Blog postings will resume in July 2025

 

Dear Grey Horizon readers, 

Thank you for your continued support of this blog.  Postings will resume in July 2025.  

Vepdegestrant results in longer PFS than fulvestrant in previously treated patients with ESR1-mutated, ER-positive, HER2-negative ABC

 Results from VERITAC-2, an open-label randomized phase III study conducted on "ER-positive HER2- negative advanced breast cancer patients...receiving endocrine therapy plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor" to measure progression-free survival, was reported at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting.  Based on findings from VERITAC-2, "vepdegestrant monotherapy showed encouraging clinical activity in patients who had received multiple previous lines of treatment for ER-positive, HER-2 negative ABC." 

To read more about VERITAC-2, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Campone M, De Laurentiis M, Jhaveri K, et al. for the VERITAC-2 Study Group. Vepdegestrant, a PROTAC Estrogen Receptor Degrader, in Advanced Breast Cancer . NEJM; Published online 31 May 2025. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2505725
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• Hamilton EP, De Laurentiis M, Jhaveri K, et al. Vepdegestrant, a PROTAC estrogen receptor (ER) degrader, vs fulvestrant in ER-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–negative advanced breast cancer: Results of the global, randomized, phase 3 VERITAC-2 study . J Clin Oncol 2025;43(suppl 17):abstr LBA1000. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2025.43.17_suppl.LBA1000

Supplemental breast cancer imaging techniques could lead to earlier detection of cancer in women with dense breasts

 Results from the Breast Screening - Risk Adapted Imaging for Density (BRAID) study were recently published in The Lancet.  BRAID is "the first randomized controlled trial to compare supplemental imaging of abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), automated who breast ultrasound (ABUS), and contrast-enhanced mammography with standard mammography (standard-of-care) in women of average population risk with dense breasts and a negative screening mammogram." 

For a period of 4.5 years (October 2019 - March 2024), 9361 women aged 50-70 across the UK were recruited and randomly assigned to ether abbreviated MRI, ABUS, or contrast-enhanced mammography.   Per 1000 examinations, cancer detection rate was 17.4 for abbreviated MRI, 4.2 for ABUS, and 19.2 for contrast-enhanced mammography. 

Click here to read more about the BRAID trial. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Gilbert FJ, Payne N, Allajbeu I, et al. Comparison of supplemental breast cancer imaging techniques—interim results from the BRAID randomised controlled trial . The Lancet; Published online 21 May 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00582-3
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• Houssami N. Breast cancer screening at a crossroads: supplemental imaging for dense breasts . The Lancet; Published online 21 May 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00803-7

Patient and tumour characteristics may vary across treatment lines in a selected population of patients with mCRC included in randomised trials

 Findings from a large-scale study conducted via the Aide et Recherche en Cancerologie Digestive (ARCAD) database of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer as recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). According to the study, "almost one in two patients do not receive a subsequent treatment line with second- and third-line treatment rates of 50-60% and 20-30% respectively."  In order to facilitate further research and use, ARCAD is planning to develop Score Prognostic in Oncology Digestive, an app for smartphones, tablets, and computers.  

To learn more about this study click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Bachet J-B, de Gramont A, Raeisi M, et al. Characteristics of Patients and Prognostic Factors Across Treatment Lines in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: An Analysis From the Aide et Recherche en Cancérologie Digestive Database . JCO; Published online 5 May 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-24-01968

Sun safety declining in Canada amid rise in skin cancer cases

 A recently completed study from McGill University indicates a growing number of Canadians using less sun protection amidst increasing sun exposure time, resulting in rising cases of melanoma.  According to the study, "75% of adult Canadians reported spending at least 30 minutes in the sun...with nearly half staying out for 2 hours or more".  In addition, most of the Canadians polled admitted to irregular or no use of sunscreen, with 33% of those polled experiencing sunburn. 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Amina Moustaqim-Barrette, Hibo Rijal, Santina Conte, Mahan Maazi, Johnny Hanna, Alexandra Sarah Victoria Kelly, Alicia Belaiche, Alyson McKenna, Sandra Pelaez, François Lagacé, Ivan V Litvinov - Evaluating UV exposure and skin cancer prevention behaviours in Canada: a national population-based cross-sectional study: BMJ Public Health 2025;3:e001983.

InflaMix identifies CAR-T recipients with a preinfusion inflammatory profile indicative of high risk for CAR-T treatment failure

 Findings from the use of InflaMix, a predictive, point-of-care-clinical tool, designed "to identify patients at high risk of treatment failure and support informed risk-benefit discussions.." in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, were recently published in Nature Medicine.  InflaMix, which requires only 1 blood test, "offers an unbiased quantitative assessment of 14 blood markers, 11 of which are routinely assayed for patients with lymphoma."  

