There’s good news for the 60 percent of women with breast cancer whose malignancies are estrogen-driven: Researchers say taking the aromatase inhibitor (AI) drug letrozole (Femara) can cut risk of a recurrence by more than half.

Update provided by http://www.askanoncologistnow.com Read the rest of this entry »

Biotech giant Genentech Inc. said Friday that the Food and Drug Administration has approved its oncology drug Avastin for the additional use of treating advanced breast cancer, a move that had been eagerly anticipated by investors. Read the rest of this entry »

evacizumab (Avastin) is now approved as a first-line option for patients with metastatic, HER2-negative breast cancer. The approval is based on a phase 3 study (E2100) that found bevacizumab in combination with paclitaxel reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 52 percent compared with those treated with paclitaxel alone. Read the rest of this entry »

Viralytics Limited is pleased to announce the publication of pre-clinical research data on the anticancer activity of its lead oncolytic virus candidate, CAVATAK™ (Coxsackievirus A21) on human breast cancers both in vitro and in vivo. Read the rest of this entry »

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals has begun evaluating the safety and efficacy of bavituximab in combination with docetaxel in a Phase II trial of patients with advanced breast cancer. Read the rest of this entry »

Biotechnology company Genentech Inc. said Tuesday its cancer drug Avastin succeeded in a breast cancer study, increasing the survival time for patients without having the disease progress. Read the rest of this entry »

Calibrant Biosystems announced a research collaboration with the Yale University School of Medicine to identify novel ovarian and breast cancer drug targets from clinical tissue specimens using Calibrant’s Gemini proteomics platform. Read the rest of this entry »

Myriad Genetics recently announced that its direct-to-consumer advertising campaign has increased sales of its breast cancer genetic test and that the company is considering expanding the campaign, the Wall Street Journal reports. Read the rest of this entry »

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a reported that clinical data on its anti-phosphatidylserine (anti-PS) monoclonal antibody bavituximab was discussed at the 10th Annual International Symposium on Anti-Angiogenic Agents (Angio 2008) in La Jolla, CA. Read the rest of this entry »

Calibrant Biosystems today announced a research collaboration with the Yale University School of Medicine to identify novel ovarian and breast cancer drug targets from clinical tissue specimens using Calibrant’s Gemini proteomics platform. Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers involved in a multi-center trial have reported that adding ixabepilone (Ixempra™) to Xeloda® (capecitabine) improves outcomes of patients with ER/PR/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC) resistant to anthracyclines and taxanes. Read the rest of this entry »

Researchers affiliated with the ATLAS (Adjuvant Tamoxifen, Longer against Shorter) study have reported that continuation of tamoxifen beyond 5 years reduces recurrences over the next few years Read the rest of this entry »

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche reported Wednesday a better-than-expected 2007 net profit of 11.4 billion Swiss francs (10.4 billion dollars, 7.1 billion euros), boosted by cancer drug sales. Read the rest of this entry »

Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile, Research), Europe’s biggest drugmaker, is expected to post a 20-percent rise in annual profit despite growing threats to the sector from tougher regulations, generic competition and patent exposure.
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