Standard Drug Tx as Good as Stem Cell Transplant for Scleroderma?
Patients who underwent autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc), also known as scleroderma, did no better than others receiving conventional treatment, researchers found. In an analysis of systemic sclerosis patients enrolled in an Australian cohort study, those who would have been eligible for ASCT in either of two clinical trials […]
New Standard for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
SAN FRANCISCO — After more than 20 years of trying, systemic therapy for unresectable liver cancer has improved outcomes with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), a randomized trial showed. Patients who received durvalumab (Imfinzi) plus bevacizumab (Avastin) in addition to TACE had a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 15.0 months as compared with 8.2 months for TACE […]
SBRT Added to Standard Tx Boosts Outcomes in Oligometastatic Prostate Cancer
Combining stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with standard systemic therapy yielded significant increases in the rates of biochemical response and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with oligometastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the phase II randomized ARTO trial showed. In a cohort of 157 patients at 6 months after the start of treatment, biochemical response was […]
Lupus During Pregnancy Carries Higher Maternal, Fetal Morbidity Risks
Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had higher risks for maternal and fetal morbidity compared to those without the chronic autoimmune disorder, according to a nationwide analysis of U.S. data. The 10-year study showed that patients with SLE had higher intrauterine growth restriction versus people without SLE (8.0% vs 2.7%) and more frequent preterm delivery […]
Can Oncologists Reduce the Suicide Risk in Their Prostate Cancer Patients?
SAN DIEGO — Whether it’s due to the side effects of local and systemic therapies, or the diagnosis itself, men with prostate cancer are at increased risk of mental distress and suicide. The mental health burden associated with a diagnosis and treatment is substantial, pointed out Zachary Klaassen, MD, of the Georgia Cancer Center at […]
Anti-inflammatory compound shows potential in treating patients with severe COVID-19
An anti-inflammatory compound may have the potential to treat systemic inflammation and brain injury in patients with severe COVID-19 and significantly reduce their chances of death, according to a new study from UTHealth Houston and other institutions. A team of researchers including UTHealth Houston faculty members Aaron M. Gusdon, MD, assistant professor in the Vivian […]
Patients with lupus benefit from COVID-19 vaccine booster
People with systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, who received a “booster” dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine after full vaccination are roughly half as likely to have a subsequent “breakthrough” COVID-19 infection, a new study shows. The finding, researchers say, should offer reassurance to the more than 200,000 Americans who have SLE, a condition in which the […]
6 Months of U.S. Data Support Safety of mRNA COVID Vaccines
Nearly all local and systemic adverse events (AEs) reported after Pfizer or Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines were mild and transient, and only a fraction of individuals reported seeking medical care, according to data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and CDC’s v-safe tracker. Out of almost 300 million mRNA vaccine doses administered in the […]