To read more about InflaMix, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Raj SS, Fei T, Fried S, et al. An inflammatory biomarker signature of response to CAR-T cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Nature Medicine; Published online 1 April 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03532-x

Potential for larger gene panels to increase the number of molecularly matched therapies in patients with advanced solid tumours

 Results of ProfiLER-2, a multicentre, prospective study comparing a hospital homemade control gene panel (CTL) to "the commercially available Foundation OneCDX (F1CDX).." was recently published in Nature Medicine.   Of the 741 patients with solid tumours screened in this study, molecular-based recommended therapies were identified with F1CDX in 175 patients and CTL in 125 patients, representing a 14.8% increase when using the F1CDX gene panel.  

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Trédan O, Pouessel D, Penel N, et al. Broad versus limited gene panels to guide treatment in patients with advanced solid tumors: a randomized controlled trial. Nature Medicine; Published online 7 April 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03613-x

Cancer mortality prediction for 2025 continues to show favourable trends in the European Union

 A recently completed study of cancer mortality rates across the European Union (EU) over the past 5 years (2020-2025) indicate a lower mortality rate of 3.5% for males and 1.2% in females, with notable decreases in breast cancer for women (9.8% less among those 50-69 years old, and 12.4% less among women 70-79 years old).  The two exceptions to this downward mortality trend were pancreatic cancer for both males and females, and bladder cancer for women.  In addition, despite enhanced tobacco control measures, rate of smoking across the EU was still report at 24%.   

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Santucci C, Mignozzi S, Levi F, et al. European cancer mortality predictions for the year 2025 with focus on breast cancer. Annals of Oncology;36(4):460-468.

Adding chemotherapy to radiotherapy not associated with improved OS for patients with intermediate-risk cervical cancer

 A population-based cohort study recently published in JAMA Oncology found "no significant overall survival benefit from the addition of concomitant chemotherapy to radiotherapy in patients with intermediate-risk cervical cancer." While hysterectomy and surgical lymph node assessment is considered standard treatment for early-stage cervical cancer, nearly 60% of patients continue receiving chemoradiotherapy for intermediate-risk cases "despite the absence of clear benefit." 

To read more about this study, click here: 

Source mentioned: 

Agustí N, Viveros-Carreño D, Wu C-F, et al. Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy vs Radiotherapy Alone for Patients With Intermediate-Risk Cervical Cancer. JAMA Oncology; Published online 13 March 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.0146

Suggesting a deadline in the invitation letter to FIT colorectal cancer screening results in more timely FIT return

 Results from the timeframe and planning tool (TEMPO) study, part of the Scottish Bowel Screening Program, has determined that "including a deadline of 2 weeks for faecal immunochemical test (FIT) return in the invitation letter resulted in more rapid FIT returns, fewer reminder letters send, and marginally higher return rates..."  The authors of the TEMPO study also stated that establishing FIT return deadlines is more cost-effective and increases compliance with screening behaviour, as current FIT uptake in Scotland is 66% compared to an average of 50% across other European countries.  

To learn more about the TEMPO study, click here. 

Sources: 

• Robb KA, Young B, Murphy MK, et al. Behavioural interventions to increase uptake of FIT colorectal screening in Scotland (TEMPO): a nationwide, eight-arm, factorial, randomised controlled trial. The Lancet; Published online 12 March 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02813-7
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• Brenner H, Hoffmeister M. Cost-effective improvement of real-world cancer screening. The Lancet; Published online 12 March 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00108-4

Real-world patients with cancer show lower survival times and treatment-associated survival benefits compared to those included in RCTs

 Findings from TrialTranslator, a machine-learning model involving randomized clinical trials (RCTs), indicates that "median overall survival treatment benefit for real-word patients...[is] on average, 3 months lower than in RCTs..."  While the authors of this TrialTranslator study conclude that "prognostic heterogeneity among real-world patients with cancer plays a substantial role in the limited generalizability of RCT results", machine learning frameworks have been shown to be of benefit in guiding trial design and planning future enhancements in cancer care. 

To read more about TrialTranslator, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Orcutt X, Chen K, Mamtani R, et al. Evaluating generalizability of oncology trial results to real-world patients using machine learning-based trial emulations. Nature Medicine; Published online 3 January 2025.

