Season's Greetings & Happy Holidays - blog posts will resume in January 2019

To all our readers,


Blog postings will resume in January 2019, so that our library staff can celebrate the festive season with family.  Happy Holidays!

New chemotherapy regimen can considerably extend lifespan of pancreatic cancer patients

A new clinical trial consisting of a 4-drug chemotherapy combination has resulted in considerable extensions in lifespan for early-stage pancreatic cancer patients.  According to trial results, median survival rate of patients who were administered the new drug regimen was 4.5 years.  While authors of the trial mentioned that 75% of patients experienced more serious side-effects after taking the new experimental drug combination (compared to 53% of those on standard chemotherapy treatment), they remain cautiously optimistic that this new drug discovery is "an important step forward." 


To read more about this trial, click here.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may be linked to prostate cancer

A new study conducted at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago has uncovered a link between men with inflammatory bowel disease and a subsequent higher risk of developing prostate cancer.  According to lead author Dr. Shilajit Kundu, the study, conducted on over 1,000 men with inflammatory bowel disease, showed higher prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels over long-term follow-up, levels representative of a 4-5 times more likely change of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.


To read more about this study, click here.

New Canadian breast cancer screening guideline for women aged 40-74

The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care has released a new guideline for breast cancer screening among women aged 40-74.  The fundamental difference in this latest guidelines release from the 2011 previous edition is with regards to the 40-49 age group.  The 2011 guidelines recommended against routine mammograms for women between 40-49 years old.  According to task force vice-chair Dr. Ainsley Moore, physician at McMaster University, the 2018 guidelines "are intended for an empowered position, [putting] the decision-making into the hands of the individual woman in terms of what she prioritizes." 


The complete guideline is available here.

Test helps identify thyroid nodules that don’t require surgery

Researchers in JAMA Oncology, found that a test measuring genomic changes in tissue samples taken from the thyroid can help identify which patients likely need diagnostic surgery for thyroid cancer and which do not. When a suspicious small growth or lump (called a nodule) is found in the thyroid, doctors perform a fine-needle biopsy so that the cells can be examined by a pathologist.

To read more about this study, click here.

System is broken: medical journals do not reveal doctor's ties

A recent article in the New York Times has revealed that several prominent physicians who publishing in prestigious academic medical journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, "have failed in recent years to report their financial relationships with pharmaceutical and health care companies when their studies are published..."  As a result, journal editors have or are in the process of implementing changes that will clarify submission process and reduce errors. 


To read more about this review, click here.

2018 World Cancer Congress report

The World Cancer Congress has released a summary report of proceedings that took place from October 1-4, 2018 in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.  The top 5 congress highlights consisted of networking and creating collaborations, sharing best practices, big debates, creating a global village, and meeting experts. 


To access the summary report, click here.

Study links social isolation to higher risk of death

A large American Cancer Society study, appearing in the American Journal of Epidemiology, links social isolation with a higher risk of death from all causes combined and heart disease for all races studied, and with increased cancer mortality in white men and women. The study says addressing social isolation holds promise if studies show interventions are effective, as they could be relatively simple and could influence other risk factors, as social isolation is also associated with hypertension, inflammation, physical inactivity, smoking, and other health risks.

To read more about this study, click here.

Eight factors may link disparities in cancer death rates and income

The results of a recent study in JAMA Network Open linked food insecurity to an increased risk of cancer death. People in low- and middle-income counties in the United States are more likely to die of cancer than those who live in high-income counties. Eight factors, including lack of access to high-quality clinical care, food insecurity, smoking, and obesity may explain more than 80% of the relationship between poverty and disparities in cancer death rates at the county level.

To read more about this study, click here.

Blood test shows promise for detecting genetic changes in brain tumors

A new study, published in Clinical Cancer Research on October 15, 2018, has found that a blood test may reveal whether a child with a type of brain tumor known as a diffuse midline glioma has a specific genetic mutation associated with the disease. The test is called a liquid biopsy. The finding that DNA from these tumors can be detected in blood means that it should be possible to identify and follow molecular changes in children with these rare and highly lethal brain tumors using a minimally invasive test, according to the study's leaders.

To read more about this study, click here.

Global melanoma deaths up among men, but not women

A new report from the World Health Organization analyzing global melanoma skin can cancer death rates from 1985-2015 indicates that in nearly all 33 countries studied, men had higher melanoma death rates compared to women.  Australia exhibited the largest increase in death rates while Japan registered the lowest.  Further the Czech Republic was the only country of those studies that had a decrease (albeit it only 0.7%) over the 30-year study.  While study author Dr. Dorothy Yang explains that there are a number of biological factors explaining the difference in mortality rates among genders, she does also state that "men are less likely to protect themselves from the sun or engage with melanoma awareness and prevention campaigns."


