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Chronic myeloid leukaemia: a vaccine made with leukemia cells may reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells

Preliminary studies by Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, have shown that a vaccine made with leukemia cells may be able to reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ) patients taking the drug Imatinib mesylate ( Gleevec, Glivec ). ...
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Type 1 Gaucher disease: Vpriv approved in Europe

European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for Vpriv ( Velaglucerase alfa ), a human cell line derived enzyme replacement therapy ( ERT ) for the long-term treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease. Vpriv has been authorized as an orphan medicine through the Centralised Procedure, making it a...
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Dasatinib and Nilotinib: phase III clinical trials show improved responses over Imatinib

Two drugs approved for treatment of drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ) provide patients with quicker, better responses as a first therapy than the existing front-line medication. These two studies are published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Separate international phase ...
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Pediatric patients: use of antipsychotics associated with significant weight gain

Many pediatric and adolescent patients who received second-generation antipsychotic medications experienced significant weight gain, along with varied adverse effects on cholesterol and triglyceride levels and other metabolic measures. Treatment for psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, and nonp...
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Mammary carcinoma: estrogen levels following menopause may impact risk of joint pain caused by aromatase inhibitors

Aromatase inhibitors carry side effects including joint pain so severe that many patients discontinue these lifesaving medicines. New University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine research, however, has uncovered patterns that may help clinicians identify and help women at risk of these symptoms soo...
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Head and neck cancer: robot-assisted surgery appears useful for removal of some tumors

Robot-assisted surgery appears feasible for treatment of selected head and neck cancers. Since the introduction of the surgical robot in 1999, robot-assisted cardiac, gynecologic and urologic procedures have become widely accepted. In these specialties, robotic procedures have been associated with l...
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Bevacizumab improves hearing in some patients with neurofibromatosis type 2

Treatment with the angiogenesis inhibitor Bevacizumab ( Avastin ) improved hearing and alleviated other symptoms in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 ( NF2 ). In a paper, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital ( MGH ) reported that Be...
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Pazopanib in treating patients with aggressive thyroid cancer

Mayo investigators reported that cancer in about two-thirds of 37 patients with aggressive differentiated thyroid cancer treated with the drug Pazopanib ( Votrient ) either stopped growing, or quickly shrank. The patient responses are promising, the researchers say, because all patients had fast...
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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis: treatment with Etanercept

Three studies have shown the anti-TNF ( Tumour Necrosis Factor ) therapy Etanercept ( Enbrel ) to be effective, with a good safety profile, in children under four years of age with juvenile idiopathic arthritis ( JIA ), and associated with improved Health-Related Quality of Life ( HRQoL ) in a subst...
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Chronic myeloid leukemia: Nilotinib and Dasatinib evoke faster response than Imatinib

Two medications approved as treatment for drug-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ) continue to provide patients with quicker, better responses as a first treatment than the existing front-line drug. Initial therapy for CML remains Imatinib ( Glivec, Gleevec ), which has increased the five-...
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