Annual Evidence Update on Lung Cancer: 16-20 November 2009

An update of the evidence on this topic from NHS Evidence - cancer.

This is the 5th Annual Evidence Update (AEU) on lung cancer and presents the results of the new evidence that has been published since the previous AEU in November 2008. This year there are a number of interesting commentaries by members of the expert panel. These include:

1. Causes, risks and prevention by John Field and colleagues, Roy Castle, Lung Cancer Research Programme. This highlights socioeconomic factors, respiratory disease risk factors, genetic susceptibility risks and details about a recently developed lung cancer risk prediction modelling tool, currently being assessed in a primary care setting.
2. Biological agents in non-small cell lung cancer by Ekaterini Boleti and Michael Cullen. This commentary provides an overview of the emerging studies in this challenging treatment area and discusses the need for further trials to inform routine practice so that these patients benefit from optimal, cost-effective treatment.
3. Heparin and survival in cancer by Fergus Macbeth. This review looks at the effect of heparin on patients with small cell lung and other types of cancer.
4. Second line chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer by Sarah Danson. The importance of better treatments for relapsed small cell lung cancer is addressed in this commentary.
5. ERS/ESTS taskforce guidelines on fitness for radical surgery by Eric Lim and David Baldwin. New guidelines from Europe have been published on fitness for radical therapy and the authors look at the recommendations and highlight the complexities of the issues addressed.

Find out more at www.library.nhs.uk/cancer.

Annual Evidence Update on COPD: 16-20 November 2009

An update of the evidence on this topic from NHS Evidence - respiratory.

NHS Evidence - respiratory will present the latest evidence in COPD in the Annual Evidence Update from 16-20 November 2009.

Coinciding with World COPD day on 18 November, the evidence update will highlight the new evidence published within the last 12 months. An invited commentary will discuss any new developments in COPD.

It is anticipated the Annual Evidence Update pages will be further updated in early 2010 when the National Strategy for COPD is published, along with further invited commentaries.

Find out more at www.library.nhs.uk/respiratory.

Annual Evidence Update on CAM for Lower Back Pain: 16-20 November 2009

An update of the evidence on this topic from NHS Evidence - complementary and alternative medicine.

The NHS Evidence - complementary and alternative medicine specialist collection will publish its third Annual Evidence Update on CAM for Low Back Pain on 16th November. This update aims to present a comprehensive collection of up-to-date information that has been subject to rigorous selection criteria. We have carried out searches in a number of databases, covering the period from August 2008 to September 2009. This update includes a list of relevant guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and selected randomised controlled trials, along with commentaries from experts.

Find out more at www.library.nhs.uk/cam.