To read more about this report, click here.

How necessary is HPV cervical screening for women after 55?

A new Canadian study questions the necessity of screening for cervical cancer in women over 55 with one negative result from the HPV test.  The study, conducted on 200,000 women in British Columbia indicated that a single negative HPV SNA test at age 55 resulted in a very low risk (less than 1%) of developing cervical cancer.  According to study author Talia Malagon, "continued screening [for[ women [that] have a negative HPV test would provide little benefit."


To read more about this study, click here.

Immunotherapy drug cemiplimab approved for advanced squamous cell skin cancer

Cemiplimab. a drug that belongs to a class of agents known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, Has been approved by the FDA for patients with an advanced form of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a common type of skin cancer. This is the first agent to be approved by FDA specifically for advanced SCC.

To read more about this drug, click here.

Luxembourg molecular diagnostic programme for better cancer treatment

On October 29, 2018, the Luxembourg Institut National du Cancer (INC) launched MDLUX2, a molecular diagnostics program with a goal of "improving the effectiveness of cancer treatment whilst supporting cancer research." It is believed that this program will allow further analysis of tumours and determine potential clinical trials that a patient may benefit from.


To learn more about MDLUX2, click here

Better outcomes in colorectal cancer can be linked to a healthy diet

According to a new American Cancer Society study, Colorectal cancer patients who followed healthy diets had a lower risk of death from colorectal cancer and all causes, even those who improved their diets after being diagnosed. To read more about this study, click here.

Using artificial intelligence to classify lung cancer types and predict mutations

Researchers are working on training a computer program to read slides of tissue samples to diagnose two of the most common types of lung cancer with 97% accuracy. The program also learned to detect cancer-related genetic mutations in the samples just by analyzing the images of cancer tissue.

To read more about this research, click here.

Bacteria that causes stomach cancer may lead to increased tisk of colon cancer

A new study conducted at the Duke Cancer Institute in the United States has shown a strong cause and effect relationship between the bacteria causing stomach cancer and a subsequent increased risk for colon cancer.  The study, conducted on 4,000 colon or rectal cancer patients, also found a correlation between genetic origin or heritage and the level of antibodies present in H. pylori bacteria proteins.  According to lead study author Meira Epplein, "VacA antibodies increased the odds of colorectal cancer in African Americans and Asian Americans, and not in whites and Latinos."


To read more about this study, click here.

A new report suggests prioritizing tobacco control

A new report, appearing in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, says that the highest priority in a national cancer control plan must be expansion of tobacco control—the intervention with the largest potential health benefits—according to a new American Cancer Society report, the second in a series of articles that together inform priorities for a comprehensive cancer control plan.

To read more about this report, click here.

New trial alert: Move for surgery - a novel preconditoning program for lung cancer patients

A new clinical trial sponsored by St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, Ontario, is presently recruiting patients for Move for Surgery (MFS), "a preconditioning program that encourages and empowers patients to improve their health prior to surgery."  According to the investigative team, the randomized trial, capped at 186 participants  claims that MFS will lower respiratory complication rates, reduce length of stay in the hospital and increases changes of recovery after surgery.


To read more about this trial, click here.

Investigating the cardiac side effects of cancer treatments

Approximately 100 researchers attended a workshop in June, on the campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD, about an important but underappreciated side effect of some treatments for cancer: heart problems. Certain cancer treatments can damage the heart and the cardiovascular system. These side effects, including high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, and heart failure, can be caused or exacerbated by chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as by newer forms of cancer treatment, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies.

To read more of this article, click here.

Zika virus may aid in the fight against brain cancer

Preliminary research conducted by a joint team at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, and the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences in Beijing indicates that a harmless form of the Zika virus could be used to destroy glioblastoma brain tumours.  According to a news release from the American Society of Microbiology, use of a Zika virus vaccine extended survival of mice with glioblastomas from 30 to 50 days.  These results are promising, and the research team's next step "is to collaborate with doctors to develop trials evaluating the approaches' safety in patients."


To read more about this study, click here.

Risk of developing endocrinopathy determined in children and young adults after radiotherapy for brain tumours

A recently published study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports on the association between radiotherapy dosage for brain tumours in children and young adults and the risk of developing endocrine dysfunction.  Following the analysis of 222 patients between 1 month-26 years of age, it was determined that "patients between 6 and 10 years of age had a higher rate of endocrinopathy than patients less than 6 years old at treatment outset; patients 10 years of age or older shows the lowest incidence of hormone deficiency."


To read more about this study, click here.


