Changing the way women are treated for breast cancer could improve their overall chance of survival, according to research published today in the Lancet. The new paper shows that switching to a drug called exemestane, two to three years after commencing standard therapy with the drug tamoxifen, can cut the risk of death for certain women by a further 17% compared with using tamoxifen alone.
Postmenopausal women with early-stage hormone-sensitive primary breast cancer are usually treated with tamoxifen for five years, once they are free of disease, to reduce the risk of their cancer recurring. This therapy was once viewed as the 'gold-standard' treatment and it has been shown to cut the risk of death by 34%.
Over recent years, increasing numbers of these women have been receiving treatment with tamoxifen followed by Aromatase Inhibitors such as exemestane.
The Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES), which involved women from 37 different countries, has been examining the benefits of taking tamoxifen for two to three years and then switching to exemestane for the remainder of the five-year period. This new research is the first to show that early benefits of the tamoxifen and exemestane treatment sequence are maintained after treatment has stopped. The study, which was led by researchers from Imperial College London and The Institute of Cancer Research, was funded by Cancer Research UK and Pfizer.
The majority of breast cancer cases are hormone-sensitive, meaning that the cancer cells respond to oestrogen and die when they are deprived of the hormone. Tamoxifen works by preventing oestrogen from acting on cancer cells, whereas exemestane is an Aromatase Inhibitor, which works by stopping the body's production of oestrogen.
The researchers believe that during treatment with tamoxifen, some cancer cells can become resistant to the effects of the drug. Exemestane is subsequently able to kill these resistant cells by withdrawing the oestrogen from circulation.
The researchers examined 2,352 postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer who switched to exemestane, compared with another group of 2,372 women who were treated with tamoxifen alone. The women were halfway through their five-year tamoxifen treatment when they joined the study and they were followed up for a median of 56 months after this point.
The study found that the women taking exemestane had a 15% lower risk of dying than those taking only tamoxifen. When women whose tumours were found not to be hormone sensitive were excluded (8% of the total), the improvement increased to 17%.
The results of the study also suggest that sequential use of tamoxifen and exemestane is safe and well tolerated.
Professor Charles Coombes, lead author of the paper from the Cancer Research UK Department of Cancer Medicine at Imperial College London, and based at Hammersmith Hospital, said: "This study shows that, in order to get best results, patients need to be treated with a sequence of anti-hormonal treatments. Just giving one or other drug, such as has been done in some other studies, has not been shown to give added benefit in terms of improved survival. The task now is to determine what other drugs should be given in sequence to prevent cancer cells that have become resistant to exemestane from growing."
Professor Judith Bliss, Director of The Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials and Statistics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research said: "This trial is an excellent example of how international collaborations between researchers and clinicians can be quickly translated into a cost effective treatment strategy providing patient benefit. To the many postmenopausal breast cancer patients around the world this new research offers the hope of improved treatment options."
Current practice is to give patients treatment for a period of time after surgery and then stop. Following this, doctors wait for a recurrence of the cancer, at which point it is often impossible to cure the disease.
Professor Coombes added: "The other challenge is to find a way of monitoring breast cancer to find a blood test that can tell us when some cancer cells are once more growing. This will allow us to time the sequence of treatment more accurately. A test for early resistance would give us a chance of curing the disease whilst it is still at an early stage."
IMPERIAL COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Exhibition Road
London
SW7 2AZ
ic.ac.uk
четверг, 9 июня 2011 г.
среда, 8 июня 2011 г.
New Guidance To Address Lack Of Support For Employees Affected By Cancer, UK
More than 40 percent of employers do not provide any support or information to employees with cancer, despite the fact that the illness casts its shadow on the vast majority of workplaces, according to new research published today by an alliance of employer groups and a cancer charity.
The research is accompanied by new practical guidance to help employers to manage the estimated 90,000 people of working age who receive a cancer diagnosis each year, and support them during their treatment and recuperation, as well as in their rehabilitation and return-to-work.
Key findings from today's report, produced jointly by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Cancerbackup and the Working with Cancer group, include:
-- Two thirds of employers say they do not provide any training for managers to support employees with cancer
-- More than 40% of employers do not provide any support or information to employees with cancer, and a further 36% of respondents did not know if such information or support was provided
-- More than one in five employers (22%) are not aware that the Disability Discrimination Act now classes cancer as a disability
-- Nearly three-quarters (73%) of employers do not have a formal policy in place for managing employees affected by cancer.
More than half a million people in the UK under the age of 65 have been diagnosed with cancer and many will remain in work during treatment, or seek to return to work after treatment. With new treatments being developed all the time, this figure is likely to increase. The guidance launched today aims to provide employers, human resources and line managers with the tools to ensure that staff feel respected and informed throughout their cancer journey. The guidance includes:
-- First steps - meeting with the employee
-- Returning to work
-- Disability caused by cancer
-- Disability Discrimination act
-- A template cancer policy
The research, based on a survey of 219 employers, employing a total of over 800,000 people, and guidance for employers, was inspired by the Working with Cancer group, a group of leading human resources professionals, all of whom were diagnosed with cancer, who on returning to work were shocked at the lack of support for staff affected by cancer and decided to campaign to raise awareness amongst employers.
