Cancer incidence and mortality rates in Alberta on downward trend

The newly released Report on Cancer Statistics in Alberta indicates that incidence rates of cancer have declined by 0.6% annually between 2001-2014, with a 2.1% decrease per year in mortality rates during that same time period.  The Screening for Life Program emphasizes the importance of early detection and screening on a patient's rate of survival.  According to Dr. Huiming Yang, Medical Director, Screening, Population, Public, and Indigenous Health, "we want Albertans to know what screening options are available to them and we need everyone to take personal responsibility for their health and well-being by asking their doctor about what cancer screening programs are right for them."

To read more about this report, click here.

Breath test may be able to detect stomach cancers earlier

Research recently presented at the European Cancer Congress (ECC) indicates that a breath test may be able to detect earlier incidents of stomach and esophageal cancers.  According to study author Dr. Sheraz Markar from Imperial College in London, A breath test could be used as a noninvasive, first-line test to reduce the number of unnecessary endoscopies."  Measuring 5 chemicals in breath, this test, conducted on more than 300 patients has been found to be 85% accurate.

To read more about this study, click here.

HPV vaccine does not eliminate need for Pap test

With January being designated as Cervical Health Awareness Month, oncologists are reminding patients about the importance and need for women of all ages to undergo Pap test screening.  According to Dr. Jayanthi Lea, from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, "the [HPV] vaccine reduces the risk of cancer, but has not yet been shown to eliminate the need for screening."

Click here to read more.

Even small amount of daily activity can boost colon cancer survival

A new U.S. study conducted on 1,200 colon cancer patients indicated a 19% decrease in early risk of death for those exercising 30 minutes or more on a daily basis. Further, individuals who exercised at least 5 hours per week saw their survival rate rise to 25%.  According to Dr. Andrew Chan, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, these findings do support the notion that "patients who have cancer and who are physically active...have a better prognosis."

To read more about this study, click here.

Chemo Brain may last for several months after breast cancer treatment

A new study conducted in the United States, considered to be the largest of its kind to date, explored explored the effects of memory and attention issues affecting breast cancer survivors after undergoing chemotherapy treatment.  According to study author Michelle Janelsins, assistant professor o surgery, radiation oncology and neuroscience at the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Wilmot Cancer Institute in New York, "a month after chemo ended, 45% of patients reported a significant decline in so-called cognitive abilities", an effect that continued to linger 6 months later where "36% of patients still felt their mental ability had declined."

To read more about this study, click here.

Drug for advanced bone cancer may require less frequent dosing

Researchers at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in Newark, Delaware have determined that use of Zometa, a drug used to treat bone cancer, reduces side effects in patients and increases cost savings wen administered every 3 months instead of monthly.  This change in dosage has not resulted in increased risk of bone problems over a 2-year period.  The study, conducted on more than 1800 patients with breast cancer, prostate cancer, or multiple myeloma indicated bone problems in 30% of patients who received the drug monthly compared to 29% who were administered the drug every 3 months.

To read more about this study, click here.

New targeted therapies show promise for treating advanced GIST

Two early-phase clinical trials testing new targeted therapies for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have produced promising preliminary results. Although the findings are preliminary, Lee Helman, M.D., of NCI's Center for Cancer Research, said the drugs show substantial promise as a treatment for patients with GIST whose tumors stop responding to standard therapies.

The trial results were presented earlier this month at the EORTC-NCI-AACR Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics ConferenceExit Disclaimer in Munich.

Read more here.

Response to Durvalumab increased with high PD-L1 expression in pretreated NSCLC

Durvalumab treatment in the second-line setting or beyond demonstrated clinical benefit and led to durable responses in heavily pretreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to findings presented at the 17th World Lung Cancer Conference in Vienna.

Rad more here.

MEK inhibitor/Taxane combination active in triple-negative breast cancer

A small clinical trial demonstrated encouraging clinical activity in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treated with a MEK inhibitor and a taxane. The combination of cobimetinib (Cotellic) and paclitaxel led to confirmed partial responses in 6 of 16 patients and 2 additional unconfirmed partial responses. Five of the 6 confirmed responses proved to be durable, persisting for about 20 weeks. “This is the first study to evaluate the combination of cobimetinib and paclitaxel in triple-negative breast cancer,” Adam M. Brufsky, MD, PhD, associate chief of hematology oncology, and co-director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and colleagues concluded in a presentation at the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. “The safety profile of combined cobimetinib and paclitaxel is manageable and consistent with the known safety profiles for each drug.

