Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Announces U.S. Phase 2 Combination Clinical Trial for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with K-RAS or EGFR-Activated Tumours Sep 2, 2008
CALGARY, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Oncolytics Biotech Inc. ("Oncolytics") (TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced today that following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review, the Company is initiating a U.S. Phase 2 clinical trial using intravenous administration of REOLYSIN(R) in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with K-RAS or EGFR-activated tumours ... "Although we have had for some time treatments that target EGFR, K-RAS... (PR Newswire)
Cell Death and Differentiation Aug 29, 2008
This collection of the most cited of the recent minireviews focuses on a few key pathways and targets in cancer therapy: the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathway, mTOR signalling, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway, epigenetics and microRNAs. Click here for the. (Nature News Service)
Nature Clinical Practice Oncology Aug 29, 2008
Our and international ensure comprehensive coverage of topical issues throughout the year, with the highest standards of editorial quality and integrity that are hallmarks of Nature Publishing Group. Free featured article. (Nature News Service)
YM BIOSCIENCES REPORTS PHASE II DATA FOR NIMOTUZUMAB IN METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER Aug 5, 2008
- Overall Survival And Disease Control Outcomes, Coupled With Low Toxicity, Support The Continued Development Of The EGFR Antibody In Patients With Colorectal Cancer - - Conference Call To Discuss Results On Aug. 5 At 12:00PM EDT - MISSISSAUGA, ON, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - YM BioSciences Inc. (AMEX: , TSX: YM, AIM: YMBA), an oncology company that identifies, develops and commercializes differentiated products for patients worldwide, today announced preliminary results obtained from its... (PR Newswire)
Lapatinib Reduces Brain Metastases In Mouse Model Of Metastatic Breast Cancer Aug 4, 2008
Lapatinib, a small-molecule inhibitor of both HER2 and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is able to cross the blood brain barrier ... "We propose a scenario in which standard treatments such as neurosurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery are used to treat clinical metastases and currently unavailable molecular therapeutics are then used to hold the remaining micrometastases in check. One possible molecular therapeutic is lapatinib, a dual inhibitor of EGFR and HER2 kinases," the... (Science Daily)
Nephrologists Debate Uses Of Estimated Kidney Function Aug 1, 2008
1, 2008) A routinely available laboratory result called the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) provides a simple indicator of kidney function and may increase early diagnoses of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, widespread use of eGFR for this purpose may have inherent flaws and dangers including a risk that large numbers of elderly patients will be misclassified as having CKD. ... The September issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) presents... (Science Daily)
Infinity Initiates Clinical Development of IPI-493, Its Oral Anti-Chaperone Agent, in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors Jul 30, 2008
Hsp90 is a central component of the cellular chaperone system -- a system that supports and stabilizes cancer-causing proteins such as c-Kit, EGFR, and HER2, enabling multiple forms of cancer to thrive. Inhibition of Hsp90 knocks out this critical source of support for cancer cells, leading to tumor growth inhibition and cancer cell death. (Primezone Releases)
Detection of Mutations in EGFR in Circulating Lung-Cancer Cells Jul 24, 2008
Background The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors to target the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) in patients with non small-cell lung cancer is effective but limited by the emergence of drug-resistance mutations ... We performed EGFR mutational analysis on DNA recovered from circulating tumor cells using allele-specific polymerase-chain-reaction amplification and compared the results with those from concurrently isolated free plasma DNA and from the original tumor-biopsy specimens ...... (New England Journal of Medicine)
Hana Biosciences Presents Alocrest and Menadione Data At the European Society for Medical Oncology Conference Jul 7, 2008
Menadione is a topical agent that Hana is currently evaluating in a Phase 1 clinical trial, for the treatment and/or prevention of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor (EGFRI) associated skin toxicities ... Researchers, led by Dr. Perez-Soler, conducted preclinical studies of menadione to better understand the potential interaction between topical menadione and systemically delivered erlotinib (Tarceva(r)), an approved EGFRI. Analysis from tests conducted in an in vivo model demonstrated... (Primezone Releases)
Microchip device monitors lung cancer cells Jul 5, 2008
Early in 2004, researchers at MGH and a team from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute both found that mutations in a protein called EGFR determine whether non-small-cell lung cancer responds to a group of drugs called TKIs including Iressa and Tarceva ... Among 27 patients who participated in the study, the researchers found 23 had EGFR mutations and 4 did not while CTCs were found in the blood of all patients. (Food Consumer)
Circulating Tumor Cells Reveal Insights Into Lung Cancers Jul 3, 2008
Haber and his colleagues analyzed blood samples from 27 patients with non-small cell lung cancer, 23 who had EGFR gene mutations and four who did not ... Mutations in EGFR, a protein, can help predict whether these tumors will respond to a family of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. (Health-Finder)
Researchers identify promising cancer drug target in prostate tumors Jun 27, 2008
The senior authors of the new report, Jean Zhao, PhD, and Thomas Roberts, PhD, previously showed that blocking p110alpha protein inhibits cancerous growth induced by various cancer-causing proteins, such as Her2 and EGFR. With that knowledge in hand, the researchers, in collaboration with pharmaceutical companies, are developing p110alpha blockers. P110beta, by contrast, was thought to be a relatively insignificant player in tumors. (EurekAlert!)
