Many cancer caregivers report feeling unprepared for caregiving challenges

Many family members who care for loved ones with cancer do not feel adequately prepared for the caregiving tasks they assume and need help to make informed decisions about end-of-life care, according to a new study.

Cancer caregivers experience high levels of emotional stress. Many of them need to perform medical or nursing tasks without feeling fully prepared or trained to carry them out. The study findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium in San Francisco.

The abstract is available here.

Study suggests superiority of functional Imaging in assessing sarcoma outcomes

A comparison of anatomic and functional imaging in the assessment of clinical outcomes in patients with Ewing sarcoma has shown that FDG-PET, assessed by PERCIST criteria, was superior in predicting clinical benefits and identifying responses, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

See more here.

Study mentioned:
Koshkin VS, Bolejack V, Schwartz LH, et al. Assessment of imaging modalities and response metrics in Ewing sarcoma: correlation with survival [published online August 29, 2016]. J Clin Oncol. doi:10.1200/JCO.2016.68.1858.

Tamoxifen does not increase risk of uterine cancer

A new study conducted at the Loyola University Health System in Maywood, Illinois indicates that breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen do not have an increased risk of developing uterine cancer.  According to study author Dr. Ronald Potkul, study results on nearly 300 postmenopausal women indicates that for those "who did not have endometrial abnormalities when they began taking tamoxifen, there was a very low rate of developing pre-malignant conditions."

o read more about this study, click here 

Pembrolizumab approval Is tip of the iceberg for immunotherapy in HNSCC

The recent approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) following progression on a platinum-based chemotherapy was a significant advancement for the disease.

Immunotherapy is a big change for head and neck cancer, but one question still remains - will there be a role for these agents in first-line therapy for patients with metastatic recurrent disease who have not previously failed a platinum-based approach.

Read the interview here.

More cancer patients benefiting from immunotherapy

According o the 2016 Cancer Progress Report, produced by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), "more types of cancer are being successfully treated with immunotherapy."  The report further explains that 4 of 13 new anticancer treatments approved over the past year involve immunotherapy drugs.

To read more about this report, click here.

TKIs competing for frontline therapy in ALK+ NSCLC

Deciding the sequencing order of therapies for patients with ALK-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a challenge, as new information on next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) comes to light.

Options and outcomes for various TKIs were discussed during the Physicians’ Education Resource (PER®) seminar “Oncogenic Tumor Board in NSCLC: Targeting Driver Mutations to Maximize Therapeutic Outcomes,” which took place during the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Please read more here.

Study reveals how ionising radiation damages DNA and causes cancer

From this study, researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators have been able to identify in human cancers two characteristic patterns of DNA damage caused by ionising radiation. These fingerprint patterns may now enable doctors to identify which tumours have been caused by radiation, and investigate if they should be treated differently.

Read more here.

Study mentioned:
S. Behjati and G. Gundem et al. (2016) Mutational signatures of ionizing radiation in second malignancies. Nature Communications DOI: ncomms12605

New study about Kinase Suppressor of Ras (KSR), an unexplored target to develop new cancer therapies

New research from The Tisch Cancer Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai identifies a protein that may be an unexplored target to develop new cancer therapies. The protein, known as kinase suppressor of Ras, or KSR, is a pseudoenzyme that plays a critical role in the transmission of signals in the cell determining whether cells grow, divide, or die. The findings, published in the September issue of the journal Nature, show that targeting KSR could have important therapeutic implications, potentially improving outcomes in many aggressing cancers such as lung and pancreatic cancer.

The lead compound reported in the study, APS-2-79, was shown to modulate Ras signaling and increased the potency of several other cancer drugs within RAS-mutant cell lines.

Read the complete news here.

