ASCO Announces Top Cancer Advances Of 2007 In Annual Progress Report

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 19 Dec 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released Clinical Cancer Advances 2007: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention, and Screening, an independent assessment of the most significant clinical cancer research of the past year. The report, which can be accessed online at http://www.plwc.org, identifies the six most important advances in clinical cancer research over the past year and highlights 18 other notable advances in prevention, screening, treatment and survivorship.

"This report demonstrates what many of us in the cancer research and practice community have known for some time. The long-term federal investment in cancer research is paying off," said Nancy E. Davidson, MD, ASCO President.

"But this impressive pace of progress will slow if we don't recommit to funding cancer research. Adjusted for inflation, cancer research funding has actually declined 12 percent since 2004-this has never happened in our nation's history. Without additional funding, the chance to build on the extraordinary new scientific knowledge, and provide new treatments for 1.4 million Americans diagnosed with cancer every year, will be delayed or lost," Dr. Davidson said.

Findings

Following is a summary of the six advances identified by the report's 21-member oncologist editorial board as the most significant in clinical cancer research this year. (Note: The advances in this report are not ranked and their order is not significant.)

- First Systemic Treatment for Primary Liver Cancer: Primary liver cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death globally. In a significant advance in the treatment of the disease, a large study found that patients who took the targeted therapy sorafenib (Nexavar) for advanced liver cancer lived about 44 percent longer than patients who did not. This is the first systemic (non-surgical) treatment for liver cancer.

- Treatments for Advanced Kidney Cancer Continue to Expand: Adding bevacizumab (Avastin) to standard kidney cancer treatment nearly doubled progression-free survival. While progress against kidney cancer was largely stalled for decades, in recent years several targeted therapies have proven effective, giving patients a range of new treatment options.

- MRI Better for Screening Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer: Use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus mammography to detect breast cancer has generated significant debate. This year, new guidelines based on findings from several studies show for the first time that MRI can be effectively used in women at high risk of developing cancer. 1.4 million women in the United States are at high risk. MRI is still not yet recommended for most women as a breast cancer screening tool.

- HPV Linked to Head and Neck Cancers; Possible New Role for HPV Vaccine: Two studies show that the human papillomavirus (HPV, the virus present in virtually all cervical cancers) was found in 72 percent of several types of head and neck cancers, and, for reasons that are not fully understood, that the presence of the virus was linked to better treatment outcomes. These findings suggest a possible role for the new HPV vaccine in preventing head and neck cancers, though additional study would be needed.

- Drop in Breast Cancer Cases Linked to Declining Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy: Two studies this year reported that the recent significant reduction in breast cancer incidence appears to be linked to the declining use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in menopausal women since 2002.

- Preventive Radiation Therapy Can Stop Spread of Advanced Lung Cancer: Researchers reported for the first time that "whole brain" radiation therapy for patients with advanced small cell lung cancer cuts the risk that the cancer will spread to the brain by about two-thirds, and as a result doubled one-year survival rates. The outlook for these patients has historically been very poor.

Recommendations: Report Calls For Increases In Cancer Research Funding, Clinical Trial Access

In the report, ASCO makes two major recommendations:

1. Renew Nation's Investment in Cancer Research

The budgets for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have remained unchanged for four years, marking the longest sustained period of flat government funding for cancer research in the country's history.

"We've made extraordinary progress in preventing and treating cancer, but we still have a lot of work to do," said Julie Gralow, MD, director, breast medical oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and co-executive editor of the report.

"The pace of progress is in jeopardy. Because of funding cuts, we're already seeing reductions in the proportion of funded NCI grant applications, cutbacks in clinical trial enrollment and the elimination of entire research programs. We've never known more about how cancer grows and spreads. We need to accelerate progress for our patients, not slow it down."

To reverse the effects of these cuts and maintain the nation's world-class research infrastructure, ASCO calls for substantial funding increases for NIH and NCI, at a minimum to keep pace with medical inflation.

2. Remove Barriers to Clinical Trial Participation

Cancer trials are the engine of cancer research and can represent a patient's best chance for effective therapy, but data suggest that only about 5 percent of cancer patients currently participate. ASCO's report calls for public and private insurers to cover the costs of patients' participation. Some insurers do not cover participation in clinical trials because they are classified as "experimental." Several states have passed legislation or established agreements requiring that health plans pay for routine medical care for patients in clinical trials. ASCO urges other states to do the same, and encourages Medicare to continue to cover trial participation.

"Clinical trials are critical to advancing cancer research and improving care for patients. We need to do everything possible to remove barriers to participation in clinical trials," said Robert F. Ozols, MD, PhD, senior vice president for medical science at Fox Chase Cancer Center, and co-executive editor of the report.

About The Report

Clinical Cancer Advances was developed under the guidance of a 21-person editorial board made up of leading oncologists and other cancer specialists, including specialty editors for each of the disease- and issue-specific sections.

Editors of the report reviewed studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and early results of research presented at major scientific meetings over a one-year period (November 2006-October 2007). Only studies that significantly altered the way a cancer is understood or had an important impact on patient care were included.

About ASCO

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world's leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With more than 25,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs and peer-reviewed journals. For ASCO information and resources, visit http://www.asco.org/presscenter. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at http://www.plwc.org.

American Society of Clinical Oncology