A randomized clinical trial found that acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-I) decreased insomnia severity among cancer survivors, with CBT-I being more effective for those with mild symptoms. The study suggests that patients have more choices to manage their insomnia beyond traditional medicines.
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing for all known lung cancer-related gene changes at diagnosis is more cost-effective and faster than testing one or a limited number of genes. This approach can save up to $2.1 million for Medicare and $250,000 for commercial insurance providers.
Researchers have developed new treatment regimens that significantly boost survival rates for children and young adults with rare forms of leukemia and lymphoma, such as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) or T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL). The trial showed that 90% of patients lived at least four years after starting tre...
A study of 1,800 lung cancer screening sites found that only 1.9% of eligible heavy smokers were screened in 2016. Despite USPSTF and ASCO guidelines, low screening rates persist, with the South having the lowest rate at 1.6%. The study highlights the need for effective public service campaigns to encourage lung cancer screening.
A federally funded trial found that using mobile and sensor technology reduced symptom severity in patients with head and neck cancer. The technology, called CYCORE, enabled remote monitoring of patient symptoms, allowing doctors to detect concerning symptoms early and respond more rapidly.
A new trial shows that a shorter length of trastuzumab treatment can benefit patients with breast cancer just as much as a longer treatment, with less risk of cardiac side effects. The study found that taking trastuzumab for 6 months was non-inferior to the current standard of 12 months.
A survey of over 200 oncologists reveals that most have discussed medical marijuana use with patients, but many lack knowledge on its effectiveness. The study highlights the need for clinical trials and education to inform cancer care.
A new study found that patients with advanced cancer prefer face-to-face interaction with their doctors, with better communication skills and professionalism. After watching both videos, 72% of participants favored the face-to-face interaction, highlighting the importance of human connection in healthcare.
A feasibility trial of yoga therapy for people with advanced lung cancer and their caregivers found improvements in physical function, stamina, and mental health. The study also showed benefits for caregivers, including reduced fatigue and improved stamina while working.
A new clinical trial found that a brief in-person intervention, PRISM, can improve psychosocial health and quality of life in adolescents and young adults living with cancer. The intervention cultivated internal and existential resources to strengthen stress management and goal-setting.
A study found that patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) overestimate the risk of dying from treatment and the likelihood of a cure, while physicians believe it is very unlikely. The gaps in perception are most striking for patients receiving non-intensive therapy.
A new study found that HPV vaccination rates are significantly lower among childhood cancer survivors compared to the general population. Most participants lacked a healthcare provider's recommendation, highlighting the need for increased communication and awareness about HPV vaccination.
Early research suggests that immunotherapy may provide new hope to patients with relapsed mesothelioma. A phase II clinical trial found that the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab slowed cancer growth by 44% and tumor shrinkage in 26% of patients.
A phase III clinical trial found that alectinib, a next-generation ALK inhibitor, extended the median time to progression by about 15 months compared to crizotinib. Alectinib also caused fewer severe side effects and was more effective in preventing brain metastases.
A new type of immunotherapy using CAR T cells targeting B-cell maturation protein (BCMA) has shown promising results in treating multiple myeloma, achieving a 100% objective response rate and 94% clinical remission. Most patients experienced mild side effects, with only one case of disease progression among those in complete response.
A phase III clinical trial suggests a potential new treatment for patients with advanced EGFR-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Dacomitinib delayed cancer growth by 5.5 months compared to gefitinib, but also caused more side effects.
A phase III clinical trial suggests that adding pertuzumab to standard trastuzumab treatment after surgery may help reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer by 19% in patients with HER2-positive disease. The benefit is most pronounced in women with node-positive and hormone receptor-negative breast cancer.
A study of 23,600 childhood cancer survivors found a decline in severe health problems occurring five or more years after diagnosis, with the largest decreases seen in Wilms' tumor and Hodgkin lymphoma. Advances in treatment have improved five-year survival rates from 58% to 84% today.
A new cancer medicine, larotrectinib, has demonstrated compelling evidence for treating a range of advanced cancers. The therapy, which targets TRK fusion proteins, resulted in responses in 76% of patients across 17 different types of cancer. After 12 months of treatment, 79% of responding patients remained progression-free.
Adding abiraterone acetate to standard hormonal therapy reduces the chance of death by 38% and doubles the median time until cancer worsens. Cancer growth is delayed by 18 months, but severe side effects like high blood pressure and liver enzyme abnormalities are more common with abiraterone.
A new genomic sequencing approach detected circulating tumor DNA at a high rate in 89% of patients, identifying genetic changes that can be matched to targeted therapies. The study found 73% of genetic changes in tumor samples were also detected in blood samples.
A retrospective study of 1,200 women found that pregnancy after breast cancer diagnosis did not increase the risk of cancer recurrence and death. However, survivors with estrogen receptor-positive tumors may want to consider their personal risk for recurrence when deciding how long to wait before becoming pregnant.
A web-based tool enables patients to report symptoms in real time, triggering alerts to clinicians, resulting in a median survival of 5 months longer. Patients experience improved quality of life and are able to tolerate chemotherapy longer.
A clinical trial of nearly 2,000 men shows that adding abiraterone acetate to standard therapy for high-risk, advanced prostate cancer lowers the relative risk of death by 37% and increases the 3-year survival rate to 83%. The treatment also reduces the chance of relapse by 70% and serious bone complications by 50%.
A global study analyzed six clinical trials with over 12,800 patients, finding that 3 months of chemotherapy was nearly as effective as 6 months in patients with lower recurrence risk and caused fewer side effects. The study suggests a new standard for personalized chemotherapy in colon cancer.
