Cancer Weekly articles from July 2003

Cancer Weekly archives from July 2003

Researchers successfully inhibit spread of cancer in mice.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Many types of cancer would not be nearly as deadly if it weren't for their ability to spread to vital organs. Still, scientists don't yet fully understand the way in which cancer spreads (metastasizes)...

Engineered adenoviruses selectively destroys tumor cells.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have come up with an ingenious means of engineering a virus so that it selectively replicates in and destroys tumor cells. Because the virus is unable to attack normal cells, it may...

HAART appears to have caused biological shift towards more treatable disease.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Since the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV, physicians have seen an improvement in the prognosis for patients with AIDS-related lymphomas. Researchers from the U.S....

Silent DNA architecture helps block cancer cell growth.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cancerous and precancerous cells can detect that they are abnormal and kill themselves, or remain alive indefinitely but cease proliferating, through two intrinsic processes called programmed cell death...

'Lost' protein may lead to new treatment.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Northwestern University researchers have found that a protein normally made in the body is critical for normal prostate growth regulation because mice that lack this protein develop an enlarged...

Primary ovarian cancer spheroids host replicative adenovirus targeting integrin.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Primary ovarian cancer spheroids host replicative adenovirus targeting integrin. According to a study from Finland, "replication competent viruses hold promise for treatment of advanced cancers...

Unrelated stem cell grafts improve survival for children with high recurrence risk.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Unrelated stem cell grafts improve survival chances for children with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). "Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is frequently considered as treatment...

More cytokines are produced by circulating lymphoid and myeloid cells in AML.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Acute myelogenous leukemia patients have blood cells that produce more cytokines than normal cells. According to recent research from England, "A simple assay was developed to assess the potential...

Gemtuzumab ozogamicin may be effective for pediatric patients.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) can be beneficial for pediatric leukemia patients. This agent "was developed to treat CD33+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML)," researchers in the Netherlands explained....

The adrenal cortex is controlled by fragments from the same mother peptide.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The adrenal cortex is controlled by fragments from the same mother peptide. According to published research from Germany, "There is evidence that proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides other...

Epoetin beta therapy significantly improves quality of life in anemia.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Epoetin beta therapy significantly improves quality of life in anemia in malignancy. "This open-label, prospective study was conducted to compare the impact of epoetin beta vs. standard care on...

Spontaneous pneumothorax can occur as the first sign of metastatic angiosarcoma.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Spontaneous pneumothorax can occur as the first sign of metastatic angiosarcoma. "Spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare manifestation of metastatic lung cancers and described in advanced diseases or...

Viper venom derivative obtustatin suppresses angiogenesis in laboratory studies.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Viper venom derivative obtustatin suppresses angiogenesis in laboratory studies. "A novel disintegrin, obtustatin, was purified from the venom of the Vipera lebetina obtusa viper. Obtustatin is the...

EGF-positive cancer may be treatable with diptheria toxin-EGF fusion protein.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Epidermal growth factor positive glioblastomas may be treatable with a targeted diptheria toxin-EGF fusion protein. "The cytotoxicity of a diphtheria toxin-human epidermal growth factor fusion...

Two coumarin derivatives may serve as new lead compounds of antitumor agents.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Two coumarin derivatives may serve as new lead compounds of antitumor agents. According to recent research published in the British Journal of Cancer, "In search for new anticancer agents, we have...

Myrica rubra var. acuminata has antitumor constituents.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Myrica rubra var. acuminata has antitumor constituents. "Myrica rubra var. acuminata is a native shrub widely distributed and used as folk medicine in Taiwan for stomach disorders and diarrhea....

Caspase inhibition switches doxorubicin-induced apoptosis to senescence.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Caspase inhibition switches doxorubicin-induced apoptosis to senescence. "The inhibition of apoptosis is generally believed to be a major determinant of resistance to chemotherapy," investigators in...

ErPC triggers apoptosis via Bcl-2-dependent mitochondrial pathway.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ErPC triggers apoptosis via a Bcl-2-dependent mitochondrial but death receptor-independent pathway. "Induction of apoptosis contributes to the cytotoxic action of the intravenously applicable...

Salicylate potentiates necrotic, apoptotic cell death in colon, lung, breast.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Salicylate potentiates both necrotic and apoptotic cell death in colon, lung and breast. According to a study from the United States, "Onset of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)...

Background reduced in apoptosis studies by combining TUNEL kit, imaging system.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In order to reduce background in apoptosis studies, a TUNEL assay was combined with an analytical imaging system. "Apoptosis or programmed cell death is often altered in malignancies and is...

