October 31, 2008
Just a quick update on NICE’s ongoing appraisal of the use of four new drugs to treat metastatic kidney cancer.
You may remember that in August, NICE, the organisation that assesses the cost-effectiveness of new treatments, and recommends them to the NHS, made a preliminary decision that four new drugs were too expensive to be used to treat kidney cancer that had spread, judging by the available evidence.
Cancer Research UK, and others, were very disappointed with this decision, and submitted feedback to NICE during the ensuing consultation process.
Based on these submissions, NICE intended to announce their final decision at some point in late 2008.
However, two of the pharmaceutical firms who make these drugs have submitted new evidence of their effectiveness in patients. NICE will now review this, and have today announced that they will issue another draft recommendation early in the New Year.
The announcement of their final decision is not now expected until later in 2009.
Obviously, these are frustrating delays for patients and their doctors, but we hope that the final outcome will be a positive one for people suffering from kidney cancer. And we’re pleased that NICE is taking the time to review this new evidence properly and carefully.
Henry
9 Comments | 
Cancer Treatment, Chemotherapy & Drugs, Kidney, Policy | 
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Posted by Henry Scowcroft
October 30, 2008
It’s generally accepted in medical circles that there is no such thing as a cancer drug without side effects – at least, not a drug that actually works. If a treatment has an effect on a biological process that has gone awry, then it will also affect healthy cells in the body, causing side effects.
This is certainly the case with current cancer treatments, and the side effects can be gruelling. But now our scientists have found that – at least in the case of breast cancer – side effects may sometimes have a positive side.
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Breast, Cancer Research UK-funded research, Cancer Treatment, Cancer in the news, Chemotherapy & Drugs, Science, Scientific papers | 
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Posted by Kat Arney
October 27, 2008
Today’s cancer fruit story du jour involves tomatoes – specifically, special genetically modified purple tomatoes that “can beat cancer“, according to the headlines.
In case you missed the reports, scientists have developed a new GM tomato that’s packed full of antioxidants called anthocyanins, which, according to some stories, will protect people who eat them against cancer and other diseases.
If only life were that simple.
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Cancer in the news, Cancer myths, Diet, Health & Lifestyle | 
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Posted by Henry Scowcroft
October 27, 2008
When the media talks about breakthroughs in cancer research, they often lead us to believe that a cure for thousands is around the corner. But the reality is rather different. When scientists use the word ‘breakthrough’ – and they rarely do – they tend to be talking about something less concrete but no less exciting – fundamental discoveries that change the way we view cancer.
One of our scientists – Professor Kim Nasmyth – recently made such a discovery. But what was it all about?
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Leave a Comment » | Cancer Research UK-funded research, DNA, NCRI conference, Podcast, Science, Scientific papers | Permalink
Posted by Kat Arney
Just a quick update on NICE’s ongoing appraisal of the use of four new drugs to treat metastatic kidney cancer.
This week, New Scientist magazine features a 
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