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.
A subset analysis of the FLAURA trial found that osimertinib improved progression-free survival by 16.5 months compared to 11.0 months with standard therapy in Asian patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer, resulting in a hazard ratio of 0.54.
A modified XELIRI regimen with reduced doses of irinotecan and capecitabine has been shown to be non-inferior to FOLFIRI in terms of overall survival. The treatment, combined with bevacizumab, demonstrated favourable tolerability and efficacy comparable to XELOX plus bevacizumab.
A study found that only 20% of Indonesian women are aware of cervical smears, with even lower rates for mammography. Higher education, household expenditure, and health insurance were associated with increased awareness and participation. Experts call for improved education and access to resources to increase cancer screening rates.
A study in Malaysia assesses the effectiveness of mainstreaming genetic counselling for ovarian cancer patients. Preliminary results show that most patients are satisfied with their experience, regardless of whether they receive counselling by a trained clinician or a genetic counsellor.
A study in Myanmar found that all mouth cancer patients use smokeless tobacco, with betel quid chewing being a common habit among the population. The study highlights the importance of increasing awareness about the risks of betel quid chewing to prevent head and neck cancer.
A recent study reveals that over a quarter of cancer survivors experience poor quality of life post-treatment, with significant unmet needs in eight out of ten countries. The study highlights the need for comprehensive survivorship care and coordinated resources to support cancer patients.
Researchers analyzed EGFR mutation status in blood and cerebrospinal fluid to identify relationship with neurological symptoms and leptomeningeal metastases. The study found higher rates of EGFR mutations in cerebrospinal fluid for patients with brain metastases, offering new non-invasive testing options.
The ESMO International Consortium Study found dramatic disparities in access to anti-cancer medications, even among essential medicines recommended by the World Health Organization. In Lower Middle- and Low-Income countries, many essential medications are available only at full cost, limiting accessibility.
The ALEX study shows alectinib 600 mg is more effective than standard of care crizotinib in Asian patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive non-small-cell lung cancer. Progression-free survival was longer with alectinib compared to crizotinib in both Asian and non-Asian populations.
The European Society for Medical Oncology advocates for a unified and comprehensive cancer research program across Europe. Key findings include the urgent need for integrated cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment targets.
Prof Laurence Zitvogel has been awarded the first ESMO Award for Immuno-Oncology for her pioneering work in advancing cancer immunology and immunotherapy. Her research focuses on understanding the gut microbiome's role in cancer immunosurveillance, with implications for predicting response to immunomodulators.
A study published in Annals of Oncology found that men who smoke and have multiple oral sex partners are at higher risk of developing oropharyngeal cancer. Despite the risk, the likelihood is still relatively low, making screening a challenge.
At ESMO 2017, researchers presented 55 late-breaking abstracts and 1,736 selected abstracts, featuring breakthrough treatments for various cancers. The Congress emphasized the importance of preventing cancer through lifestyle changes and explored sustainable treatment options.
A study at ESMO 2017 found that positive randomised controlled trials are twice as likely to be reported in the lay press as those with negative trials. The study also found that trials on immunotherapy and targeted therapy were more commonly reported than those on chemotherapy.
The COMBI-AD trial found that combination dabrafenib and trametinib therapy doubled relapse-free survival in stage III BRAF-mutant melanoma patients. The treatment was also shown to improve overall survival, distant metastases-free survival, and freedom from relapse.
The KEYNOTE-040 trial found that pembrolizumab significantly improved outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, especially those with high PD-L1 expression. The study also showed a better side-effect profile for pembrolizumab compared to standard treatments.
The CheckMate 238 trial demonstrated that adjuvant nivolumab is superior to standard of care ipilimumab in patients with high-risk stage III/IV melanoma, resulting in improved relapse-free survival and reduced side effects. Nivolumab's benefits were observed across various patient subgroups.
A recent ESMO 2017 Congress session has ignited debate on the optimal duration of adjuvant chemotherapy for colon cancer, with experts weighing in on the pros and cons of shortening treatment from six to three months. The IDEA study suggests that three months provides a similar benefit but with reduced side effects.
The Triggers tool identifies patients who benefit from early palliative care, improving their prognosis and quality of life. In a pilot study, the tool was successfully implemented at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, with 75% of patients showing positive triggers for specialist palliative care.
The KEYNOTE-045 trial demonstrates pembrolizumab's superiority in overall survival and adverse event profile compared to chemotherapy in platinum-pretreated urothelial cancer patients. The medication offers durable responses and a favorable safety profile.
The phase III RANGE trial showed that ramucirumab plus docetaxel significantly prolonged investigator-assessed progression-free survival compared to placebo plus docetaxel. The treatment also nearly doubled the objective response rate in patients with platinum-refractory advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer.
The PACIFIC trial showed that durvalumab improved progression-free survival in patients with locally advanced, unresectable stage II-III NSCLC, decreasing the probability of disease progression by 48%. Durvalumab also reduced treatment-related adverse events and improved overall response rates.
A phase III clinical trial found that osimertinib improves progression-free survival and median duration of response by 50-100% compared to standard first line therapy for patients with EGFR mutated non-small-cell lung cancer. The benefit was consistent across all subgroups, including those with and without brain metastases.
A nationwide study in Ireland found that most oncology patients consider clinical trials important but struggle with central concepts like chance and randomization. The study aimed to understand factors influencing patients' decisions about participating in clinical trials.
