The new ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline provides comprehensive guidance on diagnosing, staging, and treating patients with metastatic breast cancer. The guideline incorporates recent clinical trial data to inform treatment choices, taking into account tumour biology and emerging targeted therapies.
The MAP Virtual Congress 2021 focuses on integrating tumour sample analysis into daily practice, enabling personalized treatment. Key findings include actionable mutations in patient DNA and the role of the tumour microenvironment in metastasis.
New targeted therapies are being developed to target genetic alterations in cancer cells, such as the ARID1A mutation found in 10-50% of solid tumours. Early clinical trials suggest that these agents may be effective in treating multiple cancers, including breast, ovarian, and gastric cancer.
Patients with cancer show strong immune response to COVID-19 vaccination without increased side effects. A third booster dose may further increase protection.
The FIRSTMAPPP trial found that sunitinib significantly prolongs progression-free survival in patients with malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. The study demonstrated the efficacy of sunitinib as a treatment option for this rare cancer, which is commonly treated with old and toxic agents.
A novel combination of abiraterone acetate and prednisolone has been shown to prolong survival in patients with hormone/castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Studies PEACE-1 and STAMPEDE found that the addition of these drugs to standard therapy lengthened survival compared to standard therapy alone.
The MONALEESA-2 trial found that adding a CDK 4/6 inhibitor to first-line hormonal treatment prolongs survival by one year for postmenopausal women with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. The combination of endocrine therapy and the CDK 4/6 inhibitor ribociclib also extends progression-free survival.
The KEYNOTE-826 study found that adding immunotherapy to standard first-line treatment increases overall survival by eight months for patients with recurrent, persistent or metastatic cervical cancer. The addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy also reduced the risk of death and disease progression by 33%.
The KEYNOTE-716 trial shows that adjuvant pembrolizumab significantly prolongs recurrence-free survival and halves distant recurrences in stage II B/C melanoma patients. This suggests that patients with high-risk stage II melanoma should be offered adjuvant therapy.
A study at ESMO Congress 2021 highlights the need for improved cancer follow-up care to address burdensome symptoms like fatigue. Patients often receive inadequate support, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.
A survey of 5,589 cancer patients found widespread unawareness about immunotherapy's mechanism, efficacy, and cost. Non-oncology doctors also face challenges in keeping up with the latest developments in oncology.
New research highlights the need for adequate communication and support for children of cancer patients. Children can experience anxiety, depression, and behavioral changes due to parental illness, yet many parents struggle to address these issues on their own.
A meta-analysis found that obese patients with colorectal cancer receive lower cumulative doses of adjuvant chemotherapy relative to their body surface area than non-obese patients. This may explain the poorer survival rates observed in obese patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. The study suggests that obese ...
A study published at ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2021 suggests a link between antibiotic use and an increased risk of colon cancer, particularly in people under 50 years old. The research found that quinolones and sulfonamides/trimethoprim were associated with cancers in the first part of the colon.
A blood test has been shown to be accurate enough for multi-cancer screening among people at higher risk of disease, detecting cancer signals from more than 50 types, and correctly identifying tumor locations. The test's sensitivity varies by type of cancer, with some cancers detected earlier than others.
The 2021 ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer presented new concepts in clinical trials, advances in surgery and transplant, and novel immuno-oncology mechanisms. Researchers shared findings on the effects of drug interactions in GI oncology and strategies to improve outcomes for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer with an absence of screening programmes, leading to late diagnosis and poor prognosis. Despite targeted therapies, personalized medicine remains a challenge due to inconsistent symptoms and resistance to chemotherapy.
The phase III trial found that adding an immune checkpoint inhibitor to anti-HER2 treatment in breast cancer does not improve pathological complete response rates. The study enrolled 454 patients with high-risk HER2-positive early breast cancer and evaluated the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant atezolizumab versus placebo.
A study reveals nearly 30% of breast cancer patients convert to HER2-low status, offering potential treatment opportunities for hard-to-treat tumours. The findings also suggest that HER2-low expression is more frequent in hormone receptor-positive tumours.
A study at ESMO Breast Cancer 2021 Virtual Congress reveals breast cancer survivors experience varying levels of symptoms after treatment, with some requiring active symptom management. Patients with comorbidities, such as heart disease and diabetes, are more likely to experience a high symptom burden.
The 2021 ESMO Breast Cancer Congress presented nearly 200 studies on various aspects of breast cancer, including adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and immunotherapy. The congress also highlighted the importance of personalized follow-up care for breast cancer patients.
A newly released position paper from ESMO and SIOPE defines a common vision for improving outcomes for AYAs with cancer in Europe. The paper highlights the key challenges of AYA care, including limited awareness of cancer biology, availability of specialist centres, and access to clinical trials.
A new study found that a second drug targeting KRASG12C showed promising results in treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with this specific mutation. Nearly half of patients evaluable for clinical activity had a partial response to treatment, setting up potential future trials and combinations.
A study reveals that over one in ten lung cancer patients are unsure of their tumor type, highlighting the need for improved communication between patients and healthcare providers. Language differences and complex treatments contribute to these misunderstandings, jeopardizing patient care.
The European Lung Cancer Virtual Congress 2021 will showcase new perspectives in treating small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma, as well as management options for non-small cell lung cancer. More than 200 studies will be presented, with a focus on immunotherapy and lung cancer prevention.
