Oral Mucositis: an Underappreciated Problem in Cancer Care

How big is the problem?
25-30% of all cancer patients undergoing chemo suffer form oral mucositis, and almost all of the BMT patients.

The Link Between Diabetes and Breast Cancer

Both diabetes and cancer have long preoccupied public-health concerns, strained national budgets, and are associated with complications that may affect quality of life. They also share some of the same risk factors, such as age, smoking, weight gain, and a diet poor in fruits and vegetables. The earliest link between diabetes and cancer was alluded to in the 1930s,[1,2] however, convincing epidemiological evidence has emerged only recently proving an association between diabetes and cancer.[3]

Vemurafenib Seeks Wider Audience

Vemurafenib (Zelboraf ^®; Genentech/Daiichi Sankyo) is a BRAF V600E kinase inhibitor approved for metastatic melanoma.  Since its approval last year, vemurafenib has become the drug of choice for these patients.  BRAF V600E mutant gene is also found in several other solid cancer, including colon, ovarian and thyroid, and certain leukemias.  Zelboraf is making inroads in these cancer types.