A new study found that a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is almost 100% accurate at ruling out bowel cancer in patients with suspicious symptoms. FIT has been shown to be as sensitive as colonoscopy, the current gold standard for detection of colorectal cancer.
A new CDK 4/6 inhibitor, abemaciclib, has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence in high-risk patients with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) early-stage disease by 25%. The monarchE study found that adding abemaciclib to standard hormone therapy significantly improved patient outcomes.
A randomised clinical trial has shown that a chemotherapy combination of carboplatin and paclitaxel is more effective and better tolerated than previously recommended treatments for patients with advanced anal cancer. The study found that these patients lived seven months longer overall, experiencing less treatment side effects.
A new algorithm has been developed to select breast cancer patients in need of urgent surgery or chemotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The algorithm uses data from international trials to identify postmenopausal patients with primary ER+HER2- breast cancer who have less endocrine-sensitive tumours and should be prioritized for ear...
A combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab has stopped or reversed melanoma progression for five years in nearly half of patients, offering new hope for advanced melanoma patients. The Checkmate 067 trial found a 52% five-year overall survival rate, with 74% treatment-free after five years.
The RADICALS-RT trial found no difference in disease recurrence between men who received radiotherapy shortly after surgery and those who waited for cancer to come back. The study confirms that observation should be the standard approach after surgery, with radiotherapy used only if the cancer recurs.
Researchers developed a new ultra-hypofractionated stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) technique that safely delivers curative treatment for some prostate cancer patients in just one or two weeks. The study found similar levels of side effects and less overall toxicity compared to the current standard of care.
A new clinical calculator, CTS5, can accurately identify patients at a significantly low risk of their breast cancer returning. This allows them to avoid unnecessary hormone therapy for five years, reducing side effects and psychological burden. The algorithm was tested on 2428 non-trial patients and confirmed its prognostic value.
A large-scale analysis of over 3,000 patients with early oesophagus and stomach cancer found that female patients are more likely to survive longer than male patients, but experience more severe gastrointestinal side effects during chemotherapy. Researchers hope the findings can help tailor treatment approaches for individual patients.
Researchers at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust developed a liquid biopsy test that detects DNA fragments shed by tumors into the bloodstream. The test identified 74% of patients with early-stage rectal cancer who were at risk of metastatic disease, and those with persistent DNA were more likely to develop metastatic disease.
A new approach to treating advanced anal cancer is safer and more effective than current treatment, according to a randomised clinical trial. The study found that a chemotherapy combination of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel performed better in terms of survival rates and safety compared to Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil.
A study of oesophagogastric cancer patients found women experienced higher rates of nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mouth ulceration, and hair loss compared to men. The researchers analyzed data from four randomised trials involving over 1,600 patients.
A new web-based calculator, CTS5, can accurately predict the long-term risk of breast cancer returning in other areas of the body. The tool helps clinicians decide whether to continue or stop hormone therapy, improving patient quality of life and reducing unnecessary treatment.