American Cancer Society announces new funding for hospital therapy dogs to support children with cancer and their families

The American Cancer Society recently expanded its PAWS (Pups Assisting with Support) program to six children's hospitals across the United States.  PAWS is a "pilot grant program that aims to improve the quality of life for hospitalized children with cancer through support from specially trained therapy dogs."  The $8000 funding grant for each of the hospitals participating in the program covers veterinary costs, adoption, training, food, grooming, beds, toys, and improving/maintaining dog facilities for a 12-month period.  Animal-assisted therapy for hospitalized children aids in decreasing anxiety, stress, depression, pain, as well as increasing quality of life.  

Click here to learn more about the PAWS program. 

  

Blog postings will resume week of September 25th

To all Grey Horizon readers, 

Please note that postings will resume the week of September 25th.   

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of this blog.  

First prospective description of familial EGFR-mutated lung cancer

A prospective cohort study, conducted at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston has confirmed the existence "of an underappreciated syndrome of familial EGFR-mutated lung cancer predisposition which is characterized by development of lung adenocarcinomas harbouring an atypical spectrum of somatic EGFR mutations and high prevalence of lung nodules in germline carriers without a lung cancer diagnosis."   The study team further describes how cancer genomics has aided in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, including an understanding of inherited risk in lung cancer patients who have never smoked.  

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: Oxnard GR, Chen R, Pharr JC, et al. Germline EGFR mutations and familial lung cancer. JCO; Published online 14 August 2023. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.23.01372

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.

NCI unveils comprehensive proteogenomic dataset to help cancer researchers unravel molecular mysteries

 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is releasing data, via the National Cancer Institute (NCI) "that standardizes genomic, proteomic, imaging, and clinical data from individual studies of more than 1,000 tumors across 10 cancer types."  The purpose of this pan-cancer proteogenomic dataset is to speed up cancer research via sharing of data, namely cancer mutations and protein modifications.  Proteomics data can be accessed via the Proteomic Data Commons at https://pdc.cancer.gov/pdc/cptac-pancancer. Genomic and transcriptomic data can be accessed via the Genomic Data Commons at https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov and the Cancer Data Service at https://dataservice.datacommons.cancer.gov/.

Sources mentioned: 

1. Li Y, Dou Y, Leprevost FDV, et al. Proteogenomic data and resources for pan-cancer analysis. Cancer Cell. August 14, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.06.009.

2. Geffen Y, Anand S, Akiyama Y, et al. Pan-Cancer analysis of post-translational modifications reveals shared patterns of protein regulation. Cell. August 14, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.013.

3. Li Y, Dou Y, Leprevost FDV, et al. Pan-Cancer proteogenomics connects oncogenic drivers to functional states. Cell. August 14, 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.014.

New study shows substantial racial and ethnic disparities among survivors of second primary cancers in the US

 A new study conducted by the American Cancer Society indicates that "non-Hispanic Black individuals diagnosed with a second primary cancer experienced 21% higher cancer-related death rates and 41% higher cardiovascular-related death rates compared [to] non-Hispanic White counterparts."  The findings further determined that Hispanic patents with a second primary cancer has a death rate 10% higher than non-Hispanic White patients.  According to lead study author Dr. Hyuna Sung, these rates were due, in part to Black and Hispanic patients being diagnosed with second primary cancer at a later stage.  

To read more about this study, click here.  

Study mentioned:  Sung H, Nisotel L, Sedeta E, Islami F, Jemal A. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Survival Among People With Second Primary Cancer in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(8):e2327429. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.27429

Machine learning model provides superior performance over specialist interpretations and could reliably predict metastatic disease in most patients with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas

 A recently completed machine learning modelling study at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden, Germany indicates that incorporating "plasma methoxytyramine in machine learning models, along with other clinical features such as primary tumour location and size, provides a highly accurate, non-invasive approach to predict metastases in patients with pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas", which can guide customized management and follow-up strategies for patients. The modeling study indicated that plasma methoxytyramine could identify metastatic disease "at sensitivities of 52% and specificities of 85%", with the highest-rated machine learning model encompassing nine features: plasma methoxytyramine, metanephrine, normetanephrine, age, sex, previous history of pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma, location and size of primary tumours, and presence of multifocal disease.  

