Search Results
Your search for ,Per matches 3772 pages
Showing 2551 - 2600ASTRO 2016: Advances in Radiation Therapy Have Improved Survival Rates for Patients With Early-Stage Lung Cancer
A new analysis of records in the Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry demonstrates a clear positive impact of the increased use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to treat patients with stage I non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in recent years, according to research presented...
ASTRO 2016: Unmet Need for Radiation Therapy Found Among Nearly Half of Eligible Cancer Patients in Nine Developing Countries
Although approximately 50% of cancer patients in developing countries need radiation therapy to treat their disease, up to half of these patients do not have access to it, according to research presented by Rosenblatt et al at the 58th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology...
Does Colonoscopy Screening in Older Adults Prevent Colorectal Cancer?
A large population-based observational study by García-Albéniz et al evaluating the effectiveness and safety of screening colonoscopy for the prevention of colorectal cancer in people aged 70 to 74 and 75 to 79 has found the test reaped only a modest benefit in preventing colorectal...
Clinical Trials Actively Recruiting Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Phase I Study Title: Phase Ib Study of Nivolumab and Dasatinib in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Ph+ ALL) Study Type: Phase I/interventional/single-group assignment Study Sponsor and Collaborators: Northwestern University, National...
Breaking the ‘Conspiracy of Silence’
A new study1 showing that just 1 in 20 terminally ill patients with cancer has sufficient understanding about the prognosis or purpose of treatment is highlighting the need for improvements in both the way oncologists communicate prognosis with their patients and in the development of educational...
The Role of Music Therapy in Cancer Care
Music therapy, an established adjuvant to standard cancer care, is offered in a growing number of cancer centers throughout the United States and internationally. Defined by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) as “the evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individual...
An Oncologist Battles a Preventable Epidemic: Cancer of the Cervix
Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates—perhaps more than any other chronic disease—shine a grim spotlight on global disparities of care. It is one of the most preventable of human malignancies, yet it is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women around the world. It kills 260,000 women...
New USPSTF Recommendations for Colorectal Cancer Screening
As reported in JAMA, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has issued new recommendations for colorectal cancer screening.1 In brief, the USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening starting at age 50 years and continuing until age 75 years (grade A recommendation = “The USPSTF...
CDC Finds Cancer Death Rates Among Children and Adolescents Declined by 20%, With Brain Cancer Topping Leukemia as Leading Cause of Death
New findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the cancer death rate for children and adolescents aged 1 to 19 has been steadily declining since the mid-1970s and dropped by 20% from 1999 to 2014, the result of advances in therapy, especially for leukemia. During...
Similar 10-Year Survival Reported With Active Monitoring, Surgery, or Radiotherapy for PSA-Detected Localized Prostate Cancer
In a UK trial (ProtecT) reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Hamdy et al found no significant differences in prostate cancer–specific or overall mortality among men with localized prostate cancer detected by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing who underwent active monitoring,...
New American Cancer Society Report Reveals Gaps in Pediatric Cancer Research
A first-of-its-kind joint report from the American Cancer Society and Alliance for Childhood Cancer has compiled the latest information related to pediatric cancer, including statistics and trends; a current list of drugs used to treat pediatric cancers; ongoing pediatric cancer clinical trials;...
Palliative Care 2016: Usage of Oregon’s Death With Dignity Act
In 1997, Oregon enacted a voter initiative allowing terminally ill residents to self-administer physician-prescribed medication to end their lives called the Oregon Death With Dignity Act (ORDWDA). Statute requires prescriptions written for lethal medications be reported; the state also collects...
Is Weekly Vinblastine Active in Chemotherapy-Naive Children With Progressive Low-Grade Glioma?
In a phase II Canadian Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lassaletta et al found that vinblastine monotherapy was associated with response or stable disease in most children with chemotherapy-naive low-grade glioma. Vinblastine monotherapy has shown ...
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Report Shows States Are Making Progress Implementing Policies to Reduce Toll of Cancer
While a majority of states are still missing important opportunities to pass and implement legislative solutions proven to prevent and fight cancer, progress is being made to move the nation closer to ending cancer as we know it, according to a report recently released by the American Cancer...
The Best Oncology Lesson
I was 2 months into my first-year fellowship at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, DC, when I learned the best oncology lesson of my career. I owned a copy of DeVita, Hellman, and Rosenberg’s Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology and had read Cancer Treatment...
Study Examines Global Trends in Ovarian Cancer Mortality Rates
Deaths from ovarian cancer fell worldwide between 2002 and 2012, and are predicted to continue to decline in the United States, European Union (EU) and Japan by 2020, according to new research published by Malvezzi et al in Annals of Oncology. The main reason is the use of oral contraceptives and...
Management of Merkel Cell Carcinoma
A recent report regarding pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for advanced Merkel cell carcinoma ushered in a more optimistic era in the treatment of this rare but often lethal skin cancer.1 The ASCO Post spoke with one of the field’s leaders, Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD—the first author of the study—about the...
Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer: A New Standard of Care?
