Study Confirms, Clarifies Excess Mortality in Testicular Cancer Survivors
Platinum-based chemotherapy (PBCT) and radiation therapy (RT) for testicular cancer significantly increased the risk of premature death from other causes, especially secondary cancers, a large Norwegian study showed. Overall, the 5,700 men included in the analysis had a 23% excess mortality from causes other than testicular cancer after treatment with PBCT or RT, as compared […]
FDA Approves First Drug for Von Hippel-Lindau-Associated Tumors
The FDA has approved the first therapy for cancers associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease. Belzutifan (Welireg), distributed by Merck, targets hypoxia-inducible factor 2α, which drives growth of malignant and benign tumors in VHL. In the absence of approved systemic therapies, most patients with VHL undergo multiple surgeries in their lifetime to remove renal cell […]
Breast Cancer Control Similar With Intermittent, Continuous Endocrine Therapy
Intermittent or continuous extended adjuvant endocrine therapy led to virtually identical long-term survival in hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, according to an updated analysis of a randomized trial. Disease-free survival (DFS) at 7 years was 81.4% with intermittent extended letrozole and 81.5% with continuous treatment. The results mirrored previously reported 5-year DFS, which also did […]
When Is ADT Right for Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer?
Men with prostate cancer and biochemical recurrence (BCR) who delayed androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) still experienced long survival outcomes, researchers reported. In a retrospective study, men with a prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSADT) of less than 10 months saw a median metastases-free survival (MFS) of 192 months when they delayed ADT until metastasis, and a […]
New Enzyme Therapy OK’d for Pompe Disease
The FDA approved avalglucosidase alfa-ngpt (Nexviazyme) on Friday as a new enzyme replacement therapy for Pompe disease. Avalglucosidase alfa is an intravenous drug that targets the M6P receptor, and is indicated for late-onset disease for those ages 1 year and older. In patients with the disease, which is marked by dysfunction of the lysosomal enzyme […]
Anti-CD7 CAR-T Therapy Yields High Response Rate in Acute Leukemia
Donor-derived anti-CD7 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy led to complete responses in 18 of 20 patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a first-in-human clinical trial showed. After a median follow-up of 6.3 months, 15 of the 18 responding patients remained in remission, and seven patients had undergone stem-cell transplantation […]
Suicide Statistics, Prevention, Definition & How to Stop Suicidal Thoughts
Adams, K. “Managing Grief Through Journal Writing.” Center for Journal Therapy. 2006. Alexander, R.E. “Stress-Related Suicide by Dentists and Other Health Care Workers: Fact or Folklore?” Journal of the American Dental Association 132.6 (2001): 786-794. Aliferis, L. “California to permit medically assisted suicide as of June 9.” National Public Radio. March 2016. Aseltine, R.H. […]
Does COAPT Change the Need to Try Foundational HF Drugs in Functional MR?
Clinicians agreed on the need for an overhaul of the heart failure guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) titration process during a debate on a different question: whether patients with functional mitral regurgitation (MR) should exhaust all options before they try transcatheter repair. JoAnn Lindenfeld, MD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, asserted that taking appropriate […]
Study: Exposure Therapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome Saves Money
Including exposure therapy during internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT) was associated with reduced treatment costs in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a Swedish randomized trial found. While use of ICBT with exposure initially increased direct patient costs by 20% ($213.50 per participant) versus ICBT without exposure, the added therapy led to greater reductions in societal costs […]
Could Docetaxel Have Role in Unfavorable-Risk Prostate Cancer?
Adding docetaxel to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plus radiation therapy (RT) failed to improve survival in unfavorable-risk prostate cancer, though the combination may hold benefit for certain patients, long-term results of a randomized trial found. While the regimen did not prolong overall survival (OS) among all men with unfavorable-risk nonmetastatic cancer after a median of […]