Eliminating racial disparities in colorectal cancer testing may reduce the rate of colorectal cancer incidence and mortality among Black patients in the United States, according to a recent study published by Alagoz et al in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Background Although both the ...
Researchers have introduced the first screening and treatment recommendations to prevent anal cancer in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), according to new guidelines based on the results of a 2022 study published by Palefsky et al in The New England Journal of Medicine....
In a Chinese phase II trial (TORCH) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Xia et al found that integration of the PD-1 inhibitor toripalimab into total neoadjuvant therapy was associated with good outcomes in patients with mismatch repair–proficient or microsatellite-stable (pMMR/MSS)...
Some patients with a genetic predisposition for cancer may not qualify for genetic screenings under the current guidelines, according to a recent study published by Samadder et al in JCO Precision Oncology. Researchers are investigating how to advance personalized medicine and tailor prevention and ...
Research has consistently shown that Native American and Alaska Native individuals are among the most underserved minority populations in the United States and are disproportionately affected by cancer. The results from a 50-year report by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s Alaska Native...
In selected patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases, liver transplantation plus chemotherapy significantly boosted overall survival as compared with chemotherapy alone in the multicenter, European TRANSMET trial, presented at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting.1 The combined approach led...
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening aims to identify patients who may harbor potentially lethal prostate cancer, and those with high PSA results often require more extensive—and expensive—diagnostic testing to establish a diagnosis. New research reveals that the out-of-pocket costs for such...
A novel personalized cellular immunotherapy approach may be effective at treating certain patients with metastatic solid tumors, according to early findings from a recent study published by Parkhurst et al in Nature Medicine. Background Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has already...
A recent study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society has found that 4 in 10 cancer cases and about half of all cancer deaths in adults aged 30 and older in the United States (or 713,340 cancer cases and 262,120 cancer deaths in 2019) may be attributed to modifiable risk factors,...
Investigators have assessed whether RNAs can be used as a biomarker to predict which patients with stage II colorectal cancer may benefit from postsurgical chemotherapy, according to a recent study published by Korsgaard et al in The American Journal of Pathology. Background Colorectal cancer is...
Based on the results of a retrospective U.S. population–based cohort study, which were reported in JAMA Network Open by Wang et al, treatment with glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists vs insulins seemed to be associated with a decreased risk of developing specific obesity-associated...
Investigators have uncovered the potential benefit of undergoing alcohol rehabilitation and maintaining abstinence in patients with alcohol dependence at risk of developing alcohol-associated cancers, according to a recent study published by Schwarzinger et al in The Lancet Public Health. The...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Yu et al, based on results from the ongoing phase II NEOCAP trial, neoadjuvant therapy with the PD-1 inhibitor camrelizumab plus the angiogenesis inhibitor apatinib appears to demonstrate “promising” antitumor activity and a manageable toxicity profile in...
In an analysis from the CALGB/SWOG 80702 (Alliance) trial published by Nowak et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, researchers found that the addition of the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) inhibitor celecoxib to standard adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved disease-free survival and...
Administering chemotherapy prior to and following surgery may extend survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma compared with postoperative administration alone, according to a recent study published by Cecchini et al in JAMA Oncology. The findings may be encouraging for the 15% to...
On June 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to the KRAS G12C inhibitor adagrasib (Krazati) plus cetuximab for adults with KRAS G12C–mutated locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have received prior...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Antoniotti et al, 4-year follow-up of the Italian phase II ATEZOTRIBE trial showed a numeric benefit in overall survival with the addition of atezolizumab to first-line FOLFOXIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) and...
Researchers have found that administering the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib after surgery may improve disease-free survival in a subset of patients with PIK3CA-mutated stage III colorectal cancer, according to a study published by Nowak et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The findings...
Investigators uncovered crucial insights into the cancer screening behaviors of a population of Muslim individuals residing in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area that could help illuminate the influence of cultural and religious beliefs on health practices, according to a recent study published...
A combination of alpha- and beta-radionuclide therapy may be feasible, tolerable, and effective in colorectal cancer, according to preclinical findings presented by Rinne et al at the 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting (Abstract 241498). The new approach...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Akihito Kawazoe, MD, and colleagues, the final analysis of the phase III LEAP-017 trial showed no significant overall survival benefit with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab vs the standard of care in previously treated patients with mismatch...
Many patients with cancer encounter significant barriers to the receipt of care, according to a recent study published by Chen et al in JAMA Network Open. Background When attempting to access cancer care, patients often must go through several different levels of communication both before their...
Despite urgings from my primary care physician to get a colonoscopy screening after I turned 50, I resisted. As a health-care provider, and someone who is tuned into changes in my body, I thought I would instinctively know if I had a serious illness. I was wrong. Even after finally relenting to at...
The PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab may offer benefit in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma, according to recent findings presented by Mowery et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 11504). Background Soft-tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer affecting muscles, fat, and other connective...
Andrea Cercek, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses expanded data on the durability of complete response to dostarlimab-gxly, a PD-1 single-agent therapy administered to patients with locally advanced mismatch repair–deficient rectal cancer. The drug yielded recurrence-free...
The risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer may be increased in some women who experience early menopause, according to new findings presented by Welt et al at the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting & Exposition 2024. Primary ovarian insufficiency is a condition that occurs when a woman’s...
