The Cancer Letter Archives
The Cancer Letter was founded in 1973, two years after Congress passed the National Cancer Act of 1971. These archives represent the first 40 years of The Cancer Letter, which is published weekly.
TCL
Vol.
30
No.
14
April 02, 2004
- Cancer clinical trials cooperative groups are in jeopardy, and changes are needed to enable the system to survive, chairmen of the groups wrote in a paper submitted to NCI. White paper makes 25 recommendations, including changing system incentives, review process, group integration with centers and SPOREs, and inclusion in CaBIG. This 8-page issue includes full text of the white paper.
- Also New AACR President Lynn Matrisian plans emphasis on enhancing communication.
- Peter Jones begins term as AACR president-elect. New directors elected.
- AACR honors Emil Frei III for pioneering work in childhood leukemia.
TCL
Vol.
30
No.
15
April 09, 2004
- Two “optimists” present different visions for rapid progress in cancer research at American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting. Leland Hartwell advocates genome-like project for molecular diagnostics. Andrew von Eschenbach describes “fantasies, dreams, visions” becoming reality.
- NCI director asks: Imagine Einstein with a laptop. Experts answer: It might have slowed his work, but he could have used email, Internet, for political activities.
TCL
Vol.
30
No.
16
April 16, 2004
- NCI disclosure of walk-out by Data and Safety Monitoring Board of the National Lung Screening Trial may be harmful, improper, experts say.
- NCI Cancer Bulletin publicized board’s resignation over liability concerns.
- NCI reassigns project officer John Gohagan.
- Also in this 8-page issue: NCI, FDA open Web site for adverse event reporting.
- Kansas Cancer Institute gets $15 million pledge, is renamed, and hires a new director in effort to win NCI center grant.
- Funding opportunities listed.
TCL
Vol.
30
No.
17
April 23, 2004
- Going private may allow US Oncology to restructure, respond to Medicare cuts; equity investment firm offers to purchase shares.
- Also in this 8-page issue: Dana-Farber opens center for advanced cancer science.
- NCI says SELECT study is close to full enrollment.
- USC wins $3.5 million NCI grant.
- Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program seek applicants.
- Funding opportunities listed.
TCL
Vol.
30
No.
18
April 30, 2004
- Research teams link response to Iressa to mutations in EGF receptor.
- SPOREs hammer out research agenda, seek $50,000 from NCI for further tissue analysis.
- Dramatic responses to Iressa prompted further bench research. Results have limited clinical relevance, for now, but findings may explain failure of INTACT studies.
- NCI blocked groups from phase III Iressa studies.
- Also in this 8-page issue: Amgen names PhRMA executive Rodger Currie vice president for government affairs.
- Robert Hall appointed government relations director for National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.
- Funding opportunities listed.
- April issue of Business & Regulatory Report included (8 additional pages).
CCL
Vol.
27
No.
4
April 30, 2004
- Diet and Cancer Risk Explored In Studies Presented At AACR Annual Meeting
- Gynecologic Oncology Group To Conduct Phase III Trial of Xyotax For Ovarian Cancer
- Regular Exercise May Prevent Cancer, Improve Survival
- Cancer Deaths In Black Men Could Drop By Cutting Tobacco
- Surgery Lowers Risk By 90% In Women With Gene Mutations
- Proteomics Used To Find Predictor Of Response In FAP
- Operative Laparoscopy Safe For Endometrial Cancer
- Protocols Approved By NCI
TCL
Vol.
30
No.
19
May 07, 2004
- The shadow of Iressa lingered over the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee as the panel voted down Genasense (Genta Inc.) and RSR13 (Allos Therapeutics Inc.) at its May 3 meeting. If anyone thought the bar had been lowered for drug approvals, they were mistaken.
- Progression-free survival as a primary endpoint for drug approval requires prospective planning, FDA’s Pazdur says.
- FDA developing guidelines for oncology endpoints.
- Also in this 8-page issue: NIH Conflict of Interest panel recommends that NIH employees should not receive stock options or equities as compensation for outside work.
- Michelle Le Beau named director of University of Chicago Cancer Research Center.
- Funding opportunities listed.
TCL
Vol.
30
No.
20
May 14, 2004
- Congressional subcommittee criticizes NIH for lax conflict of interest policies. NIH Director Zerhouni promises change. The subcommittee has asked several NCI officials to testify at another hearing next week.
- Also in this 8-page issue: Intel Chairman Andrew Grove slams NCI director and cancer program for “wishful dreams” and “chemo speeches,” recommends moratorium on funding for cancer research.