Study mentioned: Vatner RE, Niemierko A, Misra M, et al. Endocrine Deficiency as a Function of Radiation Dose to the Hypothalamus and Pituitary in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients With Brain Tumors. J Clin Oncol; Published online 17 August 2018. DOI:  10.1200/JCO.2018.78.1492

A new study shows that appendix cancers are genetically distinct

The largest-ever study of DNA changes in cancer of the appendix shows that this rare cancer is distinct from colorectal cancer and other cancers of the gastrointestinal (GI) systemExit Disclaimer. Moreover, the study authors reported that specific genetic mutations found in the tumors may help predict whether they are likely to be aggressive. are likely to be aggressive. The study was published online on August 8 in JCO Precision Oncology.

To read more about this study, click here.

Vegetarian diet reduces colon cancer risk

A recently published study in JAMA Internal Medicine indicates that the adoption of a vegetarian diet lowers the risk of developing colon cancer.  The study, conducted on 77,000 adults, found that on average, "eating vegetarian may lower colon cancer risk by 19% and rectal cancer by 29% compared to non-vegetarians."  According to the different types of vegetarian diets listed in the study, pesco-vegetarians, those eating fish and seafood and avoiding other meats lowers colorectal cancer risk by up to 43%."


To read more about this study, click here.

Exosomes may help tumors evade immune system

A new study, led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, has identified what may be an important and previously unknown route by which tumors evade the immune system: They secrete small membrane-encased sacs, called exosomes, that are studded with a protein that dials down the immune response. The study found that in lab models of the skin cancer melanoma and in humans with the disease, tumor cells release exosomes coated with proteins called PD-L1. These proteins are part of a family of immune checkpoint proteins that bind to partner molecules on immune cells, effectively deactivating them.

To read more about this study, click here.

Two drugs work together to block ‘master regulator’ of breast cancer

A new study has found that the two-drug (arsenic trioxide and tretinoin) combination commonly used to treat a type of leukemia blocks an enzyme that has a central role in breast and many other cancers. The drug combination has essentially turned acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) from a fatal disease into a curable one. But the mechanism by which it kills cancer cells has been a mystery.

To read more about this study, click here.

NCI-led research team develops predictor for immunotherapy response in melanoma

In a new study led by the National Cancer Institute, researchers developed a gene expression predictor that can indicate whether melanoma in a specific patient is likely to respond to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, a novel type of immunotherapy. The study was published August 20, 2018 in Nature Medicine.

To read more about this study, click here.

Tailored psychotherapy eases depression in people with advanced cancer

A new clinical trial has found that just three to six sessions of a tailored psychotherapy approach known as Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully, or CALM, helped to lessen symptoms of depression in people recently diagnosed with advanced cancer. Results from the trial also showed that the approach may help prevent the onset of depression in those with advanced disease.

To read more about this clinical trial, click here.

Radiation for childhood brain tumour can cause memory loss

A new study conducted at Baylor University in Waco, Texas indicates that radiation therapy for brain tumours in children can lead to memory loss.  In the study, 12 medulloblastoma brain cancer survivors between the ages of 7-18 underwent surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.  According to study author Melanie Sekeres, "there are some known cognitive effects from radiation treatment, including short-term memory loss...but previously acquired memories, which children had before treatment, were preserved."


To read more about this study, click here.

Risk of adult lung disease death my be increased by childhood exposure to secondhand smoke

A new study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine suggests that long-term exposure to secondhand smoke during childhood increases the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) death in adulthood. The study also suggests secondhand smoke exposure as an adult increases the risk of death not only from COPD but also several other conditions.

To read more about this study, click here.

Breast cancer drug promising in phase 3 trial

An experimental drug known as talazoparib has shown promising results in improving survival for women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutations.  The phase 3 trial, conducted on 431 women at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, has shown that women receiving talazoparib live longer by about 3 months compared to standard chemotherapy.   While the response rate to treatment was promising in the trial conducted, the results are considered preliminary and have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).


To read more about this trial, click here.

Triple-negative breast cancer genes identified

Geneticists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota have identified additional genes attributed to an increased risk of triple-negative breast cancer.  Following genetic tests on 11,000 patients with triple-negative breast cancer, the newly identified mutations, namely BARD1, BRCA1, PALB2 and RAD51D were linked to "high risk for triple-negative breast cancer and a greater than 20% lifetime risk of any type of breast cancer..." 


To read more about this study, click here


Source mentioned: Fasching PA, Loibl S, Hu C, Hart SN, Shimelis H, Moore R, et al. BRCA1/2 mutations and bevacizumab in the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer: response and prognosis results in patients with triple-negative breast cancer from the GeparQuinto study. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Aug 1; 36(22): 2281-2287.

