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Rep. Schwartz Introduces Legislation To Establish AAMC-Proposed Health Care Innovation Zones
The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) applauds Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) for introducing legislation (H.R. 3134) to establish pilot "health care innovation zones" (HIZs) building on the strengths of academic medical centers (AMCs). The legislation creates and tests these zones around the country with the goal of improving patient outcomes, while slowing the growth of health care costs.
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Women Over 55 Underestimate Risk Of Fracture
Most women who are likely to have a bone fracture do not think they are at greater risk, said a leading Italian rheumatologist at a European conference today. This could help to explain why many women do not adhere to preventive treatment.
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Three More Sentenced In Fake Drugs Conspiracy Trial, UK
The seventh and final member of a multi-million pound international counterfeit gang was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court earlier this week, 6 July 2009.
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First-Line Nab-Paclitaxel Is Superior To Docetaxel For Metastatic Breast Cancer

CHICAGO, May 26, 2009 - New data show that nab-paclitaxel (AbraxaneR for Injectable Suspension) prolongs investigator-assessed, median progression-free survival (PFS) by almost seven months versus the highest standard dose of docetaxel in women with metastatic breast cancer. Nab-paclitaxel is a novel albumin-bound paclitaxel, an established chemotherapy agent, combined with albumin, a very small naturally-occurring protein. The findings, from a phase 2 trial that enrolled 302 women with previously untreated metastatic breast cancer, were published online today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). "We believe that the results suggest that weekly nab-paclitaxel may be a suitable alternative to the taxane docetaxel given every three weeks for the first-line treatment of metastastic breast cancer," principal investigator William J. Gradishar, MD, Director of Breast Medical Oncology at Northwestern University"s Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, said. In prior research involving metastatic breast cancer patients, nab-paclitaxel had produced significantly higher anti-tumor activity than solvent-based paclitaxel. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three nab-paclitaxel dosing regimens (weekly versus every three weeks) and to examine differences in safety and efficacy between these dosing regimens of nab-paclitaxel and docetaxel administered at the highest standard dose. Patients were randomized to receive nab-paclitaxel 300 mg/m2 every three weeks (q3w), 100 mg/m2 weekly, 150 mg/m2 weekly, or docetaxel 100 mg/m2 q3w. Results showed that patients treated with nab-paclitaxel 150 mg/m2 weekly had a significantly longer median PFS than docetaxel-treated patients when assessed by both the independent radiologists (12.9 versus 7.5 months, respectively, p=0.0065) and the investigator (14.6 months versus 7.8 months, respectively, p=0.012) using RECIST guidelines. The overall response rate (ORR) tended to be higher with both weekly nab-paclitaxel regimens than docetaxel by independent radiology review. The investigator assessment found that the difference in ORR between both weekly nab- paclitaxel doses and docetaxel was statistically significant. Review by both the investigator and the independent radiologist found a significantly higher disease control rate (DCR) in patients receiving either dose of weekly nab-paclitaxel compared to docetaxel. All nab-paclitaxel doses showed an overall superior safety and toxicity profile over docetaxel. Dr. Gradishar said that the results of this study bolster earlier data identifying a role for nab-paclitaxel as a suitable option to docetaxel for first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. The study was sponsored by Abraxis BioScience, Inc. in Los Angeles, California. Written by Jill Stein Jill Stein is a Paris-based freelance medical writer. jillstein03(at)gmail.com Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today


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