Study finds greater potential benefit in overall survival for eribulin compared with capecitabine

Public release date: 12-Jun-2013
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Contact: Donna Dubuc
donna.m.dubuc@hitchcock.org
603-653-3615
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

(Lebanon, NH, 6/11/13) Subgroup analyses from a phase III clinical trial comparing a newer chemotherapy agent called eribulin mesylate, with capecitabine, a standard chemotherapy medication in women with previously treated metastatic breast cancer, showed increased benefit among women sharing certain traits. Specifically, these analyses demonstrated a greater potential benefit in certain subsets of patients with metastatic breast cancer. This analysis was presented by Peter A. Kaufman, M.D., during the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting.

The specific patient populations who appeared to benefit from eribulin, in comparison to capecitabine, are as follows:

• Patients with more than two organs involved with metastatic breast cancer
  
• Patients who had not received chemotherapy for six months or longer
  
• Patients who had received anthracycline and/or a taxane therapies in the metastatic setting

Previous pre-specified exploratory analysis of overall survival and progression-free survival showed women with triple-negative, ER-negative, HER2-negative also had a greater relative benefit in overall survival with eribulin over capecitabine.

"These exploratory analyses suggest that other patient subgroups may benefit from eribulin and further studies are warranted," said Peter A. Kaufman, MD, associate professor of medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and oncologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Norris Cotton Cancer Center in Lebanon, N.H.

In 2010, the FDA approved eribulin for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer who had previously received an anthracycline and a taxane and at least two cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment regimens for metastatic breast cancer. The FDA granted approval based on data showing a statistically significant improvement in overall survival compared with current treatments.

Kaufman and colleagues are still compiling data from the quality-of-life analysis, which according to Kaufman, will help guide their next steps in further studying eribulin in this patient population.

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Clinical Trial information: NCT00337103

About Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Norris Cotton Cancer Center combines advanced cancer research at Dartmouth College and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College with patient-centered cancer care provided at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock regional locations in Manchester, Nashua, and Keene, NH, and St. Johnsbury, VT, and at 12 partner hospitals throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. It is one of 41 centers nationwide to earn the National Cancer Institute's "Comprehensive Cancer Center" designation. Learn more about Norris Cotton Cancer Center research, programs, and clinical trials online at cancer.dartmouth.edu.

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Public release date: 12-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Donna Dubuc
donna.m.dubuc@hitchcock.org
603-653-3615
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

(Lebanon, NH, 6/11/13) Subgroup analyses from a phase III clinical trial comparing a newer chemotherapy agent called eribulin mesylate, with capecitabine, a standard chemotherapy medication in women with previously treated metastatic breast cancer, showed increased benefit among women sharing certain traits. Specifically, these analyses demonstrated a greater potential benefit in certain subsets of patients with metastatic breast cancer. This analysis was presented by Peter A. Kaufman, M.D., during the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting.

The specific patient populations who appeared to benefit from eribulin, in comparison to capecitabine, are as follows:

• Patients with more than two organs involved with metastatic breast cancer
  
• Patients who had not received chemotherapy for six months or longer
  
• Patients who had received anthracycline and/or a taxane therapies in the metastatic setting

Previous pre-specified exploratory analysis of overall survival and progression-free survival showed women with triple-negative, ER-negative, HER2-negative also had a greater relative benefit in overall survival with eribulin over capecitabine.

"These exploratory analyses suggest that other patient subgroups may benefit from eribulin and further studies are warranted," said Peter A. Kaufman, MD, associate professor of medicine at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, and oncologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Norris Cotton Cancer Center in Lebanon, N.H.

In 2010, the FDA approved eribulin for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer who had previously received an anthracycline and a taxane and at least two cytotoxic chemotherapy treatment regimens for metastatic breast cancer. The FDA granted approval based on data showing a statistically significant improvement in overall survival compared with current treatments.

Kaufman and colleagues are still compiling data from the quality-of-life analysis, which according to Kaufman, will help guide their next steps in further studying eribulin in this patient population.

