Opinion: Clinical trial participation is crucial to fight cancer - St. Paul (PIONEER PRESS) July 26, 2002 - Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and Sherry Lansing discuss the importance of clinical trial participation in the development of effective cancer treatments.

Gen. Schwarzkopf and Ms. Lansing are board members of The Friends of Cancer Research.

They discuss a UC-Davis study that showed low rates of participation are related to insufficient resources, health insurance restrictions, confusion about research and medical care, lack of understanding about clinical trials, and lack of information about their own illness.

Pioneer Press | 07/26/2002 | Read it here in the Pioneer Press.

Carcinogen acrylamide forms at dangerous levels during cooking of potatoes --(Intellihealth) July 26, 2002 -- Researchers at Stockholm University found that fried, oven-baked, and deep-fried potatoes contain high levels of acylamide, a carcinogen. The higher the cooking temperature, the more acylamide.

The study is reported in the August issue of Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewd American Chemical Society journal. The study was the basis of the announcements by the Swedish National Food Administration and other European food administrations this spring warning about the possible carcinogenic effect of carbohydrate food cooked at high temperatures.

Protein-rich foods, such as beef and chicken, produced only moderate levels of acylamide at cooking temperatures. Carbohydrates produced higher amounts. Potato chips and French fries were at the top of the list.

Read it here on InteliHealth.

Rate of infection after GI surgery appears linked to use of PCA pumps -- (Medscape Medical News) July 19, 2002 -- A retrospective study of 515 randomly selected patients who underwent rectal or intestinal surgery found that 214 patients used patient-controlled-analgesia pumps. The in-hospital postoperative surgical site infection rate for this group was 10.7%. For those not using the pumps, surgical infections were 4.0%.

The study authors could find no variables that explained the difference and urge additional study.

Susan D. Horn, PhD, from the Institute for Clinical Outcomes Research, reports her study in Surgical Infection, 2002; 3 (2): 109-118.

Donald E. Fry, in an accompanying editorial, notes that there appears to be no association with patient factors or surgical technique. He suggests that the problem may be related to the sustained concentration of narcotics, rather than the narcotics themselve.

Read it on Medscape.

Chewing gum may help after colon surgery -- NEW YORK (Reuters) July 26, 2002 -- A small study in Japan compared rates of recovery from ileus (the loss of normal bowel function after abdominal surgery between patients who were given gum to chew and those who weren't.

Gum chewers passed gas 2 days after surgery, compared to 3 days for the controls and had their first bowel movement 2.7 days earlier.

The study of 19 patients is reported by Dr. Takayuki Asao in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Read it here onYahoo! News.

Researchers find small possible link between colon cancer and treatment with human growth hormone --NEW YORK (Reuters Health) July 26, 2002-- Dr. Anthony Swendlow and his team report 2 cases colon cancer and 2 of Hodgkins's disease in 1,800 UK adults who had been treated with human growth hormone during childhood between 1959 and 1985. Swendlow points out that these are a very few cases.

However, some studies have linked a high level of natural human growth hormone in the body to colon cancer, so the results are " provocative and somewhat worrisome," in the words of two reviewers of the Lancet article an accompanying editorial.

Source: The Lancet 2002; 360: 268-269, 273-277

Read it here in Yahoo! News

Elderly and low income patients with colorectal cancer less likely to receive recommendation for adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation -- NEW YORK (Reuters) July 25, 2002- People over the age of 74 with colorectal cancer that has spread to lymph nodes are 2 1/2 times more likely not to have a doctor recommend chemotherapy or radiotherapy than people younger than 65.

Those who lived in low-income neighborhoods or had Medicaid medical coverage were twice as likely not to be sent for chemo or radiation than those in wealthier neighborhoods or those with private health insurance.

Dr. Juliet VanEenwyk and her colleagues at the Washington State Department of Health report the results of their study in the July issue of Cancer, the journal of the American Cancer Society.

Read the story on Yahoo News!

