Rectal Cancer Information

Avastin® Increases Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (11/20/2008)
Researchers from Stony Brook University have reported that the use of Avastin® (bevacizumab) increases the risk of thromboembolism. The details of this review were published in the November 19, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Vitamin D Prevents Colorectal Adenomas (11/10/2008)
Researchers from several U.S. medical institutions have reported that higher circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels and high vitamin D intake are associated with a decreased incidence of colorectal adenomas and recurrent adenomas. The details of this meta-analysis were published in the November 1, 2008 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.

Vitamin Supplementation Has No Effect on Cancer Risk in Women (11/6/2008)
Researchers affiliated with the Women’s Antioxidant and Folic Acid Cardiovascular Study reported that supplementation with folic acid, vitamin B6, and B12 has no impact on the incidence of cancer. The details of this study appeared in the November 5, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Primary Physicians are not Recommending Cancer Screening of Medicaid Recipients (10/28/2008)
Researchers from the University of North Carolina have reported that primary care physicians were not recommending cancer screening for colorectal, breast and cervical cancer for half of the eligible patients. The details of this study appeared in the October 13, 2008 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancers with KRAS Mutations do not Benefit from Erbitux® (10/24/2008)
Researchers involved with a randomized study of Erbitux (cetuximab) versus best supportive care have reported that patients with locally advanced or metastatic colorectal tumors that have a mutated KRAS do not benefit from single-agent Erbitux. The details of this study were reported in the October 23, 2008 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.