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.