Overcoming Resistance To A Cancer Drug Jun 25, 2008
ScienceDaily (June 25, 2008) Drugs that target members of the EGFR family of proteins have proven effective for the treatment of certain types of cancer, including breast cancer ... New insight into the mechanisms of tumor resistance to a drug known as gefitinib, which targets EGFR, has now been provided by a team of researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, and Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Charlestown ... As discussed by both the authors and, in an... (Science Daily)
Cancer Revolution, Or Me-Too Mess? Jun 5, 2008
Erbitux hits the first big pathway important in cancer cells growth, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Almost a decade ago, ImClone, AstraZeneca (nyse: - - ), Genentech (nyse: - - ) and Pfizer (nyse: - - ) were all involved in a race to develop EGFR drugs ... He notes that many companies went after IGF-1 just because of its similarity to EGFR. They were looking for the next molecular pathway that might stop tumors from growing. (Forbes -- Business)
Imclones Erbitux will have to focus on patient selection in lung cancer Jun 3, 2008
Erbitux, a monoclonal antibody, binds to and inhibits the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), which can be responsible for uncontrolled cell growth in cancer. In order to select patients for treatment with Erbitux, it is necessary to ensure that an increase in EGFR is responsible for the cancer ... FISH (Fluorescent in situ hybridization), is a technique that can be used to evaluate the number of copies of EGFR present in a patient, which if higher then normal, suggests that treatment with... (FT.com -- Markets)
New Data Offers Insights Into the Potential Role for TYKERB(R) (Lapatinib) in Non-Cytotoxic Chemotherapy-Based Treatment Regimens Jun 2, 2008
2008; 26: 2008 (May 20 suppl; abstr 636) (4) Tabernero J. The role of VEGF and EGFR inhibition: Implications for combining anti-VEGF and anti-EGFR agents. Mol Cancer Res. (PR Newswire)
UPDATE: Erbitux, Avastin Combo No Benefit In Colon Cancer Jun 1, 2008
Erbitux, along with Amgen Inc.'s (AMGN) Vectibix, is an antibody that attacks cancer cells by latching onto, and therefore blocking, a growth-related trigger called epidermal growth-factor receptor, or EGFR, that occurs in some cancers ... "It shows that the combination of VEGF and EGFR therapies isn't working," said Leonard Saltz, a medical oncologist in the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. (CNNMoney.com)
Infinity Announces Clinical Data Confirming Activity and Safety of IPI-504, a Novel Hsp90 Inhibitor, in Patients With Refractory GIST May 31, 2008
Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) serves a chaperone function by supporting and stabilizing numerous cancer-causing proteins such as c-Kit, EGFR, and HER2 ... Hsp90 is a central component of the cellular chaperone system -- a system that supports and stabilizes cancer-causing proteins such as c-Kit, EGFR, and HER2, enabling multiple forms of cancer to thrive. (Primezone Releases)
Fruit fly protein acts as decoy to capture tumor growth factors, find Penn researchers May 29, 2008
Many types of tumors grow because of over-expression of a protein known as the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or a peptide hormone called epidermal growth factor (EGF) that binds and activates EGFR. Argos mimics EGFR by binding to EGF. But, unlike EGFR, Argos does not signal cells to grow ... "There are several designer' cancer drugs that fight tumors driven by EGFR-like receptors, such as Herceptin, Erbitux and Tarceva," says lead author Mark A. Lemmon, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry... (EurekAlert!)
