1/2 could play a significant role in more-aggressive cases of prostate cancer. Additionally, BRCA2 mutations were specifically linked to poor overall survival.

FDA Approves Lenalidomide for the Treatment of Mantle Cell Lymphoma

June 5th 2013

The immunomodulatory agent lenalidomide is now approved by the FDA to treat patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have relapsed or whose disease has progressed after two prior therapies including at least one prior treatment with bortezomib.

Optimal Paclitaxel Schedule Identified for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

June 4th 2013

Low-dose weekly paclitaxel is as effective and has fewer side effects than the standard biweekly schedule for patients with early-stage breast cancer.

First-Line Bevacizumab Does Not Improve Survival in Glioblastoma

June 2nd 2013

Adding bevacizumab to a standard treatment regimen for glioblastoma consisting of chemoradiation with temozolomide in newly diagnosed patients does not improve OS and did not significantly improve PFS.

GM-CSF Boosts Ipilimumab Efficacy in Metastatic Melanoma

June 2nd 2013

Adding the white blood cell booster granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to the immunotherapy ipilimumab extended survival in patients with metastatic melanoma when compared with ipilimumab alone and may be a safer alternative than monotherapy.

Dabrafenib and Trametinib Both Approved for Advanced Melanoma

May 29th 2013

The FDA approved both dabrafenib and trametinib for the treatment of patients with metastatic or unresectable melanoma, as well as a companion diagnostic to properly identify the patients exhibiting the mutations that are targeted by these agents.

Priority Review Granted for Nab-Paclitaxel in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

May 23rd 2013

The FDA has granted priority review to nab-paclitaxel in combination with gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Study Confirms Prevalence of Low Testosterone Levels in Crizotinib-Treated Patients With NSCLC

May 23rd 2013

A new study has confirmed that low testosterone is a side effect in a large proportion of patients who received crizotinib for the treatment of ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer.

Pfizer Discontinues Late-Stage Trial of Inotuzumab Ozogamicin

May 21st 2013

A late-stage trial investigating inotuzumab ozogamicin as a treatment for patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma has been halted after interim data showed the agent was unlikely to improve survival.

New Method of Predicting Head and Neck Cancer Survival Explored

May 20th 2013

A new measure of tumor heterogeneity in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) was significantly associated with tumor progression and adverse treatment outcomes.

Resistance Poses Challenges in Chemotherapy Options

May 20th 2013

While chemotherapy might initially be effective in the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer, it is very common for patients to develop resistance to such agents.

LUX Program Examines Pan-HER Inhibitor Afatinib in Multiple Tumor Types

May 17th 2013

Researchers are attempting to determine if targeting more than one tyrosine kinase provide a greater benefit in several clinical trials involving the investigational drug afatinib.

A National Dialogue on Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer

May 16th 2013

A high-profile case of a medical decision being based primarily on the results of a genetic test has prompted a national discussion on the benefits and risks associated with acting on the results of such a test.

New PI3K-delta Inhibitor Prolongs Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

May 15th 2013

The novel selective PI3K-delta inhibitor idelalisib produced rapid and prolonged tumor shrinkage in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia who received the drug as a monotherapy.

Radium-223 Approved For Advanced Prostate Cancer

May 15th 2013

The FDA approved radium RA 223 dichloride for the treatment of symptomatic metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread to the bones but not to any other organs.

I-SPY Trials Seek Effective New Drug Combinations Using Adaptive Trial Design

May 14th 2013

The I-SPY trials are designed to test several different experimental therapies at once to determine which ones work best in which patients.

ODAC Votes Against Tivozanib in Renal Cell Carcinoma

May 2nd 2013

A single clinical trial was deemed insufficient to support approval of tivozanib for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, according to a 13-1 vote by the FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee.

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