–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Levin, Papantonio has invited the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg P.C. (www.weitzlux.com) to join noted environmental advocates Erin Brockovich and Carol Moore to help those affected by the epic BP oil spill—4 million gallons and counting—in the Gulf of Mexico. An explosion on April 20, 2010, killed 11 workers, and sank the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, setting in motion the unfolding catastrophe.

WHO: Levin, Papantonio, Thomas, Mitchell, Echsner, Rafferty & Proctor, P.A. and Weitz & Luxenberg P.C. (www.weitzlux.com) to co-host environmental advocates Erin Brockovich and Carol Moore.

WHAT: Our firms invite residents of Pensacola, Florida, and surrounding areas, to attend a special meeting with Erin Brockovich, Carol Moore and our environmental lawyers to discuss the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its aftermath, answer questions, lend support and help people understand their rights.

WHEN: Thursday, May 20, 2010, 6 p.m. CT

WHERE: Saenger Theatre, 118 North Palafox Street, Pensacola, Florida

Brockovich and Moore are traveling to Gulf States, including Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, to meet with the people impacted by the spill and to discuss with them how they have been affected and will be impacted in the future.

“I would like to tell the local commercial fishermen who aren’t able to earn a living, and other business owners, ‘You have rights and we can help,’” said Brockovich.

“As someone who has lived in this community for more than 40 years–much of that time dedicated to protecting our natural resources–I am deeply disturbed by the events unfolding in our community,” said Moore.

Levin Papantonio and Weitz & Luxenberg, together with a consortium of law firms, have filed lawsuits in response to the BP oil spill. The cases, which were filed against BP, Halliburton, Cameron and other parties, seek to recover damages suffered by clients as a result of the Gulf oil spill.

“The Gulf of Mexico is not only one of the nation’s most vibrant ecosystems, but also the foundation of our region’s economy,” said Mike Papantonio, head of Levin Papantonio’s environmental department. “BP, Transocean and Halliburton will be held accountable for stripping residents of their livelihoods and destroying the environment.”

Robin Greenwald, head of the Environmental & Toxic Torts unit of Weitz & Luxenberg said, “Beyond the millions of gallons already spilled, this is an ongoing race against time to try to stanch the oil gushing from the well. The rig explosion and failure to control the oil slick is devastating wildlife, fisheries, tourism and everyday living along the Gulf Coast.”

Fishermen and business owners, and others affected by the oil spill may discuss their situation with our lawyers and get a free legal review by visiting the Levin Papantonio website, levinlaw.com or the Weitz & Luxenberg website, www.weitzlux.com…. (more…)

Via:international clinical study conducted in Europe and the US presented April 16 at the International Liver CongressTM 2010, the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Liver in Vienna, Austria, have identified a genomic portrait able to predict recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the fifth most common cancer in men .

HCC is a primary cancer of the liver. Worldwide, it accounts for approximately 5.4% of all cancers1 and it is the third cause of cancer-related death with more than 660,000 deaths per year1. Only around 20-30% of patients are treated with curative treatments, including resection and local ablation, but recurrence complicated the outcome in more than two thirds of these cases .

Results of this study identified two gene signatures- one coming from the tumor and the other from the cirrhotic liver — able to identify patients with poor disease outcome. The study concluded that these genetic tools can ultimately be used to select patients for preventive therapies. In addition, specific genes included in these signatures should be evaluated as potential targets for adjuvant treatment, following surgical intervention in HCC patients.

Dr Josep Llovet, Professor from the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona-IDIBAPS and Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, who led the study and highlighted this topic at EASL’s official press conference said, “The results of our study demonstrate the potential that molecular classification offers to future clinical management of diseases such as HCC. By successfully identifying certain genomic signatures that clearly predict both overall and early recurrence of HCC post-surgery, we now have a clearer focus for future research into therapeutic options that may in time improve patients’ chances of survival.”… (more…)