Imclone addresses shortcomings of FLEX trial, development of KRAS biomarker to guide future patient selection May 24, 2008
A challenge to clinicians seeking to treat lung cancer is the accurate measurement of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activity, which is known to play a role in cancer. Erbitux, which binds to and inhibits EGFR is only beneficial in patients whose cancer is linked to an increase in this receptor ... Initial trials with Erbitux only elected to recruit patients who expressed EGFR as detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), a technique that measures the amount of a specific protein, under... (FT.com -- Markets)
Determining genetic signature of lung tumors can help guide treatment May 21, 2008
Iressa, which disables the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the surface of lung cancer cells, was approved in 2003 for treatment of NSCLC even though it shrank tumors in less than 15 percent of patients because, in those whom it did help, responses were rapid and dramatic ... Specific EGFR mutations that were probably responsible for a tumors development also made the cancer sensitive to Iressa treatment ... Late in 2004 a collaborative group led by MGH investigators began the current... (EurekAlert!)
Iressa shows promise for treatment of metastatic breast cancer when combined with hormonal therapy May 17, 2008
These findings are surprising and represent the first positive study for Iressa in breast cancer, as well as for the entire class of drugs known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors, said Massimo Cristofanilli, M.D., the study's principal investigator ... "There was a lot of preclinical work indicating that, in fact, resistance to hormonal therapy is strongly associated with an activated EGFR pathway. Also, EGFR over-expression has been associated with endocrine... (EurekAlert!)
Imclones Erbitux BMS-099 trial not powered to show overall survival, FLEX remains pivotal registrational trial May 16, 2008
However, the rash has been taken as an indicator of the drugs efficacy, and more rash means more binding of the EGFR kinase, he said. All EGFR drugs cause some degree of rash, and Erbitux - being a monoclonal antibody and not a small molecule like Tarceva - may cause even more rash, he noted ... Dual-inhibition of pathways may also be another problem, as Amgens EGFR-inhibitor Vectibix and VEGF-drug Avastin led to faster cancer progression in metastatic colorectal cancer. (FT.com -- Markets)
HPV Tied to Better Tongue, Tonsil Cancer Outcomes May 16, 2008
WEDNESDAY, May 14 (HealthDay News) -- Tonsil and tongue cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) are most responsive to current chemotherapy and radiation treatments, while those that express high levels of a growth factor called EGFR are the least responsive and most deadly, a new study concludes ... In addition, patients with the EGFR marker had worse outcomes ... "The combination of markers was an important indicator. Patients whose tumors expressed high levels of EGFR did poorly. But... (MEDLINEplus)
Health Canada approves "Personalized medicine" for metastatic colorectal cancer May 15, 2008
A biotechnology medicine, Vectibix(TM) is the first fully human EGFr monoclonal antibody for the treatment of colorectal cancer ... (1) It works by recognizing and binding to a protein in the body known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), which is over-expressed on the surface of some cancer cells ... When growth factors (other body proteins) attach to the EGFr, the cell is stimulated to grow and divide. (Canada Newswire)
HPV Linked To Better Survival In Tonsil, Tongue Cancer, Study Finds May 15, 2008
In addition, the researchers found that patients whose tumor expressed a marker called EGFR had worse outcomes. "The combination of markers was an important indicator. Patients whose tumors expressed high levels of EGFR did poorly. But those who had high EGFR and were also HPV-positive had some protection. Patients with high EGFR and low HPV fared the worst. This is a step in the direction of affecting future treatment," says Bhavna Kumar, a research laboratory specialist who was the lead author... (Science Daily)