For at least the past quarter of a century, radiobiologists and radiation oncologists have debated the role of hypofractionation (fewer total fractions with a higher dose per fraction) for prostate cancer. The debate stems from the unique radiobiology of prostate cancer and the best means to...
Discrepancies Between Current ASCO-CAP Guidelines on HER2 Amplification Testing and Designations in BCIRG Trials
In an analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Press et al found notable discrepancies between recent ASCO–College of American Pathologists (ASCO-CAP) changes in the recommendations for evaluation of HER2 amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and FISH scores...
Early-Stage Prostate Cancer Incidence Rates Decline, Distant-Stage Disease Rates Unchanged in 2013
Jemal et al described findings indicating a continued decline in the incidence of localized/regional-stage prostate cancer at 2 years after the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening in men aged ≥ 50 years in 2011, in a letter ...
Palliative Care 2016: Family Caregivers for Patients With Advanced Cancer Often Experience High Levels of Anxiety, Depression
A new multistate survey showed that nearly one-quarter to one-third of family caregivers of patients with high-mortality cancers experience high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. The study also found that family caregivers can spend over 8 hours per day providing care and that as this time ...
Palliative Care 2016: Cancer Caregivers Experience Unique Burdens Compared With Those Caring for Patients With Other Conditions
An analysis of data from more than 1,200 caregivers in the United States finds that cancer caregivers report a higher burden and spend significantly more hours per week caregiving, as opposed to individuals who care for people with other conditions. The analysis was based on survey data from the...
European Studies Compare Conventional vs Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer
Two recent European phase III trials with different study designs focused on hypofractionated vs conventional radiotherapy in localized prostate cancer. Investigators in the CHHiP trial1 showed that the hypofractionated approach is noninferior to standard fractionation, with no increase in side...
Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Crohn’s-Like Lymphoid Reaction May Be Prognostic Indicators for Colorectal Cancer
Intratumoral tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte level and prominent peritumoral Crohn’s-like lymphoid reaction appear to be independent prognostic factors for survival in colorectal cancer, according to a study reported by Rozek et al in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The findings...
Predicted Burden of Cervical Cancer With vs Without Effective Screening in Baltic, Central, and Eastern European Countries
Vaccarella et al estimated changes in the incidence of cervical cancer through 2040 in six Baltic, central, and eastern European (BCEE) countries on the hypotheses of continued absence of effective screening programs vs progressive implementation of such programs. Their findings were reported in...
Study Finds Chemotherapy May Be Avoidable in Women With Early Breast Cancer at High Clinical but Low Genomic Risk on 70-Gene Signature Assay
In a phase III trial (MINDACT) reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Cardoso et al found that adjuvant chemotherapy may be avoidable in women with early-stage breast cancer who are at high clinical risk but low genomic risk as determined by the 70-gene signature assay (MammaPrint)....
Extended Active Surveillance Prior to Systemic Therapy May Be Safe in Some Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Rini et al found that some patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma can safely undergo active surveillance for an extended duration prior to initiation of systemic therapy. Indolent growth of metastases is known to occur in some patients...
Overall Survival With Bevacizumab/Capecitabine Noninferior vs Bevacizumab/Paclitaxel in HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Zielinski et al, the final results of the phase III TURANDOT trial showed that overall survival with first-line bevacizumab (Avastin)/capecitabine was noninferior vs bevacizumab/paclitaxel in per-protocol analysis among patients with advanced HER2-negative...
Inotuzumab Ozogamicin Improves Outcomes vs Standard Therapy in Relapsed/Refractory Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
In a phase III trial reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and colleagues found that treatment with the antibody-drug conjugate inotuzumab ozogamicin resulted in a greater complete remission rate and improved ...
Adding Bevacizumab to Letrozole Improves Progression-Free Survival but Increases Toxicity in Hormone Receptor–Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
In a phase III trial (CALGB 40503/Alliance) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Maura N. Dickler, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and colleagues found that the addition of bevacizumab (Avastin) to first-line endocrine therapy with letrozole improved progression-free...
ASTRO Awards $275,000 in Grants to Support Early Career Researchers in Radiation Oncology
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has selected four early career scientists to receive a total of $275,000 in research awards, including one winner of the ASTRO Junior Faculty Career Research Training Award and three recipients of ASTRO Resident/Fellows in Radiation Oncology...
New Preclinical Study Shows Esophageal Cancers Driven by 'Marginal Gain' Rather Than Speed
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute scientists have shown that unexpectedly, esophageal cancer cells do not divide faster than their normal neighbors. Unlike normal cells, however, the tumor cells produce slightly more dividing daughter cells than nondividing cells, forming a tumor. The study,...
ASCO Guideline Addresses Controversial Areas in Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer
ASCO has published an adaptation of the 2015 Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) clinical practice guideline on adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer.1 There were several areas of controversy that the guideline attempts to address. Should Anthracyclines Be Standard of Care? The guideline...