Distinct patient, tumour, treatment characteristics and a different pattern and risk of survival events over time between young BRCA1/2 carriers

 Findings from a large-scale 20-year multicentre hospital=based retrospective cohort study were recently published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.  Conducted on 4752 patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2, "diagnosed with stage I-III invasive breast cancer at 40 years or younger...provides evidence on the different clinical behaviour of breast cancer according to the specific BRCA gene and the association of the timing of genetic testing with prognosis." This study also emphasized the importance of early identification of women carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 variant, in addition to providing genetic counselling and creating greater awareness about "early detection options that may lead to better prognosis." 

Source mentioned:  

Lambertini M, Blondeaux E, Tomasello LM, et al. Clinical Behavior of Breast Cancer in Young BRCA Carriers and Prediagnostic Awareness of Germline BRCA Status. JCO; Published online 24 February 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-24-01334

Clinical benefit of pembrolizumab in patients with previously treated advanced clear cell gynaecological cancers

 Results from the United Kingdom-led PEACOCC phase II trial regarding the benefits of pembrolizumab on clear cell gynecological cancers was recently published in JAMA Oncology.   According to the study authors, "less than 5% of clear cell gynaecological cancers" are attributed to the vagina, vulva, and cervix. While this clear-cell histological subtype is rare, the authors are adamant that "tissue collection including contemporaneous trial biopsies allows further translational study of the molecular and immune landscape."   

To learn more about the PEACOCC trial, click here.  

Source mentioned: 

Kristeleit R, Devlin M-J, Clamp A, et al. Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Clear Cell Gynecological Cancer A Phase 2 Nonrandomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncology; Published online 6 February 2025. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.6797

Less frequent mammographic surveillance non-inferior compared with annual mammograms after diagnosis of breast cancer in women aged 50 years or older

 Results of Mammo-50, a randomized phase III trial conducted across the United Kingdom on women aged 50 or older was recently published in The Lancet.  Findings from Mammo-50 indicate that women 50 years or older when diagnosed with breast cancer "who have undergone annual mammographic surveillance for 3 years post diagnosis...[and who] show no signs of recurrence, can safely have less frequent mammograms."  The authors further state that this evidence may result in changes to guidelines, both within the U.K. and globally as well. 

To learn more about the Mammo-50 trial, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Dunn JA, Donnelly P, Elbeltagi N, et al. Annual versus less frequent mammographic surveillance in people with breast cancer aged 50 years and older in the UK (Mammo-50): a multicentre, randomised, phase 3, non-inferiority trial. The Lancet 2025;405(10476):396–407.
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• Mann RM. Rethinking surveillance after breast cancer. The Lancet 2025;405(10476):356-358.

Cancer prevention and screening account for most cancer deaths averted among different interventions across the cancer control continuum

 An extensive study of population-level mortality data, along with cancer prevention and screening interventions across common cancer in the United States over the past 45 years was recently compiled by the National Cancer Institute.  According to the authors, "an estimated 5.94 million cancer deaths were averted for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers combined, [where] cancer prevention and screening efforts averted 8 of 10 (4.75 million) deaths." The authors further emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and prevention may "reduce or eliminate treatment, minimize harmful adverse effects of cancer or treatment, and reduce the financial burden of cancer." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Goddard KAB, Feuer EJ, Mandelblatt JS, et al. Estimation of Cancer Deaths Averted From Prevention, Screening, and Treatment Efforts, 1975-2020. JAMA Oncology; Published online 5 December 2024. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.5381

Chemotherapy-free regimen of tucatinib and trastuzumab shows anti-tumour activity with durable responses in patients with HER2-mutated metastatic breast cancer

 Results of the open-label phase II trial, SGNTUC-019, "evaluating tucatinib in combination with trastuzumab" in patients with HER2-mutated metastatic breast cancer, showed that this form of treatment was well tolerated with diarrhea noted as the most common adverse event.  In addition, study authors noted that most events had a grade 1 severity, which were managed with standard clinical care; grade 3 occurrence was noted in 13% of cases.  

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Okines AFC, Curigliano G, Mizuno N, et al. Tucatinib and trastuzumab in HER2-mutated metastatic breast cancer: a phase 2 basket trial. Nature Medicine; Published online 17 January 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03462-0

Active monitoring promising for women with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ

Results of the intention-to-treat analysis from the COMET study, "a prospective randomized, pragmatic non-inferiority trial..." for women with low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was recently presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.  Conducted on 995 women 40 years or older with a new diagnosis of hormone receptor-positive grade 1 or grade 2 DCIS without invasive cancer, the COMET study supports the notion that a "standard management strategy for low-risk DCIS requires longer follow-up for most patients."   

