Novel Therapies Show Early Promise in Advanced Gastroesophageal Cancers
Results of two early-phase trials offered a glimpse of promising new agents in the pipeline for advanced gastroesophageal cancer. In a phase II study, incorporating an investigational PD-1 inhibitor and anti-T-cell immunoglobulin and ITM domain (TIGIT) monoclonal antibody into standard first-line chemotherapy showed promising activity in advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, reported Yelena Janjigian, MD, from Memorial […]
New Evidence Links Calcium Channel Blockers to Increased Risk of Glaucoma
Use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs), particularly cardioselective agents, had a modest but statistically significant association with glaucoma, a large meta-analysis showed. Overall, patients with a history of CCB treatment had a 23% higher likelihood of developing glaucoma as compared with individuals who never used the antihypertensives. The likelihood almost doubled among patients who received […]
Want a Few Weeks of Knee Pain Relief? Try This
PHILADELPHIA — Blocking agents delivered to genicular nerves around the knee markedly reduced osteoarthritis patients’ perceptions of pain, far more than those receiving placebo injections, a randomized trial showed. At week 4 following the injections, patients in the nerve block group reported mean reductions in pain scores of 3.0 points from baseline on a standard […]
Clinical Decision Tool Cuts Inappropriate BMA Therapy in Prostate Cancer
SAN DIEGO — An algorithm-based decision tool eliminated inappropriate prescribing of bone-modifying agents (BMA) in patients with advanced prostate cancer, according to a VA-based study. Prior to implementing the tool, inappropriate BMA prescribing was found in more than 50% of cases of men with metastatic sensitive-resistant prostate cancer (mCSPC) without bone metastases at the George […]
Fewer Hepatitis C Patients Seeking Treatment of Late
The number of people with hepatitis C virus (HCV) treated with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) dropped sharply in 2020, accelerating a decline that began in 2015, CDC researchers found. While 843,362 individuals from 2014-2020 were estimated to receive DAAs for HCV, only 83,740 initiated DAA treatment in 2020, down from 114,893 in 2019 and a […]
Different Taxanes, Similar Outcomes in Advanced HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
Final results from a routine-practice comparison of taxane agents showed that the drugs offered comparable safety and efficacy in advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was about 21 months and median overall survival (OS) was 65 months with dual anti-HER2 therapy and was similar among patients who received paclitaxel or docetaxel, as well […]