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Abstracts by Bruce Shriver and Tom Swartz
The American Child Photographers Charity Guild The American Child Photographers Charity Guild is a non-profit, volunteer based organization of child photographers from all over the country who have come together to form a guild dedicated to children in need and their families. At your request, a photographer will come to your hospital location for a professional and sensitive photography session. There are no fees for this service.
Medical Emergency Bracelets and Pendants The SOS Talisman is an emergency medical bracelet. All vital medical information is carried with the wearer and thus there is no need to contact anyone else in the event of a medical crisis. The MedicAlert® E-HealthKEY is an intelligent self-contained USB-enabled tool that is designed to launch medical information in emergencies and allows the user to carry personal health records at all times. CureSearch Gold Ribbon Days, June 19-21, 2006, Washington, DCCureSearch Gold Ribbon Days uniquely brings together childhood cancer patients, families, survivors, advocates, researchers and health care professionals from across the nation in Washington, DC to raise awareness of childhood cancer and the need for a cure. In 2005, CureSearch welcomed 300 participants from 31 states to Gold Ribbon Days. These advocates visited more than 200 members of Congress and staff. Leading members of Congress spoke at Gold Ribbon Days and honored the advocates courage and spirit including Senator John Kerry (D-MA), Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX). Participants in Gold Ribbon Days will be able to participate in advocacy training sessions as well as meet their member of Congress and other legislative staffers to tell their cancer story. Prominent keynote speakers will be present and there will be supervised activity programs for children. There will also be a session on public education and grassroots activism as well as a reception honoring Congressional leaders who are leading the effort to improve the lives of children with cancer and their families.
2006 Sarcoma Dragonslayer Bike, Hike or Trike, Saturday, May 6, 2006 The Northwest Sarcoma Foundation will hold the 2006 Sarcoma Dragonslayer Bike, Hike or Trike, Saturday, May 6, 2006 at Green Lake Park in Seattle. Click here to download the detailed brochure. You can register online as an individual or form a team (five people are required to qualify as a team). Registration deadline is April 21, 2006, online or by mail, registrations must be received by that date. Otherwise you can register on the day of the event.
Viruses: the New Cancer Hunters "Viruses: the New Cancer Hunters" was posted on Jan. 26, 2006 on IsraCast.com (Israeli Science and Technology News). From the abstract, “Researchers from the Hebrew University have succeeded in isolating a variant of the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV-HUJ), which usually affects birds, in order to specifically target cancer cells. The research, which has already cleared the first phase of clinical trials, is already patented and if all goes well it might receive an approval for clinical use, changing the way we think about viruses forever.”
The Pharmacy Time has a continuing education website that contains a number of free courses covering a wide range of topics, some of which deal with cancer and cancer-treatment related problems. Go to the above website and select “Free Courses” from the View Course pull down menu and select “Lesson” for any course of interest.
The Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization that seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability.
The Cancer Research UK website Cancer Research UK is the world's leading charity dedicated to research on the causes, treatment and prevention of cancer. Their site states, “Our vision is to conquer cancer through world-class research, aiming to control the disease within two generations. We support the work of over 3,000 scientists, doctors and nurses working across the UK. Our annual scientific spend is more than £213 million, which is raised almost entirely through public donations.” Click here to see their webpage dealing with some of the tests patients may have when doctors are diagnosing or treating cancer. There is also a section on different types of cancer (including soft tissue sarcomas and bone cancer) and cancer treatments.
