Blood test may help identify which colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases are most likely to benefit from chemotherapy after surgery

Research recently present at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Congress in Munich, Germany, indicates that a blood test may identify colorectal cancer patients which has metastasized to the liver and thus "most likely to benefit from chemotherapy after surgery."   Known as GALAXY, the joint phase II study between researchers and collaborations from Hyogo Medical University in Japan and the University of Oxford determined that "among patients with detectable ctDNA who underwent upfront surgery, those who received adjuvant chemotherapy had substantially better outcomes...[with] a markedly lower risk of cancer recurrence and death, including a 93% reduction in the risk of recurrence." 

To learn more about the GALAXY study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

1. 8O“ctDNA status and adjuvant chemotherapy after resection of colorectal liver metastases: an overall survival analysis of the GALAXY study” will be presented by Koza Kataoka during Proffered Paper session on Friday, 3 July, 16:30-18:00 CEST, in Room 14
2. Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2024;74(3):229–263.
3. Folkerts AD, Janczewski LM, Merkow RP, et al. Liver-directed therapies for colorectal liver metastases. Cancer. 2025;e70097.
4. Kataoka K, Mori K, Nakamura Y, et al. Survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy based on molecular residual disease detection in resected colorectal liver metastases: subgroup analysis from CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY. Annals of Oncology. 2024;35(11):1015–1025.

De-escalated radiotherapy after surgery in HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

A recently published phase III trial in Lancet Oncology, lower doses of adjuvant radiotherapy plus docetaxel "were associated with reduced toxicity and need for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy", impacting a patient's quality of life.  Following 194 patients with stage III-IV HPV-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma indicated grade 3 or higher toxic effect "of at least possible attribution to treatment...3 months after radiotherapy.." at 3% in the de-escalated adjuvant radiotherapy group compared to 11% in the standard of care group. 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Adding pembrolizumab to preoperative radiotherapy and surgery improves disease-free survival for patients with stage III soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity

 

Findings from the SU2C-SARC032 trial, conducted by the Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration (SARC) in 20 academic institutions across Australia, Canada, Italy, and the USA, was recently published in The Lancet.  Led by Professor David G. Kirsch of the Princess Margaret Cancer entre in Toronto, results from the trial indicated "improvement in disease-free survival with addition of preoperative and postoperative pembrolizumab to preoperative radiation therapy and surgical resection for patients with stage III undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma or liposarcoma in the extremity or limb girdle." 

To learn more about this trial, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

• Mowery YM, Ballman KV, Hong AM, et al. Safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab, radiation therapy, and surgery versus radiation therapy and surgery for stage III soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity (SU2C-SARC032): an open-label, randomised clinical trial. The Lancet; Published Online 12 November 2024: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01812-9
• Italiano A. Perioperative immunotherapy in soft tissue sarcomas. The Lancet; Published Online 12 November 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02252-9

Immunotherapy after surgery helps people with high-risk bladder cancer live cancer-free longer

 A recently completed clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that treatment with an immunotherapy drug "may nearly double the length of time people with high-risk muscle-invasive bladder cancer are cancer-free following surgical removal of the bladder."  According to Dr. Andrea Apolo from the National Cancer Institute, the drug in question, pembrolizumab, extension of the cancer-free period makes a considerable difference in the patient's quality of life.  

To read more about this trial, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

1. Apolo AB, Ballman KV, Sonpavde G, et al. Adjuvant Pembrolizumab versus Observation in Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma.Exit Disclaimer NEJM. September 15, 2024. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2401726.

Potential of molecular profiling to refine surgical and radiotherapy decision-making in patients with meningioma

 Findings from the RTOG-0539 study, the largest meningioma cohort with multiplatform molecular ever conducted, was recently published in Nature Medicine.  Using retrospective data on 2,824 meningiomas, researchers found that "gross tumour resection was associated with longer progression-free survival across all molecular groups and longer overall survival in proliferative meningiomas." 

Click here to learn more about this study. 

Source mentioned: 

Wang JZ, Patil V, Landry AP, et al. Molecular classification to refine surgical and radiotherapeutic decision-making in meningioma. Nature Medicine; Published online 21 August 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03167-4

Low incidence of local recurrence when omitting radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery in Luminal A breast cancer

 The LUMINA study, conducted at the Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, indicates that women 55 years or older "with T1N0, grade 1 or 2, luminal A breast cancer have a very low risk of local recurrence at 5 years after breast-conserving surgery when treated with endocrine therapy alone."  The authors of the study further concluded that clinicopathologic factors alone (including patient's age, size and grade of tumour), are of "limited use in the identification of patients at low risk of recurrence", where radiotherapy can be omitted. 

To read more about the LUMINA study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Whelan TJ, Smith S, Parpia S, et al. for the LUMINA Study Investigators. Omitting Radiotherapy after Breast-Conserving Surgery in Luminal A Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med 2023;389:612-619.

New trial alert: FACE-Q in facial reconstructive surgery

 A recently posted clinical trial, sponsored by McMaster University, aims to "establish a prospective database of clinical information, FACE-Q scores, and patient photographs...to enhance the understanding and practice of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery."  FACE-Q is a validated patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) that investigates patient experience following facial surgery due to skin cancer.  

To learn more about this trial, click here. 

Surgery could boost survival for women With advanced breast cancers

 A new study conducted at the Penn State Cancer Institute in Hershey, Pennsylvania, purports that "women with advanced breast cancer who undergo surgery to remove the tumor after chemotherapy or another type of systemic treatment may live longer than those who don't have surgery." Study author Dr. Daleela Dodge further explains that the surgery for metastatic breast cancer patients should be considered as a plausible alternative to systematic treatment, which is currently the standard of care offered to these patients. 

