A comprehensive review of current scientific literature, published in the peer-reviewed journal ecancer, has suggested that antidepressants can help the human body fight cancer by boosting its own immune response, amongst other mechanisms.

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Researchers in the US are hoping that their new breast cancer vaccine will be effective in humans because it safely destroyed HER2-positive tumors, even those resistant to anti-HER2 drugs, when tested on mice.

The study was the work of scientists at the School of Medicine and Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, and is published in the September 15 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

HER2 (Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2) is a receptor that sits on the surface of cells in breast tissue. Their normal job is to promote cell growth, but when there are too many of them, the growth becomes uncontrolled and forms very aggressive tumors. Up to 30 per cent of breast cancers are of this HER2-positive type.

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UroToday.com - Renal cell cancer is the third most common urologic malignancy and the seventh most common cancer overall. Incidence rates have been increasing steadily each year in the United States (U.S.) and Europe during the last 3 decades1. There are projected to be 54,390 new cases and 13,010 deaths from renal cell cancer in 2008 in this country2.

Renal cell cancer imposes a significant burden on the U.S. healthcare system, as its diagnosis involves advanced radiological testing and its treatment often involves surgery, hospitalization, and regular surveillance visits to assess for recurrence. Costs associated with the diagnosis and treatment totaled approximately $400 million in 20003.

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Clavis Pharma ASA (OSE: CLAVIS) announced that promising results from its Intravenous CP-4126 Phase I study in patients with solid tumours have been presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Meeting 2008. The presentation was held on 13 September.

Intravenous CP-4126 is a novel anticancer agent designed to circumvent important drug resistance mechanisms. Clinical Phase I is almost completed and based on the encouraging safety and the pharmacokinetic data obtained, Phase II studies are being planned in cancer indications where Intravenous CP-4126 has the potential to show better efficacy than current therapy.

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Breast cancer patients are twice as likely to be offered breast-conserving surgery if treated by surgeons at breast centers than by surgeons in private practice, according to a national survey of breast specialists conducted by the American Society of Breast Disease. The survey presented a case study of a woman from her initial workup following a mammogram through diagnosis to surgical treatment.

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Data presented at the 33rd European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Stockholm demonstrate that the addition of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to platinum-based chemotherapy increases overall survival (OS) compared to chemotherapy alone in the 1st-line treatment of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).1 Furthermore the data showed the significant benefits of Erbitux were achieved without any detrimental impact on quality of life (QoL).2

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Breast cancer claims the lives of more European women than any other cancer. Almost 132,000 women died from breast cancer in 2006, and every year 430,000 European women are diagnosed with the disease.1 But studies show that having a healthy lifestyle - avoiding weight gain, eating nutritiously and being physically active - can greatly reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. As much as 25-33% of breast cancer cases are related to being overweight and physically inactive.2

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Researchers at Wayne State University have tested a breast cancer vaccine they say completely eliminated HER2-positive tumors in mice - even cancers resistant to current anti-HER2 therapy - without any toxicity.

The study, reported in the September 15 issue of Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, suggests the vaccine could treat women with HER2-positive, treatment-resistant cancer or help prevent cancer recurrence. The researchers also say it might potentially be used in cancer-free women to prevent initial development of these tumors.

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Results from an international study presented today at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) predict that sunitinib (SUTENT®) is cost effective as a first-line therapy for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). [1], [2], [3]

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Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the malignant melanoma drug market, driven by the launch of emerging agents, will experience robust annual 12 percent growth through 2012 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan.

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