| News Releases (Archive) |
NCI renews SWOG treatment grants at $120+ million
[Apr. 9, 2010]
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The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program has renewed SWOG's set of treatment grants for a six-year period. SWOG's primary operating grant is projected to be more than $63 million over that time, while the full package of Group-related grants awarded as part of the 2009 competitive renewal process is expected to total more than $120 million.
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SWOG study sheds light on question of why African-Americans fare worse with cancer
[Jul. 7, 2009]
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An analysis of clinical trial data implicates biological factors behind worse outcomes for African-Americans with breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer.
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SWOG receives $ 2.5 million to combat stomach cancer
[Nov. 19, 2008]
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Southwest Oncology Group, one of the largest U.S. cancer clinical trial networks, will undertake a clinical trial, supported by a $2,520,905 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Michigan, to find the most effective way to eradicate an extremely common bacterial infection that is the principal known cause of stomach cancer.
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Prostate Cancer Prevention Study Shows No Benefit for Use of Selenium and Vitamin E Supplements
[Oct. 27, 2008]
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Initial, independent review of study data from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) shows that selenium and vitamin E supplements, taken either alone or together, did not prevent prostate cancer. The data also showed two concerning trends among the over 35,000 men age 50 and older in the trial: small but not statistically significant increases in the number of prostate cancer cases in the men taking only vitamin E and in the number of cases of adult onset diabetes in men taking only selenium. Because this is an early analysis of the data, neither of these findings proves an increased risk from the supplements; both may be due to chance. News Release News Release (Spanish) SELECT Q&A
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SWOG Renews Focus on Gynecologic Malignancies
[Apr. 30, 2008]
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SWOG has reactivated its Gynecologic Cancer Committee with a $250,000 grant from the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research. This one-time grant to the Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SWOG, will defer the expense associated with the start-up of this committee, including costs associated with coordination of education and research initiatives. See the press release.
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New Finasteride Findings from PCPT
[Oct. 1, 2007]
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A newly published PCPT follow-up study, along with two others published recently, strongly suggests that finasteride makes it easier for physicians to detect high-grade cancers early by improving screening tests and prostate biopsy itself. This casts further light on an initially puzzling finding of PCPT: Men who took finasteride but still developed prostate cancer by the end of that study had higher rates of detected high-grade tumors than did men in the placebo group. News Release.
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2007 Young Investigators Selected
[Sep. 1, 2007]
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Four talented young investigators were chosen after a rigorous and competitive application process to participate in The “Young Investigators” Training Course this Fall. The course includes intensive study of statistical principles, data collection and analysis, critical decision-making, protocol development and Southwest Oncology Group procedures to learn how to design a clinical trial.
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S9921 Closed
[Jan. 22, 2007]
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S9921, a Southwest Oncology Group study entitled "Adjuvant Androgen Deprivation Versus Mitoxantrone Plus Prednisone Plus Androgen Deprivation in Selected High Risk Prostate Cancer Patients Following Radical Prostatectomy, Phase III," has been closed because of safety concerns. For details, see the news release.
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Prostate Cancer RT Treatment Outcomes Analyzed
[Jan. 17, 2007]
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Results of a SWOG study show that radiotherapy given to locally advanced prostate cancer patients after prostatectomy does not significantly reduce the risk of subsequent cancer spread to distant sites, but does significantly lower the risk of local cancer recurrence compared to men who do not receive radiation. News Release
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Young Investigators Complete Training
[Sep. 30, 2006]
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Six talented cancer researchers, chosen through a competitive process, completed the Southwest Oncology Group Young Investigators Training Course in September. The course puts the physicians on a fast track to develop and conduct cancer clinical trials through the Southwest Oncology Group. Press Release contains details.
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Innovative Prognostic Indicator Breast Trial
[Sep. 1, 2006]
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Newly-opened Southwest Oncology Group study S0500 will seek to find out whether circulating tumor cells can be used to predict which women with metastatic breast cancer are responding well to a particular treatment and which are not. Early identification of those not responding to treatment will allow for more timely consideration of other treatment options. News Release
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Young Investigators Complete Training
[Sep. 22, 2005]
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Four talented cancer researchers, chosen through a competitive process, just completed the Southwest Oncology Group Young Investigators Training Course. The course puts the physicians on a fast track to develop and conduct cancer clinical trials through the Southwest Oncology Group. Press Release contains details. Photo
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PSA's Validity as a Screening Test Evaluated
[Jul. 11, 2005]
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A new data analysis from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial shows that Prostate-Specific Antigen is frequently inaccurate in testing for prostate cancer risk. Read more about it in the press release and the abstract. The data analysis was led by PCPT Study Coordinator Ian M. Thompson, Jr., M.D.
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S0023 Closed
[Apr. 18, 2005]
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The National Cancer Institute issued a press release on April 18, 2005 announcing the closure of Southwest Oncology Group study S0023. This is a randomized trial for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer comparing gefitinib (Iressa™) versus a placebo following chemotherapy and radiation. A review of interim data has indicated that gefitinib would not improve survival. Detailed results from the study will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting May 13-17.
