A systemic immunomodulator IMM-101 extends survival and maintains quality of life in the IMAGE1 study

The survival benefits in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with a systemic immunomodulator, IMM‑101 plus gemcitabine in a randomised, open-label phase II IMAGE1 trial were accompanied by an improvement in several quality of life (QoL) scores. Read more here.

EMA to further clarify safety profile of HPV vaccines

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has started a review of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to further clarify aspects of their safety profile.....The review does not question that the benefits of HPV vaccines outweigh their risks....The current review will look at available data with a focus on rare reports of two conditions: complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS, a chronic pain condition affecting the limbs) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS, a condition where the heart rate increases abnormally after sitting or standing up, causing symptoms such as dizziness and fainting, as well as headache, chest pain and weakness). Read more here.

Too much sitting may raise woman's cancer risk

A new cancer prevention study conducted by the American Cancer Society indicates that excessive amounts of sedentary activity (in particular, sitting), was linked to a 10% overall higher risk of cancer in women.  However, a similar correlation was not found in men.  According to team lead Dr. Alpa Patel, "longer leisure time spent sitting was associated with a higher risk of total cancer risk in women...specifically with multiple myeloma, breast, and ovarian cancers...but sitting time was not not associated with cancer risk in men."  While Dr. Patel acknowledges that further research is necessary to better understand and explain these findings, it does raise awareness of the need to reduce the amount of time spent sitting and considerations for leading a more physically active lifestyle.

To read more about this study, click here.

Nicotinamide reduces skin cancer risk

From Natural Medicine:
New research shows that taking 500 mg of nicotinamide (vitamin B3) by mouth twice daily for one year reduces the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer in people who have already had common skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Nicotinamide might be beneficial for people who are at high risk of developing common skin cancers, particularly because it is very accessible and inexpensive. It does not appear to reduce melanoma skin cancer risk.

 

Too few men with low-risk prostate cancers get "watch and wait" approach

A new report indicates that the majority of U.S. men with low-risk prostate cancer are receiving treatment in lieu of active surveillance.  According to study co-author Dr. Hui Zhu, chief of urology at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Ohio, active surveillance, "the careful monitoring of prostate cancer for progression of the cancer that would indicate a need for treatment", may be gaining acceptance among urologists and patients, although it has been met with controversy.  Zhu's study stated that older men over 60, as well as those patients without insurance were more likely to have active surveillance.

To read more about this study, click here

Patients with Lowest BMI Have Shortest Survival in Pooled Analysis of Bevacizumab in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Patients with the lowest body mass index (BMI) had the shortest overall survival in an analysis of bevacizumab studies in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) presented for the first time today (1 July 2015) at the ESMO 17th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2015 in Barcelona. Read more here.

World GI 2015: Abstracts online!

All abstracts for the ESMO 17th world congress on gastrointestinal cancer, can now be found on Annals of Oncology! Read more here.

Unique data set made possible by 300,000 canadians

A landmark research portal that includes health and biological data from 300,000 Canadians — nearly one in every 50 individuals between the ages of 35 and 69 – is being launched today by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership). Read more here.