NEWS
Chemotherapy Regimen Extends Survival in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients
A four-drug chemotherapy regimen has produced the longest improvement in survival ever seen in a phase III clinical trial of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest types of cancer. Patients who received the regimen, called FOLFIRINOX, lived approximately 4 months longer than patients treated with the current standard of care, gemcitabine (11.1 months compared with 6.8 months). Results from the trial, which was conducted at 48 hospitals in France, were published in the May 12 New England Journal of Medicine. Read more > >
Study Finds Colonoscopy Screening Overused in Medicare Beneficiaries
Overuse among the elderly of particular concernProstate Cancer Study Provides More Data on Surgery versus Watchful Waiting
Results have limited applicability in men diagnosed in the United StatesBreast Cancers Arising between Mammograms Have Aggressive Features
Women should be aware of their breast health between screenings, say researchersPatient Reports of Family Cancer History Are Often Inaccurate
Accuracy of reported cancer diagnoses in relatives varied by cancer type
A MESSAGE TO READERS
NCI Cancer Bulletin Receives First Place NAGC Gold Screen Award
On May 11, the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC) awarded the NCI Cancer Bulletin first place in the E-Newsletter category of the 2011 Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards. The annual competition recognizes superior government communication products and those who produce them. A complete list of award winners is available here.
IN DEPTH
In Rare Skin Cancer, Virus Emerges as Target and Tool
A new view of the disease has emerged in recent years
Straight from the Source: Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes
Researchers and clinicians are using electronic patient feedback to improve care
Combining Targeted Cancer Therapies: Much Promise, Many Hurdles
Industry and government try to overcome the challenges of testing combinations of investigational agents
Featured Clinical Trial: Lenalidomide and Radiation for Children with Brain Cancers
What is the maximum dose and long-term tolerability of lenalidomide administered with radiotherapy?
UPDATES
FDA Update
- FDA Approves Drug to Treat Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Legislative Update
- Senate Appropriators Hold Hearing on President's 2012 Budget Request for NIH
Notes
- Portrait of Former NCI Director Dr. John E. Niederhuber Unveiled
- Dr. Philip Castle Wins Flemming Award
- New Resources Raise Awareness about Skin Cancer in Minority Populations
- Meet NCI Experts at ASCO 2011
Selected articles from past issues of the NCI Cancer Bulletin are available in Spanish.
The NCI Cancer Bulletin is produced by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which was established in 1937. Through basic, clinical, and population-based biomedical research and training, NCI conducts and supports research that will lead to a future in which we can identify the environmental and genetic causes of cancer, prevent cancer before it starts, identify cancers that do develop at the earliest stage, eliminate cancers through innovative treatment interventions, and biologically control those cancers that we cannot eliminate so they become manageable, chronic diseases.
For more information about cancer, call 1-800-4-CANCER or visit http://www.cancer.gov.
NCI Cancer Bulletin staff can be reached at ncicancerbulletin@mail.nih.gov.
