The EORTC-GIMEMA AML-12 Trial found that high-dose cytarabine improved outcomes for adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia, especially those younger than 46 years. High-dose treatment resulted in higher remission and survival rates compared to standard-dose treatment.
The EORTC-ESTRO joint session will present the latest research on soft tissue sarcoma treatment, emphasizing the importance of early patient management. Key experts will discuss optimal timing sequences for radiotherapy in limb and retroperitoneal sarcomas, as well as current concepts in chordoma management.
The EORTC task force evaluated physiological reserves and biomarkers of aging in elderly patients with cancer. They identified potential biomarkers that may indicate functional biological age, such as inflammatory markers, telomere length, and genetic predisposition for longevity. The study provides a guideline for integrating these bi...
A recent EORTC trial found that assessing HRQOL (health-related quality of life) is crucial for both patients with head and neck cancers and their doctors. The study showed that patients in the sequential treatment arm experienced less swallowing and speech problems compared to those in the alternating chemoradiotherapy arm.
The EORTC trial found that perioperative chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 increases progression-free survival compared to surgery alone, but no significant difference in overall survival was observed. The study concludes that perioperative chemotherapy should remain the reference treatment for patients with resectable liver metastases from co...
The EORTC study found that baseline recorded health-related quality of life parameters provided additional prognostic information for survival in eleven types of cancer, including brain, breast, and colorectal cancers. The specific health-related quality of life parameters found to be predictive for survival varied by cancer site.
A recent EORTC trial found that detecting ERG gene deletion at diagnosis of childhood B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is beneficial for risk stratification. Patients with the ERG gene deletion had an 8-year event-free survival rate of 86.4% and overall survival of 95.6%.
The EORTC/GIMEMA 06012 trial found sequential combination of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) and standard chemotherapy has no benefit for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia. GO is too toxic for patients over 70 years old, whereas younger patients may potentially benefit from such treatment.
A European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer trial found that adjuvant radiotherapy after local excision reduced the incidence of local recurrences by a factor of two, resulting in an overall lower risk of mastectomy. The study highlights the importance of conducting long-term follow-up.
The EORTC will present various cancer research studies, including a phase III trial on breast cancer radiation therapy and a study on the use of data warehouses for response measurements. The organization will also showcase its clinical trials and discuss regulatory issues.
The EORTC trial found that vaccination with GM2/KLH-QS-21 did not improve relapse-free or overall survival rates for patients with stage II melanoma. The vaccine was expected to stimulate antibodies against the GM2 ganglioside, but instead, it led to a higher risk of death and decreased survival rates.
Pr. Françoise Meunier has been recognized with the ECCO Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedication to improving cancer survival rates through international multidisciplinary clinical research. Her contributions include promoting EORTC as a major European organization in cancer research and treatment.
A phase 2 trial found moderate dose radiotherapy to be an effective treatment for patients with desmoid-type fibromatosis, with a 81.5% local control rate at 3 years. The response was slow, but continued regression was seen even after three years.
Efstathios Zikos and Divine Ediebah received awards to present research on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measurements in low-grade glioma patients and small-cell lung cancer. They will also share results at the 20th Annual Conference of the International Society for Quality of Life Researchers.
A new phase 2 trial is underway to evaluate the efficacy of HER-2 targeted regimens in elderly patients with HER-2 positive metastatic breast cancer. The study aims to delay or avoid conventional chemotherapy while maintaining tumor control.
The EORTC BOS 2 trial aims to improve outcomes for patients with resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer by testing the efficacy of bevacizumab or panitumumab added to standard peri-operative FOLFOX 4 chemotherapy. The trial plans to accrue 360 patients in 50 sites across ten countries.
A phase III non-inferiority trial found that axillary radiotherapy provides excellent regional control and reduces the risk of lymphoedema compared to axillary lymph node dissection. The study also showed no significant differences in overall or disease-free survival between the two treatment arms.
The EORTC trial 26951 found that CpG island methylator phenotype status and MGMT promoter methylation are key factors in determining which patients benefit from PCV chemotherapy. The study suggests that other molecularly defined subsets of grade III tumors may also respond to treatment.
The EORTC 62024 trial found that adjuvant imatinib impacts short-term freedom from relapse in patients with localized, surgically resected, high/intermediate-risk GIST. The trial showed a non-statistically significant trend in favor of the adjuvant arm for Imatinib failure-free survival.
In a large, international randomized trial, initial radiotherapy was compared to temozolomide chemotherapy. No significant difference in progression-free survival was observed between the two treatment strategies, with radiotherapy numerically favored. Molecular tumor characterization may allow personalized treatment approaches.
Prophylactic cranial irradiation reduces the risk of symptomatic brain metastases and prolongs survival in small-cell lung cancer patients with extensive disease. The EORTC trial results show a significant increase in one-year survival, from 13.3% to 27.1%, after receiving prophylactic cranial irradiation.
Researchers found that combining imantanib with apoptosis-inducing drugs inhibits tumor growth more effectively than either therapy alone. The combination increased sensitivity to TRAIL, a drug that induces cell death, leading to reduced pulmonary metastases and primary tumor growth.
Researchers have found that a new anti-cancer drug, BB-10901, is well-tolerated at higher doses than previously used, with patients responding to treatment and experiencing durable complete responses. The drug targets cancer cells expressing CD56, leading to clinical activity and stable disease in some patients.
Scientists have developed a protoxin that targets and kills prostate cancer cells using the protein PSA made by prostate cancer. The therapy shows promise in treating locally recurrent or advanced prostate cancer, with potential to reduce enlarged prostate size. A phase I clinical trial is currently underway.