Aggressive prostate cancer subtype more common than expected

A new study has shown that nearly one-fifth of men with metastatic prostate cancer whose tumors were resistant to hormone therapy subsequently developed an aggressive prostate cancer subtype. Men with this subtype, called treatment-emergent small-cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-SCNC), appear to have shorter survival than men with other subtypes. The researchers also found genetic differences between t-SCNC and the adenocarcinoma subtype, which accounts for most prostate cancers at diagnosis. Taking advantage of these unique features may improve the diagnosis and treatment of t-SCNC, said lead investigator Rahul Aggarwal, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco.

To read more about this study click here.

IARC evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans: Welding, Molybdenum Trioxide, and Indium Tin Oxide

This volume of the IARC Monographs provides evaluations of the carcinogenicity of welding and welding fumes, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide. Welding can involve exposures to fumes, gases, ultraviolet radiation and electromagnetic fields, and co-exposures to asbestos and solvents. The extent and type of exposure can depend on the process used, the material welded, ventilation, degree of enclosure, and use of personal protection.

To read the full monograph click here.

FDA alters approved use of two checkpoint inhibitors for bladder cancer

Last year, the drugs—pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and atezolizumab (Tecentriq)—received approval for the treatment of patients with previously untreated urothelial carcinoma that has spread beyond the bladder. The 2017 approvals covered the use of the drugs for patients who, because of other health-related factors, cannot receive the chemotherapy drug cisplatin, which is a standard treatment for patients with advanced bladder cancer.

To read more about these changes click here.

European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) releases new patient guide in breast cancer

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has released a new edition of the ESMO Patient Guide in Breast Cancer, as part of their guideline series. 


Updates to the new edition include:

• section on locally-advanced disease
• new section on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB)
• new drugs (neratinib, olaparib, and talazoparib) and associated treatment algorithms
• section on special populations (BRCA-associated disease, pregnancy, young women, elderly patients, men)
• Section on supplementary interventions (supportive and palliative care, survivorship, end-of-life care

 To access the new guide, click here.

Mouse study links immune cells to diarrhea caused by chemotherapy

New findings may shed light on how some chemotherapy agents cause diarrhea. Immune cells called macrophages may help regulate the contractions of muscles lining the walls of the intestines, according to a new study in mice. This could be the basis for developing new anti-diarrheal treatments for patients with cancer who experience chemotherapy-induced diarrhea, researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reported in Immunity on July 17.

To read more about this study, click here.

New trial alert: steoreotactic body radiation therapy for breast cancer

A new trial investigating the use of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for unresected breast cancer has begun at the Sunybrook Regional Cancer Centre in Toronto.  The trial will involve 24 patients with advanced breast cancer, who either do not qualify as candidates for surgery or who have declined surgery as a treatment option.  These patients will each receive "4 fractions of radiation therapy over 12-15 days as the primary treatment modality. 


To read more about this trial, click here.

Sodium thiosulfate prevents cisplatin-induced hearing loss in some children

The results from a new study show the drug sodium thiosulfate can protect the hearing of children with cancer undergoing treatment with the chemotherapy drug cisplatin. The clinical trial involved children with liver cancer that had not spread (localized cancer), for whom cisplatin is the standard chemotherapy. Although cisplatin is very effective, it also causes hearing loss in many children.

To read more about this study, click here.

Blood test can help identify the target population to screen for lung cancer

A new press release from the International Agency for Research on Cancer announced the results of a new study published in JAMA oncology. Researchers found that a blood test measuring four protein biomarkers can improve the identification of individuals who would later develop lung cancer. These biomarkers may help refine the criteria for including current and former smokers in lung cancer screening programmes, using low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans, aimed at reducing deaths from this common cancer.

To read the full press release, click here.

Immune-based therapy for metastatic melanoma that has spread to the brain

New research conducted on 2,700 patients in the U.S. indicates that a form of immunotherapy may provide hope for melanoma cancer that has spread to the brain.  This new form of treatment, known as the Checkpoint Blockade does not involve chemotherapy, but rather "manipulates the patient's immune system so that it targets and destroys the melanoma cells."  Study results indicate that patients receiving the CheckPoint Blockade experienced a rise in overall survival from 5.2 to 12.4 months.


To read more about this study, click here.


Source: Abate-Daga D. Ramello MC, Smalley I, Forsyth PA, Smalley KSM. The biology and therapeutic management of melanoma brain metastases. Biochem Pharmacol 2018 Jul; 153: 35-45.

The key to the HPV vaccination discussions with parents is cancer prevention

The conclusion of a new study found that health care providers should emphasize cancer prevention when discussing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination with the parents of preteens who are due to receive the vaccine. The study asked a diverse group of parents what they felt are the most compelling reasons to get their children vaccinated. Results of the NCI-funded study were published in the July 2018 Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

To read more about this study, click here.

