A survey of 895 doctors in Europe, South America, and Asia revealed that over three-quarters of oncology specialists believe their patients are not well-informed about treatment options. The majority (90%) use biomarker testing to choose treatments, but many identify cost or lack of reimbursement as key barriers.
The CLEOPATRA study demonstrated a significant survival benefit of 15.7 months with the combination therapy, outperforming previous studies. The long-term safety profile and cardiac safety were also maintained.
The IMPRESS trial found that continued gefitinib therapy after resistance development in lung cancer did not improve progression-free survival. Chemotherapy alone remains the standard treatment for patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer.
A survey of 80 female Greek oncologists found that women are under-represented in leadership positions, with team leaders being men in 82% of cases. The European Society for Medical Oncology launches a new initiative to promote the exchange of ideas among female oncologists and support women with cancer.
Adding cediranib to standard chemotherapy improves tumour shrinkage and adds a modest improvement in progression-free survival for patients with relapsed or metastatic cervical cancer. The study, published in Annals of Oncology, shows greater tumour shrinkage and increased median progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy alone.
Children exposed to chemotherapy or radiotherapy in utero suffer no negative impacts on mental or cardiac development, according to international studies presented at ESMO 2014. These findings confirm that chemotherapy and radiotherapy during pregnancy do not endanger the fetus and its subsequent development.
The phase III trials indicate that anamorelin is safe and well-tolerated in treating symptoms of advanced non-small cell lung cancer anorexia-cachexia. Patients experienced improvements in lean body mass, body weight, and patient symptoms/concerns regarding appetite over 12 weeks.
Biennial colorectal cancer screening in France's Cote-D'Or region increased the rate of diagnosis of high-risk pre-cancerous adenomas by 89%. The study also found that fecal occult blood testing may be more efficient than colonoscopy for high-risk patients.
A phase III trial demonstrated that afatinib significantly improved progression-free survival compared to methotrexate in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The study showed a 20% reduction in risk of progression or death, with patients experiencing less pain over time.
A direct comparison of docetaxel and pemetrexed with cisplatin shows similar progression-free survival rates, but docetaxel is associated with more frequent adverse events. The study included 149 patients with non-squamous lung cancer and found that the pemetrexed combination was less toxic.
A Korean study showed that patients with low levels of thymidylate synthase in their lung tumors experienced greater benefits from treatment with pemetrexed and cisplatin. The enzyme's expression level can also serve as a prognostic biomarker for overall survival.
A phase III trial showed that Rolapitant significantly reduced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The study found that 72.7% of patients experienced complete response, with improved quality of life outcomes.
A survey of 595 young oncologists found that 71% are at risk of developing burnout, a syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. The study highlights the need for action to address burnout across all levels, from universities to professional societies.
Researchers found significant variations in approval times for cancer drugs between the US, Canada, and Europe, with patients in some regions waiting years longer than others. The study emphasizes the need for coordinated action to reduce disparities in drug access and improve patient outcomes.
A new research study reveals that many patients with advanced, incurable cancer do not receive palliative care, despite the presence of designated centres promoting integrated oncology and care. The study found significant gaps in palliative care delivery, highlighting the need for increased budget allocation.
The European Society for Medical Oncology calls for high-quality research and clinical trials for advanced breast cancer. Key areas of focus include treatment strategies for patients with liver or lung metastases, HER2-positive disease, and men receiving aromatase inhibitors.
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) recognizes the contributions of three outstanding individuals in cancer research and treatment. Carsten Bokemeyer receives the ESMO Award for his work on malignant germ cell tumours, while Peter Boyle wins the Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing contribution to cancer epidem...
The proposed EU General Data Protection Regulation may make cancer research impossible due to explicit patient consent requirements, hindering progress in finding cures. ESMO proposes a 'one-time consent' concept to empower patients and ensure the right balance between privacy and public health.
Adding cetuximab or bevacizumab to combination chemotherapy improves survival for patients with KRAS wild-type untreated colorectal cancer, with both treatments offering approximately 30-month overall survival. Genetic testing is crucial to determine the benefit of these treatments.
The phase III RECOURSE trial found that TAS-102 improves overall and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to standard therapies. The study showed a median overall survival of 7.1 months for TAS-102, compared to 5.3 months for placebo.
Adding MM-398 to standard treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer improves overall and progression-free survival, according to a phase III trial. The combination therapy showed significant benefits over standard treatment alone, but with higher gastrointestinal side effects.
A landmark ESMO survey of over 700 specialists provides insight into treatments most oncologists choose for lung cancer patients with incomplete resection. The study reveals that chemotherapy and radiotherapy are commonly prescribed, but treatment decisions vary depending on the specialty of the treating physician.
Death rates from pancreatic cancer are expected to rise in Europe in 2014, with 41,300 men and 41,000 women predicted to die from the disease. This represents a small but steady increase since 2000, with only five percent of patients surviving for five years after diagnosis.
Researchers estimate that up to 100% of lung cancer patients experience sexual dysfunction, which can persist after treatment. Experts call for open discussions and specialized help from healthcare professionals to address these issues.
Immunotherapy has shown huge potential in treating lung cancer by preventing tumour cells from escaping the immune system. New data on immunocheckpoint regulators such as PD-1 and PD-L1 have resulted in impressive global overall response rates of 20% to 25%.
The European Society for Medical Oncology warns that Eastern Europe lacks sufficient data, highlighting the need for a unified system. Despite this, many Western European countries are expected to have enough medical oncologists to meet growing cancer demands by 2020.