Scientists discover 'good' and 'evil' clones of ALL cells, with the 'evil' subclones being inherently drug-resistant and causing inevitable relapse. The researchers aim to design therapies targeting these resistant subclones.
Researchers found that pre-surgical treatment with bevacizumab and erlotinib is safe and effective in prolonging patients' survival. The study suggests this approach might be applicable to a wide range of patients with renal cell carcinoma.
A phase II trial of the drug denileukin diftitox found that it depletes regulatory T cells, allowing CD8+ T lymphocytes to attack melanoma cells. Patients with stage IV disease experienced significant regression or stabilization of tumors and metastases.
A new anti-cancer drug has shown promise for halting the progression of advanced solid tumors by blocking aurora proteins. In a phase I clinical trial, seven patients experienced disease stabilization, with four remaining stable for over seven months.
A recent study found that vaccinating mice with embryonic stem cells prevented lung cancer in those exposed to cancer-causing chemicals or had transplanted cancer cells. The vaccines showed promise in preventing tumour growth and were up to 100% effective, with smaller tumours developing in vaccinated mice.
Researchers have discovered a biochemical pathway by which the sex hormone androgen increases levels of reactive oxygen species in the prostate gland, contributing to prostate cancer development. A new drug, MDL 72,527, has been shown to block this pathway, significantly prolonging survival and inhibiting tumour growth in mice.
A MEK enzyme inhibitor has shown long-lasting stable disease in patients with advanced solid cancers, inhibiting key targets and reducing cell proliferation. Phase II trials have been initiated for melanoma, pancreatic, lung, and colon cancers.
A new chemotherapy combination has shown significant improvement in survival rates for brain tumour patients, with almost half of those with an inactivated MGMT gene surviving after 2 years. The treatment also did not negatively impact patients' quality of life, offering a promising breakthrough in glioblastoma treatment.
Researchers have discovered a cottonseed-derived compound that enhances the effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in treating various cancers, including prostate cancer. The study's findings suggest that the compound, (-)-gossypol, can increase induction of apoptosis and make tumours more sensitive to radiation therapy.
Researchers have found that low-dose synthetic lycopene alone can suppress the growth of human prostate tumors by over half. A combination of low-dose lycopene and vitamin E was shown to be even more effective in inhibiting tumor growth, with a significant reduction in PSA levels.
A new targeted cancer treatment, cetuximab, has shown improved response rates and survival times in advanced colorectal cancer patients who develop an acne-like rash. The study found that the severity of the rash correlated with better tumour responses and longer median survival times.
Belgian researchers have discovered a revolutionary approach to angiogenesis by opening up tumor blood vessels, allowing for improved access to cancer drugs and radiotherapy. The key to this ability lies in the peptide endothelin-1, which stimulates tumor cell proliferation and causes arterioles to contract.
The second-generation antisense cancer drug OGX-011 has shown promising results in a Phase I trial, inhibiting clusterin production in patients' cancers. The Phase II trials will investigate the effectiveness of OGX-011 combined with standard chemotherapy in patients with metastatic hormone refractory prostate, breast, and lung cancer.
A recent study led by Dr. Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh and Dr. Kamran Alimoghaddam found that arsenic achieved complete remission in over 90% of newly diagnosed APL patients. The treatment has also shown promising results in other cancers like multiple myeloma, with a mean survival time of nearly 34 months for most patients.
A genetic predictive test identifies brain cancer patients who benefit from temozolomide, a targeted treatment. The study found a 46% survival rate for those with methylated MGMT promoter status.
A Phase II study has shown that the drug imatinib is active against a rare type of cancer called DFSP, achieving complete control in eight out of ten patients. The research team believes molecular analysis can predict patient response to treatment based on genetic profiles.
Research in mice found that rapamycin combined with radiation treatment delayed the regrowth of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) human tumors by an average of 19 days. Rapamycin inhibits the activity of mTOR, a protein promoting tumor growth, and its combination with radiation may enhance chemotherapy efficacy.
A phase I trial using rViscumin administered intravenously has begun in Hanover and Nantes, France, with preliminary results showing immune system responses to the drug. The trials are part of further Phase I studies being considered, which will determine the clinical significance of rViscumin.
A Norwegian study demonstrates that COX-2 inhibitors (coxibs) can be effective in preventing oral cancer by targeting high-risk individuals. The study's results suggest that coxibs may be a promising approach to chemoprevention, particularly for head and neck cancer patients.
Researchers found that overexpressed LPAAT-beta is highly tumorigenic and causes cancer cells to die when inhibited. The small molecule inhibitors induce apoptosis in various tumor cell lines, including lung and colon cancers.
The lack of harmonization in European clinical trial regulations is jeopardizing progress in state-of-the-art treatment strategies, denying patients the benefits of advances. This is particularly concerning in complex fields like cancer research, where multi-disciplinary and multi-modality treatment is required.
A study by researchers at the H.Lee Moffitt Cancer Center has identified the ERCC1 gene as a potentially clinically useful independent marker for lung cancer. Patients with high levels of ERCC1 are more likely to survive after surgery and may benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy, while those with low levels have a poorer prognosis.
Researchers found that inhibiting PDGF signalling increases tumour uptake of cytotoxic drugs without increasing toxicity. Combination therapies with Glivec and other drugs induced better anti-tumour effects in animal models, suggesting a new strategy for improving drug treatment for cancer patients.
A Phase I study of the novel anti-angiogenic drug SU011248 showed promising results in patients with advanced cancers that had failed to respond to other therapies. The drug demonstrated activity in a range of tumour types, including renal and gastrointestinal cancers, but did not show efficacy against brain metastases.