Research and Development in Cancer continues to generate enormous interest within industry and commerce. The identification of new disease pathways, the promise of targeted therapies and ever changing appreciation of the nature of cancers and their treatment keep interest high.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting is the premier event where researchers, industry and investors gather to present and discuss the latest developments. Thousands of research papers, documents and posters are presented.

But what is truly significant? How can you sift the interesting from the commercially important?

That is why a copy of this new 160-page report What's Hot in Cancer Drug R&D? is such a valuable document. Researched and written by Matthew Dennis and Fiona Cowie, editors of respected business publication Cancer Drug News, the study distils the huge volume of information and reports the latest important findings. Background and market information, along with stimulating features on key areas, put current thinking into a real world context.

The report provides a valuable aide memoir for those who attended and a first class and comprehensive review for those who didn't. Extensive contents
Introduction
Disease incidence & current market size
Future treatments
Forecast of key drug launches by 2010

Plus
Company and Compound Indexes

Breast Cancer
Better survival seen for patients switched to Pfizer's Aromasin; vitamin D deficiency increases bone loss
Updated analysis of MA-17 demonstrates benefit of switching to Femara
Five years of Arimidex does not cause osteoporosis in patients with normal BMD
IN FOCUS: Bone health of patients receiving AIs: are cracks beginning to show?
GSK reports positive new data on Tykerb
Lilly reveals Phase II results for Alimta in first-line MBC; studies explore potential role of pharmacogenomics
Data show survival benefit for Herceptin in early-stage disease; serum HER2/neu change predicts clinical outcome
Xeloda+paclitaxel found to be a safer first-line treatment option for patients with MBC
AEterna Zentaris reports positive results from Phase I trial with AN-152 in gynaecological and BCs
Antisoma reveals positive Phase I data and new trial plans for R1550
Allos' Efaproxyn found to reduce tumour hypoxia and HIF-1-alpha expression in human BC xenografts
Studies demonstrate value of quantifying gene expression in early-stage BC patients
Antigen Express' trial results presented

Haematological Cancer
Leukaemia
Lymphoma
Multiple myeloma
Others
Dacogen alternate dosing trial enrolment complete
PT presents new data evaluating talabostat in CLL
ZIOPHARM's ZIO-101 shows encouraging signs of clinical activity in patients with leukaemia
BMS reports data from dasatinib study
IN FOCUS: Combining targeted therapies: promising approaches
Various interim data given on MGCD0103 in haematological cancers
Cell Genesys reports long-term follow-up data from Phase II trial of GVAX in CML
Eradication of MRD reported in patients with CLL treated with Genasense plus CT
Genzyme/Berlex release interim results with Campath in first-line study of B-CLL
New study shows almost 90 per cent of Glivec patients still alive after five years; Zometa may improve survival in subset of MM patients
Positive interim findings from Quadramet combination study in patients with relapsed MM
Revlimid survival data evaluated in previously-treated MM; studied in elderly newly-diagnosed MM patients and CLL
Data on Vidaza in various haematological and solid tumour cancers presented
Mutations in KIT gene predict relapse in adult patients CBF AML
Phase II study shows that nilotinib helps patients who fail standard therapy
Studies show survival increase when MabThera is used as maintenance therapy; mechanism of resistance becoming clearer
Data demonstrate potential of Velcade across solid and haematological cancers
Bioenvision's Evoltra prolongs survival in elderly AML patients with adverse cytogenetics
Clinical data on Ascenta's AT-101 presented
GX15-070 shows biological activity in refractory lymphomas and solid tumours
Humanised anti-CD20 Ab appears safe and active in NHL in Phase I/II study; new bispecific Abs constructed
Merck reports pivotal Phase IIb study results of Zolinza in advanced refractory CTCL
SG reports multiple objective responses observed for SGN-40 in patients with aggressive NHL
Study shows non-inferiority of low-dose thalidomide; survival and TTDP data reported
Vion presents data on Cloretazine in elderly de novo
Xanthus presents Phase I Xanafide results in secondary AML
Alexion reports preclinical results with anti-CD200 Ab; target found to stop leukaemia tumour growth
New data show improved outcomes in certain lymphomas with Zevalin
Positive interim results for Gloucester's pivotal trial of depsipeptide
Long-term follow-up data presented on BiovaxID treatment of FL