- See more here.

SABCS 2016: Menopausal symptoms affect adherence with Tamoxifen but also with placebo

Although menopausal symptoms play a role in adherence to tamoxifen, the strength of the association between menopausal symptoms and adherence was similar in women assigned to placebo and those assigned to tamoxifen during a large, placebo-controlled trial by investigators from the United Kingdom and Australia.

Read more 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.

Therapeutic vaccine promising for leukemia

New research arising from the Cancer Vaccine Program at the Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center in Boston  indicates that an anti-cancer vaccine derived from an acute myeloid leukemia patient's cells significantly increases the chance of long-term survival.

According to senior researcher Dr. David Avigan, "the vaccine has produced long-term remission for 70% of a small group of vaccinated patients with an average age of 63."

To read more about this study, click here.

Cancer survivors at increased risk of severe heart attack

A new study conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota indicates that cancer survivors are at increased risk of suffering a severe heart attack.  According to cardiologist and study senior author Dr. Joerg Herrmann, the study, conducted on 2,300 heart attack patients found that 10% were cancer survivors.  While not all of these heart attacks were fatal, a correlation was indicated, as "patients with a history of cancer were more likely to arrive at the hospital with cardiogenic shock, where the heart suddenly can't pump enough blood,"

To read more about this study, click here.

In utero exposure to radiation and haematological malignancies: pooled analysis of Southern Urals cohort

The results of a study led by researchers from the IARC Section of Environment and Radiation analysing in utero exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation in the Southern Urals, Russian Federation, and its link to the lifetime risk of haematological malignancies have been published in the British Journal of Cancer.

The study is based on cohorts in the Southern Urals of people exposed in utero to ionizing radiation, because their mothers either worked at a large nuclear facility or lived in areas along the Techa River contaminated by nuclear accidents and nuclear waste dumping.

Study mentioned:
Schuz J, Deltour I, Krestinina LY, Tsareva YV, Tolstykh EI, Sokolnikov ME, Akleyev AV
In utero exposure to radiation and haematological malignancies: pooled analysis of Southern Urals cohort
Br J Cancer, Published online 17 November 2016; http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2016.373

Device uses cancer cells' mass to predict response to treatment

The presence of specific genetic mutations in a tumor may help predict whether the patient is likely to respond to treatment with a particular therapy. Some researchers are trying to pinpoint these genetic mutations for diverse cancer types and to develop tests that can reliably identify them. Some have designed a device that can detect minuscule changes in cell mass and may allow researchers to predict how cancer cells will respond to drug treatment. Such a device could potentially help clinicians determine personalized treatment regimens for individual patients, the study authors believe.

Using cancer cells from patients and mice, the researchers showed that the device, which measures changes in the mass of single cells, correctly predicted whether the cells were sensitive or resistant to a particular drug.

The results of the study, which was funded in part by NCI's Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program, appeared in Nature Biotechnology on October 10.

See the study:
Drug sensitivity of single cancer cells is predicted by changes in mass accumulation rate.
Stevens MM, Maire CL, Chou N, Murakami MA, Knoff DS, Kikuchi Y, Kimmerling RJ, Liu H, Haidar S, Calistri NL, Cermak N, Olcum S, Cordero NA, Idbaih A, Wen PY, Weinstock DM, Ligon KL, Manalis SR.
Nat Biotechnol. 2016 Nov;34(11):1161-1167. doi: 10.1038/nbt.3697.

Alcohol may increase prostate cancer risk

A new joint study conducted by Canadian and Australian scientists indicates that there is a considerable association between consumption of alcohol and an increased risk of prostate cancer.  According to the researchers, "even low levels of drinking [up to 2 drinks a day] were associated with an 8-23% higher risk of prostate cancer, compared to no drinking."

For more information on this study, click here.

