Press Release: Ethnic diversity and disparities in access to genetic testing impact prostate cancer development and treatment

A press release from the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) discusses the importance and need for "ethnically diverse prostate cancer genomics data and accessible genetic testing."   According to Dr. Rodrigo Dienstmann, an oncologist with joint appointments at the Grupo Oncoclinicas in Sao Paulo Brazil as well as the Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain, predisposition to prostate cancer does vary across ethnicities, particularly in men of African and Caribbean descent, who are at increased risk: "such race-related differences can condition the behaviour of the disease and its treatment, yet our current knowledge of prostate cancer genomics is largely limited to data from Europe and the USA, in which Asian and other non-Caucasian ethnicities are scarcely represented." 

To learn more about this press release, click here.  

Geriatric assessment intervention reduces patient-reported symptom toxicities in older patients with advanced cancer

 Findings from GAP70+, the first study to "systematically describe baseline symptom burden as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) in older adults with advanced cancer" was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. 

According to the GAO70+ study, more than 25% of new cancer diagnoses occur in older patients, however this demographic is often now well-represented in clinical trials, which limits understanding of the various treatment options available.  

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: Culakova E, Mohile SG, Peppone L, et al. Effects of a Geriatric Assessment Intervention on Patient-Reported Symptomatic Toxicity in Older Adults With Advanced Cancer. JCO; Published online 10 November. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.22.00738

New study shows cancer mortality higher among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals

 A new study recently released by the American Cancer Society indicates that "cancer mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native individuals is 18% higher than among White individuals despite similar cancer incidence."  The study is the first U.S. nationwide mortality data that has been published for this demographic and explains that the "disparity is driven by common cancers that are receptive to early detection."  Thus, breast and prostate cancer incidence rates are 15% and 12% lower, but 7% and 31% higher mortality rates.  Further, mortality rates for infection-related cancers, including liver, stomach, cervix, and kidney, were twice the rate among American Indian and Alaska Native groups compared to White individuals. 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned:  Kratzer TB, Jemal A, Miller KD, et al. Cancer statistics for American Indian and Alaska Native individuals, 2022: Including increasing disparities in early-onset colorectal cancer. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;1‐27. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21757

New study shows recently diagnosed adult cancer survivors at higher risk for bone fractures

 A new study conducted by the American Cancer Society indicates that adult cancer survivors, especially those diagnosed within 5 years and/or treated with chemotherapy, "have an increased risk for bone fractures, specifically pelvic and vertebral fractures, compared to older adults without cancer." These findings were further correlated with levels of physical activity and smoking status; active adults had a lower risk of bone fractures, whereas smoking among survivors lead to an increased risk of bone issues. The study, conducted on 92,431 participants over 20 years (1997-2017) unveiled 12,943 with bone fractures.  

To read more about this study, click here.