Barbara Wilson, spokesperson for the Working with Cancer group and Head of Resourcing and Development at Schroders, said:
"While I was being treated for cancer, I found I was surrounded by booklets to help me cope with the illness and the treatments, how to tell my children and so on. But there was nothing to help me deal with my employers, or to help them deal with me. The guidance we're unveiling today will help employers to understand how to manage employees working with cancer, to provide appropriate information and support to their colleagues, and to help the employee with cancer keep working or return successfully to work after treatment."
Ben Willmott, Employee Relations Adviser at the CIPD, said:
"Employers that fail to provide support and advice to those diagnosed with cancer run the risk of losing talented and experienced employees who would otherwise continue to make a contribution to the organisation. At the extreme, employers could also find that insufficient support and unsympathetic attitudes leave them open to claims under the DDA - a fact that our survey shows one in five employers are unaware of."
"Cancer can be both physically and emotionally extremely draining, which is why it is important that people feel supported by their employers," says Joanne Rule Cancerbackup, Chief Executive. "Cancerbackup's research into people's experience of work and cancer found that many people are not offered any information about their statutory rights by employers nor offered flexible working arrangements to fit around treatment and returning to work. As a result many people don't return to work, even though they want to."
Download Working with Cancer Survey Results (PDF 416.51 Kb)
cancerbackup.uk
The research is accompanied by new practical guidance to help employers to manage the estimated 90,000 people of working age who receive a cancer diagnosis each year, and support them during their treatment and recuperation, as well as in their rehabilitation and return-to-work.
Key findings from today's report, produced jointly by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Cancerbackup and the Working with Cancer group, include:
-- Two thirds of employers say they do not provide any training for managers to support employees with cancer
-- More than 40% of employers do not provide any support or information to employees with cancer, and a further 36% of respondents did not know if such information or support was provided
-- More than one in five employers (22%) are not aware that the Disability Discrimination Act now classes cancer as a disability
-- Nearly three-quarters (73%) of employers do not have a formal policy in place for managing employees affected by cancer.
More than half a million people in the UK under the age of 65 have been diagnosed with cancer and many will remain in work during treatment, or seek to return to work after treatment. With new treatments being developed all the time, this figure is likely to increase. The guidance launched today aims to provide employers, human resources and line managers with the tools to ensure that staff feel respected and informed throughout their cancer journey. The guidance includes:
-- First steps - meeting with the employee
-- Returning to work
-- Disability caused by cancer
-- Disability Discrimination act
-- A template cancer policy
The research, based on a survey of 219 employers, employing a total of over 800,000 people, and guidance for employers, was inspired by the Working with Cancer group, a group of leading human resources professionals, all of whom were diagnosed with cancer, who on returning to work were shocked at the lack of support for staff affected by cancer and decided to campaign to raise awareness amongst employers.
Barbara Wilson, spokesperson for the Working with Cancer group and Head of Resourcing and Development at Schroders, said:
"While I was being treated for cancer, I found I was surrounded by booklets to help me cope with the illness and the treatments, how to tell my children and so on. But there was nothing to help me deal with my employers, or to help them deal with me. The guidance we're unveiling today will help employers to understand how to manage employees working with cancer, to provide appropriate information and support to their colleagues, and to help the employee with cancer keep working or return successfully to work after treatment."
Ben Willmott, Employee Relations Adviser at the CIPD, said:
"Employers that fail to provide support and advice to those diagnosed with cancer run the risk of losing talented and experienced employees who would otherwise continue to make a contribution to the organisation. At the extreme, employers could also find that insufficient support and unsympathetic attitudes leave them open to claims under the DDA - a fact that our survey shows one in five employers are unaware of."
"Cancer can be both physically and emotionally extremely draining, which is why it is important that people feel supported by their employers," says Joanne Rule Cancerbackup, Chief Executive. "Cancerbackup's research into people's experience of work and cancer found that many people are not offered any information about their statutory rights by employers nor offered flexible working arrangements to fit around treatment and returning to work. As a result many people don't return to work, even though they want to."
Download Working with Cancer Survey Results (PDF 416.51 Kb)
cancerbackup.uk
вторник, 7 июня 2011 г.
Bevacizumab Found To Improve Survival For Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer
Inhibiting the growth of blood vessels that supply tumors slows the progression of metastatic breast cancer according to results of a large clinical trial of Avastin, an anti-angiogenic therapy. The study, published in the December 27th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, found that Avastin in combination with chemotherapy significantly prolongs progression-free survival for women with breast cancer compared to chemotherapy alone.
Rush University Medical Center participated in the clinical trial which was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and conducted by a network of researchers led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG).
The study of 722 women with recurrent (metastatic) breast cancer found that the women who received Avastin in combination with standard chemotherapy had a doubling of delay in worsening of their cancer by approximately five months, on average, compared to patients treated with chemotherapy alone. Those on Avastin had progression-free survival of 11.3 months compared to 6 months on standard chemotherapy alone.
"This therapy is a one-two punch! You hit the tumor with the chemo and sabotage new blood vessel growth by restricting its oxygen supply with Avastin," said Dr. Melody Cobleigh, co-author of the study and director of the Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Breast Center at Rush. "This is a noteworthy advance in cancer treatment."
Avastin is a therapeutic antibody designed to specifically inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that plays an important role in angiogenesis and the maintenance of existing blood vessels throughout the lifecycle of a tumor. By inhibiting VEGF, Avastin is designed to interfere with the blood supply to a tumor, which is thought to be critical to a tumor's ability to grow and spread in the body.