Adult soft tissue sarcomas: Conventional therapies and molecularly targeted approaches Adult soft tissue sarcomas: Conventional therapies and molecularly targeted approaches, by Simone Mocellin, Carlo R. Rossi, Alba Brandes, and Donato Nitti, in Cancer Treatment Reviews. The summary states, "The therapeutic approach to soft tissue sarcomas (STS) has evolved over the past two decades based on the results from randomized controlled trials (RCT), which are guiding physicians in the treatment decision-making process. Despite significant improvements in the control of local disease, a significant number of patients ultimately die of recurrent/metastatic disease following radical surgery due to a lack of effective adjuvant treatments. In addition, the characteristic chemoresistance of STS has compromised the therapeutic value of conventional antineoplastic agents in cases of unresectable advanced/metastatic disease. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to improve the prognosis of patients with STS. Recent advances in STS biology are paving the way to the development of molecularly targeted therapeutic strategies, the efficacy of which relies not only on the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer development/progression but also on the personalization of the therapeutic regimen according to the molecular features of individual tumours. In this work, we review the state-of-the-art of conventional treatments for STS and summarize the most promising findings in the development of molecularly targeted therapeutic approaches."
Adjuvant Chemotherapy in the Elderly “Adjuvant Chemotherapy in the Elderly: Whom to Treat, What Regimen?”, by Susan Burdette-Radoux and Hyman B. Muss, The Oncologist, Vol. 11, No. 3, pp. 234-242, March 2006. From the abstract, “As the elderly population continues to grow, adjuvant chemotherapy treatment in the elderly is becoming an increasingly important issue for the practicing oncologist. Decisions regarding adjuvant treatment involve a careful assessment of the risk for recurrent disease and side effects from treatment, balancing these risks against the beneficial effects of treatment. In this review, we discuss methods for assessing the elderly patient in terms of life expectancy, comorbid disease, and functional capacity. This assessment can then be used to help identify appropriate candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy. Tools for estimating the risk for relapse and mortality and the reduction in these risks with various forms of treatment are useful for clarifying treatment options. Elderly patients have been underrepresented in clinical trials, and patients are often given less intense and possibly inferior standard treatment as a function of age. Ongoing clinical trials targeting the elderly patient may help answer questions about the relative risks and benefits of adjuvant treatment in this age group. Recent data shows that most fit elderly patients derive a benefit from standard adjuvant chemotherapy regimens that is equal to that of younger patients.” From the conclusions, “Elderly patients may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy to the same extent as younger patients. The decision to proceed with adjuvant chemotherapy rests on a careful assessment of the patient’s comorbidities and functional status, the likelihood of relapse in relation to life expectancy, and a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits with the patient so that an informed decision can be made. Ongoing and future studies should address the particular problems faced by this age group so that they can continue to benefit from advances made in the treatment of early-stage cancer.”
Lymph node metastasis in soft tissue sarcoma in an extremity For patients with soft tissue sarcoma in an extremity, the outcome is thought to be poor if lymph node metastasis develops. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of lymphatic involvement from soft tissue sarcoma on patient survival. Thirty-nine (3.7%) of 1066 patients who had surgery for soft tissue sarcoma in an extremity had lymph node metastases develop. Three (20%) of 15 patients with epithelioid sarcoma, four (19%) of 21 patients with rhabdomyosarcoma, two (11.1%) of 18 patients with clear cell sarcoma, and two (11.1%) of 18 patients with angiosarcoma had lymphatic involvement. Thirty patients who had resection of involved lymph nodes had an estimated 5-year survival of 57%, whereas nine patients treated without surgery all died within 30 months. An estimated 4-year survival of 71% for patients with isolated lymph node metastases was significantly better than 21% for patients with synchronous systemic and lymph node involvement. There was no difference in outcome for patients with isolated lymphatic involvement compared with patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage III extremity sarcomas. The investigators of this study conclude that these results suggest that long-term survival is possible after surgical resection of lymphatic metastases from soft tissue sarcoma.
