Colorectal Cancer Mabs

Another monoclonal antibody, i.e. "MAb", has been approved by the US Food & Drug guys for the treatment of chemo-resistant metastatic colorectal cancer.  This time, its Amgen's panitumumab (Vectibix), a purely human MAb that's priced to give ImClone's cetuximab (Erbitux) a run for the money.  At 20% less, its "just" a Filipino-sized US$ 7000 per month for those who have already failed a gamut of chemo options.   (more…)

Prostate Cancer Variables

Prostate cancer is a highly prevalent malignancy but, come to think of it, most medical oncologists I know have but a handful of cases.  In my own clinic, prostate cancers are outnumbered by even the sarcomas & gliomas.  Since the role of the medical oncologist is most active in stage IV of this disease, does this mean that majority of patients are diagnosed early & subsequently cured? Are even very advanced cases managed by another specialty?  Are full options offered at all?

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Head and Neck Cancer: The Organ Preservation Option

Concomitant irradiation & chemotherapy can preserve the anatomy in locally advanced head and neck cancer without sacrificing treatment efficacy.   It seems that the latest outcomes are comparable to those of radical surgery with further postoperative treatment. 

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New Drugs for Kidney Cancer

This year, the star of the Atlanta show was kidney cancer, specifically, advanced renal cell carcinoma.  For the longest time, I looked more to heaven than science to guide me in the treatment of this disease, being limited to drugs which, in many cases, made patients feel worse than the cancer. When those didn't work or ceased to work, one was exposed as clueless.  Nobody likes the recipe book approach. Doctors are supposed to know & understand their enemy, but renal cell cancer was shrouded in mystery.

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Our Precious Girls

CANCERS of the CERVIX : Best treatment is Prevention.

Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) are a large group with 100+ subtypes that usually present as a self-limited infection.  Certain HPV strains are known to be strongly associated with the genesis of cervical cancer, and similar mechanisms may apply to HPV+ cancers of the vulva, anus, and throat.  Merck"s GARDASIL is a vaccine that was developed against known culprits HPV 6, 11, 16, 18.  Three injections over six months are necessary for protection against infection by these subtypes which cause the majority of cervical cancer in the US.  It is a pure preventive, not a targeted therapy.  As such, it can't impact upon established disease.  So then, given the predominantly sexual mode of HPV transmission, the question now arises– how young should girls be at vaccination to allow for maximum benefit from this new intervention?  The US trials have looked at girls as young as 9 years of age.  As a doctor, starting them in the pre-sexual years makes great sense to me.  As a parent in a conservative society, it gives me pause:  Will our girls read an implicit message there?

Social norms, religious objections, parental desires aren't nearly as straightforward as science.  There lies the rub.