Study mentioned:
Neil S. Dhawan, Alex P. Scopton, Arvin C. Dar. Small molecule stabilization of the KSR inactive state antagonizes oncogenic Ras signalling. Nature, 2016; 537 (7618): 112 DOI: 10.1038/nature19327

New trial alert: Immune therapy for lymphoma

A new early trial indicates that genetically engineered cells maybe effective to compact non-Hodgkin lymphoma when combined with chemotherapy.  According to the experimental study, white blood cells (T-cells) "are removed from the patient's bloodstream [and] genetically modified so hey can detected and attack cancerous B-cells."  In 32 patients that underwent this treatment in this trial, 1/3 were in complete remission from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

To read more about this trial, click here.

Disparities found in perception of symptoms between patients and oncology team

A recent study has demonstrated that oncology physicians and nurses underestimate the prevalence and impact of fatigue and pain in their patients with cancer.

Key points from this study:
- The prevalence and importance of pain and fatigue inpatients with cancer continue to be underestimated by oncology physicians and nurses.
- Clinicians need to assess symptoms of fatigue and pain carefully at each encounter.
- An increased awareness of patient-reported outcome sand education for HCPs is needed to improve patients’ QOL.

Read more here.

Study mentioned:
Barton, M. K. (2016), Disparities found in perception of symptoms between patients and oncology team. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. doi:10.3322/caac.21311

Birth control pills believed to be linked to decline in ovarian cancer deaths

According to recent data from the World Health Organization, ovarian cancer death rates fell 16% in the United States and 8% in Canada between 2002-2012, with a similar reduction of 10% in the European Union during this same time period.  According to study lead Dr. Carlo La Vecchia, professor in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Milan, the decline in ovarian cancer death rates "in some parts of the world is likely the use of birth control pills and the long-term protection against ovarian cancer they provide."  While these findings do not necessarily prove cause-and-effect, they do show that countries with low rates of birth control use had a noticeable smaller decline in ovarian cancer deaths.

To read more about this study, click here.

Vitamin A compound may help in fighting colon cancer

A new animal study conducted at Stanford University School o Medicine in Palo Alto, California, indicates that retinoic acid, "a compound derived in the body from vitamin A", may help suppress colon cancer.  According to study author Dr. Edgar Englemen, colon cancer is associated with inflammation of the bowels, and "retinoic acid has been known for years to be involved in suppressing inflammation in the intestine."

To read more about this study, click here.

Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients

According to a recently published Cochrane systematic review indicates that music medicine interventions are a comforting therapy and can help with both psychological and physical symptoms experienced by cancer patients.  Upon a review of 52 identified trials encompassing 3731 participants, music interventions were seen to reduce a cancer patient's anxiety and depression levels.  Further, it is believed that music "may have a small effect on heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure."

To read more about this systematic review, click here

Study mentioned:
Bradt J, Dileo C, Magil L, Teague A. Music interventions for improving psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Published online August 15, 2016. 

Adding additional drugs to chemotherapy treatment does not benefit patients withosteosarcoma

A new study conducted at the Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, California  indicates that the addition of drugs to standard chemotherapy treatments has not proven successful for patients afflicted with osteosarcoma.  According to lead author Dr. Neyssa Marina, the study, conducted on more than 600 osteosarcoma patients in 17 countries shows that "adding two drugs to standard chemotherapy not only failed to improve patients' outcomes, it also increased toxic side effects."  This finding has led Dr. Marina and colleagues to search for new treatment methods, namely targeting cancer-causing gene mutations.

To read more about this study, click here.

Excess weight linked to high risk for many cancers

A new study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, indicates that reducing excess body weight may lower the risk of developing at least 8 types of cancer.  These cancers include stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, ovary, thyroid, as well as meningioma and multiple myeloma.  The study further remarked that "those who avoid gaining weight can curtail their risk for developing five other types of cancer [namely] cancer of the colon, esophagus, kidney, breast, and uterus."

To read more about this study, click here. 