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| News Releases |
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| SWOG in the News (Archive) |
IASLC: Four-Drug Therapy for NSCLC Appears Well Tolerated
[Aug. 3, 2009]
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MedPage Today reported on a presentation by Edward Kim, M.D., of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, to the world conference of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) in San Francisco. Kim presented an abstract on the the results of S0536, a SWOG phase II study on the feasibility of using a four-drug regimen that includes cetuximab in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. SWOG study S0819 has just been activated based in part on the S0536 results Kim reported on.
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JNCI paper on SWOG racial disparities study resonates in the media
[Jul. 7, 2009]
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Media venues from the Washington Post to Voice of America found something to report on in a SWOG study on the sources of racial disparities in cancer outcomes.
SWOG investigators quoted include Kathy Albain, M.D., Joe Unger, M.S., Dawn Hershman, M.D., Ph.D., and Frank Meyskens, M.D.
Below is a selection of media outlets that covered the study, with links to their stories. You can also read the SWOG press release on the study.
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Center for Science in the Public Interest sues Bayer for ignoring SELECT
[Jun. 18, 2009]
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Do selenium and vitamin E prevent prostate cancer? The SELECT trial put that claim to rest last year, but Bayer apparently still makes advertising claims that the selenium in its supplements will help men prevent prostate cancer. Today the Center for Science in the Public Interest threatened to sue Bayer if they don't stop making such claims. The WalletPop Web site reports.
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SWOG 9912 abstract at ASCO covered in UroToday
[Jun. 1, 2009]
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An abstract on SWOG study S9921, presented at the annual ASCO meeting this past weekend in Orlando, has been covered in today's edition of UroToday.
The abstract, which was presented orally on Saturday by lead author L.M. Gode, MD, reported on benefits of hormonal therapy to high-risk prostate cancer patients.
You can read the full abstract, "Southwest Oncology Group S9921: Prolonged event-free survival in high-risk prostate cancer (PC) patients receiving adjuvant androgen deprivation," on the ASCO Web site.
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SWOG's Dr. Brian G.M. Durie, MD, quoted in Modern Medicine
[May. 29, 2009]
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Dr. Brian G.M. Durie, vice-chair of SWOG's Myeloma Committee, is quoted in an article in Modern Medicine commenting on proposed federal legislation that would mandate that insurance plans cover oral and intravenous cancer drugs equally.
Durie says oncologists need the freedom to choose therapies based upon their potential efficacy rather than " inequitable and irrational differences in reimbursement."
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SWOG's Dr. Julie R. Gralow, MD, featured on The Group Room radio show from ASCO 2009
[May. 28, 2009]
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This weekend's broadcast of The Group Room, a weekly call-in radio show on cancer, will feature SWOG's own Dr. Julie R. Gralow, MD, vice-chair of SWOG's Breast Cancer Committee, live from the ASCO conference in Orlando.
The Sunday, May 31st show runs from 4-6:00 p.m. EDT and will also be videocast live at www.vitaloptions.org and available as a podcast on iTunes.
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NCI Bulletin reports on SWOG follow-up showing benefits of radiation after prostate surgery
[May. 20, 2009]
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The May 19, 2009 issue of the National Cancer Institute Bulletin reports on a follow-up to a SWOG study (S8794) that shows that radiation therapy after surgery delays recurrence and prolongs life for men whose cancer had spread beyond the prostate. Read "Decades Later, Seeing the Benefits of Radiation after Prostate Surgery."
The results the NCI Bulletin reports on appeared in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Urology. Dr. Ian N. Thompson of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio was lead author.
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SWOG at ASCO 2009
[May. 19, 2009]
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Southwest Oncology Group studies have resulted in 17 abstracts at this year's annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. View the listing of SWOG abstracts online, or download a PDF version to print and take with you.
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NCI-Sponsored Cancer Trials Offer Decent Clinical Return on Investment
[Mar. 24, 2008]
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MedPage Today reported on a study by Dr. Benjamin Djulbegovic, et.al., which showed that clinical trials conducted by the National Cancer Institute's Cooperative Groups, including SWOG, were beneficial in driving therapeutic advances in clinical medicine.
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Prostate Cancer RT Treatment Outcomes Analyzed
[Sep. 1, 2007]
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Results of a SWOG study show that radiotherapy given to locally advanced prostate cancer patients after prostatectomy does not significantly reduce the risk of subsequent cancer spread to distant sites, but does significantly lower the risk of local cancer recurrence compared to men who do not receive radiation.
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SWOG Chair receives Sarcoma Foundation Award
[May. 22, 2006]
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 On May 22, SWOG Chairman Laurence H. Baker, D.O., was presented the Sarcoma Foundation of America’s Nobility in Science Award for his 34-year commitment to the advancement of scientific knowledge about sarcoma. News Release
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New Standard Treatment for Advanced Ovarian Cancer
[Jan. 6, 2006]
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NCI released a clinical announcement on January 5, 2006, concerning recommended treatment for advanced ovarian cancer. Southwest Oncology Group trials helped solidify evidence for this recommendation.
Read the SWOG news release here concerning the Group's participation in the science that led to this announcement.
Based on the results of eight phase III clinical trials, including SWOG-8501 and GOG-114 (SWOG-9227), NCI is encouraging doctors to follow surgery with a combination of two drug-delivery methods: intravenous and intraperitoneal. The combined approach, though more toxic, extends overall survival for women with advanced ovarian cancer by about a year compared to intravenous delivery alone.
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| SWOG in the News |
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