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 ...
The results of a cross-sectional study reported in JACC: CardioOncology by Nwana et al revealed a significant association between the extent to which a neighborhood facilitates walking and the burden of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among patients with a history of cancer. “[The findings...
Blocking the tyrosine kinase KDR could lead to cell death caused by the degradation of the TAX viral protein, thereby treating diseases associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), according to a recent study published by Mohanty et al in Nature Communications. Background HTLV-1 is...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Matikas et al, the prespecified end-of-study analysis of the European phase III PANTHER trial showed significant improvements in outcomes with tailored dose-dense vs standard adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with high-risk early breast cancer. As...
DNA/RNA material contained in circulating extracellular vesicles secreted into the blood stream by tumor cells may capture cancer genomics and transcriptomic evolution in patients with metastatic prostate cancer, according to a recent study published by Casanova et al in Cancer Cell. Background...
Those living in disadvantaged neighborhoods have significantly higher activity of stress-related genes, new research suggests, which in turn may contribute to higher rates of aggressive prostate cancer in African American men. These findings were published by Boyle et al in JAMA Network Open....
Researchers have found that many eligible breast cancer survivors may not be receiving genetic counseling and testing, according to a recent study published by Katz et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Background A growing proportion of cancer treatment and survivorship care relies on...
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...
The results of a retrospective multicohort study, reported in The Lancet Oncology by Wan et al, suggested that the identification of the immune-related adverse event cluster to which a patient belongs may aid in prognosticating response to immunotherapy. “These insights can be leveraged to counsel...
The search for biomarkers of response to immunotherapy is high on the list of cancer-related research efforts. A new classifier in triple-negative breast cancer is showing promise and is currently being validated in the I-SPY2.2 trial, according to Laura van ’t Veer, PhD, Professor of Laboratory...
Investigators have demonstrated that the socioeconomic status of cell donors may impact the health outcomes of patients with hematologic malignancies who undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation, according to a recent study published by Turcotte et al in PNAS. Study Methods and Results In the...
In a Chinese phase I trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Ma et al found that BL-B01D1—a first-in-class EGFR-HER3 bispecific antibody-drug conjugate—was active in previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors. Study Details In the multicenter trial, 195 patients...
The members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recently elected five new officers to ASTRO’s Board of Directors: Neha Vapiwala, MD, FACR, FASTRO, FASCO, President-Elect Jean Wright, MD, FASTRO, Clinical Affairs and Quality Council Vice Chair Andrea Ng, MD, MPH, FASTRO,...
Researchers have developed a novel prompt, embedded in electronic health records, to flag older patients with early-stage breast cancer who may be at risk of unnecessary sentinel lymph node biopsy, according to a recent study published by Carleton et al in JAMA Surgery. Background “In breast...
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...
Hormone-modulating therapy used to treat patients with breast cancer may be associated with a 7% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias later in life, according to a recent study published by Cai et al in JAMA Network Open. Background About 67% of patients with breast...
A new survey conducted in the United Kingdom found two-thirds of the public say they are very or somewhat worried about being told they have cancer—a higher percentage than for any other medical condition, including dementia and having a heart attack—according to polling released today. The...
Cobimetinib and atezolizumab administered prior to surgery eliminated or shrunk tumors in 70% of patients with melanoma enrolled in the NeoACTIVATE trial. Results were published by Hieken et al in Nature Communications. Background Melanoma of the skin is the fifth most common cancer type in the...
Recently, some experts have called for Gleason Grade Group 1 prostate cancer to be reclassified as benign. However, many patients diagnosed with this lowest grade of prostate cancer may have more aggressive disease than their biopsy alone suggests, according to a recent study published by Tilki et...
On May 30, 2017, 9 days before I turned 19 and soon after I had completed my sophomore year at college, I was diagnosed with aggressive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. But getting to the diagnosis was a tortuous process. I had been feeling fatigued and losing weight for several weeks prior to the...
Chronic graft-vs-host disease, an immune-mediated disorder that follows allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), is characterized by debilitating tissue injury with inflammatory and fibrotic pathology leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Historically, the treatment of...
A new ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline recommends several vaccinations (eg, seasonal, herpes zoster, human papillomavirus [HPV], and others) for adults with solid or hematologic malignancies because of heightened infection risks from vaccine-preventable illnesses.1 The guideline covers the...
Targeting lactate with the epilepsy drug stiripentol may reverse chemotherapy resistance in patients with gastric cancer, according to a recent study published by Chen et al in Nature. Background Chemotherapy attacks cancer cells by damaging their DNA. The cancer cells then try to rapidly repair...
Only a minority of adult cancer survivors may have access to specialized survivorship services such as those addressing fertility and sexual health issues, and having survivorship standards in place may help cancer centers better provide services that meet the distinct needs of these patients,...
