Research suggests that PSA velocity is a poor predictor of prostate cancer and can lead to unnecessary biopsies. The study found that men with rapid rises in PSA levels did not have cancer more often than those with slower rises, highlighting the need for alternative screening methods.
PSA screening has declined in a US healthcare network following the publication of large trials and guidelines. The decline was observed among men aged 40-54, 55-74, and 75 years and older, with decreases of 3%, 2.7%, and 2.2 percentage points, respectively.
A small proportion of adult cancer patients participate in clinical trials due to low physician referrals. Medical and radiation oncologists were more likely to refer patients, as well as those in larger practices and academic appointments.
A cohort study found that male cancer survivors had a 17% increased relative risk of major congenital malformations in their offspring, which was not significantly affected by assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) or specific cancer treatments.
A large cohort study found that hormone therapy started at menopause increases breast cancer risk, particularly among women who start therapy before or soon after menopause. The study's results support previous findings and provide new insights into the relationship between timing of hormone therapy and breast cancer risk.
The estimated total cost of cancer care in the US is expected to reach $158 billion in 2020, driven by an aging population and increasing prevalence of cancer. Breast and prostate cancers are projected to experience significant increases in costs, with breast cancer projected to be the highest-cost cancer at $20.5 billion.
Quality of life measures are most useful in breast cancer clinical trials using non-biomedical interventions. The authors recommend including QOL measures as secondary endpoints in adjuvant therapy trials for vulnerable populations or when minimal survival difference is expected.
A study published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that breast cancer recurrence rates can vary significantly based on the treating surgeon. The researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 women with ductal carcinoma in situ and discovered that positive or close margins following surgery substantially compromised disease...
A study found that body fat distribution is associated with an increased risk of ER-negative breast cancer. Abdominal adiposity was more strongly linked to ER-negative breast cancer than ER-positive breast cancer, suggesting sex hormone-independent pathways may be involved.
A study found that decreased physician reimbursement for hormone therapy reduced its use in low-risk prostate cancer cases by 40%. However, AST usage remained unchanged in patients with metastatic disease. The decrease is attributed to the real effect of reimbursement change.
A review of 134 studies on breast reconstruction found inconsistent reporting and a lack of standardization in outcome assessment. The authors highlight the need for non-clinical factors such as patient-reported outcomes to be incorporated into outcome assessment.
Phase III trials should aim to find clinically important differences in survival outcomes, rather than just statistically significant ones. Pharmaceutical companies often prioritize minimal but detectable differences that are feasible within trial constraints.
A randomized clinical trial found that celecoxib reduced the incidence of new nonmelanoma skin cancers but not precancerous lesions in patients with actinic keratosis. The study suggests that cyclooxygenase inhibitors may provide an additional benefit to sunscreens in preventing these cancers.
A study published in JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that men taking androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer have a 30-40% increased risk of colorectal cancer. The longer treatment duration, the greater the risk.
Lasofoxifene statistically reduced the overall risk of breast cancer and ER positive invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with low bone density. The study found a significant reduction in coronary events, strokes, vertebral fractures, and non-vertebral fractures.
A recent study found that patients with MUTYH-associated polyposis have a statistically significant better survival rate than those with colorectal cancer from the general population. The five-year survival rate for MUTYH-associated polyposis was 78%, compared to 63% for control patients.
Women with dense breasts and no lobular involution are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. A study of 2666 women found that mammographic breast density and extent of lobular involution are independent risk factors for breast cancer.
A study reanalyzed Japanese atomic bomb survivor data and found that middle-aged radiation exposure may lead to a higher cancer risk for some tumor types. The model used by the researchers suggests that adult bodies already contain larger numbers of premalignant cells, making promotion effects more likely.
A randomized study found that adding topotecan to carboplatin and paclitaxel did not improve progression-free survival in patients with ovarian cancer, but increased toxicity. The standard regimen of carboplatin and paclitaxel remains the best care for epithelial ovarian cancer.
A randomized trial found that HPV DNA-based screening and cryotherapy significantly reduced high-grade cervical cancer precursors in unscreened South African women. The study suggests that a 'screen-and-treat' approach can be an effective cervical cancer prevention strategy, especially in low-resource settings.
A study analyzing Canadian data shows a decline in breast cancer incidence among postmenopausal women as hormone therapy prescriptions fell. The decline, which coincided with a drop in hormone replacement therapy use, suggests that HRT may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
A study found that breast cancer survivors with functional limitations affecting motion, strength, and dexterity are at risk of dying from other causes, but not breast cancer recurrence. The study highlights the importance of addressing physical limitations in cancer survivorship plans.
Researchers propose new clinical trial endpoints for immunotherapies, accounting for delayed responses and novel patterns of anti-tumor activity. The immune-related response criteria (irRC) offer a revised approach to measuring treatment success, considering factors such as lymphocyte infiltration and tumor burden.
A study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that alcohol consumption is more strongly related to the risk of lobular carcinoma than ductal carcinoma, and more strongly related to hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer than hormone-receptor-negative breast cancer.
Researchers found that human breast cancer cells overexpress the alpha 9 subunit of the nAchR, promoting tumor growth. Reducing α9-nAchRs inhibited tumor growth in laboratory experiments.
