Trial Suggests Optimal Approach to Unresectable CRC Liver Mets
For patients with initially unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases, FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab (Avastin) was the “preferred” systemic induction regimen for those with a right-sided or RAS- or BRAF V600E-mutated primary tumor, according to a phase III randomized trial. Among these patients, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9.0 months in those receiving FOLFOX or FOLFIRI […]
Earlier Detection of Cardiac Dysfunction Possible for Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Subclinical diastolic dysfunction may be detected among adult survivors of childhood cancer before left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) becomes abnormally low, according to longitudinal echocardiographic data. Among participants in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (SJLIFE) diagnosed with cancer at a median age of 8 years, the proportion of diastolic dysfunction was approximately 15% when […]
Hooray! A Clearer Estimate of Your Risk for Death Is Around the Corner
The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) “Know Your Chances” website, which can calculate an individual’s risk for death over the coming years, is about to get more accurate by including smoking history, researchers reported. If smoking status isn’t taken into account, the mortality risks are underestimated for smokers and overestimated for nonsmokers, according to Steven Woloshin, […]
FGFR Inhibitor Stakes Claim to Post-Anti-PD-1 Role in Advanced Bladder Cancer
CHICAGO — Patients with FGFR-mutated advanced urothelial cancer that progressed after anti-PD-1/L1 therapy lived significantly longer if they received the selective FGFR inhibitor erdafitinib (Balversa) instead of chemotherapy, a randomized trial showed. Median overall survival (OS) increased from 7.8 months with physician’s choice of chemotherapy to 12.1 months with the targeted agent. Progression-free survival (PFS) […]
Certain Toxic Effects Higher With Newer Prostate Cancer Therapies
Second-generation anti-androgens (AAs) for the treatment of prostate cancer are associated with an increased risk of cognitive and functional toxic effects, according to results from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Across 12 randomized trials involving over 13,000 patients, increased risks of cognitive toxic effects (risk ratio [RR] 2.10, 95% CI 1.30-3.38, P=0.002) and fatigue (RR […]
What to Know About Hank Green’s Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Diagnosis
YouTube star and novelist Hank Green revealed his cancer diagnosis in a Vlogbrothers video on Friday that has garnered 6.6 million views as of Tuesday afternoon. The popular internet personality will soon begin treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system. He opted to first share his personal health […]
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Safe, Effective in Cancer Patients With HIV
Immune checkpoint inhibitors showed activity among people with HIV and various cancer types, without any excess or unexpected toxicities, according to a retrospective real-world study. In a cohort of 390 patients with HIV and cancer, 20% had immune-related adverse events (AEs) of any grade and 7.7% had grade ≥3 immune-related AEs, reported Abdul Rafeh Naqash, […]
Childhood Cancer Survivors Have Increased Rates of Late, Major Surgeries
Childhood cancer survivors have increased rates of undergoing late, major surgical procedures 5 or more years after diagnosis, according to data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Among more than 25,000 survivors diagnosed with cancer from 1970 to 1999 when they were under age 21, the likelihood of having subsequent major surgery was 80% higher […]
Medicaid Expansion Seen Lifting Colon Cancer Screening for Low-Income People
CHICAGO — Colorectal cancer screening rates at so-called Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in 2021 were higher in states that had accepted funding from the federal government to expand access to Medicaid compared with those that had not, a researcher said here. But the data also suggested that Medicaid expansion didn’t eliminate all financial barriers […]
Upfront Systemic Therapy, Deferred Surgery Pass Muster in Advanced Kidney Cancer
CHICAGO — Perioperative immunotherapy for advanced kidney cancer did not adversely affect outcomes with cytoreductive nephrectomy and appeared to have several beneficial effects, a small multicenter study showed. Primary immunotherapy significantly reduced median tumor size and thrombus length and improved tumor thrombus level and mean RENAL score. Immunotherapy led to pathologic downstaging in 25 of […]