Scientists discover drug combination slows lung cancer cell growth

A study shows that a drug combination slows cancer cell growth in a type of non small cell lung cancer when tested in the lab, offering potential for developing new treatments in the future, according to a Cancer Research UK funded study published in the British Journal of Cancer today.

The drug combination delivers a double whammy to the way the KRAS gene makes cancer cells grow. KRAS is estimated to be mutated in 15 to 25 per cent of people with non-small cell lung adenocarcinomas.

Read more at Cancer Research UK.

Study mentioned:
Sophie Broutin, Adam Stewart, Parames Thavasu, Angelo Paci, Jean-Michel Bidart and Udai Banerji. Insights into significance of combined inhibition of MEK and m-TOR signalling output in KRAS mutant non-small-cell lung cancer. Br J Cancer 115: 549-552; doi:10.1038/bjc.2016.220 (link is external)

CA-125 testing, CT scans still used for ovarian cancer surveillance despite lack of proven benefit

Despite evidence of no benefit from a 2009 randomized clinical trial, a new study shows that doctors appear to still routinely use the CA-125 blood test to monitor women for recurrent ovarian cancer. The findings, published July 21 in JAMA Oncology, also suggest that computed tomography (CT) scans continue to be routinely used to check for recurrences even though clinical practice guidelines discourage this practice.

Read the full update here.

Study mentioned:
Esselen KM, Cronin AM, Bixel K, et al. Use of CA-125 Tests and Computed Tomographic Scans for Surveillance in Ovarian Cancer. JAMA Oncol. Published online July 21, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2016.1842.

Changes needed to boost end-of-life care in Canada: doctors

Canada needs to broaden its approach to palliative care to provide support to patients with serious chronic illnesses, not just those with cancer, suggests a group of doctors who deal with end-of-life care.

The Canadian Society of Palliative Care Physicians has fewer than 500 members across the country, far below the number of practitioners in such specialities as cardiology or oncology, although some primary-care doctors also provide end-of-life care for their patients.

Read this from CBC Health.

Number and seriousness of side-effects in breast cancer patients influenced by expectations

A new study published in Annals of Oncology indicates that women afflicted with breast cancer experience worse side-effects following adjuvant hormone therapy due higher expectations of suffering.  According to the research team, led by professor Yvonne Nestoriuc of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at the University Medical Centre in Hamburg, Germany, women with breast cancer may cease adjuvant hormone treatment due to side-effects or a lower health-related quality of life. Nestoriuc and her team belief that "if expectations can predict the risk of experiencing side effects, then interventions such as counselling could lower the risk and, therefore, improve adherence to medication."

To read more about this study, click here

Two genes may help predict breast cancer survival

A new study conducted at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London indicates that 2 genes may help predict breast cancer survival and guide treatment.  According to lead ICR researcher Paul Huang, study results from almost 2,000 HER-2 positive breast cancer patients found that patients "whose tumors had high activity in a gene called F12, but low activity in a gene called STC2, were three times more likely to die within 10 years."

To read more about this study, click here.

FDA approves extended-release Granisetron injection for the prevention of CINV

Heron Therapeutics, Inc. announced on 10 August 2016 that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved extended-release granisetron injection (SUSTOL®), a serotonin-3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist indicated in combination with other antiemetics in adults for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy or anthracycline and cyclophosphamide (AC) combination chemotherapy regimens.

Read more here.

CAR T cell therapy for diffuse large B cell lymphoma included in EMA’s priority medicines scheme

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has released, on 1 June 2016, the outcome of the assessment of the first batch of applications received from medicine developers for its PRIME (PRIority MEdicines) scheme, a new initiative that aims to foster research on and development of medicines that have the potential to address an unmet medical need.

The names of the four active substances that will benefit from PRIME support are also released. The first four PRIME candidates are: Biogen’s aducanumab, a beta-amyloid targeting antibody for Alzheimer disease; Kite Pharma’s KTE-C19, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for diffuse large B cell lymphoma; ChemoCentryx’s CCX168, a C5a receptor inhibitor for ANCA-associated vasculitis; and Novoimmune’s NI-0501, an interferon-γ antibody for the rare autoimmune disease haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Read more here.