The Heine H. Hansen Award recognizes outstanding contributions to lung cancer research and education. Johan Vansteenkiste and Fiona Blackhall are this year's recipients, known for their pioneering work in thoracic oncology, liquid biopsies and personalized medicine.
The ESMO Targeted Anticancer Therapies Congress 2021 presented new data on drug discovery and development for a range of targets, including precision medicine. World-renowned experts discussed breakthroughs in the microbiome and oncolytic viruses, highlighting their potential as tools and targets.
Researchers predict pancreatic cancer death rates will remain approximately stable for men but continue to rise in women. The researchers predict that 42,300 and 5,000 men in the EU and UK respectively will die from pancreatic cancer by the end of this year.
The ESMO Virtual Plenaries will present original scientific data from randomised phase III and phase II oncology trials, showcasing remarkable therapeutic benefits and progress in unmet areas. The platform aims to accelerate the transition from research to practice, benefiting cancer patients worldwide.
Ruth Plummer, a renowned Clinical Professor and Honorary Consultant Medical Oncologist, has been awarded the TAT 2021 Honorary Award. Her tireless work in clinical trials has led to the development of numerous standard treatments for proven patient benefit.
A study of 44,541 women found that taking metformin to treat type 2 diabetes may protect against developing ER-positive breast cancer. However, the risk of triple negative breast cancer was increased by 74% among those treated with metformin. The link between type 2 diabetes and breast cancer varied by breast cancer subtype.
The ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2020 discussed the latest developments in cancer treatment, including adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments, tumour microenvironments, and novel therapeutics. The event also examined the impact of COVID-19 on immunotherapy in cancer patients.
The ESMO Asia Virtual Congress 2020 examined the efficacy of new therapies for prevalent cancer types in the Asia-Pacific region. The scientific program featured key research areas, including neo-adjuvant immuno-oncology and molecular stratification.
The MAP Congress 2020 aimed to answer the critical question of how to integrate tumour sample analysis into daily practice. Key findings highlighted actionable mutations in patient DNA for personalized treatment, with expert guidance on molecular targeting and biomarkers.
Studies presented at ESMO Virtual Congress 2020 show that immunotherapy improves overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with gastric and oesophageal cancers who have high PD-L1 scores. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy are shown to be beneficial for these patients, offering new treatment options.
A study at ESMO 2020 found that adding abemaciclib to hormonal therapy reduces the risk of cancer recurrence by 25% in patients with high-risk early hormone receptor positive breast cancer. This new treatment approach improves invasive disease free survival and may spare chemotherapy in this group of patients.
A large randomized trial found that post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) does not significantly improve disease-free survival in completely resected non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The study included 501 patients and showed no significant difference in overall survival between the PORT group and the control group.
A phase 3 trial found that combining nivolumab and cabozantinib was superior to sunitinib for progression-free survival, overall survival, and response rate in patients with metastatic kidney cancer. The treatment reduced the risk of progression or death by almost 50%.
A study presented at ESMO 2020 found significant variations in access to cancer medicines and clinical trials across European countries. Western European nations tend to have more clinical trials, while Eastern and Central European countries face barriers due to limited infrastructure and resources.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a huge backlog of cancer treatments and research, with delays and cancellations reported across 18 countries. Oncology professionals are also facing burnout and wellbeing damage due to the pandemic's impact on their workload and job performance.
The ESMO Virtual Congress 2020 showcased promising results in triple negative breast cancer, a new class myeloid specific antibody in solid cancer, and health-related quality of life data from a phase 3 immunotherapy study. Keynote lecturers discussed the impact of COVID-19 on patients, oncologists, and healthcare systems.
Prof. Hans-Joachim Schmoll receives the ESMO Award 2020 for his pioneering work in developing medical oncology as a specialty, while Prof. Nadia Harbeck wins the Lifetime Achievement Award for her global cancer research and education contributions.
The European Society for Medical Oncology has issued its first recommendations on the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for patients with metastatic cancers. The guidelines recommend routine NGS use for four specific cancer types, while also allowing patients to order larger gene panels if feasible and cost-effective. The recomme...
The ESMO Virtual Congress 2020 will feature a virtual meeting between 19-21 September, including access to scientific programme, e-poster area, and industry satellite symposia. Accredited journalists can also access congress webcasts for re-watching presentations.
Cancer patients at low risk of severe COVID-19; treating cancer can impact overall survival. ESMO recommends continuing anti-cancer treatments to prioritize tumour control.
The ESMO Virtual Congress 2020 will deliver a scientific programme featuring the presentation of latest cancer research results. More than 2100 abstracts will be included, including around 100 expected late-breaking abstracts.
A study using electronic health records found that AI can predict who is at higher risk of pancreatic cancer up to 20 months before diagnosis. The model could help narrow down the number of people needed to be screened, potentially reducing false positives and improving survival rates.
Researchers identified two novel biomarkers, PDL1/CD274 copy number alteration and PD-L1 combined positive score, that correlate with improved outcomes in patients with metastatic breast cancer treated with immunotherapy. These biomarkers may help identify patients most likely to benefit from this treatment.
A study found that breast cancer survivors underutilize recommended strategies for reducing fatigue, despite high prevalence and persistence. The analysis also revealed differences in utilization of physical activity and supportive care depending on the type of fatigue experienced.
A study of 4532 men found that those on androgen-deprivation therapies had a four-fold reduced risk of COVID-19 infections compared to those not on ADT. The researchers suggest that even non-prostate cancer patients at high risk could take ADT for prevention.