Avastin not only slowed the growth of the tumor, it also doubled the remission rate (the shrinkage of tumors by 50 percent or more) compared with chemotherapy alone. With chemotherapy, 25% of tumors responded; with the combination of chemotherapy and bevacizumab, 49% did so.
Rush University Medical Center has been involved in the study of Avastin from the very beginning, participating in the Phase I, Phase II and Phase III studies of the drug. The next step is studying the drug in the adjuvant setting to determine if it can help decrease the risk of cancer recurrence.
"The tumor can't grow bigger than the size of a sesame seed without an oxygen supply," said Cobleigh. "And patients can stay on Avastin as long at it works. It is not a chemotherapy drug so it has minimal toxicity. "
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 178,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 40,000 will die from the disease in the United States in 2007.
Rush University Medical Center
rush
View drug information on Avastin.
Rush University Medical Center participated in the clinical trial which was sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and conducted by a network of researchers led by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG).
The study of 722 women with recurrent (metastatic) breast cancer found that the women who received Avastin in combination with standard chemotherapy had a doubling of delay in worsening of their cancer by approximately five months, on average, compared to patients treated with chemotherapy alone. Those on Avastin had progression-free survival of 11.3 months compared to 6 months on standard chemotherapy alone.
"This therapy is a one-two punch! You hit the tumor with the chemo and sabotage new blood vessel growth by restricting its oxygen supply with Avastin," said Dr. Melody Cobleigh, co-author of the study and director of the Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Breast Center at Rush. "This is a noteworthy advance in cancer treatment."
Avastin is a therapeutic antibody designed to specifically inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that plays an important role in angiogenesis and the maintenance of existing blood vessels throughout the lifecycle of a tumor. By inhibiting VEGF, Avastin is designed to interfere with the blood supply to a tumor, which is thought to be critical to a tumor's ability to grow and spread in the body.
Avastin not only slowed the growth of the tumor, it also doubled the remission rate (the shrinkage of tumors by 50 percent or more) compared with chemotherapy alone. With chemotherapy, 25% of tumors responded; with the combination of chemotherapy and bevacizumab, 49% did so.
Rush University Medical Center has been involved in the study of Avastin from the very beginning, participating in the Phase I, Phase II and Phase III studies of the drug. The next step is studying the drug in the adjuvant setting to determine if it can help decrease the risk of cancer recurrence.
"The tumor can't grow bigger than the size of a sesame seed without an oxygen supply," said Cobleigh. "And patients can stay on Avastin as long at it works. It is not a chemotherapy drug so it has minimal toxicity. "
According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 178,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 40,000 will die from the disease in the United States in 2007.
Rush University Medical Center
rush
View drug information on Avastin.
понедельник, 6 июня 2011 г.
Micromet Presents Update At ASCO 2009 On A Phase 1b Combination Study Of Adecatumumab And Docetaxel
Micromet, Inc. (Nasdaq: MITI), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, presented data from a clinical trial investigating its anti-EpCAM human antibody adecatumumab (MT201) in combination with the chemotherapeutic docetaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) held in Orlando, Florida, USA(1).
The phase 1b clinical trial presented at ASCO investigates the safety and tolerability of increasing doses of adecatumumab given every 3 weeks in combination with standard chemotherapy docetaxel (Taxotere(R)) in relapsed MBC patients who had a median of three prior chemotherapy regimens (n=22 assessable for safety and n=19 evaluable for efficacy). Adecatumumab is an antibody that targets EpCAM, a tumor antigen known to be associated with poor prognosis for breast cancer patients. Combining adecatumumab with docetaxel was feasible with clinically manageable diarrhea being the main toxicity at higher doses. Other frequently observed adverse events included nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, constipation, fatigue, fever and chills. Laboratory abnormalities included reduction in various blood cells such as lymphocytes and neutrophils comparable to what is typically observed with docetaxel monotherapy.
The overall response rate according to RECIST [version 1.0] was 38% in patients with high expression of EpCAM (n=8), the target of adecatumumab, compared to 9% in patients with low EpCAM expression (n=11). Patients treated with higher doses of adecatumumab also appeared to have a longer time to progression when compared to patients treated at lower doses (167 days versus 83 days). These observations are in line with data from a previous phase 2 trial investigating adecatumumab as a single agent in MBC patients that also suggested that treatment with adecatumumab was associated with better outcome in patients with high EpCAM expression compared to patients with low EpCAM expression(2). Micromet is currently also conducting a randomized phase 2 clinical trial with adecatumumab in patients with colorectal cancer after complete resection of liver metastases.
"These data indicate that adding adecatumumab to standard chemotherapy is feasible," said Carsten Reinhardt, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of Micromet. "The combination of adecatumumab with taxanes could be a valuable development option for MBC patients with high EpCAM expression on their tumors, and would offer an antibody-based therapy to those patients who express EpCAM but not Her-2 and thus do not qualify for Her-2-targeting antibody therapy."
(1) Sebastian, M. et al. (2009). Safety and anti-tumor activity of 3-weekly anti-EpCAM antibody adecatumumab (MT201) in combination with docetaxel for patients with metastatic breast cancer: Results of a multicenter phase Ib trial. ASCO meeting abstract no. 1009.
