Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital have reported that 75% of patients with locally advanced bladder cancer can be treated successfully with combined modality therapy that preserves the bladder. The details of this 15-year study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.

Researchers involved in the international Reduction by Dutasteride of Prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial have reported that the urinary PCA3 test can predict biopsy outcome in men taking dutasteride. The details of two studies were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancer Symposium held in San Francisco, March 5-7.

Researchers from Costa Rica have reported that women over the age of 40 are not likely to benefit from vaccination to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV). The details of this study were published in the March 3, 2010 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

The results of a recent clinical trial suggest that a combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy, followed by maintenance treatment with Avastin, may result in better progression-free survival than chemotherapy alone in women with advanced ovarian cancer. Initial results of this Phase III clinical trial were made available in a press release from Genentech; full results will be presented at a future medical meeting.

Researchers from the University of Texas at San Antonio, the University of Utah, and Myriad Genetics, Inc. have reported that a gene signature test performed on prostate cancer tissue can help predict the probability of recurrent disease in men with localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.

Researchers from France have reported that patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases have similar rates of whether or not they receive Avastin® (bevacizumab). The details of this study appeared in the January 2010 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy does not extend overall survival in patients with inoperable, advanced, or metastatic stomach cancer, according to the results of a Phase III trial released by Roche.

Researchers from Italy have concluded, on the basis of a systematic review and meta-analysis, that adjuvant alpha interferon significantly improves disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with high-risk melanoma. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication on February 23, 2010 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers involved in the multicenter international Phase III trial (TROPIC) have reported that cabazitaxel (XRP-6258) was superior to Novantrone® (mitoxantrone) for the treatment of patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) who had failed treatment with Taxotere® (docetaxel). The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary Cancers Symposium March 5-7 in San Francisco.

Researchers from Japan have reported that women with intermediate and high-risk endometrial cancer have a better survival following combined pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy compared with pelvic lymphadenectomy alone. The details of this study were published early online on February 25, 2010 in the Lancet.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin have reported that the use of bisphosphonates for osteoporosis treatment may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. The details of this study were published in the March 1, 2010 issue of the British Journal of Cancer.

Researchers affiliated with the Proton Radiation Oncology Group/American College of Radiology 95-09 study have concluded that high-dose conformal radiation therapy results in better long-term cancer control than conventional-dose radiation therapy for treatment of localized prostate cancer. The details of this follow-up study were published in the March, 2010 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Researchers from the University of Florida have reported that the outcomes of esophagectomy are significantly better in high-volume hospitals than in low-volume hospitals. These data support the “regionalization of esophagectomy to such high volume locations in Florida to reduce procedure related mortality.” The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (GCS) in January.

Three studies published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology on February 16, 2010 have confirmed that abiraterone acetate, an inhibitor of cytochrome P17, is active in men with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). These studies also suggest that patients who cease to respond to current androgen depravation therapy (ADT) will respond to an alternative form of androgen deprivation.

Researchers have reported that the results of the Oncotype DX® breast cancer test are similar among patients in the United States and Asia-Pacific, suggesting that the test may help guide breast cancer treatment decisions in both regions. These results were presented at the 6^th Annual Conference of the Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research (OOTR) in Japan in February 2010.

Researchers from the UK and Australia have reported that neoadjuvant Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin) before chemoradiotherapy and surgery is a promising approach for the treatment of patients with poor-risk rectal cancer. The details of this study appeared in the March 2010 issue of the Lancet Oncology.

Researchers from Australia have reported that medical Qigong (MQ) can improve quality of life (QoL) of cancer patients compared with standard care. The details of this study were published in the March 2010 issue of Annals of Oncology.

Researchers from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have reported that men treated with laparoscopic prostatectomy have similar rates of postoperative complications to men undergoing open prostatectomy. The details of this population-based study were published early online on February 24, 2010 in the Journal of Urology.

Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have reported that the combination of Afinitor® (everolimus) and Temodar® (temozolomide) is active for the treatment of patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The details of this Phase I/II study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (GCS).

Researchers from Sweden have concluded that adjuvant Lysordren® (mitotane, O, P’-DDD) should be the standard of care for patients with high-risk adrenocortical carcinoma. The details of this study were published in the February 2010 issue of Endocrine Related Cancer.

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is a promising new approach for the treatment of patients with NHL. Radioimmunotherapy uses a specific monoclonal antibody attached to a radioactive isotope. The antibody specifically delivers the radioactive isotope to the target cell.

Researchers involved in an international randomized Phase III clinical trial have reported that treatment with Herceptin® (trastuzumab) improves survival without compromising quality of life (QoL) in patients with HER2-positive, advanced and inoperable gastric and gastroesophageal (GE) junction cancer.

Researchers affiliated with the Nurses’ Health Study have reported that women with early-stage breast cancer living at least one year after diagnosis have a decreased risk of distant relapse and lower mortality if they are regular users of aspirin.

Researchers involved with the international randomized trial NO16968 have reported that the adjuvant XELOX regimen—Xeloda® (capecitabine) and Eloxatin® (oxaliplatin)—was superior to 5-FU and leucovorin (5-FU/LV) for Stage III colon cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Researchers from Garden State Cancer Center, the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and New York University Medical Center have reported that an enzyme, PAM4, may be detected by serum enzyme immunoassay (EIA) in patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer. The details of this study were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in late January.