A novel algorithm may help physicians to identify which patients have a highly aggressive subtype of facial basal cell carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Ceder et al in Dermatology Practical & Conceptual. Background Basal cell carcinoma—the most common type of skin...
Investigators have identified disparities in the rates of breast reconstruction following mastectomy among American Indian and Alaskan Native women compared with non-Hispanic White women, according to a recent study published by White et al in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Background Breast...
In an English and Welsh study (The Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Survivor Study) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Sunguc et al found that cervical cancer and leukemia survivors have a heightened risk of experiencing several serious obstetric complications. “Therefore, any pregnancy [in these...
Based on the results of the multicenter phase II NIFE-AIO-YMO HEP-0315 trial, which were reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Ettrich et al, first-line palliative treatment with nanoliposomal irinotecan plus fluorouracil and leucovorin appears to be safe and active in patients with...
Researchers have uncovered the long-term effects of cisplatin-based chemotherapy on the hearing of cancer survivors, according to a recent study published by Sanchez et al in JAMA Oncology. Background Cisplatin is commonly used in chemotherapy to treat a variety of cancer types, including...
In patients with advanced HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer and disease control after oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, “switch” maintenance with paclitaxel plus ramucirumab in the phase III ARMANI trial significantly improved both progression-free and overall survival,...
The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has serious concerns about the impact of the Supreme Court’s rulings in Loper Bright Enterprises v Raimondo and Relentless, Inc. v Department of Commerce on cancer care. These decisions overturned the “Chevron deference” or “Chevron doctrine,” a legal...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Philippe Moreau, MD, and colleagues, long-term follow-up of the phase III CASSIOPEIA trial has shown improved progression-free survival with daratumumab maintenance vs observation both among newly diagnosed patients with transplant-eligible multiple myeloma who ...
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...
Researchers have demonstrated that spatial gene signatures may enhance the prediction of immunotherapy outcomes in patients with melanoma, according to a recent study published by Aung et al in Clinical Cancer Research. The current gene signatures used to predict immunotherapy outcomes may lack...
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...
Researchers have uncovered the impact of chemotherapy on the gut microbiome in patients with breast cancer, according to a recent study published by Otto-Dobos et al in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Background Chemotherapy is known to cause behavioral side effects, including cognitive decline....
Acupuncture may be effective at reducing the hormonal side effects of endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer, according to a recent study published by Lu et al in Cancer. Background Although endocrine therapy—which is capable of blocking the hormone signaling that drive some types of...
Initiating surveillance soon after recognizing a pediatric patient has a genetic predisposition for cancer may improve the identification of early-stage asymptomatic tumors, according to a recent study published by Blake et al in JAMA Oncology. The findings may inform clinical practice following...
ASCO has released “Principles for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Oncology,” to guide the Society’s consideration of all aspects of artificial intelligence (AI). With this manuscript, ASCO joins colleagues across medicine in offering principles that should be applied in...
Many Americans, including patients with cancer, use cannabis and cannabinoids. In response to this reality, ASCO has issued a guideline for clinicians, adults with cancer, caregivers, and researchers on their medical use.1 The recommendations cover all cancer types and address products ranging from ...
Early palliative care can be integrated into the course of treatment for patients with advanced lung cancer via delivery by telehealth with outcomes similar to when palliative care is delivered via in-person visits, according to results of the REACH PC trial presented by Joseph Greer, PhD, of...
The Melanoma Research Alliance is on a mission to cure and prevent melanoma, a skin cancer that is diagnosed in more than 100,000 people each year and is expected to take the lives of more than 8,000 individuals in 2024.1 We invite stakeholders across all fields, including medicine, science, and...
Leaders from two New York bioscience and health-care institutions came together at Carnegie Hall to acknowledge the signing of an update to their affiliation agreement initiated in 2015. The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL)-Northwell Health agreement ensures continued collaboration and support...
In 1992, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instituted the Accelerated Approval regulations, which allow drugs that treat serious conditions, including cancer, and fill an unmet need to be approved early based on a surrogate endpoint.1 However, any drug approved under this pathway is still ...
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced that following a nationwide search, Vivek S. Kavadi, MD, MBA, FASTRO, will become Chief Executive Officer of the Society, effective November 1, 2024. Dr. Kavadi will succeed Laura Thevenot, who had already announced her intent to retire...
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who undergo frequent immunoglobulin G testing may be less likely to experience severe infections than those who don’t undergo frequent testing, according to a recent study published by Soumerai et al in Blood Advances....
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...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Sandoval et al, after a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer, the magnitude of preexisting socioeconomic status–related inequalities in quality of life increased over time for patients in the multicentric French CANTO cohort. “When we talk about ...
Although improvements in the early detection and treatment of cancer have reduced cancer-related mortality rates and increased the number of cancer survivors in the United States to over 18 million, not all patients with the disease are benefiting from these advances. A recent study investigated...