Low vitamin D levels could raise risk of bladder cancer

A new study conducted at the University of Warwick in England indicates that low levels of vitamin D could increase the risk of bladder cancer.  According to lead author Rosemary Bland, honorary associate professor at the University of Warwick, findings, recently presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Endocrinology in Brighton, England purports that "low levels of vitamin D in the blood may prevent the cells within the bladder from stimulating an adequate response to abnormal cells."

To read more about this study, click here.

Gene test may identify chemotherapy patients at risk of blood clots

New research conducted in Sweden indicates that genetic testing may help identify breast cancer patients at risk of developing venous thromboembolism while undergoing chemotherapy.  According to study author Judith Brand, postdoctoral researcher in the department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at Karolinska Institute in Sweden, the study, conducted on 4,2000 Swedish women with breast cancer showed that "the one-year rate of venous thromboembolism was 9.5% among those reeving chemotherapy and high genetic risk, compared to 1.3% of did not receive chemotherapy and who had a low genetic risk.

To read more about this study, click here.

FDA submission completed for Niraparib in ovarian cancer

A new drug application (NDA) to the FDA has been completed for niraparib as a maintenance treatment for women with recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, according to the company developing the PARP1/2 inhibitor, Tesaro.

The NDA is based on the phase III NOVA trial, in which niraparib reduced the risk of progression or death by 73% compared with placebo for patients with germline BRCA-positive platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer.

Read more here.

References:

Mirza MR, Monk BJ, Oza A, et al. A randomized, double-blind phase 3 trial of maintenance therapy with niraparib vs placebo in patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer (ENGOT-OV16/NOVA trial). Presented at: 2016 ESMO Congress; October 7-11, 2016; Copenhagen, Denmark. Abstract LBA3_PR.
Mirza MR, Monk B, Herrstedt J, et al. Niraparib maintenance therapy in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer [published online October 8, 2016]. N Engl J Med. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1611310.

Colon cancer's location may determine patient survival

A new report indicates that the area of the colon where cancer develops can affect a patient's rate of survival.  According to Dr. David Bernstein, chief of hepatology at Northwell Health, left-sided cancers (located near the anus, rectum, sigmoid colon and descending colon), "usually present with bleeding or partial obstruction [and] patients tend to seek medical care earlier."  On the other hand, right-sided colon cancers (near the intersection of the small intestine), "do not typically present with obstruction but tend to present with anemia [and] are more likely associated with metastatic disease, especially the liver."  As such, the survival rate is estimated to be 20% greater with left-sided vs. right-sided colon cancers.

To read more about this report, click here.

Immune checkpoint-related neurotoxicity may be more common during combination treatment

Neurotoxicity is not uncommon in patients with melanoma treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as nivolumab and pembrolizumab, but it may be more common in patients treated with nivolumab plus a CTLA-4-blocking antibody such as ipilimumab, a study published in the journal Annals of Oncology has shown.

Read more here.

Study mentioned:

Spain L, Walls G, Julve M, et al. Neurotoxicity from immune-checkpoint inhibition in the treatment of melanoma: a single centre experience and review of the literature. Ann Oncol. 2016 Oct 25. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdw558.

Monitoring, not treatment may be better for certain prostate cancer cases

A new study conducted on 33,000 Swedish men with very low risk (stage I) prostate cancer indicates that close monitoring maybe a more viable option than immediate treatment.  According to lead researcher Dr. Stacy Loeb, assistant professor in the departments of urology and population health at NYU Langone Perlmutter Cancer Center in New York, "there is no rush to get treatment...low-risk prostate cancer can be safely monitored...some men will eventually need treatment, but others will be able to preserve their quality of life for many years."

To read more about this study, click here.

Preventive mastectomy rates have doubled over the past decade; fear is a factor

A new study, recently presented at the American College of Surgeons meeting in Washington D.C., indicates that rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) have doubled in the United States over the past 10 years.  According to the study authors, nearly "25% of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients undergo this procedure"; fear of cancer recurrence is believed to be the primary reason.

To read more about this study, click here  

Further evidence linking obesity to liver cancer

A recent study conducted by the American Cancer Society provides further evidence on the link between high body mass index (BMI) and risk of liver cancer.  According to study co-author Peter Campbell, an examination of 1.57 million adults across 14 U.S. studies found that 6.5% of participants were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  Of these,over 2.000 developed liver cancer.

