Audio Medica News - Medical News Interviews

Audio Journal of Oncology, February 26th, 2008 Combinations and Targeted Agents: Better Survival in Mantle Cell Lymphoma MARTIN DREYLING, University Hospital Grosshaden, Munich REFERENCE: 4th European Congress on Hematologic Malignancies, Paris 22-24 February, 2008 Since the 1970s therapies for mantle cell lymphoma have greatly extended life, Martin Dreyling told conference delegates in Paris. He gave Peter Goodwin his latest data on combination therapy using the antibody, rituximab, and the emerging rôles of other targeted agents.

Audio Journal of Oncology, February 26th, 2008 "Total Therapy" Possible Cure For Multiple Myeloma? BART BARLOGIE, University of Arkansas, Little Rock REFERENCE: 4th European Congress on Hematologic Malignancies, Paris 22-24 February, 2008 A treatment known as "total therapy" could cure many patients with multiple myeloma, conference-goers have just heard. The targeted drugs thalidomide and bortezomib, coupled with tandem autologous transplants, are used by Arkansas-based Bart Barlogie. In Paris he told Peter Goodwin about their success.

Audio Journal of Oncology, February 26th, 2008 Multiple Myeloma: Towards A Chronic Disease With Cure On The Horizon KENNETH ANDERSON, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston REFERENCE: 4th European Congress on Hematologic Malignancies, Paris 22-24 February, 2008 Multiple myeloma may soon be considered a chronic disease with cure on the horizon, thanks to an array of novel therapies which are turning prospects around for this malignancy. So said Kenneth Anderson at the European meeting in Paris. He explained to Peter Goodwin how a number of molecular and other therapies are changing the prospects for this disease.

Audio Journal of Medicine, January 11th, 2008 Meta-Analysis Proves Statins Help Patients With Diabetes COLIN BAIGENT, Oxford University REFERENCE: Lancet 371:117 January 11, 2008 Statins were foiund to cut cardiovascular event rates by a fifth among patients with both Type I and Type II diabetes in a meta-analysis of 18 000 patients from Oxford University in England and the University of Sydney in Australia. Peter Goodwin asked the lead UK investigator, Colin Baigent, about the findings and their implications.

Audio Journal of Medicine, January 4th, 2008 Non Drug Intervention: Better Than Antipsychotic Drugs for Aggressive Challenging Behaviour in Intellectual Disability PETER TYRER, Imperial College, W6 8RP London REFERENCE: Lancet 371:57 January 5, 2008 A randomized study comparing treatment with risperidone, or haloperidol, or placebo to treat patients who have intellectual disability presenting with a syndrome commonly labelled as "aggressive challenging behaviour" has shown that the anti-psychotic medicines gave no benefit. Peter Goodwin met up with Professor Peter Tyrer at London's Imperial College to ask him about the study.

Audio Journal of Oncology, December 15th, 2007 Reporting from: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, 13-16 December, 2007 New Drug RAD001 Plus Letrozole In Neoadjuvant Therapy For Breast Cancer JOSE BASELGA, Vall d’Hebron Hospital, Barcelona REFERENCE: ABSTRACT 2066 RAD001, a drug targeted at the mTor pathway, has been combined with letrozole in a randomised phase II trial in breast cancer. The investigators saw more responses in the experimental arm, and so Derek Thorne got the details from Jose Baselga of Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona.

Audio Journal of Oncology, December 15th, 2007 Reporting from: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, 13-16 December, 2007 ATAC Trial: Anastrozole Still Superior At Over Eight Years’ Follow Up JACK CUZICK, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, London REFERENCE: ABSTRACTS 41, 2069, 2071 New data from the ATAC trial, which is testing anastrozole and tamoxifen in early breast cancer, have demonstrated the continued superiority of the aromatase inhibitor. Among other things, the data now show a benefit in the time to distant recurrence. Derek Thorne heard more from Jack Cuzick, of the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in London.