###

Clinical Trial information: NCT00337103

About Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Norris Cotton Cancer Center combines advanced cancer research at Dartmouth College and the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College with patient-centered cancer care provided at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, at Dartmouth-Hitchcock regional locations in Manchester, Nashua, and Keene, NH, and St. Johnsbury, VT, and at 12 partner hospitals throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. It is one of 41 centers nationwide to earn the National Cancer Institute's "Comprehensive Cancer Center" designation. Learn more about Norris Cotton Cancer Center research, programs, and clinical trials online at cancer.dartmouth.edu.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-06/dmc-sfg061213.php

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Good Reads: From teens and Facebook to the culinary tastes of ?Dear Leader? to a new 5G cellphone

FADING ENTHUSIASM FOR FACEBOOK

Teenagers hate Facebook, according to a new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. They also can?t get enough of it. The report found that 94 percent of American teens are on Facebook, more than on any other social network. But many of the young respondents have lost enthusiasm for the site, complaining about ?the increasing adult presence, people sharing excessively, and stressful ?drama.?? Despite these frustrations, teens say they keep using Facebook because it has become a key part of socializing.

?I think Facebook can be fun, but also it?s drama central,? one girl told a Pew researcher. Another said: ?Honestly, I?m on it constantly but I hate it so much.?

While these findings might seem troubling, they also sound a lot like young people?s feelings about high school in general. The big difference is how the social network follows teens home. Pew found a significant rise in the kind of material that students share on Facebook compared with what was shared in 2006: 92 percent now reveal their real names, 91 percent post personal photos, 24 percent upload videos of themselves, 20 percent publish their phone numbers.

RECOMMENDED: 40 iPhone tips and tricks everyone should know

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

Does your first job define you? Kate Rockwood, writing for Fast Company, asked several major names in business and entertainment about where they began. The consensus: You can start from anywhere.

Among our favorite first jobs in the illustrated slide show: Doug McMillon, chief executive officer of Wal-Mart International, started off unloading boxes in a Wal-Mart warehouse. Before directing the highest-grossing movie of all time (and then breaking his own record), James Cameron was a truck driver. Martha Stewart began as a $50-an-hour model for Chanel and others. Actress and writer Tina Fey kicked off her professional life answering phones at a suburban YMCA. And Liu Chuanzhi, cofounder of computer giant Lenovo, was a laborer in the rice fields during Mao?s Cultural Revolution.

A SUSHI CHEF?S MEMORY OF THE ?DEAR LEADER?

The world knows little about North Korea. As Adam Johnson writes in GQ magazine, ?We didn?t even know the age of the current leader, Kim Jong-un, until Kenji Fujimoto revealed his birth date. (January 8, 1983.)?

Who is Kenji Fujimoto? For 11 years, he was personal chef, confidant, and court jester to the supreme leader?s father, Kim Jong-il, and at times played nanny to a young Kim Jong-un. Now, after escaping North Korea and taking on an alias, Mr. Fujimoto is the ?Japanese intelligence community?s single greatest asset on the Kim family.?

In 1982, Fujimoto signed a one-year contract, agreeing to move from Japan to North Korea and to teach chefs there how to make sushi. One night, he served dinner to a group of generals, party officials, and high-level bureaucrats. Everyone wore military uniforms except a curious fellow in a tracksuit. The mysterious man, whom he did not recognize as Kim Jong-il (?no one ever called him by his real name,? Fujimoto said, ?never?), took a liking to him and insisted that the sushi chef join the entourage.

Soon, Fujimoto was tasked with flying around the world, procuring odd ingredients to satisfy his new boss?s culinary whims. Caviar from Iran. Fish from Tokyo. Beer from Denmark. And sometimes fresh Big Macs from the McDonald?s in Beijing.

PALACES FOR THE KINGDOMS OF TECH

Amazon, Facebook, and Apple battle one another across more than just the tech market. These industry titans seem locked in a new fight over which has the most innovative, striking, and wild-looking corporate headquarters, report Bill Rigby and Alistair Barr for Reuters. In May, Amazon unveiled plans to bring a taste of the Amazon forest to Seattle. The blueprints show a shining tower standing over three bubble-like terrariums, each large enough to house ?mature trees.?

Apple?s upcoming HQ pulls in the company?s favorite adjectives: sleek and smooth. The 2.8-million-square-foot ring looks like a mix between the Pentagon and an iPod click wheel. From the air, the upcoming Facebook expansion resembles a geometric golf course, thanks to its sprawling green roof. Computer-chip maker Nvidia will build two sci-fi-style triangular buildings, each apparently reminiscent of components in its graphics chips.