Researchers find no direct connection between personality and cancer -- Previous studies have suggested that personality traits like repression, depression, and inability to express feelings are associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. However,a prospective study of over 5,000 Danes showed no connection.

Demographics based on general population cancer incidence would have predicted 412 cancers among the so-called psychically vulnerable. In fact, there were 403. Age and gender adjusted analyses showed no significant risk increase among the psychically vulnerable either.

The study appears in Cancer 2002;94: 12, pp.3299-3306.

Read the Wiley Cancer News Alert

Cancer patients most worried that their treatment will affect their family or partner -- NEW YORK (Reuters) July 25, 2002 - Patient concerns have changed over the past twenty years, according to a study published in the current issue of Cancer. In a 1983 study, patients were most worried about hair loss, nausea and vomiting, and fear of needles. In the 2000 study, the top concern was effects on family, followed by hair loss, and fatigue.

Read iit here on Yahoo News

Cancer Care plans a teleconference on understanding peripheral neuropathology -- Susan Derby RN and Richard Payne MD, both from the Palliative Care Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, will lead a free teleconference on July 30, 2002 from 1 to 2 pm, Eastern time.

Sign up with Cancer Care for the teleconference.

Sea snail venom is base of powerful new pain drug -- (Nature Science Update) July 19, 2002 -- Testing on rats show that a toxin extracted from the cone-shell snail may be as much as 10,000 times more potent than morphine, as well as being non-addictive and without side effects.

Bruce Livett led a team at the University of Melbourne whose discovery will be announced at the Venoms to Drugs 2002 conference in Australia.

Read the article in Nature Science.

Cancer patients overwhelmingly want the truth -- LONDON (Reuters) July 22, 2002 -- Researchers from the University of Sussex in England surveyed nearly 3,000 cancer patients, of whom about a third were being treated palliatively, about their feelings regarding their illness.

Palliative treatment is treatment with a goal of easing symptoms and improving quality of life rather than curing the disease.

Eighty-five percent of non-palliative patients and 86% of palliative patients wanted to know complete information about their illness no matter what the whether the news was good or bad. Of the rest, about half wanted only positive information and half didn't want to know any details.

The study is reported in Palliative Medicine 2002; 16: 297-303.

Read it here on Yahoo News.

Is more health care necessarily better care? - NEW YORK (NY Times) July 21, 2002 -- Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School studied health care in the last six months of life in areas with many medical providers and compared it to areas with fewer providers. Costs, tests, hospitalization, and visits to providers were much greater for each individual where there was an abundance of care. However, this had little or no effect on death rates or other outcomes.

Another study of high-risk newborns showed that the number of specialists available in an area did not result in lower infant mortality.

Read it here in the NY Times.

Two-fold increase in colon cancer risk in pre-menopausal women who are obese -- (GUT) August, 2002 -- Full text of article by PD Terry, AB MIller and TE Rohan of their data analysis of women in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study relating obesity to colorectal cancer incidence. While there was an increased risk of colorectal cancer in some women, this was true only for those who had not yet entered menopause.

The article contains many links to other research on obesity and colorectal cancer.

Nearly 90,000 women, ages 40-59, were followed for more than 10 years by the NBSS. Terry and his associates found 527 cases of colorectal cancer among the studied women.

Read the abstract and full journal article in Gut.

Folates appear to reduce proliferation of colon lining cells -- NEW YORK (Reuters Health) July 18, 2002 -- A small study at the Royal Victorian Hospital in Belfast suggests that a daily 2 mg folate supplement may reduce recurrent colon polyps.

Rectal tissue samples were compared between people taking the supplements and those taking placebo. Before the study began both groups showed similar rates of cell growth. However, after some patients began taking folate supplements, growth (proliferation) slowed. Six weeks after the study's end, when the folate group was no longer taking the supplement, tissue samples again showed a similar rate of cell proliferation.

Folate, a B vitamin also known as folic acid, is found in fruits and green leafy vegetables. It is often added to grains and cereals. The study authors warn that too high a supplemental dose may be harmful, particularly for those with vitamin b-12 deficiency, advanced cancer, or taking medication for epilepsy.