To read more about this study, click here. 

Study mentioned: Pamporaki C, Berends AMA, Filippatos A, et al. Prediction of metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma: a machine learning modelling study using data from a cross-sectional cohort. The Lancet Digital Health; Published online 18 July 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2589-7500(23)00094-8

Black cancer survivors face increased risk and mortality from heart disease; neighborhood socioeconomic status and insurance contributing factors

 A new report released by the American Cancer Society has found that "Black cancer survivors carry from 30% up to a three-fold higher mortality risk from cardiovascular disease", compared to White cancer survivors.  Notable racial differences were also observed in terms of neighborhood socioeconomic status and health insurance status, "explaining 12% to 31% of the excess cardiovascular death among Black versus White survivors." 

To learn more about this report, click here. 

Newly developed International Childhood Cancer Core Outcome Set represents physical, psychosocial, and neurocognitive outcomes for 17 common childhood cancer subtypes

 A recently completed International Childhood Cancer Outcome Project has resulted in the creation of 24 physical, psychosocial, and neurocognitive outcomes for childhood cancers. According to a joint international consensus statement created for measuring quality of survival among patients with childhood cancer, "most children and adolescents receiving modern cancer treatment survive at least 5 years beyond diagnosis...despite these promising results, survival rates remain poor for specific childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer types."  The study authors also caution that patient and provider reports, together with frequent communication of results "are crucial facilitators for the adoption of these core sets in clinical practice and the subsequent initiation of quality improvement efforts." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Study mentioned: van Kalsbeek RJ, Hudson MM, Mulder RL, … & the International Childhood Cancer Outcome Project participants. A joint international consensus statement for measuring quality of survival for patients with childhood cancer. Nature Medicine 2023;29:1340-1348.

Beginning the journey into the spirit world: First Nations, Inuit and Métis approaches to palliative and end-of-life care in Canada.

The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) recently launched Beginning the Journey into the Spirit World: First Nations, Inuit and Metis Approaches to Palliative and End-of-Life Care in Canada. This resource "summarizes factors contributing to palliative and end-of-life care experiences, highlights areas for action in palliative and end-of-life care based on priorities, gaps, challenges, and needs, and identifies innovative and Indigenous community-based models of care and person-centred approaches to palliative and end-of-life care" for First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples and communities. 

To learn more about Beginning the Journal into the Spirit World, click here.   

Stopping treatment Is a reasonable strategy for patients with advanced NSCLC who are progression-free to front-line ICI at 2 years

 Recent findings from a retrospective cohort study conducted within the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania found no difference in overall survival between fixed 2-year vs. indefinite duration front-line treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.  Following extensive analysis of 1091 patients on ICI treatment 2 years after diagnosis, overall survival from 760 days was 79% in the fixed-duration group compared to 81% in the infinite duration group.  The study authors therefore determined there was no statistically significant difference in overall survival and thus determined that their study "supports treatment discontinuation at 2 years as a valid approach that does not appear to compromise survival outcomes." 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

Sun L, Bleiberg B, Hwang W-T, et al. Association Between Duration of Immunotherapy and Overall Survival in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. JAMA Oncology; Published online 4 June 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.1891

West H(J). Clinical Decision Making in the Real World—The Perfect as the Enemy of the Good. JAMA Oncology; Published online 4 June 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.1811

An abnormal baseline geriatric 8 screening tool score strongly associates with increased long-term healthcare utilization in older patients with cancer

 A recent retrospective analysis conducted in the Department of General Medical Oncology at University Hospitals Leuven in Belgium indicates that "in the first 3 months after diagnosis of cancer in older patients, the healthcare utilization peaked, typically related to active cancer treatment, and then decreased in the time thereafter."  Healthcare utilization consisted of hospital admission, length of stay, visits to the emergency department, days in intensive care, appoints with general practitioners, home care, and transfers to nursing homes.  According to Professor Hans Wildiers, (General Medical Oncology, University Hospital Leuven, Belgium) "to optimize cancer treatment for older patients, it is important to identify frailty and underlying geriatric conditions at cancer diagnosis."   

