For Preventing Stroke, Reducing Bleeding And Saving Lives, Apixaban Superior To Warfarin
8/30/2011
A large-scale trial finds that apixaban, a new anticoagulant drug, is superior to the standard drug warfarin for preventing stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation. Moreover, apixaban results in substantially less bleeding and also results in lower mortality...
BAP1 Gene Mutation Raises Mesothelioma And Melanoma Of The Eye Risk
8/29/2011
People with gene mutation BAP1 have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma and melanoma of the eye, researchers have reported in Nature Genetics. The authors added that individuals with the BAP1 mutation who are exposed to asbestos have a considerably higher chance of developing mesothelioma than those without the mutation...
New Imaging Device Enables Scientists To See Tumor Cells Traveling In The Brain
8/29/2011
For the first time, scientists can see pathways to stop a deadly brain cancer in its tracks. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have imaged individual cancer cells and the routes they travel as the tumor spreads...
Cell Receptor Could Allow Measles Virus To Target Tumors
8/28/2011
Canadian researchers have discovered that a tumor cell marker is a receptor for measles virus, suggesting the possible use of measles virus to help fight cancer. Their findings appeared in the Open Access journal PLoS Pathogens on August 25th. Viruses cause infection by attaching to specific proteins on cell surfaces called receptors. Dr...
The Impact Of Chemotherapy On Female Fertility
8/28/2011
Current estimates of the impact of chemotherapy on women's reproductive health are too low, according to a University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study. The researchers say their analysis of the age-specific, long-term effects of chemotherapy provides new insights that will help patients and clinicians make more informed decisions about future reproductive options, such as egg harvesting...
President Hugo Chavez Undergoes Third Round Of Chemotherapy
8/28/2011
Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, who had a cancerous tumor removed from his pelvic region last June, has started a third round of chemotherapy today, this time in a military hospital in Venezuela. All previous treatments, including the removal of the tumor, were performed in Cuba. Chavez says that his current chemotherapy is aimed at preventing a recurrence of the disease...
FDA Approves Xalkori With Companion Diagnostic For A Type Of Late-stage Lung Cancer
8/27/2011
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Xalkori (crizotinib) to treat certain patients with late-stage (locally advanced or metastatic), non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) who express the abnormal anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene...
Abbott Receives FDA Approval For ALK Gene Test For Lung Cancer Therapy Selection
8/27/2011
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a new molecular diagnostic test designed to detect rearrangements of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)...
Xalkori Approved For Late-stage Lung Cancer In Patients With Abnormal ALK Gene
8/26/2011
The US FDA has approved Xalkori (crizotinib) for the treatment of late-stage NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) in patients who have the abnormal ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) gene. Patients undergo a genetic test, known as the Vysis ALK Break Apart FISH Probe Kit which detects the abnormal gene. The FDA has also approved this test. The abnormal ALK gene causes cancer to develop and grow...
Tumors Can Be Attacked Using Measles Cell Receptor Virus
8/26/2011
Findings of Canadian researchers published on the 25th August in the Open Access journal PLoS Pathogens show, that a tumor cell marker is a receptor for measles virus, which could potentially help in the fight against cancer. Infections are caused, by a virus' attachment to specific proteins on cell surfaces, called receptors. Dr...