Researchers examined whether the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab given neoadjuvantly may improve outcomes in certain patients with stage II or III mismatch repair–deficient/microsatellite instability–high colorectal cancer. Interim findings from the phase II NEOPRISM-CRC clinical trial were presented...
In a study reported in JAMA Oncology, Canavan et al found no differences in overall survival between oncology practices that were more vs less likely to provide chemotherapy within the last 2 weeks of life to patients with very advanced solid tumors. As stated by the investigators, “ASCO and the...
The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) announced that the blue-ribbon selection committee, composed of world-renowned research leaders and visionaries, has awarded the 2024 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research to Dennis J. Slamon, MD, PhD, of UCLA Health, for his...
Jeanne Tie, MD, MBChB, of Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, discusses data on survival and updated 5-year results from the DYNAMIC trial, which supports a role for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis, including serial sampling, in the management of patients with stage II colon cancer (Abstract 108).
The antibody-drug conjugate M9140 exhibited activity in pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer, according to preliminary data from a phase I study presented by Kopetz et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 3000). Background M9140 is one of the first antibody-drug conjugates...
A novel combination comprising experimental immunotherapy drugs plus chemotherapy may improve survival outcomes in previously treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer compared to the targeted therapy regorafenib alone. These findings will be presented by Wainberg et al at the 2024 ASCO...
In a Swedish cohort study reported in JAMA Oncology, Liang et al found that among individuals with no family history of colorectal cancer and a negative first screening colonoscopy, the interval to repeat colonoscopy could be extended beyond the currently recommended 10 years. Study Details The...
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN®) has announced the election of Matt Kalaycio, MD, FACP, as Chair of the Board of Directors, with Christopher H. Lieu, MD, elected as Vice-Chair, succeeding Dr. Kalaycio in the position he has held since 2022. “The exemplary leadership from our Board...
The profound progress in cancer care since President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act of 1971 into law is evidenced by the soaring number of cancer survivors since the law went into effect. In the 1970s, there were 3 million cancer survivors1; today, there are more than 18 million, and...
A novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based virtual patient navigator, MyEleanor, improved colonoscopy uptake among U.S. patients who were previously nonadherent to prior colonoscopy appointments. These findings will be presented by Moadel et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 100)....
Adjuvant therapy may be underutilized in patients with clinical T2N0 rectal adenocarcinoma, according to new findings presented by Kripalani et al at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024 (Abstract 439). Background Patients with clinical T2N0 rectal adenocarcinoma have disease that has spread past the...
Systemic therapy may offer no significant improvement in overall survival in patients with advanced solid tumors, according to a recent study published by Canavan et al in JAMA Oncology. Study Methods and Results In the recent study, the investigators analyzed the de-identified data of over 78,000...
Despite the extraordinary progress against cancer in the United States—illustrated by the continuing decline in the overall mortality rate, which fell by 33% between 1991 and 2020, and the increasing numbers of cancer survivors (over 18 million and climbing)—the burden of cancer remains...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Bob T. Li, MD, PhD, MPH, and colleagues, the phase II DESTINY-PanTumor01 trial showed activity of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) in patients with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors that have specific activating HER2 mutations. The antibody-drug...
Appendectomy may be associated with a reduced risk of a colorectal cancer subtype positive for the tumor-promoting Fusobacterium nucleatum bacteria, according to a recent study published by Kawamura et al in the Annals of Surgery. Background Despite being historically dismissed as an unnecessary...
The incidence of colorectal cancer has risen significantly among younger U.S. patients over the past 2 decades, according to new findings presented by Mohamed et al at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024 (Abstract Mo1149) and simultaneously published in Gastroenterology. Background “Colorectal cancer ...
In two studies reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, investigators found that a cell-free DNA (cfDNA) blood-based test (ECLIPSE study)1 and a next-generation multitarget stool DNA test (BLUE-C study)2 both showed high sensitivity for colorectal cancer and high specificity for advanced...
In a phase III study (ORANGE II PLUS) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Fichtinger et al found that among patients with indications for hemihepatectomy suitable for both laparoscopic and open approaches, of whom the majority had cancer, the laparoscopic approach was associated with a...
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has detailed disparities in the mortality rates for preventable cancer types among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander patients in a new Cancer Facts & Figures report published by Wagle et al. Background In this report, the Asian...
The rates of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings in Federally Qualified Health Centers may be substantially lower compared with overall screening rates in the United States, according to a recent study published by Amboree et al in JAMA Internal Medicine. Background The U.S....
Although KRAS was once considered an untargetable mutation, KRAS inhibitors are now approved for the treatment of KRAS-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and are emerging as a potential option for the treatment of KRAS G12C–mutated colorectal cancer in combination with other therapies....
Researchers may have uncovered how the long-term daily use of aspirin may help prevent the development and progression of colorectal cancer, according to a recent study published by De Simoni et al in Cancer. Study Methods and Results In the recent study, the researchers collected the tissue...
Deeper sedation with the anesthetic drug propofol may improve detection of serrated polyps in patients undergoing colonoscopy to screen for colorectal cancer, according to a recent study published by Quaye et al in Anesthesiology. Background Nearly all colorectal cancers start as polyps....
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cao et al found that U.S. adult cancer survivors had higher levels of mobility disability and self-care disability than adults without a cancer diagnosis. Study Details The study focused on data from 47,768 adult cancer survivors (aged ≥ 18...