Gene Effect on Colon Cancer Differs by Gender May 3, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Whether variant forms of a gene called EGFR increase or decrease survival with colon cancer depends on whether the patient is male or female, new study findings indicate ... Expression of EGFR has been linked with a worse prognosis, but up until now, it was assumed that variants of the gene had a similar effect in men and women ... The research team at the Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles, headed by Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz, studied two variant forms of EGFR. One of... (MEDLINEplus)
Gender-related Differences Found In Development Of Colon Cancer Apr 18, 2008
Germline variations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) DNA -- a gene widely expressed in colonic tissue -- has been linked with poor prognosis in colon cancer, says Oliver Press, an M.D. student at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and lead author of the study. However, when researchers looked at EGFR as a prognostic factor, they found that it had opposite implications for men and women ... When genomic DNA samples were analyzed, researchers found that women who had specific gene... (Science Daily)
Genmab A/S - Company Announcement: Novel Insights into HuMax-EGFr Mechanisms of Action Published in PNAS Apr 16, 2008
COPENHAGEN, April 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Summary: Genmab has announced that HuMax-EGFr (zalutumumab) inhibits epidermal growth factor receptor signaling by locking epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) molecules into a very compact, inactive conformation. The flexibility of the EGFr is central to its role in signaling, and binding of HuMax-EGFr (zalutumumab) results in effective inhibition of cancer cell growth ... Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) announced today new insights showing that... (PR Newswire)
Calorie restriction inhibits, obesity fuels development of epithelial cancers Apr 15, 2008
"Calorie restriction and obesity directly affect activation of the cell surface receptors epidermal growth factor (EGFR) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1R)," Moore said. "These receptors then affect signaling in downstream molecular pathways such as Akt and mTOR.". (EurekAlert!)
How what and how much we eat (and drink) affects our risk of cancer Apr 14, 2008
Researchers believe that these effects of dietary energy balance are mediated by changes in signaling through the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R). We have demonstrated that dietary energy balance directly modulates activation of cell surface receptors, specifically the EGFR and the IGF-1R, which subsequently affects signaling through downstream pathways, such as Akt and mTOR. Negative energy balance inhibits, while positive energy... (EurekAlert!)
Biomarkers allow doctors to match therapy to patient Apr 14, 2008
Few of the seven (AKT1, AKT2, BCAR1, BCAR3, EGFR, GRB7, and TRERF1) had been linked to resistance to tamoxifen ... Using the functional screen, the investigators looked at surgically removed primary tumors from 413 patients who had not yet received systemic therapy and found three genes AKT2, EGFR, and TRERF1 that were independently associated with tumor aggressiveness. (EurekAlert!)
Double binding sites on tumor target may provide future combination therapy Apr 9, 2008
An increasing number of therapies targeting tumors that have proteins called epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) sitting on their surface are already being used in the clinic or are in late stages of development ... EGFR drugs halt cell proliferation by blocking EGFRs molecular doorway, keeping hormones from binding and signaling tumor growth ... As is characteristic of many epithelial cancers - such as cancers of the colon, head and neck, breast, ovary, lung, and pancreas - the surface of... (EurekAlert!)
Malfunctioning kidneys may raise risk of sudden death in women Apr 8, 2008
Creatinine levels were used to estimate the filtering ability of the kidneys (the glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR) ... 5 percent) of those had normal kidney function (eGFR over 60 milliliters per minute [ml/min]) ... 6 percent) of those had moderate kidney dysfunction (eGFR 40-60 ml/min). (EurekAlert!)
