Breast Cancer News and Research

Latest Breast Cancer News and Research

Study examines ways to reduce growing cancer burden in developing world

"The growing burden of cancer in developing countries could be reduced without expensive drugs and equipment, scientists said on Monday, but it requires a global effort similar to the fight against HIV/AIDS," Reuters reports in an article that examines a study published in the Lancet by a group of American scientists who have created the Global Task Force on Expanded Access to Cancer Care and Control in Developing Countries.

17 Aug 2010

IBCERCC to improve existing research programs for breast cancer

A newly formed advisory committee will develop and coordinate a strategic federal research agenda on environmental and genetic factors related to breast cancer. The 19 member Interagency Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Coordinating Committee was established by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, to review all breast cancer research efforts conducted or supported by federal agencies.

17 Aug 2010

Experimental drug benefits women with advanced ovarian or breast tumours caused by BRCA gene faults

An experimental drug called olaparib has been shown to shrink tumours in women whose advanced cancers were caused by faults in their BRCA genes.

17 Aug 2010

FDA considers dropping Avastin approval, approves five-day emergency contraception pill

The Food and Drug Administration is considering revoking its approval of a last-ditch breast cancer drug over the debate on "medical spending and effectiveness that flared during the battle over health-care reform," The Washington Post reports. "The [FDA] is reviewing the recommendation of influential scientific advisers to revoke authorization of the drug to treat metastatic breast cancer.

17 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 16, 2010

Today's headlines reflect coverage of state health reform implementation issues as well as other emerging policy issues in the nation's health system.

16 Aug 2010

Pathology experts meet to at SESPM to update new advances in breast surgery

Over 1.500 breast pathology experts will meet between the 20th and 22nd of October in the 16th World Congress of the Senologic International Society (SIS). This meeting and the 29th Congress of the Spanish Society of Senology and Breast Diseases (SESPM) will take place in the Valencia, coinciding with the International Breast Cancer Day.

16 Aug 2010

Scientists identify genes associated with aggressive breast cancer

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have for the first time identified 12 genes that could be associated with aggressive breast tumours. The discovery could result in more reliable prognoses and better treatment strategies for patients.

16 Aug 2010

Use of estrogen alone does not increase lung cancer mortality in postmenopausal women: Study

Use of estrogen alone did not increase lung cancer mortality in postmenopausal women, according to a study published online August 13 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute. In the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial, which consisted of several clinical trials on postmenopausal women, one study showed women with previous hysterectomy taking combined estrogen plus progestin therapy had a statistically significant increase in lung cancer mortality, but not incidence. Other studies with combined hormone therapy have had conflicting results. But the influence of estrogen alone was unclear.

16 Aug 2010

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, OCNA urge FDA to allow use of Avastin

Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance today urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to continue to allow the use of the drug bevacizumab, commonly known as Avastin, for metastatic breast cancer patients, noting that it is effective for some patients and warning of a chilling effect on new drug development if approval is withdrawn.

13 Aug 2010

BioSante second-quarter net loss increases to $10.8 million

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2010.

13 Aug 2010

CPF urges people to consider clinical trials for pulmonary fibrosis

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) is urging the more than 128,000 people known to suffer from the deadly lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis (PF), to consider clinical trials, including two new ones funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Clinical trials of potential drug therapies are critical to the discovery of treatments for any disease and for a disease like PF that claims as many lives each year as breast cancer with virtually no survivors, they are the likely path to answers and saved lives.

13 Aug 2010

Study finds Olaparib can reduce tumor size in ovarian cancer women

Understanding the underlying genetic weakness of certain types of cancer may lead to targeted therapy and provide the key to effective treatment, a new study suggests. An international consortium of researchers has shown that an investigational drug, Olaparib, can reduce the size of tumors in women with advanced hereditary ovarian cancer with BRCA gene mutations.

13 Aug 2010

Genta reports second-quarter net income of $25.4M against net loss of $43.1M in 2009

Genta Incorporated today announced financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2010.

12 Aug 2010

Komen Advocacy Alliance thanks Congress for 6-month extension of enhanced federal funding for Medicaid

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance thanked Congress and the Administration for a six-month extension of enhanced federal funding for Medicaid, which was signed into law Tuesday night. The additional federal aid will help stave off potential cuts to programs that provide breast cancer screening and treatment for underserved women.

12 Aug 2010

Investments in screening, new drugs reduce breast cancer mortality rates in UK

Breast cancer death rates have fallen steeply in the UK in the last 20 years - and at a faster rate than in any other European country except for Iceland, a new study in the British Medical Journal has found.The research challenges previous claims about the UK's cancer services, which were based on poor survival rate in comparison to other western European countries.

12 Aug 2010

Pathway's drug development milestone triggers $4.5M tranche of Series A private equity placement

Pathway Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company founded in New Zealand, announced that it has met an important drug development milestone triggering a US$4.5 million fourth tranche of its Series A private equity placement. The financing was led by GBS Venture Partners, Australia and CM Capital Investments, Australia with co-investors the Breast Cancer Research Trust, the Trans-Tasman Commercialisation Fund, and the New Zealand Venture Investment Firm.

12 Aug 2010

Syndax raises $6 million to support ENCORE 301 study in breast cancer

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage epigenetics oncology company, today announced that it has issued $6M in convertible notes and warrants to its Series A investors bringing the total investment to date to $55M. All current investors, including Domain Associates, MPM Capital, Avalon Ventures, Forward Ventures, Pappas Ventures and MC Life Sciences participated in the securities offering.

12 Aug 2010

K-State researcher receives grant from NIH to continue cancer research

Understanding how cancer cells communicate with each other and how to enhance their receptiveness to drug treatments is the focus of promising work by a Kansas State University researcher.Annelise Nguyen, assistant professor of toxicology in the department of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine, recently received a $370,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to continue her cancer research.

12 Aug 2010

BMI indicates breast cancer risk in women using postmenopausal hormone therapy

Using postmenopausal hormone therapy for more than 15 years increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, particularly among leaner women according to research at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).

12 Aug 2010

WCRF statistics: Breast cancer rates are higher in the UK

Breast cancer rates are more than four times higher in the UK than they are in eastern Africa, figures show. Statistics published by the World Cancer Research Fund show that 87.9 per 100,000 women in the UK were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008, compared to just 19.3 per 100,000 in eastern Africa.

11 Aug 2010