Altering chemotherapy improves outcomes in early-stage pancreatic cancer

The outlook for people diagnosed with early-stage pancreatic cancer can be expected to improve due to the results from two clinical trials. In the first trial, changing the type of chemotherapy given after surgery from a single drug to a multi-drug regimen greatly improved how long patients lived. Patients in the trial treated with the multi-drug regimen survived for an average of 4.5 years after treatment, substantially longer than expected.

To read more about the clinical trials, click here.

Do follow-up tests benefit colorectal cancer survivors?

The results from two new studies show that undergoing follow-up testing for cancer recurrence more than once a year may not benefit people who have been treated for colorectal cancer. The goal of follow-up testing, or surveillance, of people who have been treated for cancer is to improve patient survival by detecting and treating a recurrence early. But results from both studies, published May 22 in JAMA, showed that more frequent tests did not change the rate of detection of recurrence or death due to cancer.

To read more about this study, click here.

Trial produces practice-changing findings for some children and young adults with leukemia

According to new results from an NCI-sponsored Children’s Oncology Group (COG) clinical trial, adding the drug nelarabine (Arranon) to standard chemotherapy improves survival for children and young adults newly diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The trial was the largest ever conducted for patients with newly diagnosed T-ALL and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL).

To read more about the clinical trial, Click here.

American cancer society launches campaign to eliminate cervical cancer

About 14 million people, including teens, become infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) each year. By increasing HPV vaccination rates and continued screening The American Cancer Society (ACS) believes they can eliminating cervical cancer in the United States in the next 40 year. To this end, ACS is launching Mission: HPV Cancer Free, a public health campaign to eliminate vaccine-preventable HPV cancers, starting with cervical cancer.

To read more click here.

OncoArray links dozens of DNA variants to risk for common cancers

Researchers have recently published studies identifying dozens of new genetic variants associated with the risk for developing cancer. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has begun to identify common inherited genetic differences, or variants, that influence disease risk over the last decade. Now, with the support of NCI's GAME-ON initiative and OncoArray Network, researchers are on their way to completing the latest round of cutting-edge studies of inherited risk factors.

To read more about this study, click Here.

TAILORx trial finds most women with early breast cancer don't benefit from chemotherapy

New findings from TAILORx trial, show no benefit from chemotherapy for 70 percent of women with the most common type of breast cancer. The study found that for women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative, axillary lymph node­–negative breast cancer, treatment with chemotherapy and hormone therapy after surgery is not more beneficial than treatment with hormone therapy alone. The trial was supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and designed and led by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group. Findings from the study will be published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

To read more about this study, click Here.

Easing concerns about giving research study participants their genetic test results

A new study shows that participants in genetic studies reported feeling more knowledgeable and less anxious about genetic testing after receiving their results when they had talked about them with a genetic counselor. Currently, people who participate in a research study that includes a genetic test usually don’t get those test results back. In part, that is because of concerns that doing so might create burdens for study participants that outweigh any potential benefits. But these findings suggest that study participants who are interested in receiving their results have positive experiences.


To read more about this study, click here.

New clinical trials report indicates new use of chemptherapy to extend pancreatic cancer survival

2 new clinical trials conducted in France and the Netherlands has uncovered new innovative ways of administering chemotherapy to pancreatic cancer patients in an effort to extend survival rates.


By creating a chemotherapy cocktail comprised of 4 drugs, researchers in France "extended surgical patients' lives by nearly two years over the current single-drug chemo regimen", while the study in the Netherlands determined that "combining chemotherapy and radiation therapy before pancreatic cancer surgery" extended survival rate, especially for patients who successfully had tumours removed.


To read more about these clinical trials, click here.

New treatment approach could help prevent recurrences of some bladder cancers

According to the results of a large clinical trial, flushing the bladder with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine (Gemzar) after tumors have been removed surgically may reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

Patients with low-grade nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer who received a single dose of gemcitabine in the bladder through a catheter after surgery were much less likely to experience a recurrence of the disease within 4 years than patients who received a placebo.

To read more, click here.

American Cancer Society lowers age to begin colorectal cancer screening

The American Cancer Society has released an updated guideline for colorectal cancer screening, whereby the recommended age to begin screening has been lowered from 50 to 45.  The new age recommendation is intended for people at average risk of developing colorectal cancer and is not intended to replace "individual preference and choice in testing options...when there is an abnormal test."


To read more about the guidelines, click here.

Dabrafenib–Trametinib combination approved for melanoma, anaplastic thyroid cancer

The use of two targeted drugs, dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist), has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of two different cancers. As of May 4th, the drug combination can be used to treat some patients with advanced melanoma and anaplastic thyroid cancer (an aggressive and rare form of thyroid cancer).

To read more about the drug approval, click here.