Hana Biosciences Commences Phase 1 Clinical Trial of Topical Menadione for Treatment and/or Prevention of EGFR Inhibitor-Associated Skin Rash Apr 7, 2008
April 7, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Hana Biosciences (NasdaqGM: - ), a biopharmaceutical company focused on strengthening the foundation of cancer care, today announced that active cancer patient dosing has commenced in the company's Phase 1 clinical trial of topical menadione lotion for the treatment and/or prevention of the rash associated with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors (EGFRIs). Currently, there are no products or therapies approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration... (Primezone Releases)
New Data On Infinity's Lead Anti-Cancer Candidates to be Presented At AACR Apr 7, 2008
D. Location: Ballroom 20D Monday, April 14, 11:55 a.m. to 12:10 p.m., Oral Presentation Title: IPI-504, a novel HSP90 inhibitor is effective in EGFR T790M and non-T790M gefitinib-resistant lung cancer cell lines Abstract No. 2450 Presenter: Joon O. Park, M.D. Session Title: Histone Deacetylase and Heat Shock Protein Inhibitors Location: Room 24A-C Tuesday, April 15, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Poster Presentation Title: IPI-504, a selective Hsp90 inhibitor is biologically active and tolerated in... (Primezone Releases)
Science fair standouts Apr 6, 2008
His project really needs no explanation: It's titled, The Inhibitory Effect of HKa on Migration of Prostate Cancer Is Mediated by Blocking Interaction of EGFR and uPAR.. Um. (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Saving Cancer Patients' Skin For Later Dermatological Treatments Mar 28, 2008
The new drugs work by destroying a protein called the EGFR, which naturally occurs in the skin, but also helps cancer cells thrive. In the top four deadliest cancers -- lung, breast, colorectal and pancreatic -- cancer cells start churning out huge amounts of EGFR to feed themselves and self propagate ... The drugs that attack EGFR are prescribed for patients -- about 100,00 so far -- whose cancer has not responded to conventional chemotherapy. (Science Daily)
Saving cancer patients' skin Mar 28, 2008
These agents attack specific proteins in cancer cells rather than the spray gun approach of conventional chemotherapy that "basically shoots at everything and kills all kinds of cells, Lacouture said. The new agents minimize the side effects of traditional chemotherapy so patients lose less hair and don't suffer from plummeting white blood cell counts, which leave them vulnerable to infections. The new drugs work by destroying a protein called the EGFR, which naturally occurs in the skin, but... (EurekAlert!)
EGFR Antagonists in Cancer Treatment Mar 15, 2008
1 The majority of human epithelial cancers are marked by functional activation of growth factors and receptors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family. Given this phenomenon, EGFR was the first growth factor ... EGFR in Human Carcinogenesis. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Gene Plays 'Jekyll And Hyde' In Brain Cancer Feb 12, 2008
And since STAT3 is a key gene that turns neural stem cells into astrocytes during normal development, what is its role in glioblastoma" Bonni and two lead authors, N;ria de la Iglesia and Genevieve Konopka, in collaboration with investigators in the laboratory of Ronald DePinho at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, began by genetically manipulating mouse astrocytes, then placing them into a second group of mice whose immune systems had been compromised. The findings surprised them. Taking... (Science Daily)
Free health screening Jan 25, 2008
The following lab tests will be conducted: Blood pressure (hypertension); glucose (diabetes); hemoglobin (anemia); lipid panel (cholesterol, HDL/LDL, triglycerides); serum ceatinine/eGFR (kidney function); urine dipstick (blood, white blood cells, and microalbumin); calcium, phosphorous, and PTH (bone health for eGFR below 60). Tests are valued at 250. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
Genetic Variation Doubles Risk of Liver Cancer Jan 4, 2008
"In addition, the molecular pathway controlled by EGF and its receptor, EGFR, which is known to be important in several types of cancer, appears to be an excellent target for chemoprevention studies. This is a deadly cancer, and so progress in prevention and early detection is critically important.". The EFG gene normally works to increase tissue growth through the production of EFG protein. (MEDLINEplus)
New drug target leaves lung cancer cells alone, lonely and dying Jan 3, 2008
One of the pathways 14-3-3 helps control is epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signalling, which drives the growth of lung cancer. The team of scientists, including lead author Dr Zenggang Li, used RNA interference () to selectively silence the 14-3-3zeta gene. (DrugResearcher.com)
Gene variation may elevate risk of liver tumor in patients with cirrhosis Jan 2, 2008
In addition, the molecular pathway controlled by EGF and its receptor EGFR which is known to be important in several types of cancer appears to be an excellent target for chemoprevention studies ... In all three genotypes, tissue analysis showed that EGF levels were highest in the G/G patients, as was activation of the EGFR receptor. (EurekAlert!)
Lung cancer cells' survival gene seen as drug target Dec 25, 2007
"We knew that 14-3-3 is important in controlling EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) signaling, which is a main pathway driving lung cancer," Dr. Fu says. A couple of recently introduced drugs that were shown to be effective against lung cancer target EGFR, he adds. (EurekAlert!)
