Cancer Gene Lung Therapy

CHICAGO, June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Genomic Health, Inc. (NASDAQ: GHDX) today announced results of an independent prospective multi-center study indicating that the Oncotype DX Recurrence Score changes treatment decisions and increases confidence for a high proportion of patients with early-stage node-negative, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Results from this study were presented today at the 43rd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Abstract #577).

In a study of 89 patients treated by 17 medical oncologists from three academic and one community practice, knowledge of a patient's Recurrence Score changed treatment recommendations and decisions for 31.5 percent of oncologists and 27 percent of patients, respectively. The most common change was to switch from a plan for chemotherapy plus hormonal therapy before receiving Recurrence Score results to hormonal therapy alone after a low Recurrence Score result was obtained.

Pilot Ginseng Study Shows Reduction In Cancer-Related Fatigue

North Central Cancer Treatment Group (http://ncctg/) (NCCTG) researchers, based at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., have generated preliminary data suggesting that a form of American ginseng provides greater improvements in fatigue and vitality in patients who receive the highest doses tested, compared to lower doses or no treatment.

The results of their scientifically rigorous pilot study, the first to evaluate the Wisconsin species of American ginseng as a possible therapy for cancer-related fatigue, were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Many cancer patients face extreme fatigue after diagnosis and during treatment. Getting more sleep or rest often does not relieve the fatigue, nor is it related to activity levels.

Hospitals Acquire Second CyberKnife To Meet Growing Demand For ...

Georgetown University Hospital's second CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System has arrived at Accuray Incorporated' Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. The system is expected to begin treating patients in July 2007. Georgetown is one of many centers with a second CyberKnife System installed or pending installation in the coming months to meet the growing demand for radiosurgery. With patient interest in CyberKnife radiosurgery flourishing and physician referrals growing, the addition of a second system at Georgetown is representative of a trend toward multiple systems at active CyberKnife centers worldwide.-- Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Md. is awaiting the installation of a second CyberKnife System, which it secured through Accuray's shared ownership program. The shared ownership program allows centers to build a financial plan with minimum monthly payment schedules and revenue sharing that is tailored to their specific needs.