Upcoming webinars from Johns Hopkins University on cancer survivorship

The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at John Hopkins University will be offering 2 webinars pertaining to cancer survivorship during June and July

• Advances in Localized Breast Cancer Treatments (Tuesday, June 5, 2018; 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. EDT)
• Menopausal Management and Breast Cancer (Friday, July 27, 2018; 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. EDT)

Webinars are free, however registration is required.


For more information and to register, please click here.

A new study suggests some children with wilms tumor can receive less therapy

Findings from an NCI-sponsored clinical trial, led by the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), suggests that some children with advanced Wilms tumor, a form of kidney cancer, may be able to skip radiation therapy. Researchers believe that nearly half of children whose cancer has spread to their lungs can be spared lung radiation therapy without harming their long-term survival. The study results were published April 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

To read more about this study, click here.

Australian guidelines prescribe exercise as a key part of cancer care

The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia has released a position statement that calls for exercise to be an essential part of all cancer treatment, prescribed alongside surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

To read more about this position statement, click here.

Erectile dysfunction drugs and flu vaccine may help fight cancer after surgery

A new study from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute indicates that a combination of high doses of erectile dysfunction medication and flu vaccine can naturally aid the immune system to fight cancer after surgery.  According to Dr. Rebecca Auer, surgical oncologist and head of cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital, explains her rationale for choosing Cialis together with the flu vaccine over standard chemotherapy: "instead of using toxic drugs that might suppress the immune system, we're actually trying to use drugs that will boost the immune system so that patient's own immune cells can attack the tumours and hopefully eradicate them."


To read more about this study, click here.

Male patients may respond better to cancer immunotherapy treatment

New research from the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, Italy, indicates that men may respond more positively to cancer immunotherapy treatments than females.  According to study author Dr. Fabio Conforti, research on more than 11,000 patients in the study determined that all patients, regardless of gender, "fared better on immunotherapy treatment than they would have on another treatment, or no treatment at all."  However, these findings also indicate that "male cancer patients saw their survival extended by twice as much as female patients."


To read more about this study, click here.

Patients with advance triple-behative breast cancers (TNBCs) benefit from characterization of BRCA 1/2 mutations to inform choices on platinum-based chemotherapy

A large phase III trial conducted at 74 hospitals across the United Kingdom assessed the efficacy of 2 drugs, carboplatin and docetaxel, in treating patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). The study took place from 2008-2014, involving 376 patients who were equally allocated to receive either carboplatin or docetaxel, to determine the drug's objective response rate (ORR).  Results concluded that "in patients with germline-mutated BRCA 1/2 breast cancer, carboplatin had double the ORR of docetaxel, 68% vs. 33%." 


To read more about this study, click here


Study mentioned:  Tutt A, Tovey H, Cheang MCU, et al. Carboplatin in BRCA1/2-mutated and triple negative breast cancer BRCAness subgroups: the TNT Trial. Nature Medicine; Published online 30 April 2018. doi:10.1038/s41591-018-0009-7.

Large study shows no evidence that vitamin D can reduce lung cancer risk

A recent press release from WHO highlighted a study done by the international agency for research on cancer that found there was no association between circulating vitamin D levels and lung cancer risk. The report presents a robust analysis of more than 5300 case–control pairs nested within 20 international prospective cohort studies.

To read the full press release, click here. 
To read more about this study, click here. 

Common colon cancer screen may be more effective for men than women

New research indicates that sigmoidoscopy, an alternative to colonoscopy may be more effective for men than women.  Flexible sigmoidoscopy does not usually involve sedation and involves only about 1/3 of the colon, compared to colonoscopy. According to a study conducted on almost 99,000 Norwegians aged 50-64, man undergoing sigmoidoscopy rad a 34% lower risk of colon cancer and 37% lower risk of death after 17 years, "however women saw little reduction in their colon cancer risk or death rates compared to women who weren't screened."

To read more about this study, click here. 

Positioning during cancer radiation may be key to heart risks

New research has shown that patients with lung or throat cancer can increasing effectiveness of radiotherapy due to positioning of treatment.  According to Dr. Corinne Johnson, PhD student at Manchester Cancer Research Center in England, "even very small [positioning] errors can have a major impact on patients' survival chances, particularly when tumors are close to a vital organ like the heart.

To read more about this study, click here.

New drugs may help boost survival for lung cancer patients

2 new studies indicate that immunotherapy drugs, namely Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Opdivo (nivolumab), and Yervoy (ipilimumab) may increase survival rates for patients with lung cancer.  Results showed that Keytruda togetehr with chemotherapy lessened a patients change of dying within 11 months by more than 50% compared to chemotherapy treatment alone, while Opdivo and Yervoy saw a 42% less likely death rate.  According to the authors of the studies, the findings "offer an encouraging note in an effort to improve the odds against what is the leading cause of cancer-related death."