A new therapeutic approach in patients with advanced sarcoma Sarcomas represent a rare and heterogeneous disease and the prognosis of patients remains poor, with a disease-free survival at 5 years of less than 10%. Only a few chemotherapeutic agents, such as doxorubicin and ifosfamide, have been identified to be active with response rates above 20%. The concept of angiostatic therapy in combination with proapoptotic biomodulators and chemotherapeutics has not been evaluated in these patients. Thus, in this study the efficacy of low-dose trofosfamide in combination with the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma-agonist, pioglitazone, and the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib, was evaluated in a pilot study. Six patients with advanced sarcoma received a combination of oral pioglitazone plus rofecoxib and, after 14 days, oral trofosfamide. The therapy was administered continuously daily. Four patients received the triple combination as maintenance therapy; three of them achieved stabilization of disease. Two patients received the combination as relapse therapy; however, it failed to stop disease progression. Side effects were generally mild and hospitalization was not necessary. Thus, the investigators believe this new triple combination of low-dose trofosfamide, pioglitazone, and rofecoxib may represent a feasible new alternative in the palliative treatment of sarcoma patients.
The Pharmacological Potential of Mushrooms This review article describes pharmacologically active compounds found in mushrooms. Compounds and complex substances with antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antiallergic, immunomodulating, anti-inflammatory, antiatherogenic, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective and central activities are covered. The article focuses on a review of recent literature. The production of mushrooms or mushroom compounds is also discussed briefly.
A major marketing technique used by pharmaceutical companies is direct-to-physician marketing. This form of marketing frequently employs promotional marketing brochures, based on clinical research, which may influence how a physician prescribes medicines. The objective of this study was to investigate whether or not the information in promotional brochures presented to physicians by pharmaceutical representatives is accurate, consistent, and valid with respect to the actual studies upon which the promotional brochures are based. The method of this study was as follows. Physicians in five clinics were asked to consecutively collect pharmaceutical promotional brochures and to send them all to a centralized location. The brochures for any class of medication were collected on a continuous basis until 20 distinct promotional brochures were received by a central location. Once the brochure was received, the corresponding original study was obtained. Two blinded reviewers performed an evidence-based review of the article, comparing data that was printed on the brochure to what was found in the original study. The investigators found as follows. Among the 20 studies, 75% of the studies were found to be valid, 80% were funded by the pharmaceutical company, 60% of the studies and the corresponding brochures presented patient-oriented outcomes, and 40% were compared to another treatment regimen. Of the 19 brochures that presented the data as graphs, 4 brochures presented a relative risk reduction while only 1 brochure presented an absolute risk reduction. 15% of the promotional marketing brochures presented data that was different from what was in the original published study. The investigators thus concluded that given these findings, physicians should be cautious about drawing conclusions regarding a medication based on the marketing brochures provided by pharmaceutical companies.
If you were diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and 35, and are now between the ages of 18-40, you are invited to complete a survey compiled by the Lymphoma Research Foundation. The survey is open to all cancer types, and its purpose is to better understand the health care needs of adolescent and young adult cancer patients and survivors. The information you provide will guide the development of enhanced programs and services for adolescent and young adult patients, survivors and their families. The survey should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. The project is funded through a partnership between the Lymphoma Research Foundation and the US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Growth Spurts Tied to Peaks in Teen Cancers Growth spurts during adolescence are associated with peaks in the incidence of some types of teenage cancers, researchers said on March 30th. Cancer is the biggest cause of non-accidental death in 13-24 year olds. Four types of cancer, including two bone tumors, are more common in adolescents and young adults. Professor Jillian Birch, of the University of Manchester in England, told a conference in London that genetics, hormones and events in the womb and early in life, such as infections, may play a role in teenage cancers. "But we also think there are triggering events during adolescence," she added. "The striking thing about the bone tumors are that this peak of incidence occurs coincidently with the adolescent growth spurt," Birch told the 4th International Conference on Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Medicine. She went on: "It is very suggestive that there is something happening during this adolescent growth spurt, this rapid period of growth, that is triggering the cancer to develop in a group of cells that are already primed by something that had happened earlier in childhood." Birch told the meeting that genetic predisposition plays a role in cancer in young people but more research is needed to determine what it is about growth that is prompting cancer to develop. She said international collaborative studies are needed to identify causal factors because of the rarity of individual types of cancer. Less then 1 percent of cancers are diagnosed in teenagers and young adults aged 13-24. The common types of cancer at that age are osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma which are cancers of the bone, Hodgkin's lymphoma and germ cell, or reproductive cell, tumors in the testicles, ovary and brain. Professor Tim Eden, also at the University of Manchester, said teenager cancer patients are often treated either in pediatric wards or with adult patients. He told the meeting that there should be more coordinated care for young people in wards and clinics with resources that are appropriate to their needs. "We have to look to young people and address age-specific needs," Eden added.