FASTEST CELLPHONE ON THE PLANET

While many Americans are still on their first 4G cellphone, Korean tech giant Samsung recently showed off early trials for its lightning-fast 5G mobile service, reports David Talbot for MIT Technology Review. To recap, 3G (or third generation) service ratcheted up mobile-data speeds to a point at which people could feasibly stream video to their phones. Over the past few years, phone companies raced to cover the country in 4G service, which is many times faster than 3G. Now, Samsung tells Technology Review that it can beam information to phones at 512 megabits per second. (Comcast?s fastest cable package advertises just 105 megabits per second.)

RECOMMENDED: 40 iPhone tips and tricks everyone should know

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/good-reads-teens-facebook-culinary-tastes-dear-leader-142132965.html

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3 Essential Qualities Up-and-coming Science Writers Should Develop

Tips is a series that aims to provide early-career science writers with, well, tips to aid them in their budding careers. The series will attempt to link out to existing resources available online.

In a blog post published on 31 December 2012, PLOS BLOGS Network?s community manager Victoria Costello lists ten qualities she deems essential to make for ?superior science blogging.? Costello?s list is comprehensive and is a good guide for any up-and-coming science blogger.

Throes of Creation by Leonid Pasternak (via Wikimedia Commons)

My number one advice to any newbie science blogger is to focus on posting quality writing. But what exactly is quality writing? Many of the ?essential qualities that make for superior science blogging? listed by Victoria Costello, community manager of PLOS BLOGS Network, in this blog post from last year actually breaks down quality writing and blogging in some of its constituents.

Here are three essential qualities mentioned by Costello that I believe fall in the umbrella of quality writing:

• Make original research resonate with as many readers as possible
• Critique and put science back in the forefront
• Take a stand

Communicating science to as many readers as possible is very important especially considering the challenges mankind will face in the near future. By encouraging non-scientist readers to read (and engage with) science, science writers can sensitise those readers to the importance and sheer awesomeness of scientific research. In turn, those readers, as citizens, can make more informed decisions as they lobby or elect policy makers. I went into more detail about the importance of communicating science to the non-scientist audience here. (Obviously, not every science blogger aims to communicate science to a wide audience. Some reach out to their peers, others go into technical details about specific topics and some scientists use their blogs to communicate with their students or as online labbooks. But for this post, I?m dealing specifically with qualities of writers of?popular science.)

It is as important to write about good science as it is to write about bad ?science.? Pseudoscience, wacky ?scientific? claims and pure and utter bull can cause real damage to real people. As a science blogger, you will undoubtedly come across such non-science. If you are capable of highlighting and debunk the bull, you have a moral need, not just as a writer but as a citizen of this Earth, to do so.

This brings me to the final and perhaps most crucial, though sadly, least observed point: take a stand. Science is an endeavour that can significantly improve lives, whether directly or indirectly. But it can also be used for the wrong reasons or simply be distorted to accommodate fraud ideologies or selfish desires. As a science blogger, you should not be afraid to take a stand when necessary. Being partial, while required in many cases, is not a golden rule you should always stick to. Global warming is a fact so why should you give equal merit to denialists, for example? Some have even argued that this stern notion of partiality inculcated in journalists is partly responsible for the death of investigative journalism.

Costello?s lists includes a further seven points that she considers essentials for superior science blogging. Some of them can be indirectly linked to quality science writing (?share a love of science,? ?respect your readers?) while others offer more in terms of general guidance (?do it with attitude,? ?show heart and humour?). In addition, Costello illustrates all of her points with some terrific blog posts from, yup, PLOS bloggers!

So, click and learn!

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=3-essential-qualities-up-and-coming-science-writers-should-develop

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Cameras five times more sensitive to light? An ultrasensitive molybdenum-based image sensor developed

June 12, 2013 ? A new material has the potential to improve the sensitivity of photographic image sensors by a factor of five. In 2011, an EPFL team led by Andras Kis discovered the amazing semi-conducting properties of molybdenite (MoS2), and they have been exploring its potential in various technological applications ever since. This promising candidate for replacing silicon has now been integrated in a prototype of an image sensor.

This sensor, described in an article appearing in Nature Nanotechnology, has five times the light sensitivity of current technology.

All digital cameras work according to the same principle: they convert light into an electric charge. The camera has a light sensor, whose surface is a semi-conducting material that is divided into millions of cells, or pixels. The semi-conducting material on each cell reacts to the incoming light by generating a specific electrical charge, which is then transferred to the camera's firmware for processing. The efficiency of this process depends on the quantity of light that is needed to trigger the charge transfer.