ASCO Adapts CCO Guideline on Selection of Optimal Adjuvant Therapies for HER2-Negative and HER2-Positive Breast Cancers
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Neelima Denduluri, MD, and colleagues, ASCO has adapted a Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) clinical practice guideline on selection of optimal adjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-negative and adjuvant targeted therapy for HER2-positive breast cancer.1 The...
Breast Density and Risk Factors May Be Useful for Tailoring Breast Cancer Screening for Older Women
A collaborative modeling study evaluating outcomes for various screening intervals for women over the age of 50 based on breast density and risk for breast cancer has found that average-risk women with low breast density undergoing triennial screening and higher-risk women with high breast density...
Needle Biopsies for Noninvasive Breast Cancer: Routine Analysis Wastes Millions
For patients with the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer, routine testing for estrogen and progesterone receptors in tissue taken at the first needle biopsy is both unnecessary and wasteful, according to results of a study led by Johns Hopkins pathologists. The results for people with...
Study Finds United States Ranks First in Health-Care Spending, but Cancer Outcomes Do Not Reflect the Investment
The U.S. health-care system is characterized—on a global level—by its unsustainable spending, which does not necessarily correlate to better outcomes in patients with cancer. With $2.9 trillion spent in 2013, the United States ranks first in health-care spending among the world’s...
CA-125 Tests and CT Scans Still Routinely Used for Surveillance in Ovarian Cancer, Yet Benefit Remains Unproved
As reported by Esselen et al in JAMA Oncology, cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) tests and computed tomography (CT) scans for surveillance in women with ovarian cancer continue to be used routinely, although their benefit has not been proven and the practices have significant quality-of-life and economic ...
New American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Report Shows States Are Making Progress Implementing Policies to Reduce Toll of Cancer
Although a majority of states are still missing important opportunities to pass and implement legislative solutions proven to prevent and fight cancer, there is progress being made to move the nation closer to ending cancer as we know it, according to a report recently released by the American...
Multiple Means to Realize the Benefits of Colorectal Cancer Screening
In an updated recommendation statement, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) continues to strongly recommend screening for colorectal cancer for asymptomatic adults aged 50 through 75; but rather than emphasize specific screening strategies, it notes there are multiple screening...
A Ruby Anniversary
On July 16, 1975, at 26 years of age, after almost 6 months of observing a left epididymal mass slowly enlarge, with workup for epididymal tuberculosis, I finally underwent a left inguinal orchiectomy and resection of what proved to be a pure seminoma. A subsequent lymphangiogram was reported to...
Effectiveness of Organized National Breast Cancer Screening: The Israeli Experience
Recent years have seen the publication of a considerable amount of scientific literature questioning the effectiveness of mammography screening in decreasing breast cancer mortality.1-4 This article explores how the Israeli experience has demonstrated the efficacy of organized national...
Use of Dexamethasone Mouthwash in Managing mTOR Inhibitor–Associated Stomatitis in Patients With Breast Cancer
Prophylactic use of dexamethasone mouthwash significantly minimized the incidence of all grades of stomatitis in postmenopausal women receiving everolimus (Afinitor, Zortress) and exemestane for the treatment of hormone receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer, according to data presented by...
High Cumulative Burden of Cardiovascular Morbidity in Young Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma
In an analysis from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Bhakta et al found a high cumulative burden of cardiovascular morbidity among pediatric, adolescent, and young adult survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma. Study Details The study involved data from 670 survivors of...
ASCO Plenary Studies: Assessing the ‘Value’ of New Treatments
At the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting, studies presented at the Plenary Session gave attendees new treatment strategies to employ back home. But in the emerging push to contain the cost of new cancer treatments, do the four interventions fit within the new “value framework” for oncology? Deborah Schrag, ...
ASCO Outlines Opposition to Medicare Part B Demo for Senate Finance Hearing
ASCO voiced its strong opposition to the proposed Medicare Part B demonstration project in comments submitted on June 28 for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing, “Examining the Proposed Medicare Part B Drug Demonstration.” ASCO underscored the urgent need to advance a fairer and more...
Acupuncture: Does It Alleviate Symptoms Associated With Cancer Care?
A therapeutic modality of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been extensively investigated in Western medical settings. Its clinical use is increasingly common for the management of pain and other conditions. In the oncology setting, research demonstrates that acupuncture can...
Lung Cancer Screening: Beneficial for Certain Populations but Not Without Controversy
The National Cancer Policy Forum of the National Academies of Sciences took up the issue of lung cancer screening at its mid-June workshop. Greta Massetti, PhD, Associate Director for Science, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and chair of ...
ASCO Guideline on Treatment of Locally Advanced, Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer
As reported by Edward P. Balaban, DO, FASCO, of Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, ASCO has released a clinical practice guideline on the treatment of locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer.1 The recommendations are based on expert...
ASCO 2016 Guidelines for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: Why Another Guideline?
The 5-year survival rate of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer remains stubbornly fixed around 5%. Even in the 20% of cases in which surgical resection is undertaken for curative intent, the 5-year survival rate after surgery is 20% to 30%. As we make progress in other cancers with decreasing...
