New study shows people with advanced cancers more likely to use palliative care if providers are close to home

 A new study conducted by researchers at the American Cancer Society and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual symposium (October 27-28, 2023) has found that U.S. adults "with stage IV cancer living in nonmetropolitan, socioeconomically deprived areas, the southern U.S., or being treated at community facilities had lower accessibility to palliative care physicians than their counterparts in other areas."  The study, conducted on 333,000 adults with stage IV cancer in 2018-2019, found a correlation between geographic accessibility to palliative care providers and the timeliness of quality care received.   

To read more about thus study, click here. 

 

Adults living alone at higher risk for cancer mortality

 A recent study completed by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) has shown that within the United States, adults living alone "were at a higher risk of cancer mortality in several sociodemographic groups, compared to adults living with others."  According to the report, led by principal scientist Dr. Hyunjung Lee at the ACS, 38 million households lived alone in 2022, compared to 7 million households in 1960.  Middle-aged adults (ages 45-64) "living alone had a 1.43 times higher [cancer mortality] risk" due in part to feelings of loneliness and social isolation.  

To read more about this study, click here. 

 

The potential of AI to improve cancer care is only going to grow

 The annual European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) annual conference, held in Madrid Spain from October 20-24, 2023 will contain dedicated sessions focused on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in several aspects of cancer care, including: 

• use of AI technologies to improve early cancer detection and diagnosis 
• integration of AI into clinical workflows 
• use of AI to report real-world oncological data with accuracy and transparency 
• implementation of AI and digital oncology in routine practice 

To learn more about the AI sessions planned for the upcoming ESMO Conference, click here. 

Efficacy of dabrafenib plus trametinib in first-line treatment for children and adolescents with low-grade glioma with BRAF V600 mutations

 A recently completed randomized phase II study at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto indicates "superiority of dabrafenib plus trametinib as first systemic treatment for pediatric patients with low-grade glioma with BRAF V600 mutations as compared with carboplatin plus vincristine, the standard chemotherapy approach."  Following randomization amongst 110 patients, follow-up after a median of 18.9 months indicated overall response in 47% of patients treated with dabrafenib plus trametinib compared to a 11% overall response in those patients treated with chemotherapy.  Other benefits included longer progression-free survival and a lower rate of discontinuing treatment due to side effects. 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: Bouffet E, Hansford JR, Garrè ML, et al. Dabrafenib plus Trametinib in Pediatric Glioma with BRAF V600 Mutations. N Engl J Med 2023;389:1108-1120.

An alternative model for genetic testing delivery proposed with posttest counselling for those with pathogenic variants and on demand for those without pathogenic variants

 Findings from MAGENTA (Making Genetic Testing Accessible), the first randomized clinical study "evaluating the effect of individualized pretest and posttest counselling for cancer risk assessment while providing electronic enrolment, remote testing, and counselling" was recently published in JAMA Oncology.  

Of the 3839 women, ranging in age from 22-91 (average age: 44) included in the MAGENTA study, study authors concluded that alternative models of genetic counselling, such as telehealth, which became particularly prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, "provides more flexibility for patients and reduces costs."  

To learn more about the MAGENTA study, click here. 

Source mentioned:  Swisher EM, Rayes N, Bowen D, et al. Remotely Delivered Cancer Genetic Testing in the Making Genetic Testing Accessible (MAGENTA) Trial A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncology; Published online 14 September 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.3748