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Depoorter V, Vanschoenbeek K, Decoster L, et al. Long-term health-care utilisation in older patients with cancer and the association with the Geriatric 8 screening tool: a retrospective analysis using linked clinical and population-based data in Belgium. The Lancet Healthy Longevity; Published online 13 June 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7568(23)00081-8

Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant cisplatin-gemcitabine for the treatment of patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

The first randomized, controlled phase III trial assessing the efficacy and safety of adding adjuvant cisplatin-gemcitabine chemotherapy after concurrent chemoradiotherapy was recently unveiled at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.  The trial indicated "significant improvement in 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) compared with cisplatin-fluorouracil regimen in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma."  

To read more about this trial, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Liu L-T, Liu H, Huang Y, et al. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant cisplatin–gemcitabine versus cisplatin–fluorouracil chemotherapy for N2–3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet Oncology; Published online 5 June 2023: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(23)00232-2
• Yip PL, Lee AWM, Chua MLK. Adjuvant chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The Lancet Oncology; Published online 5 June 2023: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(23)00266-8
• Tang L-Q, Liu L-T, Liu H, et al. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant cisplatin-gemcitabine versus cisplatin-5-fluorouracil chemotherapy for N2-3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial. J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr 6000).

Blog postings will resume week of June 19th

To all Grey Horizon readers, 

Please note that postings will resume the week of June 19th.   

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of this blog.  

New studies presented at 2023 ASCO annual meeting ties loneliness and major financial event to cancer diagnoses and higher mortality risk

 New studies unveiled at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), held in Chicago from June 2-6, 2023, indicate loneliness and experiencing a major financial event as direct correlations to a cancer diagnosis and higher mortality risk.  

Led by Jingxuan Zhao, senior associate scientist of health services research at the American Cancer Society, cancer survivors 50 years and older reported "elevated loneliness scores [and] had higher hazard ratios, indicating higher mortality risks."  These findings occurred even after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, leading to strong recommendations to implement programs to screen for loneliness among cancer survivors and provide social support. 

An additional study unveiled at the ASCO annual meeting indicates that 1/3 of cancer patients experienced a major adverse financial event (AFE), such as bankruptcy, lien, or eviction, prior to being diagnosed with cancer, and were subsequently diagnosed at a later cancer stage.  Of the 101,649 patients studied, 32.6% had a major AFE before being diagnosed, most commonly among non-Hispanic Black, unmarried, and low-income patients.  However, "even 27% of patients in the highest income group had an AFE prior to diagnosis."  

To learn more about these studies, click here and here. 

Use of immune checkpoint inhibitors safe and effective in cancer patients with HIV and on antiretroviral therapy

 A recently conducted retrospective study by the Cancer Therapy Using Checkpoint Inhibitors in People Living with HIV-International (CATCH0IT) Consortium determined that immune checkpoint inhibitors were found to be safe and had "differential activity across tumour types."  CATCH-IT enrolled 390 cancer patients with HIV into their cohort, "who received anti-PD-1 or anto-PD-L1 therapies and evaluated the safety and activity." This cohort was unique, as patients with HIV are at higher risk for developing cancer, due to dysfunctional immune systems.   The 3 most common cancer identified in the cohort included non-small-cell lung cancer (28%), hepatocellular carcinoma (11%), and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (10%).  While the study authors acknowledged the relatively small sample size for this study, the results do support "the growing body of evidence [among] the use of ICIs [in] patients with HIV to enhance their inclusion in clinical studies." 

To read more about this study, click here.

Source mentioned: 

El Zarif T, Nassar AH, Adib E, et al. Safety and Activity of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in People Living With HIV and Cancer: A Real-World Report From the Cancer Therapy Using Checkpoint Inhibitors in People Living With HIV-International (CATCH-IT) Consortium. JCO; Published online 16 May 2023. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.22.02459

New study shows mortality rates for most cancers decreasing globally, except liver cancer in men and lung cancer in women increasing

A new study conducted by the American Cancer Society has found a downward trend in mortality rates for major cancers worldwide, with the exception of liver cancer in men and lung cancer in women.  According to Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, senior author of the study, "these findings reinforce the importance of strengthening the health systems not only in resource-limited countries but also in high-income countries across the world for broad and equitable implementation of known cancer prevention and control interventions."   24 countries in the study reported higher mortality rates from lung cancer in women, with the highest increase noted in Spain (4.3%), Uruguay (3.7%), and Greece (3.2%).  For men, highest increases in liver cancer were found in Ireland (5.8%), Norway (5.3%), and Malta (4.8%), increases which have been attributed to hepatitis C infection, and nonviral etiology, including obesity, diabetes, and heavy alcohol consumption.  

