Articles

Two doses, possibly even 1 dose, of the HPV16/18 vaccine may provide protection equal to the standard 3-dose schedule against persistent HPV16/18 infections, according to an analysis of data taken from women who missed 1 or more prescribed doses in a vaccine trial (Kreimer AR, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. September 9, 2011. Epub ahead of print).

At 4 years postvaccination, vaccine efficacy (prevention of incident HPV16 and HPV18 infections that persist for at least 1 year) was found to be 80.9% for 3 doses, 84.1% for 2 doses, and 100% for 1 dose.

CHICAGO—Patients are more willing than their oncologists to discuss the cost of cancer care, according to a recent survey of patients with cancer.

It was announced on September 19, 2011, that two new indications for Prolia^® (denosumab) were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). One indication allows for building bone mass in women receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer and with an increased likelihood of fracture. The other indication is for increasing bone mass in men being treated with androgen deprivation therapy for nonmetastatic prostate cancer and at great risk for fracture.

Monroe Township, NJ. September 15, 2011—Green Hill Healthcare Communications, LLC, a privately held medical communications firm, announced today the launch of a ground-breaking first-of-its-kind journal, Personalized Medicine in Oncology (PMO),the official publication of the Global Biomarkers Consortium (GBC) in Oncology (www.globalbiomarkersconsortium.com).

Patients diagnosed with cancer are living longer than ever before as a result of greater awareness, earlier detection, and improvement in therapies. However, living longer also means facing the symptoms of cancer survivorship, which may have a considerable impact on quality of life for many patients. One such symptom is chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain, a neurotoxic effect of some chemotherapeutic agents. Unfortunately, currently approved pain medications can have unbearable side effects that preclude the use of effective doses.

On September 15, 2011, GE and several financial partners announced a healthymagination open innovation challenge to discover ideas and create products that will assist in the fight against cancer, beginning specifically with breast cancer.

The World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA) has produced an easy-to-use, practical guide to assist individuals and their health professionals diminish the risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which presently account for 60% of global deaths.¹ The WHPA Health Improvement Card consists of a health scorecard and includes “how to” guides for both individuals and health professionals.

Conventional lung cancer treatment protocols often call for radiation therapy to be administered after chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, a new treatment standard may be on the horizon.

The largest population of cancer survivors in the United States are those who have defeated breast cancer. Often times survivors attempt to return to the workplace after treatment, but symptoms and long-term side effects can influence their ability to work. However, a recent development can help address these issues.

Organizational changes have taken place within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration office responsible for reviewing all drug and biologic applications for cancer therapies. The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research’s (CDER) Office of Oncology Drug Products has been reorganized and renamed the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products (OHOP).