Read it here on Yahoo! News.

Read the abstract in August issue of Gut.

Obese women before menopause have twice the risk of colon cancer as thinner young women -- NEW YORK (Reuters Health) July 18, 2002 -- Prior to menopause, obese women have twice the risk of colon cancer, but this does not seem to hold true after menopause when overweight has a slightly protective effect, possibly from circulating estrogen..

Dr. Paul Terry and his colleagues at Albert Einstein Medical College reviewed data collected on nearly 90,000 women in a long termCanadian breast cancer study. They found 527 women who developed colon cancer during the 10 year follow-up period for analysis.

Read it here onYahoo! News.

Sharon Osbourne, star of the MTV Show The Osbournes, has colon cancer with spread to a single lymph node. (People Magazine) July, 2002 -People cover story discusses her diagnosis, surgery, and treatment plans.

Read People Magazine story.

Full report of the US Preventive Services Task Force Screening for Colorectal Cancer: Recommendation and Rationale --(Annals of Internal Medicine) July 16, 2002 -- Report discusses recommendations that people of average risk begin colorectal screening at age 50. The risks and benefits, along with scientific evidence, for FOBT, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and double contrast barium enema are discussed. There are on line links to the complete report, additional evidence, and other background studies.

Read it in The Annals of Internal Medicine.

US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) says everyone over 50 should undergo routine screening for colorectal cancer - NEW YORK (NY Times) July 16, 2002 -- The NY Times reports on recommendations of the Preventive Services Task Force for colorectal screening based on studies done by Dr. Michael Pignone at the University of North Carolina.

The Task Force does not recommend any one form of screening -- "The consistent finding that any form of screening is better than no screening supports the general conclusion that any of the commonly considered strategies are reasonable alternatives," wrote the research team.

Read in here in the NY Times.

Only about a third of health web sites provide scientific information -- NEW YORK (Reuters) July 15, 2002 -- Reseachers studied results of the most commonly used search engines to find out the scientific basis of information of health sites. Only 35% were based on medical information and did not sell products. Another 11% of sites were based on medical evidence, but sold products. Twenty-two percent sold products without any objective medical basis.

Science based Web sites dedicated to weight loss were more likel to sell products than science-based sites devoted to cancer

Read it here onYahoo! News.

New evidence suggests that while participation in a peer support group may not extend life, it improves quality of life -- (Cure Today) -- An article in the current online issue of Cure Today discusses both the studies done in the late seventies by Dr. David Spiegel and recent work by Pamela Goodwin MD. Dr. Spiegel compared women with advanced breast cancer who participated in psychosocial support groups to women who did not. His results, published in Lancet in 1989 showed that women in the groups survived about 18 months longer than women without support.

It has been difficult to replicate Dr. Spiegel's results, and now a study by Dr. Pamela Goodwin at Mount Sinai Hospital at the University of Toronto shows that group membership does not prolong life, but it does improve the quality of that life. She found that groups contributed to "mood and the perception of pain, particularly in women who are initially more distressed.

This article also includes comments by Jimme C. Holland, MD, who is Chair of the Psychiatric Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering.

Read it here in Cure Today.

Women working for small offices lose their jobs after cancer diagnosis -SOUTH FLORIDA (Sun-Sentinel) -July 14, 2002 -- Because the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) only covers businesses with more than 15 employees and the Family Leave Medical Act (FLMA) only covers those with more than 50, cancer survivors may find themselves out of a job when they need it most. Small businesses worry that productivity will be hurt or that their health insurance premiums will rise if cancer patients -- even those in full remission -- continue on the job.

Loss of a job also means loss of health insurance. If they pay for it themselves, they can continue employer-sponsored plans for up to 18 months, after which they will have a difficult time finding a policy to cover themselves. Social security disability is not an option for cancer patients who have early stage disease and are expected to be able to work within one year of diagnosis.

Read it here in the Sun-Sentinel.