The all-time pixel record

The objective of the EPFL researchers was to demonstrate molybdenite's potential in image sensors. For this reason, their sensor only has a single pixel. But it needs five times less light to trigger a charge transfer than the silicon-based sensors that are currently available. "Our main goal is to prove that MoS2 is an ideal candidate for this kind of application," explains Kis.

This level of sensitivity would open up the huge area of low-light or night photography, without resorting to "noise"-generating amplification techniques, slowing down the shutter speed or using a flash. For some specialized domains in which light conditions are often not optimal, such as astrophotography or biological imaging, the advantage is even more obvious. "It would make it possible to take photographs using only starlight," says Kis.

A revolutionary material

Molybdenite's extraordinary properties make this performance possible. Like the silicon used in currently available sensors, molybdenite requires an electric current, which comes from the battery. To generate a pixel, the charge generated by the light energy must be greater than the threshold current from the battery.

A single-atom layer of molybdenite requires only a very small electric charge to function. Because of this, it takes much less light energy to reach the threshold needed to generate a pixel. MoS2 is a naturally abundant, inexpensive material. In addition, Kis explains, the prototype doesn't require any other semi-conductors, which should greatly simplify manufacturing processes. Kis, who is a pioneer in research on the semi-conductivity of molybdenite, recently demonstrated its potential in an integrated circuit and, in early 2013, a flash memory prototoype. With this new step into imaging, molybdenite shows its extraordinary potential in another important area of application.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/KtWaLvwwpQg/130612133101.htm

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South Africa's energy-saving initiatives gain momentum

While South Africa has made great strides in developing energy efficiency projects to mitigate dwindling electricity reserves, more needs to be done to encourage and support firms to undertake the transition from ?business as usual? to becoming energy-conscience businesses.

This view emerged during an Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) conference, in Sandton, on Tuesday, as several speakers outlined the success of energy efficiency projects in an initially hesitant country.

Eskom Integrated Demand Management (IDM) senior GM Andrew Etzinger said South Africa had reduced its energy use by the equivalent of six 600 MW power stations during the past year, through initiatives under the State-owned power utility?s Demand Side Management programme.

The residential and municipal sectors had accounted for 77% or 2 714 MW of the total savings during 2012, followed by the industrial and mining sectors with a saving of 625 MW and the commercial sector with 228 MW.

This compared with the reduction in 2011 of 376 MW by the residential and municipal sectors and 105 MW and 103 MW by the mining and industrial and commercial sectors respectively.

Etzinger noted that the distribution between industrial, mining and residential was not ideal, adding that the initiative aimed to encourage greater energy savings from the industrial and mining and commercial sectors over the next year.

He commented that if it were not for the projects and initiatives implemented and the resultant savings achieved, ?the lights would not be on? and Eskom would have had to shift to load shedding, as South Africa entered its coldest season.

Industry and mining consumed 49% and 18% of electricity respectively, with demand falling to 35% and 14% respectively at night, while the residential sector consumed about 17% electricity during the day, rising to 35% during peak demand.

Eskom would also continue with the R3-billion third phase of its residential mass roll-out programme, as it awarded the tenders and arranged the financing to move forward with the energy-saving project.

Since 2011, the IDC?s R500-million Green Energy Efficiency Fund (GEEF) ? backed by German development bank KfW ? had provided project finance of R174-million, or 35% of the GEEF budget, for 17 companies, said KfW GEEF team leader Jose Luis Bobes.

He added that 69% of the funds were committed to small and medium-sized enterprises.

The fund, which seeks to promote energy efficiency and ?self-use? renewable-energy projects primarily within energy-intensive industrial sectors, had saved about 386 930 MWh and 383 445 t of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent since inception.

He believed that, with the current ?interesting pipeline? of projects, the sector would see ?big growth?.

The IDC had further committed R10.4-billion in support of alternative green energy projects, including R7.5-billion, or 76% of the total, for renewable energy, R620-million for fuel-based energy-generation initiatives, R422-million for energy efficiency initiatives and R1.4-billion for biofuels.

The Industrial Energy Efficiency Improvement Project ? a National Cleaner Production Centre initiative ? had also reported success, with most of its targets met.

