Pro-Pharmaceuticals Inc., on the 30th of August, 2008, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for use of DAVANAT® in combination with 5-FU to treat a patient of breast cancer at the Brown Cancer Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Also, DAVANAT is being administered in Phase II clinical trials for first-line treatment of colorectal and biliary cancer patients. Studies showed that DAVANAT®, when given along with chemotherapy, reduced tumor growth and toxicity considerably in mice implanted with metastatic human breast cancer. It also lowered the levels of side effects.

The value of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test as a diagnostic tool for prostate cancer has declined following changes in medical practice, according to a new study. Study author Dr. Douglas S. Scherr said that the PSA test is still very predictive in men with an abnormal digital rectal examination, while for men with a normal digital rectal examination, the test’s predictive accuracy has declined. For the latter category of men, doctors are opting for biopsies and are using improved biopsy techniques.

The FDA has decided to postpone the approval for Genesense (oblimersen sodium) due to the lack of adequate data available for the drug. The drug is used in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and the FDA agreed that the drug achieved the primary endpoint in the pivotal trial, drug maker Genta said. CDER has asked the company to come up with confirmatory evidence for the drug.

Oncothyreon has filed an INDA with the FDA for PX-866, a small molecule phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-kinase) inhibitor for the treatment of advanced cancers. The compound has been shown to have good single agent in vivo antitumor activity and works well in combination with other agents in a number of human tumor models, the company said. Following FDA review, the company plans to initiate a Phase I clinical trial.

Xoft Inc. has received clearance from the FDA for applicators to be used with the Axxent electronic brachytherapy system for the treatment of endometrial cancer. Previously cleared for accelerated treatment of early stage breast cancer, the system also recently received expanded approval for use in the treatment of other cancers or conditions where radiation therapy is indicated. The system that delivers electronic, X-ray-based radiation treatment may reduce external radiation therapy from seven weeks to five days.

Researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center have found that an antioxidant that occurs naturally in wine may reach and destroy mitochondria, thereby destroying the pancreatic cancer cells. The researchers further say that the link between the mitochondria and antioxidant is significant, since mitochondria has its own DNA and is the core power supplier for the cells.

According to the Wichita Eagle, the operating funds of the Kansas Early Detection Works program, which provides uninsured low-income women in the state with breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings at no cost, have depleted, resulting in a delay of almost all cancer screenings until July 1. The program officials have, however, reserved some funding for women who display symptoms of breast or cervical cancer. Apart from receiving about $2.3 million per annum from CDC, the program receives some funding from the state and the Mid-Kansas affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

According to the scientists at Cancer Research UK’s Beatson Institute in Glasgow, a common molecule that plays an important role in protein building may also act as a cancer trigger. During the research, the ovarian cells were boosted with extra tRNA in the laboratory and the cells turned cancerous as a result.

Photo by p_a_h

According to research published in Science, animals have been shown to be protected against radiation therapy damage in cancer by a modified version of a natural intestinal protein. The intestinal protein, flagellin, is produced by the bacteria, that live within the body, to stop the intestinal cells from starting programmed cell death process known as apoptosis.

The European Commission (EC) has granted Cephalon marketing authorization for Effentora to treat breakthrough cancer pain. The drug has been selling in the U.S. under the trade name Fentora (fentanyl buccal tablets) since 2006 and is now under FDA screening for the treatment of other conditions associated with breakthrough pain, including neuropathic pain or lower back pain.