Lung Cancer
Meta-analysis shows benefits of Taxotere regimens in patients with advanced NSCLC
Pharmacyclics presents additional data and new analyses from pivotal Phase III SMART trial
Sutent shows promise against advanced NSCLC
Addition of bortezomib improved survival in front-line advanced LC
Antisoma reports survival advantage for AS1404 in LC
Data from Xyotax STELLAR trials presented
Efficacy results from Phase II LC trial support continued study of concurrent cetuximab+CT
Encouraging results of clinical study with GSK's MAGE-A3 ASCI report activity in NSCLC
Predictor of response to Iressa investigated in first prospective biomarker study
Three studies confirm activity of Abraxane as first-line treatment in NSCLC
Updated analysis in second-line treatment LC trial confirms similar survival for Alimta and docetaxel
Zometa may improve survival in a subset of LC patients
Biomarker data analysis supports benefit of Targretin in subsets of NSCLC patients
Cabrellis presents additional clinical data of Calsed in SCLC
Idera presents preclinical data on TLR9 agonists in LC models
Lucanix Phase II data demonstrate significantly increased survival in NSCLC patients
OSI summarises Tarceva data; study suggests promise with combination for LC patients
IN FOCUS: Early trial design for targeted therapies: are we getting it right?
Results of key Phase II studies demonstrate PFS advantage for Zactima in LC

Genito-Urinary Cancer
Prostate cancer
Renal cell carcinoma
Encouraging interim results from combination trial with GVAX; ipilimumab shows positive data in HRPCA patients
New data continue to support clinical development of Novacea's investigational products
Therion reports results of Phase II PROSTVAC-VF trial and formalises plan for NCI-sponsored Phase III study
Tykerb helps patients with EGFr-expressing RCC live longer
Pfizer's Sutent doubles PFS in MRCC when compared to current first-line treatment
IN FOCUS: Targeted therapies in RCC: is sunitinib the future?
Temsirolimus prolongs survival in advanced RCC patients with poor risk features
Cytogen presents promising data from combination trials with Quadramet and docetaxel in HRPCA
Interim results from Phase II trial with perifosine show a 43 per cent partial response rate
Phase III interim analysis shows Acapodene increases BMD in PCA patients on ADT
MethylGene reports positive results on MG98
Updated OS analysis presented on Nexavar Phase III trial; IFN alpha combination shrinks RCCs
MacroArray presents data on diagnostic test for PIN
OBM reports encouraging new Phase II results with TroVax
Preliminary results of ChondroGene's work in blood-based detection of CRC and PCA presented
ZymoGenetics reports encouraging IL-21 Phase Ib results in MM and RCC

Gynaecological Cancer
Cervical cancer
Ovarian cancer
Novel biomarkers identified to predict activity of pertuzumab in OC patients
Antisoma's AS1404 shows early promise in OC trial
Gardasil prevents potentially precancerous vulvar and vaginal lesions
Cervarix found to be highly immunogenic and well tolerated in women over 25
Ciphergen reports positive results from multi-centre OC biomarker validation study
AEterna Zentaris reports positive results from Phase I trial with AN-152 in gynaecological and BCs
Data on Vidaza in various haematological and solid tumour cancers presented
Three new key studies highlight antitumoural activity of Yondelis

Gastrointestinal Cancer
Colorectal cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Others
Repeated RAIT with 131I-labetuzumab in CRC with liver metastases found to be safe and well tolerated
Talabostat achives stable disease and increases time-to-progression
New interim Phase II data suggest the antitumour activity of panitumumab in MCRC
PC patients live longer after treatment with MAb and CT
Phase I study shows that Zolinza stabilises patients with advanced CRC
OBM reports encouraging new Phase II results with TroVax
Data presented evaluating Erbitux in combination with CT as first-line treatment; results suggest therapy recruits body's immune system
Long-term follow-up of Phase II trial examining imatinib in GIST
MB07133 well tolerated in Phase I/II study of patients with unresectable HCC
Positive early results achieved in development of genomic test for CC prognosis
Study of Tykerb in liver cancer shows that responders exhibit rash
Updated results reported from trial in patients for whom imatinib therapy has failed; Sutent shows promise in children
Trifunctional Ab shows encouraging results in peritoneal carcinomatosis resulting from GI tumours
ADVENTRX reports positive CoFactor Phase II results
Celator presents positive results from Phase I study with CPX-1
New data demonstrate role of Campto regimen as first-line treatment of MCRC
New Xeloda regimen allows patients with stomach cancer to live significantly longer; cisplatin combination effective for GC
Studies evaluating Eloxatin-based regimens in gastrointestinal cancers presented
Preliminary results of ChondroGene's work in blood-based detection of CRC and PCA presented
Avantogen/Innovate highlight progress in the evaluation of RP101 in combination with CT for patients with PC