Project specialist Faith Mkhacwa said that a saving of about 87-million kWh was recorded through the implementation of energy management systems at ArcelorMittal South Africa?s (Mittal's) Saldanha Works operations, Toyota South Africa, Gelvenor Textiles and Saint-Gobain.

Through lighting retrofitting, energy management, compressor control and boiler improvement projects at medium chemical companies and large textile, leather and footwear companies, over 700 000 kWh collectively was saved.

Further, annualised savings of R18.3-million at Kraft Foods, Impala Platinum, Mittal?s Saldanha Works operations, SAB Maltings, Da Gama Textiles and Rhodes Foods Group were achieved through energy system optimisation.

MOVING FORWARD
?We have some of the best resources in South Africa,? said IDC green industries senior account manager Rafikh Ismail, citing the country?s vast opportunities for the development of solar and wind energy and biodiversity, along with the potential for job creation, economic diversification and skills development.

South Africa relied largely on coal reserves for electricity generation, leaving open many options for the development of renewable energy, particularly on the back of the nation?s uncertain energy security.

?Future energy supply is not expected to be sufficient to match the anticipated demand, and increased pressure on price and energy security force industry players to focus on green initiatives,? said Bobes.

But the development of a diverse electricity sector incorporating renewable-energy sources faces many challenges, including limited skills and slow, hesitant take-up of new energy efficient development projects.

KfW head Busso von Alvensleben commented that nonconducive policy frameworks and unfavourable market conditions, managing the interests of diverse stakeholders, the lack of adequate definitions for energy efficiency targets and eligibility criteria, and maintaining energy savings and CO₂ emission reductions remained some of the challenges faced by South Africa.

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa?s granting Eskom yearly increases of 8% for the period from 2013/14 to 2017/18, instead of the 16% it had requested, had also contributed to the failure in the take-up of energy efficiency projects, with companies believing that 8% was manageable, as opposed to the capital outlay for implementation.

He added that a lack of awareness and skills, as well as insufficient motivation for change, further hampered the uptake of projects.

Edited by: Chanel de Bruyn

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Source: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/south-africas-energy-saving-initiatives-gain-momentum-2013-06-11

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Flickr: Turkish police, protesters clash

Turkish police gather in Taksim Square on Tuesday, as smoke wafts nearby. Flickr user Eser Karada? photographed these scenes near Taksim Square, where protestors have clashed with police over a few ... more?Turkish police gather in Taksim Square on Tuesday, as smoke wafts nearby. Flickr user Eser Karada? photographed these scenes near Taksim Square, where protestors have clashed with police over a few days. The protests escalated on Tuesday evening when police lobbed tear gas and shot water cannons at protestors, who responded with fireworks and Molotov cocktails. less?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lightbox/flickr-turkish-police-protestors-clash-in-taksim-square-slideshow/

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Mozilla, EFF, Reddit And 83 Other Organizations Launch StopWatching.Us To Protest NSA Snooping

It’s still not quite clear what PRISM really is, but what has become clear is that the NSA is doing its best to tap into as much online communications as it can. To protest this, Mozilla, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Reddit, the ACLU and numerous other organizations with both technical and political backgrounds have launched StopWatching.Us. The campaign, Mozilla’s Alex Fowler writes, wants to call on “citizens and organizations from around the world to demand a full accounting of the extent to which our online data, communications and interactions are being monitored.” Given last week’s revelations that the NSA is likely tapping into a wide array of Internet communications, it’s no surprise that a number of Internet-based organizations are now banding together to protest the agency’s surveillance programs. As Mozilla’s Fowler notes, we now have a number of technical means to help us protect our privacy online, but “exposures resulting from government-sponsored online surveillance are entirely separate from whether we choose to share information and what those sites say they will or will not do with our data.” The group specifically asks the U.S. Congress to form a special committee to investigate the allegations and demands “legal reforms to rein in spying and that public officials responsible for this unconstitutional surveillance be held accountable for their actions.” It also asks for a reform of Section 215 of the Patriot Act – the “business records” section that allowed the NSA to get phone records from all the major U.S. phone companies, to reform the FISA Amendment (there seems to be some movement on this front already) and to amend the state secrets privilege. StopWatching.Us, of course, also aims to bring more attention to this issue, similar to the SOPA/PIPA protests last year. Mozilla will link directly to the site from its Firefox start page, for example, though it’s not clear how the other organizations will support the effort.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/9pkHpEBf2MQ/

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