To read more about this study, click here.

Smokeless tobacco associated with higher risk of prostate cancer death

A new study conducted at the Harvard T.H. Chain School of Public Health in Boston indicates that snus, a smokeless tobacco product, may increase risk of death in a patient with prostate cancer.  According to study co-author Kathryn Wilson, the study, conducted on thousands of Swedish men from 1971-1992, determined that "those who used snus but did not smoke has a 24% higher risk of death from prostate cancer during the study period."

To read more about this study, click here.

Cryoblation as possible alternative for treating early stage breast cancer

A new study conducted at the University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine purports that the cryoblation freezing technique may be a possible treatment mechanism, in lieu of lumpectomy, for small early-stage breast cancers.  According to Dr. Deanna Attai, assistant clinical professor of surgery, the study,conducted on 86 patients, found that overall, "freezing was successful for 92% of the cancer...it worked for all tumors measuring less than 1 centimeter."

To read more about this study, click here.

Diagnosis of cancer as a medical emergency leads to poorer prognosis for many patients

Too many patients - particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds - are being diagnosed with cancer as medical emergencies, say researchers. This means that their chances of successful treatment are greatly reduced.

In an article in the journal Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology, a team of researchers jointly led by the University of Cambridge and University College London reviewed current evidence from 26 peer-reviewed studies and 6 online reports from 7 countries. The evidence indicates that emergency diagnosis of cancer is a universal problem, challenging previous assumptions regarding this issue being a particular problem only in the UK.

Read more here.

Study mentioned:
Zhou, Y et al. Diagnosis of cancer as an emergency: a critical review of current evidence. Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology; 11 Oct 2016; 10.1038/nrclinonc.2016.155

Night shift work and breast cancer risk

Data from three new UK studies and from a review of currently available evidence, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, indicates that night shift work has little or no effect on breast cancer incidence.

Compared with women who had not reported doing night shift work, the combined relative risks taking all 10 studies together were 0.99 for any night shift work, 1.01 for 20 or more years of night shift work, and 1.00 for 30 or more years night shift work. In other words, the incidence of breast cancer was essentially the same whether someone did no night shift work at all or did night shift work for several decades.

Study mentioned:
Ruth C. Travis, Angela Balkwill, Georgina K. Fensom, Paul N. Appleby, Gillian K. Reeves, Xiao-Si Wang, Andrew W. Roddam, Toral Gathani, Richard Peto, Jane Green, Timothy J. Key, and Valerie Beral
Night Shift Work and Breast Cancer Incidence: Three Prospective Studies and Meta-analysis of Published Studies
JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst (2016) 108 (12): djw169 doi:10.1093/jnci/djw169

Five challenges of delivering immuno-oncology trials and how to overcome them

Recent advances have seen immuno-therapy become a shining light within oncology research, transforming both the way cancer treatments are viewed and the potential standards of care and outcomes.

These are exciting developments, but at the same time can add huge complexities to the drug development process, particularly around the trial stages and processes. Particular areas of focus include more sophisticated site selection and advanced monitoring/oversight processes to moderate cost and risk, especially in early phases.

Quintiles‘ Eric Groves, MD, PhD, Vice President, Scientific Advisor, Advisory Services proposes there are five key challenges which when addressed, mitigate the majority of risks that can accompany immuno-oncology trials and has produced a blog which looks at each of them.

To view the blog and understand what these challenges are and how to approach them – please click here.

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer less safe for men with prior heart attack

A new study conducted at Yale University's Department of Therapeutic Radiology indicates that hormone-depleting therapy, often prescribed to men with prostate cancer, may pose a risk for those patients who have survived a heart attack.  While the study noted that younger patients with less cardiac risk factors benefited more positively from the hormone therapy, Dr. Manish Vira, vice chair for urologic research at the Arthur Smith Institute for Urology in New Hype Park,New York, stated tat "men who had prior documented history of heart disease as demonstrated by prior heart attack were potentially harmed by the addition of hormonal therapy."

To read more about this study, presented at the September 28th meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, click here.