New trials alert: CheckMate 649, Attraction 4, and Keynote 590 support immunotherapy for gastric and oesophageal cancers

 New data presented at the recent ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) 2020 conference discusses 3 trials, CheckMate, Attraction 4, and Keynote 590 supporting the use of immunotherapy for gastric and oesophageal cancer patients with poor survival prognoses.  As indicated in the ESMO press release "immune checkpoint inhibitors are not yet approved for early therapy in Western countries."  The trials thus provide evidence on the use of different immune checkpoint inhibitors as first-line therapy regimens. 

To read more about these trials, click here. 

Early evaluation of nutritional status needed to provide nutritional support and decrease risk of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and nosocomial infection in cancer patients

 According to criteria from the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), malnutrition and risk of developing nosocomial infection is at high prevalence upon hospital admission for cancer patients.  A small observational study of 107 patients (average age of 66 years old) conducted at General University Hospital of Valencia Oncology Department, indicated that 70% had an advanced stage of cancer diagnosis, presenting with severe (44.9%) and moderate (17.8%) malnutrition on admission.  Study author Dr. Nunez Abad and his investigative team thus advise that "an adequate nutritional evaluation is essential for timely implementation of nutritional support, to avoid malnutrition, sarcopenia and to decrease NI." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

COVID-19 pandemic halts cancer care and damages oncologists' wellbeing

 As recently discussed at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in delays and/or cancellation of cancer treats, while increasing stress levels and causing burnout among oncologists.  According to a statement by Dr. Guy Jerusalem at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sart Tilman in Belgium, "COVID-19 has had a major impact on the organization of patient care...there is a risk that the diagnosis of new cancer cases will be delayed and that more patients will be diagnosed at a later stage of their disease."  Studying findings indicated that among survey results obtained from cancer centres across 18 European countries, 60.9% admitted that clinical activity was reduced as a result of COVID-19, with 64.2% concerned about under-treatment, and 37% expecting significant reductions in clinical trials.  

To read more about this study, click here.