Several studies evaluating Tarceva® (erlotinib) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer were presented at the 2010 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (GCS) in January.

Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Cleveland Clinic, and Wayne State University have reported that there is heterogeneity of results among experienced surgeons performing radical prostatectomy. The details of this study were published in the March 2010 issue of the Journal of Urology.

Two studies in the in the March 2010 issue of the Journal of Urology suggest that stereotactic percutaneous cryoablation and laparoscopic renal cyroablation are effective treatments for selected patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Researchers from Harvard Medical School have reported that the recent decline in breast cancer incidence was restricted to White non-Hispanic women in high-income counties and probably reflects discontinuation of hormone therapy. The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the American Journal of Public Health on February 10, 2010.

On February 18, 2010 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Rituxan® (rituximab) for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Researchers from Canada have reported that breast cancer screening programs that include nurses are more successful than programs that do not include nurses. The details of this study were published early online in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention on February 16, 2010.

Researchers from the University of California at San Diego have reported that “light alcohol intake regardless of body weight did not increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence or all-cause mortality in this cohort of middle-aged women previously diagnosed with breast cancer.” The details of this study were published early online on February 16, 2010 in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

Researchers affiliated with the Childhood Cancer Study have reported that late recurrence of childhood cancers is a risk for some patients and is more frequent in survivors of Ewing’s sarcoma or astrocytoma. The details of this study appeared in the December 16, 2009 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota have reported that women who take aspirin on a regular basis have a decreased risk of developing ovarian cancer compared with non-users. The details of this study were published in the February 8, 2010 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina have reported that neoadjuvant Nexavar® (sorafenib) before nephrectomy is well tolerated in patients with Stage II or higher renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The details of this study appeared in an early online publication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Researchers from Washington University have reported that between 2000 and 2005, less than one percent of U.S. women took tamoxifen [Nolvadex®] to prevent breast cancer. The details of this study were published in the February 2010 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

Researchers from several European medical centers affiliated with the EPCI study have reported that low vitamin D levels are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. The details of this study were published January 21, 2010 in the British Medical Journal.

Researchers from Canada have reported that women 66 years of age or older with breast cancer who are receiving tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) have a higher mortality rate with concurrent usage of paroxetine (Paxil®) for depression than women not taking antidepressants or taking other antidepressants. The details of this study were published in the February 13, 2010 issue of the British Medical Journal.

Researchers from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center have reported that the use of surgery, especially lobectomy, in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is associated with improved survival outcomes. The details of this study were published early online in Cancer on January 15, 2010.

Researchers from France and Switzerland have reported that Femara® (letrozole) can be safely given after surgery and during adjuvant radiotherapy in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive localized breast cancer. The details of this study were published early online in Lancet Oncology on February 8, 2010.

Researchers from Canada have reported that adjuvant accelerated hypofractionated radiation for localized breast cancer is as effective as conventional dosing. The details of this study were published in the February 11, 2010 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers from the UK affiliated with the COMICE randomized trial have reported that preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not affect reoperation rates in women with early-stage breast cancer. The details of this study appeared in the February 13, 2010 issue of the Lancet.

Researchers involved in an international Phase II clinical trial have reported that denosumab produced responses in the majority of patients with giant cell tumor of the bone. The details of this study were published early online in Lancet Oncology on February 10, 2010.[1] These results were previously presented in preliminary form at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando, Florida, on June 1.

Researchers from the UK have reported that smoking cessation after the diagnosis of early stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or limited stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) improves survival. The details of this study were published in the January 30, 2010 issue of the British Medical Journal.

Researchers from France have reported that a regimen of adjuvant Taxol® (paclitaxel) and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) was well tolerated after radical prostatectomy for men with high-risk prostate cancer. The details of this study were published in the March, 2010 issue of Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases.

Researchers from the University of Miami have reported that adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, treatment in a high-volume hospital, and/or treatment in a teaching hospital were independent predictors of survival in patients treated with surgical resection for pancreatic cancer. The details of this study were published in the January, 2010 issue of the Archives of Surgery.

An Amgen press release has reported that a randomized Phase III trial comparing denosumab to Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in men with bone metastases from prostate cancer has been completed. This study showed that denosumab was more effective than Zometa in delaying time to first on-study skeletal related event (SRE) and reducing the rate of multiple SREs.

Researchers from Harvard University have reported that an automated telephone outreach with speech recognition (ATO-SR) program did not improve rates of screening for colorectal cancer (CRC). The details of this study were published in the February 8, 2010 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Use of a combination of Sancuso® (granisetron transdermal), a patch that delivers granisetron through the skin for up to five days, and intravenous granisetron appears to be a safe and feasible approach for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The results of this Phase I clinical trial were presented at the Fifth Annual Chicago Supportive Oncology Conference.

Researchers affiliated with the Singapore Chinese Health Study have reported that individuals who consumed two or more sugary soft drinks per week experienced a statistically significant increased risk of pancreatic cancer when compared with individuals who did not consume soft drinks. The details of this study appeared in the February, 2010 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, and Prevention.