A new immunotherapy combination shows durable clinical benefits in patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer, with 60% objective response rate and 84% of patients experiencing tumour shrinkage. The treatment is also well-tolerated, with manageable side effects.
A phase III study found that immunotherapy with pembrolizumab improves overall survival in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer, particularly those expressing PD-L1. The treatment also showed longer response duration and median response duration compared to standard chemotherapy.
A new study shows that targeting the specific genomic mutation PIK3CA in hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative advanced breast cancer patients significantly improves progression-free survival. The study found that nearly twice as long PFS was observed in patients with PIK3CA mutations treated with alpelisib compared to the placebo gr...
A phase III trial demonstrated that chidamide, an HDAC inhibitor, improves progression-free survival compared to placebo plus exemestane in patients with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer. Serious adverse events were reported, but the treatment regimen was generally well-tolerated.
Researchers report a 100% major pathological response rate in early-stage colon cancers with mismatch repair deficiencies treated with nivolumab and ipilimumab. The regimen was well-tolerated, and patients underwent radical resection without delays.
A new study suggests that HPV-positive throat cancer patients benefit from chemoradiotherapy, leading to higher overall survival rates compared to cetuximab treatment. Cisplatin chemotherapy and radiotherapy proved more effective in reducing cancer recurrence and improving patient outcomes.
The HOBOE-2 trial found that zoledronic acid plus letrozole improved disease-free survival in premenopausal women with HR+ early breast cancer, with a 5-year DFS probability of 0.93 compared to 0.85 for tamoxifen. The combination treatment reduced breast cancer recurrence and mortality by nearly half.
A phase 3 SOLO-1 trial found that olaparib maintenance therapy significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) in newly diagnosed patients with advanced ovarian cancer and a BRCA1 or 2 mutation. The median PFS for those who received olaparib was approximately three years longer than the placebo group.
A randomized study shows erlotinib improves progression-free survival and tumor response rate compared to gemcitabine plus cisplatin in stage IIIA-N2 EGFR-mutated NSCLC. Median progression-free survival was significantly longer with erlotinib at 21·5 months versus 11.9 months with chemotherapy.
A large comparison study found that radiotherapy to the prostate improved failure-free survival but not overall survival in men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer and a low burden of disease. The treatment was well-tolerated, with only modest side effects.
The combination of avelumab and axitinib improved progression-free survival (PFS) by 6.6 months in previously untreated patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, with confirmed objective response rates of 55.2% and 25.5%. The study's findings support the potential of this new treatment approach for patients with advanced RCC.
A large study found that drugs approved for women's breast cancer are also effective and well-tolerated in men. Men with metastatic breast cancer received similar treatments to women, including hormonal therapy and chemotherapy, with similar outcomes.
Atezolizumab, an antibody targeting PD-L1, improved survival in metastatic triple negative breast cancer patients by 20%, particularly those with PD-L1 positive tumors. The combination therapy also reduced disease worsening and death risk by 38% in PD-L1 positive subgroup
The PALOMA-3 study found that the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib significantly improves progression-free survival in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. In a new analysis, palbociclib plus fulvestrant was shown to improve overall survival by 6.9 months compared to placebo plus fulvestrant.
A study highlights the existence of barriers to the inclusion of 12 to 25-year-olds in both adult and paediatric early phase clinical trials. The legal minimum age limit in Europe is 18 years, preventing young patients from participating in trials designed for their tumor type.
A study suggests that immunotherapy is safe and feasible for HIV-positive cancer patients. The treatment appears to be well-tolerated as long as antiretroviral therapy is continued in parallel, the key finding of the study.
The ESMO 2018 Congress emphasizes the importance of integrating scientific advances into sustainable treatments, ensuring optimal cancer care reaches those who need it. Research highlights variations in European countries' approval times for new cancer drugs, emphasizing the need for timely reimbursement decisions.
A study of breast cancer survivors found that natural pregnancies are possible after chemotherapy, but many no longer wish to have children. The study also showed that fertility preservation measures are not widely needed among young breast cancer patients.
A nine-week course of adjuvant trastuzumab was associated with similar disease-free survival and lower risk of cardiac toxicity compared to a one-year course in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. A six-month course of trastuzumab was also shown to be cost-effective, with an average cost saving of nearly £10,000 per patient.
French researchers conclude that including exercise in cancer care can significantly improve symptom management, quality of life, and fitness. Studies show that regular exercise reduces pain, fatigue, and body fat while improving overall fitness, with benefits seen even among patients at highest risk of poor quality of life.
A recent survey found that social vulnerability and medical skepticism are major barriers to cancer screening participation, particularly for colorectal and lung cancer screenings. Researchers call for a combined approach incorporating new technologies and personalized messaging to address inequalities in screening uptake.
Studies show that exercise can significantly reduce fatigue and improve well-being in patients with advanced lung cancer, improving symptom scores by approximately 10% during chemotherapy. Gentle aerobic exercise and strength training are recommended as part of treating the disease.
A study found huge variations in time between European countries to reach health technology assessment decisions on new cancer drugs, with some taking over a year. The average decision time was longer than one year in England and Scotland compared to Germany and France.
A pooled analysis of four UK randomised controlled clinical trials found significant differences in chemotherapy side-effects between men and women with oesophagogastric cancer. Women experienced higher rates of nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth ulceration, and hair loss compared to men.
A French prospective study found that nearly one in six premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer do not adequately adhere to tamoxifen therapy after one year, potentially leading to increased risk of recurrence. The study aimed to identify clinical and social characteristics associated with poor adherence to endocrine therapy.