To read more about this study, click here. 

ESMO launches living guidelines to enhance the usability in routine cancer patient care

 A recent press release from the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) announces the release of the ESMO Living Guidelines, "a new tool designed to make [guidelines] easier to use in oncologists' routine clinical practice and support optimal decision-making in a rapidly evolving medical field." The guidelines provide an overview of patient management, including decision-making algorithms and key recommendations; they are to be considered a supplement to the ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines, which remain the key "reference source for the optimal management of each tumour type and disease setting."  

To read more about these guidelines, click here.  

Initial results of the CanScreen5, an authentic data repository for cancer screening globally

Findings from a 3 year analysis of CanScreen5, a world-wide cancer screening data repository with contributions from 84 countries and launched by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) were recently published in Nature Medicine.   Focusing on screening programs for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, CanScreen5 unveiled "large variability...regarding compliance to further assessment of screening programmes and detection rates reported for precancerous and cancers."  Screening coverage for breast cancer ranged from 1.7% in Bangladesh to 85.5% in England; for cervical cancer screening, programs range from 2.1% in the Ivory Coast to 86.3% for Sweden, while colorectal cancer screening programs ranged from 0.6% in Hungary to 64.5% in the Netherlands. 

To read more about the CanScreen5 study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

Zhang L, Mosquera I, Lucas E, et al. & CanScreen5 collaborators. CanScreen5, a global repository for breast, cervical and colorectal cancer screening programs. Nature Medicine; Published online 27 April 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02315-6

Wang F, Dong X, Li N. A call to improve the quality of screening programs. Nature Medicine; Published online 27 April 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02305-8

Patients diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy may have increased risk of mortality

 A recently completed population-based cohort study at the University of Calgary's Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology indicates that patients diagnosed with cancer while pregnant "had elevated mortality, but this association was not consistent across all cancer sites."  According to Dr. Amy Metcalfe and colleagues, cancer is the 2nd leading cause of death in premenopausal women, attributable to "increases in delayed childbearing, , improvements in diagnostic testing, awareness of genetic risk factors and subsequent screening, and expansion of population-based screening programs."  Further, only 25% of cancers are diagnosed during pregnancy; 75% of diagnoses occur in the postpartum period. 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: Cairncross ZF, Shack L, Nelson G, et al. Long-term Mortality in Individuals Diagnosed With Cancer During Pregnancy or Postpartum. JAMA Oncology; Published online 6 April 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.0339.

Survivors of childhood cancer are at excess risk of late mortality even 40 years from diagnosis

 According to the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) cohort, "long-term survivors of childhood cancer are at four times the risk of death compared with the general, ageing population."  Particularly in the 5-9 year survival period after diagnosis, health-related causes of death include heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, influenza, pneumonia, sepsis, and kidney failure, conditions normally attributable to a diagnosis during middle age.  

To learn more about this study, click here.  

Sources mentioned:  

• Dixon SB, Liu Q, Chow EJ, et al. Specific causes of excess late mortality and association with modifiable risk factors among survivors of childhood cancer: a report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort. The Lancet; Published online 5 April 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02471-0 
• Tonorezos ES, Marcil V. Childhood cancer survivors: healthy beahviours and late mortality. The Lancet; Published online 5 April 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02632-0

New study shows more deaths with cancer as contributing cause during first year of pandemic

 A new study unveiled by the American Cancer Society indicates that "individuals living with cancer were at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and experiencing more severe symptoms due to their health conditions and treatment-related immune suppression."  Jingxuan Zhao, senior associate scientist and lead researcher in the study further explains that strict pandemic measures, especially orders to stay at home, along with a pause of non-emergency treatment had a different effect on delays in cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.  

To read more about this study, click here.  