(2) Schmidt, M. et al. (2009). An open-label, randomized phase II study of adecatumumab, a fully human anti-EpCAM antibody, as monotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Annals of Oncology, in press.
About Micromet, Inc.
Micromet, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Its product development pipeline includes novel antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE(R) antibody platform, as well as conventional monoclonal antibodies. BiTE antibodies represent a new class of antibodies that activate the T cells of a patient's immune system to eliminate cancer cells. Four of Micromet's antibodies are currently in clinical trials. Its BiTE antibody blinatumomab (MT103) is in a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A second BiTE antibody, MT110, is in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with solid tumors. MT110 binds to the epithelial cell adhesion molecule, or EpCAM, which is overexpressed in many solid tumors. Micromet's human monoclonal antibody adecatumumab (MT201) also binds to EpCAM and is being developed under a collaboration with Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany. Adecatumumab is in a phase 2 clinical trial in colorectal carcinoma patients after complete resection of liver metastases, and a phase 1b clinical trial evaluating adecatumumab in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Micromet's monoclonal antibody MT293, also known as TRC093, is licensed to TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and is in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with cancer.
In addition, Micromet has established a collaboration with Nycomed for the development and commercialization of MT203, a human antibody neutralizing the activity of granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which has potential applications in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis. Nycomed has filed a clinical trial application and is expected to commence a phase 1 clinical trial of MT203 in the first half of 2009. Micromet's licensee Morphotek, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eisai, is also expected to initiate a first phase 1 clinical trial with Micromet's glycolipid-binding human antibody MT228 for the treatment of melanoma. Micromet also has entered into an option, collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG under which Bayer Schering Pharma was granted an exclusive option to license a specified BiTE antibody against an undisclosed solid tumor target.
Micromet's preclinical product pipeline includes several novel BiTE antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE antibody platform technology. BiTE antibodies targeting CEA, MSCP, CD33, HER2, EGFR and other targets are in various stages of preclinical development.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the efficacy, safety and intended utilization of adecatumumab and other product candidates, the conduct, timing and results of future clinical trials, and expectations of the future expansion of our product pipeline and collaborations. You are urged to consider statements that include the words "ongoing," "may," "will," "believes," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," or the negative of those words or other similar words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include the risk that product candidates that appeared promising in early research, preclinical studies or clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in subsequent clinical trials, the risk that encouraging results from early research, preclinical studies or clinical trials may not be confirmed upon further analysis of the detailed results of such research, preclinical study or clinical trial, the risk that additional information relating to the safety, efficacy or tolerability of our product candidates may be discovered upon further analysis of preclinical or clinical trial data, the risk that we or our collaborators will not obtain approval to market our product candidates, the risks associated with reliance on outside financing to meet capital requirements, and the risks associated with reliance on collaborators, including MedImmune, Merck Serono, TRACON and Nycomed, for the funding or conduct of further development and commercialization activities relating to our product candidates. These factors and others are more fully discussed in Micromet's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2009, as well as other filings by the company with the SEC.
Source: Micromet, Inc
The phase 1b clinical trial presented at ASCO investigates the safety and tolerability of increasing doses of adecatumumab given every 3 weeks in combination with standard chemotherapy docetaxel (Taxotere(R)) in relapsed MBC patients who had a median of three prior chemotherapy regimens (n=22 assessable for safety and n=19 evaluable for efficacy). Adecatumumab is an antibody that targets EpCAM, a tumor antigen known to be associated with poor prognosis for breast cancer patients. Combining adecatumumab with docetaxel was feasible with clinically manageable diarrhea being the main toxicity at higher doses. Other frequently observed adverse events included nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, constipation, fatigue, fever and chills. Laboratory abnormalities included reduction in various blood cells such as lymphocytes and neutrophils comparable to what is typically observed with docetaxel monotherapy.
The overall response rate according to RECIST [version 1.0] was 38% in patients with high expression of EpCAM (n=8), the target of adecatumumab, compared to 9% in patients with low EpCAM expression (n=11). Patients treated with higher doses of adecatumumab also appeared to have a longer time to progression when compared to patients treated at lower doses (167 days versus 83 days). These observations are in line with data from a previous phase 2 trial investigating adecatumumab as a single agent in MBC patients that also suggested that treatment with adecatumumab was associated with better outcome in patients with high EpCAM expression compared to patients with low EpCAM expression(2). Micromet is currently also conducting a randomized phase 2 clinical trial with adecatumumab in patients with colorectal cancer after complete resection of liver metastases.
"These data indicate that adding adecatumumab to standard chemotherapy is feasible," said Carsten Reinhardt, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer of Micromet. "The combination of adecatumumab with taxanes could be a valuable development option for MBC patients with high EpCAM expression on their tumors, and would offer an antibody-based therapy to those patients who express EpCAM but not Her-2 and thus do not qualify for Her-2-targeting antibody therapy."
(1) Sebastian, M. et al. (2009). Safety and anti-tumor activity of 3-weekly anti-EpCAM antibody adecatumumab (MT201) in combination with docetaxel for patients with metastatic breast cancer: Results of a multicenter phase Ib trial. ASCO meeting abstract no. 1009.
(2) Schmidt, M. et al. (2009). An open-label, randomized phase II study of adecatumumab, a fully human anti-EpCAM antibody, as monotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Annals of Oncology, in press.
About Micromet, Inc.