Physical activity improves quality of life for cancer patients - OSLO (Norwegian Cancer Society) July 5, 2002 - Moderate exercise reduces fatigue and weight gain in several studies reported by Kerry S. Courneya, a Canadian researcher from the University of Alberta.18th UICC International Cancer Conference in Oslo, Norway.

Rest is not the best way to treat fatigue. Daily exercise, not high intensie like jogging,
but brisk walking or bicycling is better. "Patients should be advised to exercise on days with low fatigue and at a time of day when they feel OK," sayd Courneya.

Studies with breast cancer patients have shown exercise to reduce the typical post-chemo weight gain Researchers have found improvements in several immune system components as a result of exercise and believe that avoiding weight gain and obesity may reduce relapses.
Read it here on InteliHealth.

Senate committee approves bill to mandate insurance payment for colon cancer screening - WASHINGTON (AP) July 10, 2002 The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee has recommended a bill (S-t710) that would require health insurers to cover regular colon cancer screenings for people who are 50 or over or are at high risk for the disease.

A companion bill has been introduced by Rep. Louise Slaughter in the House, but has not been acted on.

Read it here on the Associated Press Newswire

Find the text of the bill here.

Combination of cancer markers may be able to predict recurrence or progression of colorectal cancer (The Cancer Journal) Feb 2002 -- This highly technical study discusses the use of two of other markers associated with colorectal cancer (serum ganglioside and TA90-IC) in detecting colorectal cancer and predicting whether it will return or progress. While more research is needed, these markers may well complement the CEA test in the future.

This is early research with recommendations for more study.

Read it here in Cancer Journal.

Women's Health Initiative study stopped early. -- NEW YORK (NY Times) Jul 10, 2002 - Despite a small decrease in colon cancer risk, there was an increase in breast cancer, stroke, and blood clots in women taking a estrogen/progestin combination. 16,000 women were enrolled in the long-term, randomized trial supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Long term use of estrogen has been controversal for years. The study is the first to look at heart attacks and stroke directly rather than indirect indicators like cholesterol and to include a control group. Half of the women took the combination of estrogen and progestin marketed as Prempro, half took placebo.

The decrease colon cancer and hip fracture were seen as too small to counter the larger increase in heart attack and stroke. In 10,000 women, there would be 6 more colon cancers, but 7 more heart attacks, 8 blood clots traveling to the lungs, and 8 more cases of breast cancer.

Read it here in the NY Times.
Read the study report in JAMA,

Medicare payments for colonscopy have increased demands . . . and waiting times-- NEW YORK (NY Times) Jul 9, 2002 - Since Medicare began paying for colonoscopies for those of average risk, the number of Medicare-paid procedures has soared: from 2 in the year 2000 to more than 46,600 in 2001.

The number of Medicare colonoscopies in high risk people has also increased: from 78,200 in 2000 to 98,400 in 2001.

Dr. Michael Pignone, at the University of North Carolina, says that the average waiting time for a colonoscopy was three to six months.

Read in here in the NY Times

The NY Times requires registration, but it is free and quick.

Surgeons who perform more colectomies in high volume hospitals have lower mortality rate -- (Surgery 2002, Jan) - A study explores the relationship between mortality rates for colectomy (removal of all or part of the colon), lobectomy (lung), and gastrectomy (stomach) and hospital and surgeon volume.

Read it here on PubMed

Rectal cancer lymph node involvement is hard to assess during surgery. -- NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 1, 2002 --Assessing lymph node involvement during surgery is unreliable, but preoperative assessment can help. Tumor size greater than 3 cm, depth of bowel wall invasion, and more distal location were strongly related to metatasis.

Researchers in the Netherlands and Japan reviewed data on more than 600 patients with primary rectal cancer who underwent wide lymph node dissection during surgery for a report that appeared in the European Journal of Cancer.

Read it Here on CancerPage

Sanofi and NCI announce programs for patients to receive oxaliplatin - (Sanofi-Synthelabo) - The Sanofi web site has information about Phase III clinical trials of oxaliplatin: The site describes the Sanofi-Synthelabo Treatment Access Program for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

At the same site, the NCI explains its treatment referral center to an expanded access program for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. NCI is also sponsoring oxaliplatin clinical trials which can be found on its Clinical Trials website.

