Antibiotic Sponge Ineffective at Preventing Surgical Infection (08/12/2010)
Patients undergoing colorectal surgery are reported to experience an increased incidence of surgical-site infection with the addition of a gentamicin-collagen sponge enclosed at the surgery site. These findings were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Screening Rates Among Older Americans (07/15/2010)
More older Americans are undergoing screening for colon cancer, but the rates for breast cancer screening remain the same, according to a government report released on July 6, 2010.

Radioembolization plus Fluorouracil Active in Colorectal Cancer Patients with Liver Metastases (07/02/2010)
Radioembolization plus the chemotherapy agent fluorouracil slows cancer progression for colorectal cancer patients whose disease has progressed following prior treatment with chemotherapy and have metastases limited to the liver.

Potential Role for Oncotype DX Colon Cancer Test in Stage III Cancer (06/10/2010)
The Oncotype DX® colon cancer test, which is currently available for treatment planning in Stage II colon cancer, may also predict recurrence risk in Stage III colon cancer. These results were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Erbitux Does Not Improve Survival in Stage III Colon Cancer with Normal KRAS (06/08/2010)
The addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to standard adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer who have normal KRAS gene activity does not improve survival, according to the results of a Phase III study presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

▪ More...

Screening Rates Among Older Americans (07/15/2010)
More older Americans are undergoing screening for colon cancer, but the rates for breast cancer screening remain the same, according to a government report released on July 6, 2010.

Rates of Adenoma Detection Linked to Risk of Interval Colorectal Cancer (05/18/2010)
Endoscopists who detect tumors or polyps (adenomas) at a higher rate during colonoscopy screening for colorectal cancer tend to produce a lower risk for interval cancer among their patients, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Coffee and Soft Drinks Not Associated with Increased Risk of Colon Cancer (05/12/2010)
Consumption of coffee and sugary soft drinks does not increase the risk of colon cancer, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. High tea consumption, on the other hand, might be associated with a modest increase in risk.

Colorectal Cancer Screening with Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Reduces Incidence and Death (05/06/2010)
Among individuals between 55 and 64 years of age, one screening using flexible sigmoidoscopy can reduce risk of developing colorectal cancer and dying from the disease, according to a study published in The Lancet. 

Lower Use of Diagnostic Testing May Explain Higher Colorectal Cancer Mortality in African Americans (04/06/2010)
The higher incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer among African Americans compared with Whites may be due to differences in health care utilization rather than differences in susceptibility to cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

▪ More...

Antibiotic Sponge Ineffective at Preventing Surgical Infection (08/12/2010)
Patients undergoing colorectal surgery are reported to experience an increased incidence of surgical-site infection with the addition of a gentamicin-collagen sponge enclosed at the surgery site. These findings were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Potential Role for Oncotype DX Colon Cancer Test in Stage III Cancer (06/10/2010)
The Oncotype DX® colon cancer test, which is currently available for treatment planning in Stage II colon cancer, may also predict recurrence risk in Stage III colon cancer. These results were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Erbitux Does Not Improve Survival in Stage III Colon Cancer with Normal KRAS (06/08/2010)
The addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to standard adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage III colon cancer who have normal KRAS gene activity does not improve survival, according to the results of a Phase III study presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Most Survivors of Lung and Colorectal Cancer Keep Their Jobs (04/14/2010)
Among people diagnosed with nonmetastatic lung or colorectal cancer, the majority return to work, according to a study recently published in Journal of Clinical Oncology. Those who do leave the workforce tend to have worse prognoses and lower socioeconomic status.

Older Stage III Colon Cancer Patients Not Being Treated According to Evidence-based Recommendations (03/25/2010)
The treatment of Stage III colon cancer does not always follow evidence-based recommendations, especially for older patients, according to the results of an observational study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

▪ More...

Radioembolization plus Fluorouracil Active in Colorectal Cancer Patients with Liver Metastases (07/02/2010)
Radioembolization plus the chemotherapy agent fluorouracil slows cancer progression for colorectal cancer patients whose disease has progressed following prior treatment with chemotherapy and have metastases limited to the liver.

Depression May Persist With Metastatic Cancer (05/27/2010)
A substantial number of patients with metastatic cancer may suffer from depression which tends to persist and grow more severe toward the end of life, according to the results of a study published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Study Explores Which Patients Respond Best to Vectibix (04/19/2010)
Previous studies have reported that colorectal cancers with mutations in a gene known as KRAS do not respond well to drugs such as Vectibix® (panitumumab). In an effort to expand these findings and further individualize colorectal cancer treatment, researchers evaluated several additional genes. The results were presented at the 101st  annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Cost Versus Benefit Among Chemotherapy Drugs for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (03/26/2010)
New chemotherapy agents for metastatic colorectal cancer modestly improve survival time but come with substantial costs, according to the results of a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Preventive Treatment Reduces Skin Side Effects of Vectibix (02/16/2010)
Among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated with the targeted therapy Vectibix® (panitumumab), preventive skin care reduces the occurrence of skin side effects. These results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

▪ More...