Micromet, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Its product development pipeline includes novel antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE(R) antibody platform, as well as conventional monoclonal antibodies. BiTE antibodies represent a new class of antibodies that activate the T cells of a patient's immune system to eliminate cancer cells. Four of Micromet's antibodies are currently in clinical trials. Its BiTE antibody blinatumomab (MT103) is in a phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). A second BiTE antibody, MT110, is in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with solid tumors. MT110 binds to the epithelial cell adhesion molecule, or EpCAM, which is overexpressed in many solid tumors. Micromet's human monoclonal antibody adecatumumab (MT201) also binds to EpCAM and is being developed under a collaboration with Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany. Adecatumumab is in a phase 2 clinical trial in colorectal carcinoma patients after complete resection of liver metastases, and a phase 1b clinical trial evaluating adecatumumab in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. Micromet's monoclonal antibody MT293, also known as TRC093, is licensed to TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and is in a phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of patients with cancer.
In addition, Micromet has established a collaboration with Nycomed for the development and commercialization of MT203, a human antibody neutralizing the activity of granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which has potential applications in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis. Nycomed has filed a clinical trial application and is expected to commence a phase 1 clinical trial of MT203 in the first half of 2009. Micromet's licensee Morphotek, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eisai, is also expected to initiate a first phase 1 clinical trial with Micromet's glycolipid-binding human antibody MT228 for the treatment of melanoma. Micromet also has entered into an option, collaboration and license agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG under which Bayer Schering Pharma was granted an exclusive option to license a specified BiTE antibody against an undisclosed solid tumor target.
Micromet's preclinical product pipeline includes several novel BiTE antibodies generated with its proprietary BiTE antibody platform technology. BiTE antibodies targeting CEA, MSCP, CD33, HER2, EGFR and other targets are in various stages of preclinical development.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the efficacy, safety and intended utilization of adecatumumab and other product candidates, the conduct, timing and results of future clinical trials, and expectations of the future expansion of our product pipeline and collaborations. You are urged to consider statements that include the words "ongoing," "may," "will," "believes," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," or the negative of those words or other similar words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements include the risk that product candidates that appeared promising in early research, preclinical studies or clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in subsequent clinical trials, the risk that encouraging results from early research, preclinical studies or clinical trials may not be confirmed upon further analysis of the detailed results of such research, preclinical study or clinical trial, the risk that additional information relating to the safety, efficacy or tolerability of our product candidates may be discovered upon further analysis of preclinical or clinical trial data, the risk that we or our collaborators will not obtain approval to market our product candidates, the risks associated with reliance on outside financing to meet capital requirements, and the risks associated with reliance on collaborators, including MedImmune, Merck Serono, TRACON and Nycomed, for the funding or conduct of further development and commercialization activities relating to our product candidates. These factors and others are more fully discussed in Micromet's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2009, as well as other filings by the company with the SEC.
Source: Micromet, Inc
воскресенье, 5 июня 2011 г.
10 Tips For Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment
Throughout October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, experts from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its clinical care partner, the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, are offering a series of weekly research-based tip sheets regarding a variety of topics related to breast cancer, including breast cancer prevention, screening and early detection, treatment, and survivorship. The series will conclude next Friday, Oct. 22.
Today's tip sheet, the third of four in the series, is "10 Tips for Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment" provided by Julie Gralow, M.D., director of Breast Medical Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and co-author of "Breast Fitness" (St. Martin's Press).
10 Tips For Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment
1. Get specifics on your diagnosis and treatment. In order to maximize your time with your providers, bring your questions with you in writing to your appointments. Ask for copies of your test results and keep a notebook of all these results. Keep a list of questions that arise between visits so you don't forget, and take notes of the answers. Above all, make informed decisions; learn as much as you can about your diagnosis and treatment.
2. Spend time choosing your doctor. Breast cancer specialists who work at dedicated cancer centers offer specific expertise as well as access to the latest treatments that are part of clinical studies. Such centers can provide other specialty services, usually under one roof, such as physical therapy, nutrition and social work.
3. Get the support you need for talking about your diagnosis. Breaking the news to your friends and family that you've been diagnosed with breast cancer can be just as difficult as first hearing the news yourself from your doctor. You may feel concerned about upsetting your family and friends or worried about how they will react. Even after you have shared the news, at times you may find it difficult to communicate openly. Sometimes it's uncomfortable to ask for help, answer questions about how you're doing, or tell well-meaning relatives and friends that you need some time and space for yourself. If available at your hospital, request to meet with a social worker to discuss any emotional support or resource referrals you might need. A local support group for women with breast cancer may also help considerably. Ask your hospital or clinic to help you identify appropriate resources in your area.
4. Seek help in navigating financial issues, if necessary. Your hospital or clinic should have a social worker, patient navigator or financial services department to help you manage financial issues and deal with private insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. If you have concerns, request an appointment.
5. Talk to your doctor about coping with menopause symptoms. Breast cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy, ovary removal, or who have had to discontinue hormone replacement therapy upon diagnosis may experience symptoms of menopause. Talk to your doctor about how to safely minimize menopausal symptoms.