The risk for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia is diminished with allergy.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Atopic disease such as hay fever, neurodermatitis, and contact eczema appears to protect against acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk. "Our objective was to test the hypothesis that the risk of...

Patients testing positive for anti-Hu antibodies may have underlying cancer.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- When patients with autoimmune diseases test positive for anti-Hu antibodies, there may be an underlying cancer. According to published research from France, "Sera from 71 patients with primary...

Annular pancreas can be complicated by carcinoma of the bile duct.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Annular pancreas can be complicated by carcinoma of the bile duct. "It has been reported that annular pancreas should be evaluated for coexisting malignant tumors," investigators in Japan report....

Ki-67 index is a cell cycle marker; enhances prognostic accuracy of risk groups.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ki-67 index is useful for determining prognosis in urothelial superficial bladder carcinoma, as it allows for some low risk cases to be upgraded appropriately. According to recent research from...

BMT can be successful in subjects with mental disorders.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bone marrow transplantation can be successful in subjects with mental disorders. "Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a critical treatment of malignant illnesses including leukemia and others....

Survival not substantively affected by depressed mood or other psychopathology.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Survival is not substantively affected by depressed mood or other psychopathology. According to a study from the United States, "An electronic database search identified 15 studies of psychosocial...

Test identifies patients at high risk of bone complications.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Data show that the bone marker N-telopeptide (Ntx) may predict the clinical outcome of patients with bone complications that stem from a variety of different cancers, according to a study presented at...

PTEN reduces glioma vascularization despite angiogenic stimuli.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- PTEN reduces glioma vascularization despite angiogenic stimuli. "Approximately 30-40% of malignant glial tumors exhibit mutations in the tumor suppressor gene, PTEN/MMAC. Additionally, these tumors...

Phase III data for brain metastases available.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pharmacyclics, Inc., (NASDAQ:PCYC) highlighted the results of a Phase III trial with its investigational cancer agent, Xcytrin (motexafin gadolinium) Injection, for the treatment of brain metastases...

Research may lead to blood test for brain tumor diagnosis.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cleveland Clinic researchers have found that elevated serum levels of the protein S100B could be an indication of a brain tumor or of extensive disruption to a person's blood-brain barrier, the...

MRI may distinguish hemangioblastomas from other cerebellar tumors.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- MRI may distinguish hemangioblastomas from other cerebellar tumors. "We examined the signal intensity on diffusion-weighted imaging and the apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) relative to normal...

Researchers reprogram genetic material to reverse cancer.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nuclei removed from mouse brain tumor cells and transplanted into mouse eggs whose own nuclei have been removed, give rise to cloned embryos with normal tissues, even though the mutations causing the...

TMEFF1 may behave as a tumor suppressor gene in brain cancers.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- TMEFF1 may behave as a tumor suppressor gene in brain cancers. "TMEFF1 is a novel transmembrane protein, containing two follisatin domains and an epidermal growth factor-like region, researchers in...

Age, education, and country of birth may be a subgroup vulnerable to depression.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Age, education, and country of birth may be a breast cancer subgroup vulnerable to depression. According to a study from Australia, "The aim of this study was to determine population norms and...

Antioxidants and vitamins may reduce estrogen-associated breast cancer risk.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antioxidants and vitamins may reduce estrogen-associated breast cancer risk. "Modulation of the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of 4-hydroxyestradiol (4-OHE2), an oxidative metabolite of estrogen, by...

Antitumor activity reported for ABI-007 in patients resistant to taxane.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- At the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc., (APPX) said investigators reported on the early findings in a phase II metastatic breast...

Careful standardization needed for multicenter breast cancer genetic screening.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Careful standardization is necessary for multicenter genetic screening. "Epidemiologic studies of breast and other cancers are increasingly turning toward large, multicenter designs in order to...

Cases in U.K. top 40,000 for first time.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- More than 40,000 British women are now annually diagnosed with breast cancer - an all-time high, according to new figures released on June 2, 2003, by Cancer Research U.K. And experts believe the trend...

Epirubicin clinical trial shows treatment improves survival rate.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results from the largest trial of its kind show that a particular chemotherapy regime, which includes a drug called Epirubicin (Pharmacia & Upjohn Co.), can prevent breast cancer recurrence following...

Increased expression of the Bfl-1 gene may contribute to breast cancer.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Increased expression of the Bfl-1 gene may contribute to breast cancer. "The Bfl-1 gene, which was isolated from human fetal liver and only recently described, is a member of the Bcl-2 gene family....

Information may help identify early environmental exposures that increase risk.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Geographers and epidemiologists from the University at Buffalo, using geographic information systems (GIS) technology and life-course data from a cohort of breast cancer patients and controls in Western...