The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) releases a position paper on the role of medical oncologists in cancer care, emphasizing the importance of their specialist training. The paper aims to guarantee access to optimal treatment for Europe's growing number of cancer patients.
A global survey by the European Society for Medical Oncology found that over half of the world's population lives in countries with regulations limiting access to opioid medicines for managing cancer pain. The study highlights the need for regulatory reform and education to improve access to these medicines.
A Swedish study found that teenagers and young adults diagnosed with cancer are at a 60% increased risk of suicide or attempted suicide. The risk is highest during the first year after diagnosis, with suicidal behavior being 1.5-fold higher among cancer patients compared to the general population.
The European Society for Medical Oncology emphasizes the need for new testing methods to ensure patients benefit from personalized cancer treatments. Researchers are working on developing new approaches to analyze tumour characteristics and select targeted therapies.
The ESMO Designated Centres programme has seen a significant increase in new applications, with 37 successful new entrants in 2013. The programme aims to promote integrated oncology and palliative care services for cancer patients and has been highly successful, with over 160 centres recognized globally.
Cora Sternberg receives the ESMO Award for her pioneering research on genitourinary cancers, while Franco Cavalli is awarded the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing contribution to lymphoma research. Roger Stupp wins the Hamilton Fairley Award for his relentless research on malignant gliomas and other cancers.
A large study of 23,000 people in Italy and Switzerland found a strong link between family history of cancer and increased risk of developing different types of cancer. The study revealed associations between specific cancers, such as oral and pharyngeal cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer, with a range of risk increases
A phase III trial found that adding chemotherapy to surgery after curative D2 gastrectomy improved 5-year survival by 34% compared to surgery alone. The study, CLASSIC, added combination chemotherapy (XELOX) to standard treatment, showing a significant reduction in cancer-related death.
A new treatment approach using MGN1703, a small DNA molecule that stimulates the immune system, has shown promise in prolonging progression-free survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The drug is designed to broadly activate all components of the innate immune system to destroy cancer cells.
A gene expression test measures 58 genes in oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancers to differentiate between patients with high and low risk of late recurrence. The test provided significant prognostic information for late distant-relapse-free survival, with better individual risk prediction for women.
Researchers use modern sequencing technology to characterize genetic aberrations in advanced postmenopausal breast cancer patients. The study found that tumours with similar clinical profiles can have distinct genetic characteristics, suggesting the need for tailored treatment strategies.
A recent study has revealed the magnitude of variation in gene expression measurements within breast cancers. Combining samples from multiple biopsies from a single tumour can effectively overcome this variation for selected genes, allowing for more precise treatment tailoring and reliable predictions related to disease progression.
A new analysis compared five different scores to predict late recurrence in estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer patients. The Clinical Treatment Score was found to be the best predictor of late recurrence, while the PAM50 Risk of Recurrence and Breast Cancer Index scores added significant prognostic value.
A study found a statistically non-significant but clinically significant benefit in adding everolimus to trastuzumab treatment for HER-2 positive early breast cancer. The combination improved clinical response rates, but not pathological response rates, suggesting benefits independent of expected molecular pathways.
A recent study published at the 5th IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference finds that gene expression tests can effectively tailor cancer treatments to individual patients, despite variability in tumor cell types and gene expression. The researchers analyzed 78 biopsies from 26 tumors and found that some genomic tests were more reliable than ...
European women are at risk of dying from lung cancer, which is expected to overtake breast cancer as the main cause of death. According to research, lung cancer deaths have increased by 7% since 2009, while breast cancer deaths have declined steadily.
A recent study found that a third of trials with no statistically significant benefit reported on secondary outcomes to influence results. Two-thirds of trials with serious side-effects under-reported them, particularly when the treatment showed a positive outcome. The authors call for improved reporting guidelines.
A study of 722 patients found that those taking beta-blockers for other conditions lived longer after receiving radiotherapy. The use of beta-blockers improved survival rates without disease spreading or recurring, but not locoregional progression-free survival.
A study published in Annals of Oncology found that acupuncture can relieve symptoms of dry mouth (xerostomia) caused by radiotherapy for head and neck cancers. Patients who received acupuncture reported improved dry mouth symptoms, while those receiving oral care education showed no significant improvement.
A large-scale trial has successfully tested whole-genome cancer testing to identify targeted therapies for patients with metastatic breast cancer. The study found that around 20% of patients had rare and unexpected genomic alterations, highlighting the need for whole-genome approaches.
Phase III trials have reported promising results for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma, with pazopanib and temsirolimus emerging as effective options. Pazopanib was shown to be non-inferior to sunitinib in controlling metastatic renal cell carcinoma, resulting in fewer troublesome side effects and improved quality of life.
Researchers have found that one year of treatment with trastuzumab is as good as two years of treatment, improving outcomes and reducing the risk of disease recurrence. This conclusion comes from the HERA trial, which involved over 5100 women with early HER2-positive breast cancer.
A new French study found that anticoagulants significantly reduce the incidence of catheter-related deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients. However, guidelines recommending prophylactic anticoagulant treatment for these patients are still under review.
Evidence suggests aspirin may lower colorectal cancer risk by 24% and mortality rates by 35%, but concerns remain about side effects. The ESMO Congress debates whether aspirin should be used for chemoprevention of colorectal adenoma/cancer.