To read more about this study, click here. 

SOURCES: Daleela Dodge, MD, associate professor, surgery, Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pa.; Stephanie Bernik, MD, chief, breast service, Mount Sinai West Medical Center, New York City, and associate professor, surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City; Annals of Surgical Oncology, Oct. 30, 2020

New trial alert: Robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate prosthetic breast reconsrtuction

Researchers at the University Health Network in Toronto are conducting a new trial utilizing a surgical robotic system to reduce visible scarring of the breast, and nipple-areolar complex malposition/distortion.  The Robotic Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy (RNSM), while thus far utilized in only a few centres in North America (The University Health Network trial will be the first of its kind in Canada), investigators do emphasize that the robotic technique is safe, feasible, and can "provide superior cosmetic outcomes with less morbidity and higher patient satisfaction compared to traditional nipple-sparing techniques.

 To read more about this trial, click here.

Mastectomy may increase changes of survival in stage 4 HER2-positive breast cancer patients

A new study conducted at the Breast Health Center at Loma Linda University Health, California, indicates that mastectomy may increase odds of survival in women with stage 4 HER2-positive breast cancer when compared to other treatment regimens, such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy.  The study involved 3,200 U.S. women with stage 4 HER2-positive breast cancer who underwent 4 different kinds of therapy: chemotherapy (90%) hormonal therapy (38%), surgery (35%), and radiation (32%).  Of the 38% of women who underwent surgery (mastectomy), there was a "44% increased change of survival, assuming that most patients were also treated with systemic therapies."


To read more about this study, 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.

New microscope scans breast tumors during surgery

A new microscope developed by scientists and engineers at the University of Washington is touted as being able to assist surgeons in completely removing breast tumours, "reducing the number of women who must undergo repeat surgeries to remove cancer cells that were missed the first time."

According to study co-author Adam Glaser, postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington Molecular Biophotonics Laboratory, the microscope is able to scan tumours and examine cells in 3D within 30 minutes.

To read more about this microscope, click here.

Strength training may prevent side effect of breast cancer surgery

New research conducted at Florida State University in Tallahassee suggests that strength training may be beneficial for breast cancer survivors who have had surgery.  The study, conducted on 27 breast cancer survivors who underwent supervised moderate-intensity strength workouts shows that "weightlifting appeared to help prevent swelling in the arms and chest, a common side effect of breast cancer treatment."

To read more about this study, click here.

Nephrectomy for RCC may result in significant declines in renal function

Despite having better baseline kidney function and overall health status, patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) had greater postsurgical decreases in kidney function after undergoing a radical nephrectomy compared with patients undergoing a radical nephroureterectomy (RNU) for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).

These results were published recently in Urology. According to the study, surgical management of both RCC and UTUC involves radical removal of a renal unit, with the additional removal of the ureter in patients with UTUC. With this study, the researchers hoped to identify risk factors that predict a decline in renal function after radical nephrectomy for RCC or RNU for UTUC.

Read more from CancerNetwork.

Recent advances in treating ovarian cancer

A pair of studies published recently in the AACR’s journal Clinical Cancer Research report on some interesting observations and developments in treating ovarian cancer, a difficult-to-diagnose and difficult-to-treat disease.

Research that reported in these two studies to identify new methods and opportunities to improve the treatment of ovarian cancer is much needed.

- Can presurgery chemotherapy make advanced ovarian cancers responsive to immunotherapy?
- An imaging system that can guide surgeons to remove more ovarian cancer

Read more from Cancer Research Catalyst.

Virtual reality glasses used during brain surgery for the first time

February 17, 2016 - In a world first, a patient in France undergoing brain surgery while conscious wore virtual reality glasses as doctors removed a cancerous tumour, the chief surgeon told AFP Tuesday.

"In creating a completely artificial world for the patient, we could map certain zones and connections of his brain related to functions that we could not, up to now, easily test on the operating table," Philippe Menei, a neurosurgeon at Angers hospital in western France, told AFP. The operation was performed on January 27, and the patient was recovering well, he said. Read more here.

More breast cancer patients opting for mastectomy, Vanderbilt study finds

Far more breast cancer patients are choosing to undergo mastectomy, including removal of both breasts, instead of choosing breast conservation surgery even when they have early stage disease that is confined to one breast, a Vanderbilt study shows. In the past decade, there have also been marked trends toward higher proportions of women opting for breast reconstruction. This is a reversal of trends seen since the 1990s when breast conservation surgery (BCS) was found to produce equivalent cancer outcomes and was endorsed as a standard of excellence by a National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference. Read more here.

Toronto hospital live-tweeting colon cancer surgery

Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital is live-tweeting colon cancer surgery this morning to raise awareness about prevention and treatment for the disease. Cancer surgeon Dr. Shady Ashmalla is performing the procedure, which got underway shortly after 8 a.m. EST and is expected to take about two hours. Ashamalla and his team are providing updates, photos and short videos as they perform a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, a minimally invasive colon cancer procedure. Read more here.

New molecular imaging technology could improve bladder cancer detection

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have developed a new strategy that they say could detect bladder cancer with more accuracy and sensitivity than standard endoscopy methods. The researchers identified a protein known as CD47 as a molecular imaging target to distinguish bladder cancer from benign tissues. In the future, this technique could improve bladder cancer detection, guide more precise cancer surgery and reduce unnecessary biopsies. Read more here.

Fine line between breast cancer, normal tissues

Up to 40 percent of patients undergoing breast cancer surgery require additional operations because surgeons may fail to remove all the cancerous tissue in the initial operation. However, researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have successfully tested a tool they developed that will help surgeons better distinguish cancerous breast tissue from normal tissue, thereby decreasing the chances for repeat operations. Read more here.