6. Get good nutrition. Your cancer treatment may influence your ability to taste and smell, and it may alter your digestion. Foods that you normally enjoy may not taste good during treatment while, paradoxically, foods that normally don't appeal to you might taste better. You may prefer and tolerate more cooked versus raw vegetables, so a vegetable stew or soup may be more appealing than a salad. You may have more energy and less nausea if you eat smaller amounts of foods more frequently rather than eating three big meals per day. Try not to gain weight by overindulging and blowing your calorie budget. Help fight your cancer by eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes such as black beans and lentils. Choose a rainbow of colorful whole foods (like deep greens of spinach, deep blues of blueberries, white for onions, and so on) to ensure that you get a variety of anti-cancer nutrients. Alcohol is usually not preferred or recommended during treatment, but if you do drink, limit your intake to no more than three drinks per week. Recent studies have shown an association between alcohol and increased risk of breast cancer.
7. Take steps to prevent lymphedema. Lymphedema is a side effect of breast cancer treatment that involves swelling of the soft tissues of the arm, hand or chest wall. It isn't life threatening, but it needs to be treated to avoid getting worse. The swelling may be accompanied by numbness, discomfort and infection. There's no reliable way to assess your risk for lymphedema, but by taking proper precautions you can greatly reduce your chances of developing the condition. Ask your doctor about scheduling physical therapy if you notice symptoms, or consider seeing a physical therapist even before symptoms begin in order to minimize their chance of developing in the first place.
8. Get exercise. Gentle exercise during treatment, such as regular walks, can help with both the mental and physical effects of treatment. After treatment is completed, increasing your exercise gradually will help improve your fatigue and rebuild muscle tone. Getting your circulation going may also help with chemobrain, the mental fogginess noticed by some patients during and after chemotherapy, and it can certainly improve your mood and your outlook on life. Try yoga, tai chi, swimming or water aerobics. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. If you are having difficulty exercising or aren't sure what to do, request a referral to a physical therapist from your medical provider.
9. Bone up on bone health. Keeping your bones healthy throughout your life is important; however, if you're a woman who's been diagnosed with breast cancer, bone health is especially important. Research shows that some breast cancer treatments can lead to bone loss. Plus, women are about twice as likely as men to develop osteoporosis after age 50. Talk to your health care team about specific recommendations for keeping bones healthy, taking calcium and vitamin D, and appropriate weight-bearing exercises to help keep bones strong.
10. Treatment and work. Some people are able to work throughout their cancer treatment. Yet for some, reducing one's work capacity or taking a break altogether may be necessary. If you take time off and then return to work shortly after your treatment ends, you may find that it helps you maintain your identity and even boosts your self-esteem, not to mention your income. You may want to talk with your employer about options such as flextime, job sharing or working from home. Options like these may help your mind and body ease back into the demands of your job. Try to be patient and take care of yourself as you go back to your "normal" life.
Source:
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
Today's tip sheet, the third of four in the series, is "10 Tips for Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment" provided by Julie Gralow, M.D., director of Breast Medical Oncology at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and co-author of "Breast Fitness" (St. Martin's Press).
10 Tips For Breast Cancer Patients During Treatment
1. Get specifics on your diagnosis and treatment. In order to maximize your time with your providers, bring your questions with you in writing to your appointments. Ask for copies of your test results and keep a notebook of all these results. Keep a list of questions that arise between visits so you don't forget, and take notes of the answers. Above all, make informed decisions; learn as much as you can about your diagnosis and treatment.
2. Spend time choosing your doctor. Breast cancer specialists who work at dedicated cancer centers offer specific expertise as well as access to the latest treatments that are part of clinical studies. Such centers can provide other specialty services, usually under one roof, such as physical therapy, nutrition and social work.
3. Get the support you need for talking about your diagnosis. Breaking the news to your friends and family that you've been diagnosed with breast cancer can be just as difficult as first hearing the news yourself from your doctor. You may feel concerned about upsetting your family and friends or worried about how they will react. Even after you have shared the news, at times you may find it difficult to communicate openly. Sometimes it's uncomfortable to ask for help, answer questions about how you're doing, or tell well-meaning relatives and friends that you need some time and space for yourself. If available at your hospital, request to meet with a social worker to discuss any emotional support or resource referrals you might need. A local support group for women with breast cancer may also help considerably. Ask your hospital or clinic to help you identify appropriate resources in your area.
4. Seek help in navigating financial issues, if necessary. Your hospital or clinic should have a social worker, patient navigator or financial services department to help you manage financial issues and deal with private insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. If you have concerns, request an appointment.
5. Talk to your doctor about coping with menopause symptoms. Breast cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy, ovary removal, or who have had to discontinue hormone replacement therapy upon diagnosis may experience symptoms of menopause. Talk to your doctor about how to safely minimize menopausal symptoms.
6. Get good nutrition. Your cancer treatment may influence your ability to taste and smell, and it may alter your digestion. Foods that you normally enjoy may not taste good during treatment while, paradoxically, foods that normally don't appeal to you might taste better. You may prefer and tolerate more cooked versus raw vegetables, so a vegetable stew or soup may be more appealing than a salad. You may have more energy and less nausea if you eat smaller amounts of foods more frequently rather than eating three big meals per day. Try not to gain weight by overindulging and blowing your calorie budget. Help fight your cancer by eating more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes such as black beans and lentils. Choose a rainbow of colorful whole foods (like deep greens of spinach, deep blues of blueberries, white for onions, and so on) to ensure that you get a variety of anti-cancer nutrients. Alcohol is usually not preferred or recommended during treatment, but if you do drink, limit your intake to no more than three drinks per week. Recent studies have shown an association between alcohol and increased risk of breast cancer.