To read more about this study, click here. 

Blood pressure medication tied to pancreatic cancer risk in women

New research indicates that some drugs prescribed to treat high blood pressure, namely calcium channel blockers (CCB) lead to an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer in women.  According to study lead author Zhensheng Wang, "the short-acting CCBs were the only blood pressure drugs linked to higher pancreatic cancer risk."  Despite these findings, the research suggests that the absolute risk of developing pancreatic cancer after taking CCBs remains very low, about 1.6%.

To read more about this study, click here.

Belly fat tied to lower kidney cancer survival odds in women

A new study conducted at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has found that belly fat reduces survival rate for women after being diagnosed with kidney cancer.  However, the same correlation could not be found in men. 

According to study senior author Dr. Joseph Ippolito, "a tumor growing in a man's body is in a different environment than one growing inside a women, so it's not surprising that the cancers behave differently between the sexes."

To read more about this study, click here.

New trial alert: re-setting the breast microbiome to lower inflammation and risk of cancer

A new trial taking place at St. Joseph's Hospital in London, Ontario is currently recruiting patients to trial introducing RepHresh Pro-B, a probiotic natural health product to lower inflammation and risk of cancer.  Women at high risk of developing breast cancer over the course of their lifetime who have not yet been diagnosed with the disease are eligible.  According to the principle investigators, the goal of the trial is to "test [the] theory that taking probiotic lactobacilli by mouth can lead to these organisms reaching the breast tissue and help...reduce inflammation which has close links to cancer."

To read more about this trial, click here. 

NIH completes in-depth genomic analysis of 33 cancer types

Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health have completed a detailed genomic analysis, known as the PanCancer Atlas, on a data set of molecular and clinical information from over 10,000 tumors representing 33 types of cancer. The PanCancer Atlas, published as a collection of 27 papers across a suite of Cell journals, sums up the work accomplished by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) – a multi-institution collaboration initiated and supported by the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), both part of NIH. The program, with over $300 million in total funding, involved upwards of 150 researchers at more than two dozen institutions across North America.

To read more about this study, click here.

Cancer immunotherapy drug simultaneously targets two proteins that block immune response

Two groups of researchers, working independently, have developed a type of drug that simultaneously targets two proteins involved in suppressing the body’s immune response against tumors to try to develop more effective immunotherapies. A growing number of patients with cancer have benefited from drugs that help the immune system fight cancer, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. But most patients with cancers do not respond to these treatments.

To read more about this study, click here. 

Light breakfast may cut cost of prostate cancer drug

Researchers at the University of Chicago have unveiled a new study indicating that taking the prostate cancer drug Zytiga together with a low-fat breakfast boosts the efficiency of the medication.  While Zytiga is typically prescribed as a 250mg pill, 4 of which are taken an hour before breakfast, the new study, led by Dr. Russell Szmulewitz, a prostate cancer specialist at the University of Chicago has found that patients "taking one-fourth of the recommended dose with a low-fast breakfast...was just as effective.  This, in term has cut drug costs by 75%.

To read more about this study, click here. 

Higher risk of heart failure seen in some cancers

The results of a new study show that some people who have been treated for breast cancer or lymphoma have a higher risk of developing congestive heart failure than people who haven't had cancer. The study researchers retrospectively compared heart failure rates in people who were diagnosed with breast cancer or lymphoma with those in people who did not have cancer.

To read more about the study, click here. 

Task force issues stronger skin cancer prevention guidelines

A new, revised recommendation issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests that skin cancer advice from physicians to patients should begin earlier, particularly for patients that are light-skinned.  The new guidelines recommend beginning consultations at 6 months, since "children and teens who are exposed to the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation are at greater risk for developing skin cancer in adulthood."

To read more about these new guidelines, click here. 

Study finds shared decision making still lacking in prostate cancer screening

A new study finds many men receiving prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing do so without a comprehensive shared decision making process, contrary to current guidelines. In the Annals of Family Medicine a study conducted by the American Cancer Institute finds that in both 2010 and 2015 about 6 in 10 men who reported recent PSA testing said they had received at least one component of shared decision making. Meanwhile, only 1 in 10 with no PSA test reported receiving any component of shared decision making in both 2010 and 2015.


To read more about this study, click here.

Testing an interactive approach to promote exercise in young cancer survivors

A study at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital created an interactive website designed to promote physical activity among children and adolescents who have completed treatment for cancer. According to preliminary results from a pilot study, the website may indeed help encourage them to get regularly exercise.

To read more about this study, click here.

