Phase I and II trials of combining drugs to treat melanoma, including dabrafenib and trametinib, demonstrate a clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival, response rate, and duration of response. These studies suggest the potential for new drug combinations to delay resistance to BRAF inhibitors.
A phase I/II study found that combining dabrafenib and trametinib delayed the development of treatment resistance in melanoma patients. The combination was at least twice as effective as BRAF inhibition alone, with significant delays in resistance emergence.
Phase III data show gefitinib improves quality-of-life measures and extends progression-free survival in esophageal cancer. The COG study included 450 patients who had progressed after first line chemotherapy and received either placebo or the EGFR-inhibitor gefitinib.
A new study suggests that teenagers who get extra sleep can improve their insulin resistance and prevent the future onset of diabetes. The research found a significant association between shorter sleep duration and higher insulin resistance levels in healthy adolescents.
Prostate cancer cases expected to reach nearly 242,000 diagnoses in 2012. New guidelines introduce active surveillance as a viable alternative to immediate treatment for low-risk tumors.
A landmark survey reveals that many countries fail to provide essential opioid medications for cancer pain relief, leaving hundreds of millions of patients suffering. The study's findings highlight the need to reformulate national plans and repeal excessive restrictions on cancer care.
A post-hoc analysis of the phase III MISSION trial suggests that patients with EGFR-mutant tumors may benefit from sorafenib, which showed improved progression-free survival and disease control rates. In contrast, median overall survival was similar between treatment groups.