7. Take steps to prevent lymphedema. Lymphedema is a side effect of breast cancer treatment that involves swelling of the soft tissues of the arm, hand or chest wall. It isn't life threatening, but it needs to be treated to avoid getting worse. The swelling may be accompanied by numbness, discomfort and infection. There's no reliable way to assess your risk for lymphedema, but by taking proper precautions you can greatly reduce your chances of developing the condition. Ask your doctor about scheduling physical therapy if you notice symptoms, or consider seeing a physical therapist even before symptoms begin in order to minimize their chance of developing in the first place.
8. Get exercise. Gentle exercise during treatment, such as regular walks, can help with both the mental and physical effects of treatment. After treatment is completed, increasing your exercise gradually will help improve your fatigue and rebuild muscle tone. Getting your circulation going may also help with chemobrain, the mental fogginess noticed by some patients during and after chemotherapy, and it can certainly improve your mood and your outlook on life. Try yoga, tai chi, swimming or water aerobics. Be physically active for at least 30 minutes every day. If you are having difficulty exercising or aren't sure what to do, request a referral to a physical therapist from your medical provider.
9. Bone up on bone health. Keeping your bones healthy throughout your life is important; however, if you're a woman who's been diagnosed with breast cancer, bone health is especially important. Research shows that some breast cancer treatments can lead to bone loss. Plus, women are about twice as likely as men to develop osteoporosis after age 50. Talk to your health care team about specific recommendations for keeping bones healthy, taking calcium and vitamin D, and appropriate weight-bearing exercises to help keep bones strong.
10. Treatment and work. Some people are able to work throughout their cancer treatment. Yet for some, reducing one's work capacity or taking a break altogether may be necessary. If you take time off and then return to work shortly after your treatment ends, you may find that it helps you maintain your identity and even boosts your self-esteem, not to mention your income. You may want to talk with your employer about options such as flextime, job sharing or working from home. Options like these may help your mind and body ease back into the demands of your job. Try to be patient and take care of yourself as you go back to your "normal" life.
Source:
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
суббота, 4 июня 2011 г.
Breast Cancer Drug Shows Promise Against Serious Infections
An FDA-approved drug used for preventing recurrence of breast cancer shows promise in fighting life-threatening fungal infections common in immune-compromised patients, such as infants born prematurely and patients with cancer. Some scientists suspected that tamoxifen has antifungal properties; now new research from the University of Rochester Medical Center shows that it actually kills fungus cells and stops them from causing disease.
"It's still early, but if tamoxifen, or molecules like it, turns out to be an effective treatment against serious fungal infections, it'll be a welcome addition to our arsenal," said Damian Krysan, M.D., Ph.D., author of the research recently published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and assistant professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
While serious fungal infections are generally isolated to patients with cancer, patients in intensive care units, patients with HIV or patients taking immune-suppression medications for chronic conditions, they are among the deadliest infections. Fungus is the third most common cause of blood stream infection in premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. The survival rate for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is about 95 percent, but if they acquire a Candida albicans fungal infection, that drops to 80 percent. Bacterial meningitis has a 5 percent risk of death, but the risk of death for C. albicans blood stream infection is 20 percent.
Tamoxifen is given to prevent breast cancer from returning. It is given orally, and often for months at a time. Scientists had known that tamoxifen has anti-fungal properties in test tubes, but it was Krysan and his team, including Melanie Wellington, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Pediatrics, that found that it kills yeast in mice with Candida infections. This is a crucial step toward developing tamoxifen or structurally related molecules for use in patients. At high levels about the same as those used, experimentally, to treat brain tumors tamoxifen reduced yeast levels by 150 fold. In fact, the drug caused the fungus cells to break apart and die (lysis), and it didn't allow the surviving cells to morph into their disease-causing state.
In the past 20 years, only one new class of antifungal drugs has been introduced and they must be administered intravenously, not orally, which presents challenges in outpatient settings. The most widely used antifungal drug that can be given orally slows the growth of fungus cells but it doesn't kill them, which means that patients whose immune systems are compromised may have trouble completely fighting off the infections.
"We don't have vaccines against fungal infections and the few drugs we do have aren't always effective," Krysan said. "We've got a lot more work to do to figure out whether tamoxifen could be used in high doses or whether it could be used in combination with other treatments, but we're excited about the possibility of giving doctors another way to help these critically ill patients."
Source: University of Rochester Medical Center
"It's still early, but if tamoxifen, or molecules like it, turns out to be an effective treatment against serious fungal infections, it'll be a welcome addition to our arsenal," said Damian Krysan, M.D., Ph.D., author of the research recently published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and assistant professor of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
While serious fungal infections are generally isolated to patients with cancer, patients in intensive care units, patients with HIV or patients taking immune-suppression medications for chronic conditions, they are among the deadliest infections. Fungus is the third most common cause of blood stream infection in premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. The survival rate for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is about 95 percent, but if they acquire a Candida albicans fungal infection, that drops to 80 percent. Bacterial meningitis has a 5 percent risk of death, but the risk of death for C. albicans blood stream infection is 20 percent.