Inherited vulnerability to hormones of puberty may be a cause of disease.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Certain breast cancers may be linked to an unusual sensitivity to the hormones that flood the body at puberty - a sensitivity that appears inherited, according to preventive medicine researchers at the...

It may be therapeutic for breast cancer patients to express negative emotions.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- It may be therapeutic for breast cancer patients to express negative emotions. "The differences in affective status between patients who restrain their negative emotion and those who express...

National breast cancer foundation comments on MRI diagnostics.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) presented three studies on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showing that MRI may have significant implications for...

New chemotherapy agent highlighted in oncology studies.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Taxotere (docetaxel) Injection Concentrate, an active chemotherapy agent, showed positive results in various treatment regimens in early and advanced breast cancer according to numerous phase II and III...

PTHrP expression is predictive of longer survival in breast cancer.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Higher parathyroid hormone-related peptide expression is predictive of longer survival in breast cancer patients. "Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) participates in the development of...

Phase II study shows strong clinical responses.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Introgen Therapeutics, Inc., (NASDAQ:INGN) and its collaborators at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center reported preliminary data from a phase II study in patients with locally advanced...

Rb2 gene may play role in determining effectiveness of drug therapies.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The tumor-suppressing gene pRb2/p130 may play a significant role in determining the effectiveness of drug therapies against breast cancer in women, according to a study by researchers at Temple...

Researchers evaluate economics of specialized breast cancer center.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers evaluate the economics of a specialized breast cancer center. According to published research from Italy, "A breast unit is a cancer center specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of...

Shared decision making in breast cancer patients is evaluated.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Shared decision making in breast cancer patients is evaluated. "This qualitative study examines doctor-patient interactions and interviews with breast cancer patients referring to shared decision...

Tumor-bed boost with brachytherapy can provide satisfactory local control.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Tumor-bed boost with brachytherapy can provide satisfactory local control. According to a study from England, "The results of treatment for 174 patients at high risk of local recurrence, referred...

Two forms of fibulin-1 protein are upregulated by malignant breast cancer tissue.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- There are different forms of fibulin-1 protein, and two types may be upregulated by breast cancer tissue. "The extracellular matrix protein fibulin-1 suppresses the motility and invasiveness of a...

High dietary (n-3)/(n-6) fatty acid ratio lowers breast cancer risk.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New evidence supports the theory that a diet containing a high (n-3)/(n-6) fatty acid ratio lowers the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. "Recent research has suggested that an increased...

Social support buffers both negative physical and psychological outcomes.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Social support buffers both negative physical and psychological outcomes. According to a study from the United States, "Concerns about psychological distress have arisen regarding genetic testing...

New clinical trial data presented.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ:VION) announced that clinical data from a Phase 1 trial of its anti-cancer agent Triapine in combination with gemcitabine were presented in a poster session at the...

Angiogenesis quantification needs streamlining if predictive value is the goal.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Angiogenesis quantification needs streamlining if predictive value is the goal. "Chalkley counts have been suggested as the primary method for immunohistochemical evaluation of angiogenesis,...

Growth factor regulation may block tumor entry by immune effector cells.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Growth factor regulation may block tumor entry by immune effector cells. "The expression of endothelial cell (EC) adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte-vessel wall interactions is suppressed in...

Vaccine based on high-affinity receptor suppresses tumor angiogenesis.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Researchers in China have developed a tumor vaccine that uses cross-reactions between animal groups to break immune tolerance and to suppress intratumoral...

Invasion or proliferation, but not both, occur in malignant basal cell carcinoma.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study of basal cell carcinoma found that p16 governs invasion of cells, and that invasiveness and proliferation are mutually exclusive functions. "Using a highly infiltrative tumor type of basal...

CD105 prevents suicide in endothelial cells held under hypoxic conditions.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Hypoxic endothelial cells are protected from apoptosis by CD105, or endoglin, according to a new journal report. "CD105, a marker of endothelial cells, is...

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans regulate angiogenic signals in brain endothelium.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Heparan sulfate proteoglycans regulate angiogenic signals in brain endothelium. "Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) is a potent angiogenic factor in gliomas. Heparan sulfate promotes ligand binding...

A model optimizes scheduling for radiotherapy and angiogenesis inhibitors.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A model optimizes scheduling for radiotherapy and angiogenesis inhibitors. "We incorporate a previously validated mathematical model of a vascularized tumor into an optimal control problem to...

Advexin therapy halts tumor growth in advanced esophageal cancer patients.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Two abstracts describing an early stage phase I/II clinical study in esophageal cancer indicated that Introgen Therapeutics' (INGN) Advexin therapy was well-tolerated by patients and appeared to slow...