Brain Cancer
Gliadel significantly prolongs six-month survival
Positive final results reported from Phase I Reolysin trial
ON 01910.Na active in inducing regression of pre-established intracranial tumours in model system
Study demonstrates safety of 131I-TM-601 for high-grade glioblastoma
Celldex presents EGFrvIII vaccine data
New data continue to support clinical development of Novacea's investigational products

Melanoma/Sarcoma
Antigenics presents Phase III data from trial of Oncophage in melanoma
PT presents data evaluating talabostat in MM and osteosarcoma
ARIAD presents positive efficacy data on AP23573 in advanced sarcoma trial
Interim ipilimumab Phase II results reported in melanoma
IN FOCUS: Cancer as a chronic disease: a shift in focus?
Research uncovers a mechanism of human angiosarcoma drug resistance
Three new key studies highlight antitumoural activity of Yondelis
ZymoGenetics reports encouraging IL-21 Phase Ib results in MM and RCC
ODC reports MM vaccine research results
Oxxon's Hi-8 MEL therapeutic vaccine demonstrates potential for treatment of advanced melanoma

Head and Neck Cancer
Three-drug regimen improves survival in advanced H&N cancers
Increased survival and high response rates reported for Introgen's Advexin p53 therapy
OXiGENE releases positive data indicating the therapeutic potential of CA4P in ATC
Phase II study highlights significant clinical and biologic activity of sorafenib in PTC patients
AMG 706 demonstrates promising antitumour activity
OSI summarises Tarceva data; study suggests promise with combination for LC patients

General Developments
Xanthus presents Symadex Phase I results
Callisto reports additional Atiprimod data from Phase I trial in advanced cancer patients
Promising data from ArQule's Phase I combination trial with ARQ 501 and docetaxel
Adherex presents final ADH-1 Phase I data; antitumour evidence report
Apo2L may halt cancer growth
Encouraging Phase I results for XL647 in patients with advanced solid malignancies; XL880 continues to show promise
Genetic variations may explain why some childhood cancer survivors later suffer cardiac side effects
ImClone presents promising Phase I data on two pipeline MAbs
YM155 appears active and is well tolerated in advanced cancers
MediciNova presents MN-029 Phase I safety and tumour blood flow reduction results in cancer patients
New data show enzastaurin's activity across multiple cancer cell lines
Novel MAbs to measure plasma levels of 5-FU developed
Phase II interim data show denosumab decreased bone turnover in advanced cancer patients with bone metastases
Active Biotech's Anyara cancer project presented
Clinical trial confirms novel EGFr MAb targets tumours but not normal tissues
Data from CT-2106 trial presented
Data presented on ispinesib and SB-743921
Kosan presents clinical results showing antitumour activity of KOS-953, KOS-1022, KOS-862 and KOS-1584
Positive interim results emerge from Phase I Reolysin trial
Pro-Pharmaceuticals' Davanat abstract published
Sunesis' SNS-595 demonstrates clinical activity and tolerability
Various interim data given on MGCD0103 in solid tumours
ZIOPHARM presents preliminary ZIO-201 clinical results; ZIO-101 shows activity
Clinical data on satraplatin from two PK studies presented
Interim results presented on volociximab for kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer and melanoma
New test identifies patients who benefit from targeted cancer drugs

Therapies for Cancer-Related Complications
Phase II results support Aloxi dosing in multi-day CT regimens
Aranesp data suggest major response after 27/28 weeks of anaemia treatment; potential benefits of iv iron reported
Study explores Procrit once every two weeks as initiation treatment for CT-related anaemia
Modasomil improves neurobehavioural dysfunction and fatigue in adult patients with brain tumours