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has launched a global initiative to integrate supportive and palliative care into cancer treatment. Twenty new institutions from Japan, Denmark, Estonia, and Qatar have been recognized as Designated Centres of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care.
A study in Germany shows that cancer patients face substantial financial impacts, including income loss and material hardship, with adverse psychological effects. The survey of 247 patients revealed that 80.6% faced higher out-of-pocket costs and 37.2% experienced significant income loss.
A recent study analyzed over 6,000 tweets about breast cancer and found that 90% of medical information was appropriate, with prevention being the most common subtheme. The study suggests that social media can be a valuable tool for providing information on cancer prevention and health education.
A study of over 6,000 patients with advanced cancer treated in community settings shows that nearly a quarter received targeted treatment based on DNA mutations. This achievement marks a significant shift towards precision medicine, allowing more patients to benefit from innovative therapies.
A study found that cancer patients are open to using complementary alternative medicines, but poorly informed about safety issues and risk of interactions with anti-cancer drugs. Vitamin D supplements were the most popular choice, followed by selenium plus zinc.
The ESMO 2018 Congress will feature a wide range of topics including immunotherapy, biomarkers, and prevention. The event will also host the annual congress of the European Oncology Nursing Society and a patient advocacy track emphasizing the central role of patients in securing access to optimal cancer care.
The ESMO Award 2018 is bestowed on Jean-Charles Soria, a pioneer in developing anti-cancer drugs, while Tony Mok receives the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award for his practice-changing contribution to lung cancer. Pasi Jänne and Margaret Foti also receive awards for their translational research and mentorship efforts, respectively.
Two DNA testing programs in Spain and UK successfully matched patient tumor profiles with targeted therapies, enabling new opportunities for personalized medicine. The programs use whole genome sequencing to identify specific genetic features of tumors and match them with early clinical trials.
The new ESCAT grading system helps distinguish between tumour DNA alterations relevant for targeted medicine decisions and those that aren't. The system enables clinicians to prioritize mutations and make data-driven treatment choices.
The ESMO 2020 Annual Congress will bring together oncology professionals from over 150 countries to learn about the latest advances in cancer treatment. The congress will feature a programme developed by international experts under the leadership of Prof John Haanen, NKI Amsterdam.
A deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) outperforms experienced dermatologists in diagnosing skin cancer, detecting 95% of melanomas at level I. The CNN's performance improves with additional clinical information, highlighting its potential as an aid for physicians.
The phase III ALEX trial showed that alectinib improved progression-free survival and prolonged time to CNS progression compared to crizotinib. Patients treated with alectinib also experienced longer symptom improvement in terms of health-related quality of life and lung cancer-related symptoms.
The POPLAR trial found that atezolizumab significantly improved overall survival compared to docetaxel in previously treated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Long-term overall survival benefits were observed across histology and PD-L1 expression levels.
A study found that patients with a treating pivot nurse had higher patient satisfaction scores and better quality-of-life outcomes compared to those without such support. The coordinated care improved patients' understanding of their disease, treatment side-effects, and overall strength in fighting cancer.
Fabrice Barresi has been awarded the Heine H. Hansen Award by European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). This award is presented annually at the European Lung Cancer Congress to a lung cancer investigator who has made a special contribution to this field.
European researchers predict that colorectal cancer death rates will continue to fall by around seven percent compared to 2012, resulting in nearly 392,300 avoided deaths. The decline is attributed to improved diagnosis and management of the disease, as well as reduced risk factors such as tobacco, alcohol, and obesity.
Early clinical studies with BET inhibitors and EZH2 inhibitors have shown remarkable activity in patients with lymphoma, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and NUT carcinoma. Tolerability has been generally good, but side effects such as thrombocytopaenia and fatigue have emerged.
Research at the TAT International Congress 2018 found that patients participate in phase 1 clinical trials for access to innovative cancer treatments, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy. The studies suggest that this increased participation is driven by a growing awareness of treatment options beyond traditional chemotherapy.
Jean-Charles Soria, a leading cancer researcher, has been awarded the TAT 2018 Honorary Award for his groundbreaking contributions to cancer drug development. His work has led to increased response rates and successful drug approvals, including osimertinib for lung cancer.
Teleconsulting is crucial for rare cancers like sarcomas, which require specialized expertise. EURACAN, a European Reference Network, aims to provide timely diagnosis and treatment through referral networks.
The ESMO Position Paper emphasizes the need for patient-centered care in cancer treatment, addressing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. It calls for increased awareness, research, education, and resources for supportive and palliative care.
A study found that a subset of patients with bladder cancer is resistant to checkpoint inhibitors due to the tumor's immune desert microenvironment. Researchers identified a potential therapeutic strategy involving the inhibition of TGF-β activity, which may improve treatment outcomes for these patients.
A novel compound omaveloxolone has been shown to restore immune response in patients with melanoma, improving antitumour responses when combined with checkpoint inhibitors. The study found a 57% overall response rate in patients who had not received prior checkpoint inhibitor treatment.
The combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy significantly improves progression-free survival in patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC. The study showed that the addition of atezolizumab to bevacizumab and chemotherapy leads to a median PFS of 8.3 months, compared to 6.8 months with bevacizumab and chemotherapy alone.
A recent study has found that a cancer drug called nivolumab can drastically decrease the reservoirs of HIV-infected cells in the body, a key step towards potentially eradicating the virus. This breakthrough has been observed in a single patient with lung cancer, who showed a sustained reduction in HIV reservoirs after treatment.