How can we know early who will benefit from tumor target therapy? Nov 22, 2007
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and EGFR inhibitors have become key components of therapies for several tumor types. Close relationships between these two factors exist: VEGF signaling is up-regulated by EGFR expression and, conversely, VEGF up-regulation independent of EGFR signaling seems to contribute to resistance to EGFR inhibition ... Therefore, inhibition of both pathways could improve anti-tumor efficacy and overcome resistance to EGFR inhibition. (EurekAlert!)
3-D Model Of Esophageal Cancer Created Nov 21, 2007
They found that ESCC results from a combination of genetic mutations (namely, EGFR overexpression, hTERT activation and p53 mutation) as well as changes in the tumor microenvironment. Dr. Rustgi emphasizes that "we have found that altering the stromal fibroblasts can influence the extent of tumor cell migration and invasion. Thus, previously underappreciated, it is the interplay of tumor cells and fibroblasts that has great meaning on how cancer arises and progresses.". (Science Daily)
Drug Helps Fight Late-Stage Colon Cancer in Some Patients Nov 16, 2007
In the case of cetuximab, the drug's target is the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is found in especially high concentrations on colon cancer cells. Because biologic drugs are finely targeted to affect cancer cells and not healthy cells, they typically have fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy. (MEDLINEplus)
Cetuximab for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Nov 15, 2007
Background Cetuximab, an IgG1 chimeric monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has activity against colorectal cancers that express EGFR.. Methods From December 2003 to August 2005, 572 patients who had colorectal cancer expressing immunohistochemically detectable EGFR and who had been previously treated with a fluoropyrimidine, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin or had contraindications to treatment with these drugs underwent randomization to an initial dose of 400 mg of... (New England Journal of Medicine)
YM BIOSCIENCES REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2008 OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESULTS Nov 12, 2007
"In July 2007, we initiated patient enrollment for our colorectal cancer trial - the first trial using nimotuzumab with chemotherapy in a bulky tumor. Data from this trial could provide important evidence supporting the observations to date that nimotuzumab can deliver efficacy without the debilitating side effects common to other EGFR-targeting drugs. In August 2007, YM-USA received clearance from the FDA to initiate a 44-patient clinical trial in children with diffuse, intrinsic pontine glioma... (PR Newswire)
Mechanism Of Action Of EGFR Inhibitors in Cancer Chemotherapy Nov 2, 2007
2, 2007) Three papers published this month in the open access general medical journal PLoS Medicine investigate how tumors respond to a an important class of drugs used in cancer chemotherapy, known as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors ... EGFR plays a critical role in the control of cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival ... Abnormalities in signaling of the EGFR pathway have been found in a wide range of cancers, including carcinomas of the lung, breast, and... (Science Daily)
How To Design A Cancer-killing Virus Oct 30, 2007
After selecting a highly potent strain of poxvirus that was able to traffic to tumors when administered intravenously to mice the authors engineered the virus such that it would target only specific cancer cells -- those with increased expression of a protein known as E2F and/or activation of signaling downstream of a protein known as EGFR.. Further engineering to enable the virus to produce the soluble factor GM-CSF was designed to enhance the induction of anti-tumor immune responses. (Science Daily)
Ways To Teach Approved Drugs New Tricks: How To Combat Cancer Oct 30, 2007
Using a gene-expression-based tool to look for pathways involved in pancreatic cancer, they matched response to Tarceva to activation of the EGFR pathway which the drug targets ... Many cancers rely on what scientists call "oncogene addiction," which refers to malignant processes that are driven by a single alteration, such as mutations in the EGFR gene in lung cancer or over-expression of HER2 in breast cancer ... D., suspected that pancreatic cancer a disease in which EGFR-targeted therapies... (Science Daily)
Cancer: Clinical Studies In The Pipeline Oct 29, 2007
Generally, patients have a poor prognosis because these tumors produce a lot of proteins, such as VEGF and VEGFR2, that make them highly vascular and able to build a solid and nurturing blood supply with increased ability to invade surrounding major vessels and to metastasize, Dr. Zhu says. Sunitinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to target and block VEGFR2 activity, among other pro-growth molecules ... Using protein arrays to test for angiogenic biomarkers in the blood, the... (Science Daily)