To learn more about the COMET study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Hwang ES, Hyslop T, Lynch T, et al. for the COMET Study Investigators. Active Monitoring With or Without Endocrine Therapy for Low-Risk Ductal Carcinoma In Situ The COMET Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA; Published online 12 December 2024. doi: 10.1001/jama.2024.26698
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• Morrow M, Barrio AV. Is It Time to Abandon Surgery for Low-Risk DCIS? JAMA; Published online 12 December 2024. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.26723

Blog postings will resume week of January 20, 2025

 

Dear Grey Horizon readers, 

Thank you for your support of the blog over the past year.  Postings will resume the week of January 20, 2025. 

Lung adenocarcinoma with mucinous histology

 A recently completed study conducted amongst four academic institutions/cancer centres across the United States (Dana Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital), along with the University of Bologna in Italy have uncovered that "mucinous histology is seen in 10% of patients with lung carcinoma."  Further, the researchers determined that patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma with mucinous histology, have never smoked.  These findings indicate the need to strongly consider mucinous histology in future lung cancer prognostications. 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Di Federico A, Hong L, Elkrief A, et al. Lung adenocarcinomas with mucinous histology: clinical, genomic, and immune microenvironment characterization and outcomes to immunotherapy-based treatments and KRASG12C inhibitors. Annals Of Oncology; Published online 2 December 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2024.11.014

Prevention and screening have been major contributors to saving lives among five cancer types

 A recent study published in JAMA Oncology focusing on mortality from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer indicates that cancer prevention and screening significantly contributes to reductions in death among these 5 cancer types.  According to Dr. Katrina Goddard, co-lead investigator for the study, "8 out of 10 deaths from these five cancers were averted over the past 45 years due to advances in prevention and screening."  Further, the study, looking at cancer mortality over 45 years (1975-2020) states that 5.94 million deaths were averted...[where] "prevention and screening interventions accounted for 4.75 million, or 80% of the averted deaths." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

1. Goddard KAB, Feuer EJ, Mandelblatt JS, et al. Estimation of Cancer Deaths Averted From Prevention, Screening, and Treatment Efforts, 1975-2020. JAMA Oncol. Dec. 5, 2024. DOI:10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.538Exit Disclaimer
   

Adding pembrolizumab to preoperative radiotherapy and surgery improves disease-free survival for patients with stage III soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity

 

Findings from the SU2C-SARC032 trial, conducted by the Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration (SARC) in 20 academic institutions across Australia, Canada, Italy, and the USA, was recently published in The Lancet.  Led by Professor David G. Kirsch of the Princess Margaret Cancer entre in Toronto, results from the trial indicated "improvement in disease-free survival with addition of preoperative and postoperative pembrolizumab to preoperative radiation therapy and surgical resection for patients with stage III undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma or liposarcoma in the extremity or limb girdle." 

To learn more about this trial, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

• Mowery YM, Ballman KV, Hong AM, et al. Safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab, radiation therapy, and surgery versus radiation therapy and surgery for stage III soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity (SU2C-SARC032): an open-label, randomised clinical trial. The Lancet; Published Online 12 November 2024: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01812-9
• Italiano A. Perioperative immunotherapy in soft tissue sarcomas. The Lancet; Published Online 12 November 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02252-9

Adding pembrolizumab to chemotherapy results in improved progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with advanced and recurrent cervical cancer regardless of bevacizumab use

Final analysis of the Keynote-826 phase III trial, has shown that adding pembrolizumab to chemotherapy has increased progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer.   Following randomization of 617 patients, those who received bevacizumab indicated "grade >3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 74% of patients in the pembrolizumab arm and 66.8% in the placebo arm." 

To learn more about the Keynote-826 trial, click here.  

Source mentioned: 

Lorusso D, Colombo N, Dubot C, et al. Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy for Advanced and Recurrent Cervical Cancer: Final Analysis According to Bevacizumab Use in the Randomized KEYNOTE-826 Study. Annals of Oncology; Published online 9 October 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2024.10.002

Webinar: Multi Cancer Early Detection Tools (MCED): Promises and Challenges

The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) recently hosted a webinar discussing Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) tools.  The webinar, available at the following link, watch on YouTube, provides an overview of MCED tools cancer screening, from both a cancer survivor and patient advocate, as well as a renowned oncologist. 

To learn more about MCED tools, click here. 

National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) State of Cancer Survivorship: Survey Results

 The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) has released the results of a survey conducted on more than 2100 cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers between August and September 2024. Findings from the survey, presented in report format, discuss treatment decision-making, post-treatment care, participation in clinical trials, side effects of treatment, and financial hardship.  

Click here to view the survey briefing video and download the survey results. 

