A new study has found that endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is associated with improved outcomes in patients with localized pancreatic cancer, possibly due to the detection of earlier cancers and improved stage-appropriate management, including more selective performance of curative intent surgery. This is the first study to analyze a large population-based cancer registry and demonstrate that EUS evaluation is associated with improved pancreatic cancer survival…

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (”Novartis”) announced that results of a Phase III study show Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets plus best supportive care (BSC) more than doubled progression-free survival, or time without tumor growth, versus placebo plus BSC in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The study, RADIANT-3 (RAD001 In Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors), was presented at the 12th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer and is part of the largest clinical trial program in patients with advanced NET(1)…

Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center has been awarded the largest gift for pancreas cancer research in its history. The award was made possible by Albert P. “Skip” Viragh, Jr., a mutual fund leader, and a pancreas cancer patient treated at Johns Hopkins. He died of the disease at age 62. The funds formally establish the Skip Viragh Center for Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research and Patient Care. The Skip Viragh Center brings together the extensive pancreas cancer laboratory and clinical expertise already in place at Johns Hopkins and cutting-edge research discoveries to improve patient care…

Early trials using targeted monoclonal antibodies in combination with existing therapies show promise in treating pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer, according to research that will be presented by investigators from the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center at the 2010 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology June 4 through 8…

Repligen Corporation (Nasdaq: RGEN) announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved the Company’s proposal to re-analyze the images from our Phase 3 study to establish the utility of RG1068, synthetic human secretin, in improving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pancreas (Phase 3 re-read). The FDA and EMA have agreed to the Phase 3 re-read based on the numerous deficiencies with the analysis of the radiographic images by the contract research organization hired to oversee analysis of the Phase 3 data…

Repligen Corporation (Nasdaq: RGEN) announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have approved the Company’s proposal to re-analyze the images from our Phase 3 study to establish the utility of RG1068, synthetic human secretin, in improving magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pancreas (Phase 3 re-read). The FDA and EMA have agreed to the Phase 3 re-read based on the numerous deficiencies with the analysis of the radiographic images by the contract research organization hired to oversee analysis of the Phase 3 data…

Quality-of-life measures used routinely to assess treatment outcomes for patients with pancreatic disease may be used to predict both malignancy and survival for those patients, according to a study by Henry Ford Hospital. Researchers found that pre-treatment quality-of-life scores could predict malignancy in patients with pancreatic lesions and survival in those who are found to have malignancies…

Solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPT) of the pancreas is a rare neoplasm with a low malignant potential, usually affecting young women in the second or third decade of life. With widespread availability of high-quality imaging systems and a better understanding of its pathology, the number of cases reported in the literature has been steadily increased in recent years. A research article published in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this problem. The research team led by Dr…

A new procedure for treating pancreatic and liver cancers using electrical fields to poke holes in tumors was used for the first time anywhere to fight pancreatic cancer at Stony Brook University Medical Center by Kevin Watkins, M.D., Chief of the Upper Gastrointestinal and General Oncologic Surgery Group. The procedure, performed at SBUMC in December 2009, is called “irreversible electroporation (IRE),” a minimally invasive surgical technique (also referred to as a “NanoKnife®”) that selectively kills the cancer by using electrical fields to generate pores in tumor cells. Dr…

The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) will present the latest research on treatments for individuals with liver, breast, soft tissue, colon, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancers; painful spinal fractures; peripheral arterial disease (PAD); uterine fibroids; and more at its 35th Annual Scientific Meeting March 13 -18 at the Tampa Convention Center. More than 5,000 physicians, scientists and allied health professionals are expected to attend this premier IR event…