Tarceva(R) (erlotinib) Earns Approval for Lung Cancer Patients in Japan Oct 22, 2007
HER1, also known as EGFR, is a component of the HER signalling pathway, which plays a role in the formation and growth of numerous cancers ... Tarceva is the only HER1/EGFR-targeted therapy proven to significantly prolong survival in second-line NSCLC as a single agent ... OSI's flagship product, Tarceva (erlotinib), is the first drug discovered and developed by OSI to obtain FDA approval and the only EGFR inhibitor to have demonstrated the ability to improve survival in both non-small cell... (BusinessWire)
UGA researchers cracking pancreatic cancer secrets Oct 22, 2007
The tumor removed from Young's pancreas, tests showed, had high levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a protein associated with colon and other cancers. Young underwent another round of treatment with Erbitux, a new drug that targeted the malignant proteins. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Trastuzumab — Mechanism of Action and Use Oct 18, 2007
Among its members, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) are now successfully targeted by biologic agents used in cancer therapeutics. 1,2 However, the limited efficacy of trastuzumab in some patients with breast cancer indicates that other factors besides HER2 status are important for the proliferation of breast-cancer cells. (New England Journal of Medicine)
New Data for XL880, XL647 and XL184 to Be Presented at AACR-NCI-EORTC Oct 9, 2007
In addition, phase 1 data for XL184, which inhibits MET, VEGFR2 and RET, will also be presented ... The full list of abstracts to be presented at the meeting follows: Phase 2 Clinical Abstracts -- A Phase 2 study of the dual MET/VEGFR2 inhibitor XL880 in patients (pts) with papillary renal carcinoma (PRC) (Abstract #B249) -- A Phase II study of XL647 in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Enriched for Presence of EGFR Mutations (Abstract #B124) Phase 1 Clinical Abstracts -- A phase... (PR Newswire)
Survival Data in FDA Approval for ERBITUX(R) (Cetuximab) Supports use as a Single Agent in Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer Oct 3, 2007
NEW YORK, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ImClone Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: ) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: ) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an update to the ERBITUX(R) (Cetuximab) product labeling to include overall survival data as a single agent in epidermal growth factor inhibitor (EGFR)-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients after failure of both irinotecan- and oxaliplatin-based regimens. The approval of the... (PR Newswire)
New Model Could Improve Some Drugs' Effectiveness Sep 26, 2007
In this image, a fragment of the antibody Erbitux (cetuximab) binds to its target, a fragment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The blue ribbon at the top is the backbone of the EGFR fragment, and the red and gray ribbons at the bottom are the backbone of the antibody fragment ... The licorice sticks and the balls in the central portion represent protein side chains making close interactions between the antigen (EGFR) and the antibody, with the balls representing one of the mutations... (Science Daily)
Gene chips personalize cancer meds Sep 20, 2007
Scientists know a little about some of the genes that are over-active or under-active in cancer genes such as EGFR, which stimulates tissue growth ... For EGFR alone, there were nine different results, five suggesting a cancer-causing mutation but four others saying little ... A drug called Avastin targets EGFR, as does a pill called Tarceva. (MSNBC -- Health)
Brain Tumors Need Treatment With Multiple 'Targeted' Drugs, Study Suggests Sep 19, 2007
At least 54 RTKs have been identified, and some, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been implicated in glioblastomas. However, drugs that block EGFR have had limited success in delaying the progression of these and other virulent tumors. (Science Daily)
ImClone Breathes Easier Sep 12, 2007
The latest trial, the cumbersomely named "First-Line Treatment for Patients with Epidermal growth factor inhibitor (EGFR)-Expressing Advanced NSCLC," or FLEX for short, was run by Germany's Merck KGaA, ImClone's international marketing partner ... "Previous pivotal trials involving other agents targeting EGFR have failed to demonstrate a survival advantage for these patients.". (SmartMoney)
ERBITUX(R) Meets Primary Endpoint of Increasing Survival in Phase III Lung Cancer Study Sep 11, 2007
This large, randomized multi-national study, known as FLEX (First-Line Treatment for Patients with Epidermal growth factor inhibitor (EGFR)-EXpressing Advanced NSCLC) was conducted by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and enrolled patients with Stage IIIB or Stage IV NSCLC who had not previously received chemotherapy. "Based on the FLEX results, ERBITUX is the only member of the class of epidermal growth factor inhibitors to demonstrate survival in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced... (PR Newswire)