New Federal Health Initiative to Improve Cancer Therapy On February 14, 2006, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Oncology Biomarker Qualification Initiative (OBQI) -- an agreement to collaborate on improving the development of cancer therapies and the outcomes for cancer patients through biomarker development and evaluation. Biomarkers are biologic indicators of disease or therapeutic effects, which can be measured through dynamic imaging tests, as well as tests on blood, tissue and other biologic samples. This initiative is the first time these three Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies have focused together on biomarkers as a way of speeding the development and evaluation of cancer therapies. "We are excited about this effort to speed the development and delivery of new cancer treatments for patients," said Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt. "By bringing together the scientific, regulatory and delivery expertise of these three agencies, we can bring targeted, more personalized cancer diagnostics, treatments and preventions to patients more rapidly." The collaboration will develop scientific understanding of how biomarkers can be used to assess the impact of therapies and better match therapies to patients. For instance, OBQI will address questions such as how particular biomarkers can be used to:
The goal of OBQI is to validate particular biomarkers so that they can be used to evaluate new, promising technologies in a manner that will shorten clinical trials, reduce the time and resources spent during the drug development process, improve the linkage between drug approval and drug coverage, and increase the safety and appropriateness of drug choices for cancer patients. "An enhanced understanding of clinical biomarkers will help make the development of diagnostics and treatments more targeted, one of our most pressing goals under the Critical Path Initiative, FDA's program to modernize the medical product development process," said FDA Acting Commissioner of Food and Drugs Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D. Under the OBQI, biomarker research will be focused in four key areas: standardizing and evaluating imaging technologies to see in more detail how treatments are working, developing scientific bases for diagnostic assays to enable personalized treatments, instituting new trial designs to utilize biomarkers, and pooling data to ensure that key lessons are shared from one trial to another. By working with academic and industry scientists, as well as professional organizations, the OBQI teams can foster the development of key information on biomarkers through clinical trials. "By identifying biomarkers for specific cancers and clinically evaluating them, researchers will have an evidence base for their use in targeted drug development and to determine which therapies are likely to work for patients before treatment selection," said NCI Deputy Director Anna D. Barker, Ph.D. "Rather than waiting weeks to months to determine if a specific drug works for a patient, biomarkers could be used to monitor real-time treatment responses." The first OBQI project to be implemented will serve to validate and standardize the use of Fluorodeoxyglucose - Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) scanning. PET scans are used to characterize biochemical changes in a cancer. Under the collaboration, researchers will use FDG-PET imaging technology in trials of patients being treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, to determine if FDG-PET is a predictor of tumor response. Data resulting from this type of evidence-based study will help both FDA and CMS work with drug developers based on a common understanding of the roles of these types of assessments. Over the next several months, the OBQI team will design a number of initiatives to identify and clinically qualify other cancer biomarkers. The new initiatives will bring together scientists from many sources and address agency priorities identified through FDA's Critical Path and NIH's Roadmap Initiatives. The OBQI also represents the work of the NCI-FDA Interagency Oncology Task Force (IOTF). The IOTF is a collaboration between NCI and FDA to enhance the efficiency of clinical research and the scientific evaluation of new cancer treatments. The two agencies, along with CMS, share knowledge and resources to facilitate the development of new cancer drugs and diagnostics and speed their delivery to patients as safely and as cost-effectively as possible.
Tidbits The Spring Issue of CURE Magazine is now available online
This website shows a video sequence of a human melanoma cell growing in culture. A fresh sequence begins each midnight (your local time) and exhibits a number of cell divisions over its 24 hour duration. A fresh image is loaded every 10 minutes, and one can view any previous frame in the sequence.
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