Brothers of men with prostate cancer are at a higher risk of diagnosis due to increased diagnostic activities, not genetic mutations. Incidence is highest among men with two brothers diagnosed, and detection bias contributes significantly.
A recent study published in JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that estrogen alone was not associated with increased lung cancer mortality among postmenopausal women. In contrast, combined hormone therapy showed a statistically significant increase in breast cancer incidence and a reduction in colorectal cancer.
Despite advancements in cancer biomarker research, many initial breakthroughs fail to translate to clinical success due to issues with study design and interpretation. Seven biomarkers initially hailed as promising have been reevaluated, highlighting problems with pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical study design.
A study published in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that computed tomographic colonography (CTC) screening every five years is not cost-effective if reimbursed at the same rate as colonoscopy. However, CTC would be cost-effective if it enticed 25% more individuals to screen.
A study found that mammographic tumor detectability decreases with age, primarily due to denser breast tissue masking tumors. The study suggests that lowered mammographic tumor detectability accounts for 79% of the poorer sensitivity in mammography screening among younger women.
A recent study found that combining radiation and chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma increases treatment-related toxicities and non-cancer deaths. Patients treated with combined therapies experienced a higher acute toxicity rate compared to those treated with radiation alone.
A recent meta-analysis found that there is no single best intervention for promoting repeat breast cancer screening with mammography. The studies were heterogeneous, differing in their conclusions about similar interventions due to a lack of standardization among interventions or different populations and settings.
A study found that smoking is associated with molecularly defined DNA changes and a subtype of colorectal cancer that emerges more frequently among older women. The researchers suggest that epigenetic modifications may play a role in the development of smoking-related colorectal carcinogenesis.
African-American women have more advanced breast cancer at diagnosis and poorer survival outcomes compared to non-Hispanic whites. Despite similar surgical care and adjuvant therapy, African-Americans experience lower overall and breast cancer-specific survival rates due to socio-demographic factors.
A new study found that active surveillance is a suitable treatment option for patients with low-risk prostate cancer, resulting in lower mortality rates compared to radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy. After a median follow-up of 8.2 years, the surveillance group had a higher percentage of deaths from competing causes.
A recent study found that women taking tamoxifen for early-stage breast cancer are more likely to carry a gene mutation for clotting if they develop blood clots. The Factor V Leiden genetic mutation is associated with increased thrombosis risk in these patients.
A new study found that genome-wide association studies (GWA) have identified several genetic risk factors for common cancers, but their predictive power is limited by small effect sizes. The study suggests that performing GWA studies using larger sample sizes would yield more genetic loci with smaller or very small effects.
A phase III clinical trial found no significant difference in overall survival between AE-941 and placebo arms for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. The study suggests that shark cartilage-derived products do not support the treatment of lung cancer.
A large study found no association between coffee, tea, or sugar-sweetened soft drinks and colon cancer risk. High tea consumption was linked to a modest increase in risk, but the connection is unclear.
A study of 117,738 women aged 18-39 found that screening mammograms had poor accuracy and high recall rates for additional tests. Diagnostic mammograms performed due to symptoms had better accuracy and detection rates.
A review of available breast cancer risk assessment tools reveals their limitations, particularly in assessing individual risks. The models rely heavily on known risk factors, with up to 60% of breast cancers arising without them.
A recent review found that approximately 25% of breast cancers and 60% of prostate cancers detected by screening tests may not be destined to cause symptoms or death due to overdiagnosis. This phenomenon leads to unnecessary treatment and other harms, emphasizing the need for strategies to address it.
Researchers found a significant association between high fiber intake and reduced colorectal cancer risk when using food diaries, but no association was found with food frequency questionnaires. The study suggests that accurate measurement of dietary components remains a challenge in studies of diet and cancer risk.
A recent study found that blacks in the US are less likely to follow up on abnormal colon cancer screening test results, highlighting disparities in healthcare utilization. The study analyzed data from a large national trial and found that 62.6% of black participants went for a diagnostic colonoscopy, compared to 72.4% of white partici...
A large study of over 400,000 men and women found that high fruit and vegetable intake was associated with a small reduction in overall cancer risk. However, the findings suggest that any potential cancer-protective effect is modest at best.
A randomized trial found that octreotide acetate did not reduce the incidence or severity of diarrhea in patients with anorectal cancer. The study included 215 patients who received either a placebo or long-acting octreotide before and during radiation therapy, but no significant differences were observed between groups.
Women with rare ATM gene mutations and radiation exposure may be at higher risk for a second breast cancer in the opposite breast. Researchers found a statistically significant increase in contralateral breast cancer among women with deleterious missense variants and radiation exposure.
A review of gene expression-based prognostic signatures in lung cancer found little evidence to support their clinical application. The studies lacked statistical validation, reproducibility, and clear medical utility, highlighting serious problems with the design and analysis.
A new study found that obesity is associated with a higher risk of developing colorectal tumors lacking microsatellite instability. The study also revealed that the relationship between body mass index and adult weight gain differs for tumors with varying levels of MSI.
Only 25 US states have enacted legislation covering cancer clinical trial costs, with varying requirements for scientific and ethical review. The study highlights the need for closer communication between lawmakers and oncology experts to improve research and patient care.