Overdiagnosis is a major driver of the thyroid cancer epidemic

18 August 2016 – A new report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in collaboration with the Aviano National Cancer Institute in Italy shows that the growing epidemic of thyroid cancer reported in recent decades in several high-income countries is largely due to overdiagnosis (i.e. the diagnosis of tumours that are very unlikely to cause symptoms or death during a person’s lifetime).

The article, published today in The New England Journal of Medicine, used high-quality cancer registry data from IARC’s reference publication Cancer Incidence in Five Continents to estimate the number of overdiagnosed cases of thyroid cancer in 12 countries (Australia, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Italy, Japan, Norway, Republic of Korea, Scotland, Sweden, and the USA).

Full report is here.

Study mentioned:
Worldwide Thyroid-Cancer Epidemic? The Increasing Impact of Overdiagnosis

Women's cancer risk rises with years spent overweight

Results from the Women's Health Initiative, a study that followed U.S. women between 50-79 years old, indicates that length of overweight status is associated with a higher risk of developing cancer.  According to the American Cancer Society, "excess weight contributes to as many as 20% of all cancer deaths",with odds rising 10% for every 10 years of obese status.

To read more about this study, click here.

New trial alert: living donor liver transplantation for unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases

A new trial sponsored by the University Health Network in Toronto is presently recruiting patients to assess the combination of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy together with living donor liver transplantation for non-resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Inclusion criteria includes biopsy proven colorectal liver metastases, availability of an acceptable ABO-compatible living donor, and a colorectal cancer tumour progression less than stage 3.

To read more about this trial, click here.

Nanoparticle delivers cancer drugs to tumor blood vessels

Blood vessels in some tumors naturally express P-selectin on their surfaces, providing a target for nanoparticles. In the study, a research team led by Daniel Heller, Ph.D., of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, engineered drug-carrying nanoparticles made of a sugar-based compound called fucoidan, which is derived from algae and binds to P-selectin.

Read more from National Cancer Institute Cancer Currents Blog.

Cancer survivors more prone to obesity

A new study conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in New York indicates that colorectal and breast cancer survivors in particular are more prone to obesity compared to the general population. This study, conducted on 539,000 American adults between 1997-2014, indicates that obesity trends rose from 21%-29% over this time-frame for individuals with no history of cancer, while cancer survivors indicated a 22%-32% rate of obesity.  According to principal investigator Heather Greenlee, the study results suggest that "obesity is a growing public health burden for cancer survivors, which requires targeted interventions including weight management efforts to stave off the increasing obesity..."

To read more on this study, click here

FDA approves Pembrolizumab for patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after Platinum-containing chemotherapy

On 8 August, 2016, Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®), the company’s anti-PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) therapy, at a fixed dose of 200 mg every three weeks, for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Read more from ESMO.

New study reveals a link between circadian clock disruption and tumor growth

A handful of large studies of cancer risk factors have found that working the night shift, as nearly 15 percent of Americans do, boosts the chances of developing cancer. MIT biologists have now found a link that may explain this heightened risk.

In a study of mice, the MIT team found that two of the genes that control cells' circadian rhythms also function as tumor suppressors. Loss of these tumor suppressors, either through gene deletion or disruption of the normal light/dark cycle, allows tumors to become more aggressive.

Read more here.

In the Lab in cancer, it’s back to the future as old treatments make cutting-edge ones more effective

Scientists are finding hints of a solution in an unexpected place: Older, out-of-favor cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation may make the cutting-edge immune-based drugs effective against more cancers — even hard-to-treat ovarian and pancreatic tumors.

Tumors disable the immune system’s killer T cells, which can find and destroy certain cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs work by preventing tumors from using this devious tactic.

Read more from STAT.