The MONARCH 3 trial showed that adding abemaciclib to endocrine therapy improved progression-free survival compared to endocrine therapy alone. Around one-third of women may not need a CDK 4/6 inhibitor as initial treatment.
A randomized trial of over 600 patients confirms chemoradiation as the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer, with no improved disease-free survival seen with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery. The findings suggest that chemoradiation should remain the standard treatment.
A study published at ESMO 2017 Congress found that abdominal fat distribution is a significant predictor of cancer diagnosis in postmenopausal women. The study, which included 5,855 women, showed that the ratio of abdominal to peripheral fat was an independent risk factor for certain cancers.
The ARIEL3 trial shows rucaparib maintenance therapy significantly improves progression-free survival in patients with high-grade ovarian cancer and BRCA mutations. The medication also benefits patients with homologous recombination deficient tumors, increasing overall response rates.
The KEYNOTE-059 trial found an overall objective response rate of 12% with pembrolizumab alone in pretreated patients, and more promising activity in patients with newly diagnosed metastatic cancer. The study also showed that patients with PD-L1 expression were more likely to respond to the treatment.
The 'Triggers' tool evaluates cancer patients' palliative care needs at an earlier stage, enabling early referrals and potentially improving prognosis. A pilot study showed that 75% of patients who triggered positive on the tool items had a moderate need for specialist palliative care.
The STAMPEDE trial presents late-breaking results from two new treatments for patients with high risk prostate cancer. Patients starting long-term hormone therapy may benefit equally from docetaxel and abiraterone acetate plus prednisolone, with both treatments providing a survival advantage over standard care alone.
A study presented at ESMO 2017 found that socio-psychological factors, such as anxiety and family concerns, are now more significant for cancer patients than previously thought. The study suggests that doctors should consider improving supportive therapies and providing stronger psychological support to address these issues.
A study investigated the work ability of young adult cancer survivors, finding that low education, female sex, lymphoedema, fatigue, depression, and reduced physical quality of life are associated with reduced work ability. Treatment intensity was not significantly related to work ability.
The LORELEI trial found that adding taselisib to letrozole before surgery improved outcomes for patients with early breast cancer. Taselisib showed a significant increase in objective response rate and worked particularly well in patients with PIK3CA mutant cancer cells.
The FLOT4 trial has confirmed the superiority of docetaxel-based triplet therapy over standard care in patients with resectable oesophago-gastric cancer. The treatment improved curative resection rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival.
A multi-drug and multi-tumour clinical trial shows that precision oncology using DNA sequencing can identify patient subgroups benefiting from existing drugs. Over 70 patients have started treatment, with a 37% clinical benefit rate observed.
An observational study found that stroke survivors had a higher incidence of cancer compared to the general population, with most cases diagnosed within six months after a stroke. The study identified several factors associated with increased risk of developing cancer in stroke patients.
Recent phase 3 studies (ALEX and ALUR trials) demonstrate alectinib's efficacy in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. The medication significantly decreases CNS progression, improving median progression-free survival by up to 8 months compared to standard chemotherapy.
The MIRO trial found that hybrid minimally invasive esophagectomy (HMIO) significantly reduces postoperative morbidity compared to open oesophagectomy. Long-term results show improved three-year overall survival in the HMIO group, indicating an oncologically sound procedure.
The ICON8 trial confirms standard dosing of paclitaxel is safe and effective for European patients with ovarian cancer. The study found no benefit to dose-dense regimens in terms of progression-free survival, but noted a slight increase in grade 3-4 toxicity.
A recent study found that nearly one in four small tumours were aggressive and patients benefited from chemotherapy. Researchers identified a 70-gene signature to detect aggressive tumours.
The ESMO-MCBS version 1.1 is the first major revision, introducing a new scale for single-arm studies in orphan diseases and for diseases with high unmet need. This updated tool will enable users to evaluate single-arm studies, previously only applicable to comparative studies.
A study found that only 2% of patients with suspected cancer were diagnosed using tumor markers, while most requests led to no diagnosis. The unnecessary tests cost over £95,000 over a year.
The study found that regular CT scans may not be necessary for follow-up, suggesting a conservative approach to monitoring the disease. The findings challenge standard clinical practice guidelines recommending chest CT scans every three to six months in the first two years after surgery.
Leading European organisations call on EU to increase funding and legislation for independent academic research in oncology. This approach aims to optimise knowledge development, accelerate commercial drug development, and improve access for patients.
The European Society for Medical Oncology has announced the recipients of its four distinguished annual awards. Miguel Martin is recognized for his work in breast cancer research, while José Baselga receives the Lifetime Achievement Award for pivotal contributions to drug development. Alberto Bardelli wins the Translational Research Aw...
Patients with right-sided primary tumours have a 36% better survival rate after treatment with a combination of first-line chemotherapy and selective internal radiation therapy, compared to chemotherapy alone. This treatment combination was no better than chemotherapy only in patients with left-sided primary tumours.
A new study suggests that adhering to a Mediterranean diet with high levels of fish and fruit consumption can significantly reduce the risk of advanced colorectal polyps. The researchers found that even minimal consumption of two to three components of the diet was associated with half the odds of advanced polyps.
A new study shows that liquid biopsies can provide more information than traditional tissue biopsies, helping doctors tailor care based on individual disease biology. The tests detected genetic mutations that made cancer resistant to treatment, allowing for better patient care.