Short-course of induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy significantly improves survival in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer

 Results of INTERLACE, a phase III multicentre randomized study is the first to "show a significant survival advantage with the addition of induction chemotherapy before chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer."  5-year progression-free survival was significant: 72% in patients administered induction chemotherapy with chemoradiotherapy, compared to 64% receiving chemoradiotherapy alone. 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• McCormack M, Eminowicz G, Gallardo D, et al. on behalf of the INTERLACE investigators. Induction chemotherapy followed by standard chemoradiotherapy versus standard chemoradiotherapy alone in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (GCIG INTERLACE): an international, multicentre, randomised phase 3 trial. The Lancet 2024;404(10462):P1525-1525.
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• Duska LR, Randall LM. Progress in the treatment paradigms for locally advanced cervical cancer. The Lancet 2024;404(10462):p1494-1496.

Social support linked with improved cancer screening in the U.S.; strongest for breast cancer screening

 A new study conducted by the American Cancer Society has found a direct correlation between levels of social support and adherence to cancer screening.  According to principal scientist Dr. Jordan Baeker Bispo, "social relationships can influence cancer screening in a variety of ways, like shaping access to emotional support and material resources." 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

 

Biology of response and resistance to MAPK pathway targeted therapy in patients with BRAFV600E-mutated mCRC

 Findings from the phase III BEACON metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) study were recently published in Nature Medicine. 10% of tumours in patients with mCRC are comprised of BRAF mutations; the BEACON study "demonstrated that the BRAD inhibitor encorafenib plus the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab, with our without the MEK inhibitor binimetinib, improved overall survival (OS), objective response rate and progression-free survival (PFS) compared with cetuximab plus chemotherapy in patients with BRAF-mutated mCRC who has been previously treated."  

To learn more about the BEACON study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Kopetz S, Murphy DA, Pu J, et al. Molecular profiling of BRAF-V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer in the phase 3 BEACON CRC trial. Nature Medicine; Published online 23 September 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03235-9

Benefit in overall survival with neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab in patients with resectable, early-stage non-small cell lung cancer

 Findings from the KEYNOTE-671 study, a randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trial, has shown that neoadjuvant prembrolizumab and cisplatin-based chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab "significantly improved overall survival compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy along in patients with molecularly unselected, resectable stage II, IIIA or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)."  Following a study of 797 NSCLC patients, 393 of whom received pembrolizumab while 400 received placebo, online survival estimates were "71% in the pembrolizumab group and 64% in the placebo group." 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Spicer JD, Garassino MC, Wakelee H, et al. on behalf of the KEYNOTE-671 investigators. Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (KEYNOTE-671): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet 2024;404(10459):P1240-1252.
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  Presley CJ, Owen DH. Improved survival for patients with lung cancer treated with perioperative immunotherapy. The Lancet 2024;404(10459):P1176-1178.
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  Garassino MC, Gao S, Liberman M, et al. Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab (pembro) or placebo (pbo) plus chemotherapy and adjuvant pembro or pbo for early-stage NSCLC: Subgroup analyses of the phase III KEYNOTE-671 study. Annals of Oncology 2024;35(Suppl 2):S778-S779.  

New cancer diagnoses did not rebound as expected following pandemic

 A recent study appearing in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates "little evidence of a rebound in incidence" with regards to a decline in cancer diagnosis during 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.  After scrutinizing 5 major cancer types (breast, prostate, lung, pancreatic, thyroid),  "cancer incidence rates overall [in 2021] for most specific cancers approached pre-pandemic levels", with the exception of breast cancer and pancreatic cancer, which showed an increase, while thyroid cancer diagnoses fell below pre-pandemic levels.  As such, 2021 has been considered "a transition year that was still affected by new variants and new waves of COVID-19 cases." 

Source mentioned: 

1. Howlader N, Chen H-S, Noone A-M, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on 2021 Cancer Incidence Rates and Potential Rebound from 2020 DeclineExit Disclaimer. JNCI. September 24, 2024. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djae180.

Immunotherapy after surgery helps people with high-risk bladder cancer live cancer-free longer

 A recently completed clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that treatment with an immunotherapy drug "may nearly double the length of time people with high-risk muscle-invasive bladder cancer are cancer-free following surgical removal of the bladder."  According to Dr. Andrea Apolo from the National Cancer Institute, the drug in question, pembrolizumab, extension of the cancer-free period makes a considerable difference in the patient's quality of life.  

To read more about this trial, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

1. Apolo AB, Ballman KV, Sonpavde G, et al. Adjuvant Pembrolizumab versus Observation in Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma.Exit Disclaimer NEJM. September 15, 2024. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2401726.