Breast cancer radiation not as fearful as previously thought

New research conduced on more than 300 women undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer has found that this treatment procedure may not be as unnerving and fear-inducing as originally thought, alleviating common misconceptions.  According to Dr. Beryl McCormick, radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, "47% [of patients] said that before treatment, they'd read or heard scary stories about the effects of breast radiation."  However, when these patients were asked in hindsight to reflect back on their treatment experience, "84% said their side effects had been less serious than expected."

To read more about this study, click here.

Newer Breast MRI may be more accurate and faster

Research conducted out of Germany suggests that a new MRI technique without use of a contrast agent may more accurately detect cancer vs. harmless lesions.  According to lead researcher Dr. Sebastian Bickelhaupt, head of teh Breast Imaging Research Group at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, the new MRI "maps the movement of water molecules in the tissue.  If a malignant tumor grows in the tissue, it disrupts the healthy tissue structure, which changes the movement of water molecules in this area."  According to the study, this new technique detected 98% of breast cancers accurately, reducing false-positive findings by 70%.

To read more about this study, click here.

Study mentioned

Cancer-causing HPV can reside in throat

Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York claim that the HPV "virus could be present in people's throats without people aware that they're carriers."  While it is believed that only 5% of individuals with HPV will develop cancer of the mouth or throat, the researchers do expect that cases of head and neck cancer will outnumber cervical cancer cases by 2020.  Thus, according to study author Dr. Matthew Miller, the findings observed at Rochester "could have far-reaching implications for identifying people at risk of developing HPV-related head and neck cancers and ultimately preventing them."

To read more about this study, click here.

Cancer survival rates vary across the world

A new study published in the January 30 issue of The Lancet shows that while cancer survival rates are, in general, improving worldwide, diversity continues to exist between wealthy and poor countries.  Conducted from 2000-2014, the study assessed "five-year cancer survival rates among 37.5 million children and adults diagnosed with one of 18 common cancers." from 71 countries and territories.  Of significant note is the 5-year survival rate of breast cancer, brain tumour, and lung cancer; breast cancer survival has risen to 90% in the USA and Australia vs. 66% in India; brain tumour survival in children is listed as 80% in Denmark and Sweden, but less than 40% in Mexico and Brazil; lung cancer survival rates have risen from 7%-13% in the United Kingdom, with significant increases in China (from 8%-20%), Japan (23%-33%) and Korea (10%-25%).

To read more about this study, click here.

New treatments for lung cancer

A new report authored by a team at the Yale Cancer Center presents a synopsis of lung cancer treatments over the past 20 years.  According to co-lead author Dr. Roy Herbst, chief of medical oncology at Yale Cancer Center, "options for treatments have improved in recent years with the advent of two classes of drugs - molecularly targeted therapies, and more recently, immunotherapies."

To read more about this report, click here.

Blood test could detect cancer in early stages

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University are currently testing a blood test purported to detected several cancers, including ovary, liver, stomach, pancreas, oesophagus, colorectal, lung, and breast, at early stages.  Known as liquid biopsies, the tests "look for DNA and other things that tumours she into blood, to try to find cancer before it spreads, when chances of cure are best."  While the test is not ready for use yet, it is seen as a significant step towards early detection of cancer before tumours can spread.

To read more about this blood test, click here.

BRCA breast cancer gene doesn't affect patient survival

A new study conducted by the NHS Foundation Trust in England indicates that there is no distinction in survival rates between young breast cancer patients with a BRCA gene mutation and those without.  The study was conducted on more than 2,700 women in the United Kingdom between 18-40 years old, with a first-time breast cancer diagnosis.  12% of the women studied had a BRCA mutation, however lead researcher Diana Eccles stated that findings showed "survival rates after 2 years were 97% for women with a BRCA mutation and 96.6% for those without the mutation."

To read more about this study, click here.

Medicinal cream may aid in recurrence of skin cancer

A study conducted at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island on 930 U.S. veterans, with an average age of 70, indicates that a generic cream known as 5-FU  can reduce recurrence of skin cancer.  According to study results, "just a month's application of 5-FU (fluorouracil 5%) appeared to have a lasting impact in preventing a recurrence - even after use of the cream was stopped." Despite these findings, many dermatologists caution against the side effects associated with 5-FU, including redness, scaling, irritation and plain, which affects ~ 40% of those applying the medicinal cream.

To read more about this study, click here.

Clinical trial alert: comparison of endoscopic visualization and CT imaging of head and neck cancers with pathological validation

A new clinical trial, sponsored by the University Health Network in Toronto, discusses endoscopy as a new method of optimal imaging for radiation therapy in head and neck cancer patients. This method is particular important, as "radiation needs to cover the entire tumour while minimizing the amount of normal tissue that is exposed to radiation.

To read more about this trial, click here.