Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Colorectal Cancer News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/colorectal_cancer/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114193.php The New York Times on Sunday examined how the Genentech cancer drug Avastin "signifies both the hopes and dilemmas of modern medicine" because while it offers incremental benefits for cancer patients, the drug is costly and concerns have been raised about its safety and efficacy. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114249.php A protein previously thought to promote colorectal cancer instead suppresses the growth of human cancer cells in culture, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found. "This finding reshapes a fundamental model of how colorectal cancer arises," said Dr. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/114211.php AMDL, a leading vertically integrated bio-pharmaceutical company with operations in China and the US, announced today the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a letter of substantial equivalence to an existing predicate device and granted clearance to market the AMDL-ELISA DR-70® (FDP) as a safe and effective blood test for monitoring patients who have been previously diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC). Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113671.php By measuring the activity of four genes in cancer cells, scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University accurately predicted whether colorectal tumors are sensitive or resistant to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), an important chemotherapy drug. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113598.php ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex: ANX) announced preliminary response rate results from its discontinued Phase 3 clinical trial of ANX-510, or CoFactor, the Company's folate-based biomodulator of 5-FU (5 fluorouracil), for the treatment of first-line metastatic colorectal cancer. The primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival, which is expected to mature and be reported by the Company along with safety data later this year. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113491.php Only 20% of persons aged over 55 use colonoscopies for early detection of cancer, even though the statutory health insurance funds have covered the costs since 2002. This was shown by an analysis of the Bavarian Colonoscopy Database published in the current edition of Deutsches Arzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2008; 105(24): 434-40). http://www.aerzteblatt.de/v4/archiv/pdf. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113289.php A pre-planned multivariate analysis of the five-year follow-up data shows that patients receiving chemotherapy after-surgery to treat colon cancer, are more likely to live longer when taking the chemotherapy pill Xeloda (capecitabine), compared to those receiving 5-FU/FA intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. The study compared Xeloda to the previous gold-standard IV chemotherapy for colon cancer, 5-FU/FA*, also known as the Mayo Clinic regimen. Mon, 30 Jun 2008 02:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113285.php Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) announced updated results from the "STEPP" (Skin Toxicity Evaluation Protocol with Panitumumab) trial, the first prospective study to examine differences between preemptive and reactive skin treatment for skin toxicities in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients receiving epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) therapy. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113174.php Patients who believe in the value of colorectal cancer screenings and fear cancer often say they would undergo preventive testing, but their intentions do not necessarily translate into action, according to a new study. "It's well known that people don't always do what they say they're going to do," said Emily Power, lead author. Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113113.php Through the generous philanthropic support of the Littlefield 2000 Trust, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is pleased to announce three recipients of the 2008 Jeannik M. Littlefield-AACR Grants for Metastatic Colon Cancer Research, totaling $1.8 million. In its third year, this competitive funding program is focused on high impact grants to accelerate the discovery and development of new treatments for metastatic colon cancer. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/113046.php Data presented at the 10th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGC) in Barcelona confirm that Avastin (bevacizumab) significantly improves survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer regardless of whether they have mutation in a gene known as K-Ras. This outcome is important because other biologic combinations have been found to be ineffective in patients with a mutation in the K-Ras gene, which is found in up to half of patients with colorectal cancer. Fri, 27 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112936.php Data presented at the 10th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGC) in Barcelona confirm that Avastin (bevacizumab) significantly improves survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer regardless of whether they have mutation in a gene known as K-Ras. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112894.php A Northwestern University biomedical engineer who has developed optical technology shown to be effective for the early detection of colon cancer has received a $7.5 million grant over five years from the National Cancer Institute to further study an instrument that potentially could become a routine colon cancer screening test and to launch large-scale clinical trials. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112809.php Results from a meta-analysis involving data from six phase III studies show that patients taking the chemotherapy pill Xeloda actually live longer than those receiving intravenous (IV) chemotherapy 5-FU/FA*. The pooled results showed that patients taking Xeloda survived for an average of 23.1 months while patients receiving the IV chemotherapy survived for an average of 22.5 months,. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112746.php europacolon has called on all governments to implement existing EU recommendations on colorectal cancer screening following a new report published that shows the disease to be significantly neglected despite being the second most common cancer in Europe.1 Welcoming the findings of the report by the London School of Economics,2 Jola Gore-Booth, Director of europacolon said: "For too long colorectal cancer has been the poor relation in cancer screening and management. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112744.php The first cross-country report on the management and funding of colorectal cancer (CRC) reveals an urgent need for action to improve the survival of patients diagnosed with this common cancer in Europe and Australia. Key findings from the report published by the London School of Economics (LSE) confirm that few countries have prioritized CRC screening and treatment. Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112675.php Blacks, Hispanics and Asian-Americans are less likely to be screened for colon cancer than whites, according to a study published on Monday in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. For the report, researchers from the University of California- Davis Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112584.php White people are more likely than blacks and Hispanics to undergo screening for colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the June 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Anthony F. Jerant, M.D. (University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento) and colleagues point to barriers related to socioeconomic status, health care access, and language as reasons for this racial discrepancy. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112044.php As it celebrates its 10th year, the ESMO International Symposium: 10th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer® has received endorsements from 6 leading professional societies and organizations, solidifying the reputation of the Congress as the premier platform for specialists in cancer research, leading oncologists and practicing clinicians to review the state-of-the-art in gastrointestinal cancer and share the latest information on its multidisciplinary management. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112020.php Patients diagnosed with colon cancer who had abundant vitamin D in their blood were less likely to die during a follow-up period than those who were deficient in the vitamin, according to a new study by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/112014.php According to a new study from researchers in France, bowel preparation with oral sodium phosphate for capsule endoscopy in patients with obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is no better at cleansing the small bowel than the standard method of preparation, which is an eight-hour fast before the procedure. The study appears in the June issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111813.php Application of modulated radiotherapy in the treatment of bowel cancer can enhance the results obtained by means of other conventional therapies. The technique has managed to apply the radiation in a way most adapted to the tumoral volume and risk areas, while minimising irradiation to healthy tissue. This radiotherapy procedure involves the administration of higher daily doses of radiation but with a total dose equivalent to conventional ones. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111631.php A compound that accumulates in cells more readily than a commonly used colorectal cancer drug may be just as useful in treating colorectal tumors, but with fewer side effects, MIT researchers have found. Both compounds are analogues of cisplatin, a potent anticancer agent, but the newly investigated compound, known as cDPCP, may better target colorectal cells, potentially sparing other body tissues from damage. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/111481.php ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex: ANX) provided an update with regard to overall survival from its Phase 2b clinical trial of CoFactor for the treatment of first-line metastatic colorectal cancer. Overall survival results in this study have been revised upwards slightly, with the CoFactor/5-FU (5-fluorouracil) arm demonstrating a 14 day improvement in overall survival compared to the leucovorin/5-FU arm. Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/110746.php A team of scientists at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), a research institute of the Asian city-state's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and the University of California at San Francisco have developed a pharmacological approach to kill colon cancer cells.