The site includes telephone numbers and web links, as well as patient criteria for participation.

Read it here on Sanofi.

Find more oxaliplatin trials at NCI.

FDA approves label changes for arthritis drug Celebrex -- (FDA) June 7, 2002 - Based on a study of 8000 patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis (4000 using 400 mg. of celexicob (Celebrex) and 4000 treated with standard doses of ibuprofen or diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), the FDA has approved labeling changes to show that there is NO safety advantage to Celebrex in preventing upper gastric events.

The drug labeling for Celebrex should continue to include the standard warning about the risk of GI ulcers, bleeding, and perforation. These are side effects of NSAIDS and can occur suddenly without warning.

Celebrex is approved for polyp prevention in individuals with FAP and is in clinical trials for the prevention of polyps and colorectal cancer in other high risk people.

Read it here in an FDA Talk Paper

Combination of Oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and Leucovorin shows better results than current standard therapy for metastatic colon cancer. (National Cancer Institute) May 18,2002 -- Initial analysis of a clinical trial comparing oxaliplatin, 5-FU, and Leucovorin to the so-called Saltz regimen of CPT-11, 5FU, and Leucovorin showed an improved response rate, several months longer average survival, and fewer side effects than the current standard.

Read it Here on News from the NCI

Second liver resections can be safe and effective -- NEW YORK(Reuters Health) June 27, 2002 - Dr. Yuman Fong, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, studied 126 patients at MSK and at the University of Frankfurt in Germany who underwent second resections for liver metatatases of colorectal cancer.

Mortality and complications rates were not significantly higher than first resections. At median follow-up of 59 months, the 1 and 5 year survival rates were 86% and 34%. The median overall survival was 37 months.

Multiple lesions and a lesion larger than 5 cm increased risks.

Read it here on Medscape Today

Emergency WHO meeting decides further research on acrylamide is essential
(WHO) July1, 2002 - Acrylamide will be added to the upcoming meeting of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives for more evaluation. Acrylamide is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals, but there have been no studies of its effect on humans.

Acrylamide develops in some foods cooked above 120 degrees Celsius including potato chips, french fries, bread, and processed cereals.

Read it here on InteliHealth

Elevated insulin levels may contribute to the development of colon cancer
(Journal of the National Cancer Institute) July 3, 2002 - Scientists at the University of Cambridge have discovered biologic interactions among insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IFG-I), and insulin-like growth factor proteins (IGFBPs). They suggest that elevated insulin levels can promote tumor cell growth and inhibit cell death.

Read it here on Intellihealth
Read abstract from Journal of National Cancer Institute

Norwegian rectal cancer program improves cure of rectal cancer to 7 of every 10 patients (Norwegian Cancer Society) July 2, 2002 - Five years ago the percentage of rectal cancer patients who survived five years after surgery was 55%. By training surgeons in the TME - total mesorectal excision - procedure and monitoring the results in individual hospitals, the survival rate has improved to 71%. Hospitals that do high volume of rectal cancer surgery do better. When the local recurrence rate rises in a hospital, the National Rectal Cancer Project intervenes with additional training and assistance. Results were reported Tuesday, July 2 at the International Cancer Congress in Oslo.

Read it here on Intellihealth.

Pharmacia Corporation letter to oncologists on safety of camptosar (CPT-11)
(MEDWATCH) May 10, 2002 - Text of a letter from Pharmacia with dosing information for Camptosar and warnings about dangers of diarrhea during colorectal cancer treatment. Patients should be carefully watched for diarrhea and infection and treated. Additional information, along with dosing changes, is on a new package insert. Patients with active diarrhea should not be given Camptosar. The letter and new guidelines are in response to FDA concerns about the number of adverse events in patients receiving Camptosar along with 5FU and leucovorin for metastatic colorectal cancer.

Read it here.