Company shows promising treatment for soft tissue sarcoma.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New data announced on behalf of PharmaMar show that Yondelis (ET-743) has positive activity in advanced adult soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Encouraging clinical data of Yondelis in combination with...

Data about Quadramet in hematological and solid tumor cancers presented at ASCO.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cytogen Corp. (CYTO) announced that clinical investigators from cancer research centers around the world presented new clinical data on Quadramet in hematological and solid tumor cancers at the annual...

Data suggest risk of infection doubles with reduced Neupogen administration.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Amgen (AMGN) announced data from several studies presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting evaluating the impact of optimal usage of Neupogen (Filgrastim) to help facilitate...

Early data show positive indicators of antitumor activity with gimatecan.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Preliminary data showing positive indicators of antitumor activity with the oral camptothecin derivative gimatecan (ST1481) were presented at the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting....

EntreMed and Corvas scientists identify new cancer target.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- EntreMed, Inc., (ENMD) and Corvas International, Inc., (CVAS) published preclinical findings demonstrating that the growth of primary and metastatic tumors in animal models was prevented when scientists...

Favorable phase I results of KOS-862 (Epothilone D) presented at ASCO.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Kosan Biosciences, Inc., (KOSN) and Roche announced results of the initial phase I clinical trial of KOS-862 (Epothilone D). KOS-862 is a polyketide natural product that inhibits cancer cells by...

GenOdyssee presents preclinical results of interferon alpha variants.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- GenOdyssee, S.A., presented preclinical data on its natural functional variants of interferon alpha (IFN alpha) in a poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in...

Genaera announces promising interim lung cancer clinical trial results.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genaera Corp. (GENR) announced promising interim results for its antiangiogenic drug, squalamine, in its phase IIb non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) clinical trial. The results currently reported...

IMiDs demonstrate potential activity in solid tumors.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Celgene Corp. (CELG) advanced the development of its leading IMiD clinical candidates in solid tumor indications. In preclinical studies, Revimid has demonstrated potent anticancer activity through...

Leukemia cells internalize specific antibodies that could be linked to toxin.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia B cells internalize specific antibodies: anti-CD5, CD22, and CD40. According to published research from Germany, "B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) cannot be...

Lorus publishes results of GTI-2040 antitumor activity.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists at Lorus Therapeutics, Inc., have published the results of experimental studies in mouse models bearing human tumors treated with GTI-2040, the company's lead antisense compound. The...

New clinical findings announced for NeoLipid anticancer compounds.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- NeoPharm, Inc., (NEOL) and its collaborators unveiled new and additional preliminary data from the company's phase I clinical trials at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. ...

Phase III results enhances treatment for pancreatic cancer patients.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The first results of the phase III trial comparing the combination of gemcitabine (Gem) and oxaliplatin (Ox) to gemcitabine alone were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical...

Research shows weight gain, safety in treatment of cancer.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Final study data presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology confirmed that oxandrolone therapy in patients with cancer-related weight loss resulted in weight gain and...

Trials show early signs of tolerability for RAF kinease inhibitor.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel investigational RAF kinase inhibitor showed encouraging signs when used in combination with standard chemotherapeutics, according to Phase Ib and Phase I trial data released at the annual...

Vascular targeting agent proves effective in cancer treatment.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Peregrine Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:PPHM) announced the publication of a report showing that certain chemical agents make tumor blood vessels more responsive to its Vascular Targeting Agent (VTA) effector...

Gene therapy important part of cancer research.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A group of researchers have attempted to activate the cell death pathways to treat several kinds of cancer, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy...

Antitumor immunity induced by electrofusion of tumor and dendritic cells.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Specific antitumor immunity was induced in mice with the electrofusion product of tumor cells and dendritic cells. According to a study from the United States, "Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent...

Apoptosis plus CD80 costimulation promote immune response by melanoma cells.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Apoptotic cell death in conjunction with CD80 costimulation conferred uveal melanoma cells with the ability to induce immune responses. "Uveal melanoma is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis...

Appetite symptoms and diminished thinking ability may indicate depression.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Appetite symptoms and diminished thinking ability may indicate depression. "Diagnosing depression in cancer patients has been challenging because the diagnostic criteria include somatic symptoms...

Adenomatous polyposis coli and E-cadherin are downregulated in colorectal cancer.
July 1, 2003... 2003 JUL 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Adenomatous polyposis coli as well as E-cadherin are dowregulated during human colorectal cancer development. "Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene contribute to the progression...