Briefs
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 24, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Combination therapy found effective for breast
cancer
Two studies conducted by the UCLA Jonsson Cancer Center have
found that a combination therapy of the drug Herceptin and
chemotherapy increases tumor response and decreases the rate of
relapse in breast cancer.
Herceptin interferes with a receptor on tumor cells that can
induce the excess growth characteristic of cancer.
This therapy is hoped to be tested in women with a genetic
alternation found in 20 to 25 percent of patients leading to an
aggressive form of breast cancer.
Doctors’ ties carry germs in
hospitals
A study conducted at New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens
found nearly half of the ties worn by doctors carried some microbes
that are common causes of hospital infections.
The high incidence of pathogens found on ties may be due to the
ties swinging as doctors lean over their patients.
Potentially harmful microbes were also found on doctor’s
pens, cell phones and pagers. No evidence was found, however, that
these vehicles could transmit disease.
Compiled from Bruin wire services.