A French study of 1,944 patients with advanced cancer found that comprehensive genomic profiling can guide treatment choices and lead to higher survival rates. The study's results suggest that routine genomic testing may not benefit all patients but offers hope for personalized medicine.
In a phase III clinical trial, olaparib reduced cancer progression by 42%, delaying it by 3 months compared to standard chemotherapy. Tumors shrunk in about 60% of patients who received olaparib.
A web-based stress management program improved quality of life and reduced distress in patients with cancer, according to a prospective study. The STREAM intervention showed significant clinical improvements after two months, with a greater improvement in quality of life compared to the control group.
A phase III clinical trial shows that a single radiation treatment is as effective as a full week of radiation in relieving spinal cord compression symptoms. This breakthrough finding could help patients with advanced cancer spend more time focusing on the things they enjoy, without compromising care.
A randomized clinical trial of 305 patients with advanced cancer found that a brief psychological intervention called Managing Cancer And Living Meaningfully (CALM) significantly reduced depressive symptoms. CALM also improved psychological well-being and preparedness for the end of life, with greater benefits at six months.
A phase II randomized clinical trial found that the Conquer Fear psychological intervention significantly reduced fear of cancer recurrence in survivors. The intervention lowered general anxiety, cancer-specific distress, and improved quality of life compared to relaxation training.
A large study of over 1,200 women found that pregnancy after breast cancer diagnosis does not increase the chance of cancer recurrence or death. The findings confirm that women with ER-positive cancer can safely become pregnant without increasing their risk of recurrence.
An analysis of nearly 273,000 patients found a 1% increase in breast, lung, and colorectal cancers diagnosed at stage I between 2013 and 2014. This trend suggests that increased health insurance coverage may lead to better cancer outcomes.
A recent study found that HPV vaccination can prevent oral HPV infections by 88%, but low uptake rates among males limit its impact. The study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that only 6.9% of men had received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to 29.2% of women.
A phase III clinical trial shows gefitinib is effective in preventing recurrence after lung cancer surgery, with patients going about 10 months longer without disease-free survival. The treatment causes far fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy, with only 12% experiencing severe side effects versus 48%.
A phase III trial of 447 patients with biliary tract cancers showed that giving capecitabine after surgery extended survival by a median of 15 months compared to surgery alone. The treatment was associated with a 20% lower chance of death, but the difference was not statistically significant for the overall population.
Patients with stage III colon cancer who consumed two ounces or more of tree nuts per week had a 42% lower chance of cancer recurrence and 57% lower chance of death than those who did not eat nuts. This benefit was consistent across known factors that can influence cancer recurrence.
Patients with stage III colon cancer who reported a healthy lifestyle had a 42% lower chance of death and a trend for lower cancer recurrence risk than those with less healthy lifestyles. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy body weight were all important factors.
The American Society of Clinical Oncology will host its 53rd Annual Meeting, featuring more than 2,150 abstracts on various cancer topics. The meeting highlights recent breakthroughs in immunotherapy and precision medicine, with a focus on improving patient care and outcomes.
The ASCO and Cancer Care Ontario have updated their clinical practice guideline on brachytherapy for patients with prostate cancer. The new guidelines recommend different treatment options for patients with varying risk levels, including low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk prostate cancer. For eligible patients, brachytherapy is...
The American Society of Clinical Oncology has released a clinical practice guideline on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for the prevention of cervical cancer. The guideline offers evidence-based recommendations for four levels of resource settings, providing guidance to health care providers worldwide.
A new study suggests that a widely available web-based program can help cancer survivors reporting cognitive symptoms. The 15-week program improved self-reported cognitive function, lowered anxiety and depression, and improved fatigue. Objective neuropsychological function test results were not different between the two groups.
A recent study analyzing over 1,200 cancer caregivers in the US found that they report a significantly higher burden and spend more hours per week providing care compared to non-cancer caregivers. This highlights the need for better support systems for these individuals.
A recent study found that many major cancer centers struggle with accessing palliative and supportive care services for patients. Only 37% of callers were told all seven supportive care services were offered, with some staff unsure about availability or unfamiliar with the term.
A new survey shows that nearly one-quarter to one-third of family caregivers experience high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, with self-care behaviors declining as caregiving time increases. Family caregivers can spend over eight hours per day providing care, which affects their mental health if neglected.
A randomized clinical trial found that early palliative care significantly increases a patient's ability to cope with their diagnosis and overall quality of life. Patients who received early palliative care were more likely to use adaptive coping strategies and report higher quality of life compared to those receiving standard care alone.
A large analysis suggests frequent citrus fruit and juice consumption may increase melanoma risk by 36% in people who eat them daily. The association is strongest for grapefruit, but not processed juices.
New studies reveal that a vitamin pill can reduce non-melanoma skin cancer risk and docetaxel chemotherapy extends the lives of men with advanced prostate cancers. Additionally, new therapies improve outcomes for children with rare kidney cancers and adults with relapsed multiple myeloma.
A study of 945 patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer found nearly four-fold higher mortality risk within 15 years compared to low-risk patients. The analysis suggests that active surveillance may not be suitable for all intermediate-risk patients, emphasizing the need for personalized treatment approaches.
Patients with locally advanced kidney cancer did not experience improved outcomes from adjuvant treatment with sorafenib or sunitinib. The average disease recurrence period was similar between those receiving the drugs and those on placebo, suggesting that these treatments may not be beneficial for this patient group.