Tamoxifen is given to prevent breast cancer from returning. It is given orally, and often for months at a time. Scientists had known that tamoxifen has anti-fungal properties in test tubes, but it was Krysan and his team, including Melanie Wellington, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of Pediatrics, that found that it kills yeast in mice with Candida infections. This is a crucial step toward developing tamoxifen or structurally related molecules for use in patients. At high levels about the same as those used, experimentally, to treat brain tumors tamoxifen reduced yeast levels by 150 fold. In fact, the drug caused the fungus cells to break apart and die (lysis), and it didn't allow the surviving cells to morph into their disease-causing state.
In the past 20 years, only one new class of antifungal drugs has been introduced and they must be administered intravenously, not orally, which presents challenges in outpatient settings. The most widely used antifungal drug that can be given orally slows the growth of fungus cells but it doesn't kill them, which means that patients whose immune systems are compromised may have trouble completely fighting off the infections.
"We don't have vaccines against fungal infections and the few drugs we do have aren't always effective," Krysan said. "We've got a lot more work to do to figure out whether tamoxifen could be used in high doses or whether it could be used in combination with other treatments, but we're excited about the possibility of giving doctors another way to help these critically ill patients."
Source: University of Rochester Medical Center
пятница, 3 июня 2011 г.
Snapfish By HP Invites Consumers To "Share To Care" During Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Snapfish by HP (NYSE:HPQ), the No. 1 online photo service, today announced the launch of its 2009 "Share to Care" campaign in support of breast cancer awareness month.
Throughout October, Snapfish will offer free "Share to Care" photo greeting cards for its customers to send to friends and family members. In addition, calendars, photo books, notebooks, notepads and stickers are at the Snapfish "Share to Care" Store, where 30 percent of all proceeds will be donated to Breastcancer.
For the first time, Snapfish is offering free greeting cards to encourage consumers to share their support with someone they care about with messages such as "Thanks for Your Support" and "Thinking of You."
Snapfish also is inviting its customers to participate in a "Share to Care" photo contest, encouraging them to show the unique ways that they support the fight against breast cancer with the larger Snapfish community. Twenty winners will be selected to receive a $300 donation, which Snapfish will donate in their name to the breast cancer organization of their choice.
"Breast cancer awareness, support, early detection and prevention are all very important to us because we know how important they are to the lives of our online community and our own Snapfish family," said Ben Nelson, general manager, Snapfish by HP. "We are proud to support this effort and hope the 'Share to Care' campaign goes a little way to help people further connect with their loved ones."
Snapfish will donate 30 percent of all proceeds from the sales of its breast cancer awareness products to Breastcancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the most up-to-date, reliable, medically reviewed information on breast health and breast cancer to help those affected by breast cancer make the best decisions for their lives.
"We are excited to be partnering with Snapfish again this year on a new effort that reaches out a hand to women who need help today," said Hope Wohl, chief executive officer, Breastcancer. "From our own Breastcancer community, we know how important giving and receiving support can be. The Snapfish cards, stationery and photo books are a wonderful and inexpensive way for people to show they care."
Snapfish has a long-standing tie to breast cancer awareness and the support of the cause, fostered from within the company. In 2004, Natalie Long, director of product management, was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer; and in 2006, Lauren Patterson, merchandising manager, was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. Both women are doing well today and have become advocates for awareness, early detection and prevention of the disease and help to inform and drive Snapfish's breast cancer awareness programming each year.
All Snapfish "Share to Care" products will be available throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.
Source
HP
Throughout October, Snapfish will offer free "Share to Care" photo greeting cards for its customers to send to friends and family members. In addition, calendars, photo books, notebooks, notepads and stickers are at the Snapfish "Share to Care" Store, where 30 percent of all proceeds will be donated to Breastcancer.
For the first time, Snapfish is offering free greeting cards to encourage consumers to share their support with someone they care about with messages such as "Thanks for Your Support" and "Thinking of You."
Snapfish also is inviting its customers to participate in a "Share to Care" photo contest, encouraging them to show the unique ways that they support the fight against breast cancer with the larger Snapfish community. Twenty winners will be selected to receive a $300 donation, which Snapfish will donate in their name to the breast cancer organization of their choice.
"Breast cancer awareness, support, early detection and prevention are all very important to us because we know how important they are to the lives of our online community and our own Snapfish family," said Ben Nelson, general manager, Snapfish by HP. "We are proud to support this effort and hope the 'Share to Care' campaign goes a little way to help people further connect with their loved ones."
Snapfish will donate 30 percent of all proceeds from the sales of its breast cancer awareness products to Breastcancer, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the most up-to-date, reliable, medically reviewed information on breast health and breast cancer to help those affected by breast cancer make the best decisions for their lives.
"We are excited to be partnering with Snapfish again this year on a new effort that reaches out a hand to women who need help today," said Hope Wohl, chief executive officer, Breastcancer. "From our own Breastcancer community, we know how important giving and receiving support can be. The Snapfish cards, stationery and photo books are a wonderful and inexpensive way for people to show they care."
Snapfish has a long-standing tie to breast cancer awareness and the support of the cause, fostered from within the company. In 2004, Natalie Long, director of product management, was diagnosed with stage I breast cancer; and in 2006, Lauren Patterson, merchandising manager, was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. Both women are doing well today and have become advocates for awareness, early detection and prevention of the disease and help to inform and drive Snapfish's breast cancer awareness programming each year.
All Snapfish "Share to Care" products will be available throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.
Source
HP
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