Cancer Treatment Today

Deforolimus is a novel small-molecule inhibitor of the protein mTOR, a “master switch” in cancer cells. Blocking mTOR creates a starvation-like effect in cancer cells by interfering with cell growth, division, metabolism, and angiogenesis. Deforolimus has been designated both as a fast-track and orphan drug product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and as an orphan drug by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for the treatment of

Combination of Avastin and Temsirollimus for solid tumors is in a trial in renal cell carcinoma, NCT00619268. The TORAVA trial is designed to evaluate the progression-free rate at 48 weeks of a combination of Torisel® and Avastin® given at first-line treatment in patients with metastatic renal cancer. In addition, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, in May, 2008 announced the initiation of the INTORACT (INvestigation of TORISEL and Avastin Combination Therapy)

Lay Summary: Metronomic chemotherapy, small doses of cehmo for prolonged time, is under intensive study. SWOG 0012 was a precursor for an ongoing adjuvant trial (SWOG 0221) that is looking at a novel approach to the administration of chemotherapy based on previous studies showing that metronomic dosing can overcome chemotherapy resistance in a variety of model systems. SWOG 0012 compared standard chemotherapy to the metronomic approach in the neoadjuvant

The majority of human P450-dependent xenobiotic metabolism is carried out by polymorphic enzymes which can cause abolished, quantitatively or qualitatively altered or enhanced metabolism. The latter situation is due to stable duplication, multiduplication or amplification of active genes, most likely in response to dietary components that have resulted in a selection of alleles with multiple non-inducible genes. An updated list of variant CYP alleles

Lay Summary: Xeloda is being investigated for GBM. Capecitabine (Xeloda) is a drug that damages the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of tumor cells and blocks the function of DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid) of tumor cells. These actions help to kill the tumor cells. Celecoxib is a drug that may help to prevent the development of some types of cancer by blocking a type of enzyme (COX-2) that is found in tumor cells. Temozolomide and CCNU are the current

Proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MR spectroscopy, MRS) is a potentially useful adjunct to anatomic MR imaging in the characterization of brain tumors. Proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MR spectroscopy) provides additional information on the metabolic composition within an area of tissue. In August 2002, the American College of Radiology requested that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reconsider the 1994 noncoverage decision for 1H-MR spectroscopy.

Lay Summary: Some important questions have been raised about the combination of irinotecan and panitumumab. Vectibix is a recombinant, human IgG2 kappa monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). Vectibix is specifically indicated for for the treatment of EGFR-expressing, metastatic colorectal carcinoma with disease progression on or following fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan- containing

Overcoming immune tolerance against tumor self-antigens is a goal of intense research in the design of cancer therapies. One approach to enhance immune system activation against tumor antigens is to bl;ock the inhibitory co-stimulatory signals mediated by cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4, (CTLA-4) expressed on activated T cells. The CP-675 is one of several fully human monoclonal antibodies that are directed against human CTLA-4, ipilimumab (Medarex/Bristol-Myers

There is recent evidence that combination therapy of an EGFR and MEK inhibitors may have enhanced efficacy in patients with pancreatic cancer. Recent research confirms that the MEK pathway acts as a central axis in the proliferation of different tumors including melanoma, non-small cell lung, head/neck and pancreatic cancers. MEK inhibition, either alone or in combination with other agents, is an important therapeutic strategy in treating cancer. 

Lay Summary: A great deal of clinical investigation of Avastin for prostate cancer is ongoing but little is as of yet securely known. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as docetaxel and prednisone, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and