Supplemental breast cancer imaging techniques could lead to earlier detection of cancer in women with dense breasts

 Results from the Breast Screening - Risk Adapted Imaging for Density (BRAID) study were recently published in The Lancet.  BRAID is "the first randomized controlled trial to compare supplemental imaging of abbreviated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), automated who breast ultrasound (ABUS), and contrast-enhanced mammography with standard mammography (standard-of-care) in women of average population risk with dense breasts and a negative screening mammogram." 

For a period of 4.5 years (October 2019 - March 2024), 9361 women aged 50-70 across the UK were recruited and randomly assigned to ether abbreviated MRI, ABUS, or contrast-enhanced mammography.   Per 1000 examinations, cancer detection rate was 17.4 for abbreviated MRI, 4.2 for ABUS, and 19.2 for contrast-enhanced mammography. 

Click here to read more about the BRAID trial. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Gilbert FJ, Payne N, Allajbeu I, et al. Comparison of supplemental breast cancer imaging techniques—interim results from the BRAID randomised controlled trial . The Lancet; Published online 21 May 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00582-3
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• Houssami N. Breast cancer screening at a crossroads: supplemental imaging for dense breasts . The Lancet; Published online 21 May 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)00803-7

Patient and tumour characteristics may vary across treatment lines in a selected population of patients with mCRC included in randomised trials

 Findings from a large-scale study conducted via the Aide et Recherche en Cancerologie Digestive (ARCAD) database of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer as recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). According to the study, "almost one in two patients do not receive a subsequent treatment line with second- and third-line treatment rates of 50-60% and 20-30% respectively."  In order to facilitate further research and use, ARCAD is planning to develop Score Prognostic in Oncology Digestive, an app for smartphones, tablets, and computers.  

To learn more about this study click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Bachet J-B, de Gramont A, Raeisi M, et al. Characteristics of Patients and Prognostic Factors Across Treatment Lines in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: An Analysis From the Aide et Recherche en Cancérologie Digestive Database . JCO; Published online 5 May 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-24-01968

Sun safety declining in Canada amid rise in skin cancer cases

 A recently completed study from McGill University indicates a growing number of Canadians using less sun protection amidst increasing sun exposure time, resulting in rising cases of melanoma.  According to the study, "75% of adult Canadians reported spending at least 30 minutes in the sun...with nearly half staying out for 2 hours or more".  In addition, most of the Canadians polled admitted to irregular or no use of sunscreen, with 33% of those polled experiencing sunburn. 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Amina Moustaqim-Barrette, Hibo Rijal, Santina Conte, Mahan Maazi, Johnny Hanna, Alexandra Sarah Victoria Kelly, Alicia Belaiche, Alyson McKenna, Sandra Pelaez, François Lagacé, Ivan V Litvinov - Evaluating UV exposure and skin cancer prevention behaviours in Canada: a national population-based cross-sectional study: BMJ Public Health 2025;3:e001983.

InflaMix identifies CAR-T recipients with a preinfusion inflammatory profile indicative of high risk for CAR-T treatment failure

 Findings from the use of InflaMix, a predictive, point-of-care-clinical tool, designed "to identify patients at high risk of treatment failure and support informed risk-benefit discussions.." in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, were recently published in Nature Medicine.  InflaMix, which requires only 1 blood test, "offers an unbiased quantitative assessment of 14 blood markers, 11 of which are routinely assayed for patients with lymphoma."  

To read more about InflaMix, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Raj SS, Fei T, Fried S, et al. An inflammatory biomarker signature of response to CAR-T cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Nature Medicine; Published online 1 April 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03532-x