Oncology, December 13th, 2007 Reporting from: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, 13-16 December, 2007 Early Breast Cancer: Survival Benefit For Adjuvant Docetaxel/Cyclophosphamide STEPHEN JONES, US Oncology Research, Houston REFERENCE: ABSTRACT 12 Long term data from an early breast cancer trial involving cyclophosphamide combined with docetaxel or doxorubicin have shown a survival advantage for the taxane. As Stephen Jones of US Oncology Research explained to Derek Thorne, this advantage was also seen in patients over 65.

Reporting from: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, 13-16 December, 2007 AACR In New Partnership For San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium MARGARET FOTI, American Association for Cancer Research, Philadelphia The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium will, in the future, be presented jointly by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Baylor College of Medicine, and the American Association for Cancer Research. Peter Goodwin found out more on this new collaboration from Margaret Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research in Philadelphia.

Audio Journal of Oncology, December 11th, 2007 Reporting from: American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, December 8-11 2007, Atlanta Can Intensive Immunochemotherapy Cure Mantle Cell Lymphoma? CHRISTIAN GEISLER, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen REFERENCE: ABSTRACT LB1, ASH 2007 Mantle cell lymphoma, which was previously considered incurable, has apparently been cured in some patients on a phase II study. Derek Thorne got the details on the study – which featured an intensive immunochemotherapy approach - from Christian Geisler of Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.

Audio Journal of Oncology, December 10th, 2007 Reporting from: American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, December 8-11 2007, Atlanta Ibritumomab Provides Benefit in Patients with Follicular Lymphoma ANTON HAGENBEEK, University Medical Centre Utrecht REFERENCE: ABSTRACT 643, ASH 2007 For patients with advanced-stage follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, ibritumomab tiuxetan seems to prolong progression free survival by two years with favourable toxicity. Sarah Maxwell spoke to study author Anton Hagenbeek at the ASH meeting in Atlanta while George Canellos provided comment.

Audio Journal of Oncology, December 10th, 2007 Reporting from: American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, December 8-11 2007, Atlanta Oblimersen Extends Survival in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia SUSAN O'BRIEN, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston REFERENCE: ASH 2007 For patients with relapsed or refractory CLL, oblimersen extends survival when added to standard fludarabine/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy. Susan O’Brien presented data from this phase III trial to the American Society of Hematology meeting in Atlanta. Sarah Maxwell reports.

Audio Journal of Oncology, December 9th, 2007 Reporting from: American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, December 8-11 2007, Atlanta Dasatinib Effective At Two Years’ Follow Up in Chronic Phase CML RICHARD STONE, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston GEORGE CANELLOS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston REFERENCE: ABSTRACT 734, ASH 2007 New data shows that dasatinib is giving durable responses in patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia who have failed, or who cannot tolerate imatinib. So where does dasatinib stand as an emerging CML therapy? Richard Stone of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston explained all to Derek Thorne, while George Canellos, of the same institute, gave another perspective on the data.

Audio Journal of Oncology, December 9th, 2007 Reporting from: American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, December 8-11 2007, Atlanta Azacitidine ‘New Standard’ In High Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes PIERRE FENAUX, Paris 13 University REFERENCE: ABSTRACT 817, ASH 2007 Results from a phase III study presented at ASH suggest that the hypomethylating agent azacitidine should be the new standard of care for patients with high-risk MDS. Pierre Fenaux of Paris 13 University gave the details to Derek Thorne.

Audio Journal of Oncology, December 9th, 2007 Reporting from: American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, December 8-11 2007, Atlanta Interleukin-2 For Acute Myeloid Leukemia In First Remission? JONATHAN KOLITZ, Monter Cancer Center, Lake Success, NY GEORGE CANELLOS, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute REFERENCE: ABSTRACT 157, ASH 2007 New data shows that dasatinib is giving durable responses in patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia who have failed, or who cannot tolerate imatinib. So where does dasatinib stand as an emerging CML therapy? Richard Stone of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston explained all to Derek Thorne, while George Canellos, of the same institute, gave another perspective on the data.