Hematology-Oncology News

• JAK2 a Proposed New Marker for Polycythemia Vera Clinicians have a new biological prognostic indicator that is more specific than the classical risk factors of older age and risk of thrombosis. Researchers say doctors should start testing for mutant JAK2 allele.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Idraparinux Shows Promise for Deep Vein Thrombosis Administered once weekly, the subcutaneous injection may offer an alternative to standard heparins and vitamin-K antagonists.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• First Demonstration of "Apparently Fully Curative" Gene Therapy Children with severe combined immunodeficiency are healthy and thriving after hemopoietic stem-cell gene therapy, going "from bubble to the playground."
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Rituximab Improves Treatment of Burkitt’'s Lymphoma Adding rituximab to chemotherapy regimens improves the response rate and dramatically reduces toxicity in Burkitt’'s lymphoma.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Stem Cells Offer Hope in Severe Graft-vs-Host Disease Treatment with donated mesenchymal stem cells can be life-saving in patients with severe acute graft-vs-host disease.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Alert Risk for Thrombosis Persists After Discontinuation of Heparin Therapy The FDA warns that the risk for heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis may persist for several weeks.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• New Oral Anticoagulants Raise Hopes for Warfarin Replacement A host of potential new oral anticoagulant agents, which could become much-needed replacements for warfarin, are making good progress in development, with at least two agents now in phase 3 trials. But experts in the field are cautious after the ximelagatran experience.
  Heartwire, December 2006
• Highlights From MMWR: Prescription Drug Use Linked to Fatal Crashes and More The CDC has reported on alcohol and drug use among victims of motor vehicle crashes; environmental barriers to healthcare among disabled individuals; and prostate-specific antigen levels in men aged 40 years and older.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Stem-Cell Transplant Patients Face Long-Term Cancer Risk A new study reveals that within 10 years of a hematopoietic stem-cell transplant, patients are almost twice as likely as the general population to develop a second solid cancer.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Five-Year Data on Imatinib Show Best-Ever Survival With Chronic Myeloid Leukemia The 5-year overall survival of 89% with imatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia is the best ever reported for this disease.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Gene Profiling Less Effective in Predicting Lung Cancer Researchers say the new technique fails to outperform standard histologic examinations, which are less expensive and easily conducted
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• International Approvals: Solaraze, Nasonex, Advate Australia has approved diclofenac sodium 3% gel (Solaraze), Canada has approved a new indication for mometasone furoate monohydrate nasal spray (Nasonex), and Japan has approved rurioctocog alfa [recombinant, plasma/albumin-free method: rAHF-PFM] infusion (Advate).
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Combined Scan for Accurate Tumor Staging in Colorectal Cancer A preliminary study suggests that a whole-body scan with combination PET/CT for tumor staging in colorectal cancer saves time and is easier for both patients and doctors.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Deadlock Resolved Between Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University The new multiple-year contract, announced November 22 by Governor Jennifer Granholm, hopes to overcome former disputes and ensure long-term stability in the partnership.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Second Opinion for Breast Cancer Leads to Changes in Treatment in Half of Patients In a study where patients already diagnosed with breast cancer sought a second opinion, a multidisciplinary tumor board recommended a different surgical approach in half the patients.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• Lung Cancer May Be Overdiagnosed in Women In a retrospective 5-year study from the Mayo Clinic, 27% of cancers fit the definition of overdiagnosed, and most of these were in women; however, a reviewer questioned the rigor of the data.
  Medscape Medical News, December 2006
• No Benefit to Adding Spectroscopy to MRI for Localization of Peripheral Zone Prostate Cancer Results were negative from the ACRIN Protocol 6659 study, but the coordination across multiple institutions was impressive.
  Medscape Medical News, November 2006
• Ultrasound Helpful Prior to Breast-Sparing Brachytherapy Four-year data are encouraging for ultrasound-guided percutaneous placement of balloon catheters in patients with breast cancer.
  Medscape Medical News, November 2006
• Longer Infusion Times for Anthracyclines Reduce Cardiac Damage A longer infusion time for anthracycline administration appears to reduce the risk of cardiac failure, suggests a new review.
  Medscape Medical News, November 2006
• Alert Methadone-Related Fatalities Underscore Need for Careful Dosing Inadvertent systemic accumulation of methadone (Dolophine) can increase the risk for respiratory depression and cardiac arrhythmias.
  Medscape Medical News, November 2006