Source mentioned:  Zhao J, Han X, Miller KD, Zheng Z, Nogueira L, Islami F, Jemal A, Yabroff KR. Association of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Changes in Patterns of Cancer-Related Mortality in the United States. JCO Oncol Pract. 2023 Apr 11:OP2200522. doi: 10.1200/OP.22.00522. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37040580.

Happy Easter - blog postings will resume week of April 17th.

 To all Grey Horizon readers, 

Please note that postings will resume the week of April 17th following the Easter break. 

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of this blog.  

Helicobacter Pylori infection modifies the risk of gastric cancer associated with germline pathogenic variants in homologous recombination genes

A joint Japanese and Australian cohort study, led by the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Yokohama, indicated that "pathogenic variants and Helicobacter pylori infection interacted to markedly increase the risk of gastric cancer..."   According to lead researcher Dr. Yukihide Momozawa, evaluation and eradication of Helicobacter pylori is of particular importance in individuals "known to carry a pathogenic variant in a homologous recombinant gene."  

To read more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Usui Y, Taniyama Y, Endo M, et al. Helicobacter pylori, Homologous-Recombination Genes, and Gastric Cancer. N Engl J Med 2023;388:1181-1190.
• Müller A, He J. A Double Whammy on Gastric Cancer Risk. N Engl J Med 2023;388:1225-1229.

Similarity of molecular portraits in synchronous bilateral breast cancers could be influenced by common environmental factors

 A recent study conducted within the Translational Research Department, Institut Curie, Universite de Paris, found that in breast cancer patients, "immune infiltration was not determined purely by local tumour microenvironment properties, but was different according to the subtype of the contralateral tumour."  The study further unveiled that 5% of patients with bilateral breast cancers carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations; from the 17575 patients listed in the Institut Curie clinical databases, only 2.3% (404) patients had synchronous bilateral breast cancers.  

To read more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: Hamy A-S, Abécassis J, Driouch K, et al. Evolution of synchronous female bilateral breast cancers and response to treatment. Nature Medicine; Published online 6 March 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-023-02216-8

HRQoL data support benefit of adding pembrolizumab to chemotherapy in patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer

 Findings from the Keynote-826 study indicate favourable outcomes on the use of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab as a standard treatment regimen for patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer.  Cervical cancer "is commonly associate with bleeding, fatigue, pain, bladder, and bowel dysfunction, leg swelling, and sexual dysfunction", symptoms which worsen in advanced or recurrent stages.  The goal of the standard treatment regimen mentioned above is to prolong, preserve, and improve health-related quality of life.  

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: 

Monk BJ, Tewari KS, Dubot C, et al. Health-related quality of life with pembrolizumab or placebo plus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab for persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer (KEYNOTE-826): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. The Lancet Oncology; Published online 3 March 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(23)00052-9

Estimate of the global economic cost of the most prevalent cancers in 204 countries from 2020 To 2050

 A recent decision analytical modelling study, using a "health-augmented macroeconomic model...to estimate the global economic cost of 29 cancer types for 204 countries..." is the first of its kind to study productivity loss among individuals with different educational and experience levels.  Study authors have found the estimated global economic cost of cancers from 2020-2050 to be $25.2 trillion, with tracheal bronchus, and lung cancer (15.4%), colon and rectal cancer (10.9%), breast cancer (7.7%), liver cancer (6.5%), and leukaemia (6.3%) deemed to sustain the highest economic costs. 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Chen S, Cao Z, Prettner K, et al. Estimates and Projections of the Global Economic Cost of 29 Cancers in 204 Countries and Territories From 2020 to 2050. JAMA Oncology; Published online 23 February 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.7826
• Lopes G. The Global Economic Cost of Cancer—Estimating It Is Just the First Step! JAMA Oncology; Published online 23 February 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.7133

Exposure to antibiotics before treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitor associated with worse overall survival among older adults with cancer

A large population-level study from the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto indicated that "antibiotic exposure and specifically fluoroquinolones before treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitor were associated with worse overall survival, with fluoroquinolone exposure conferring up to a 65% increased risk of mortality among older adults with cancer."   Of the 2,737 cancer patients who were administered immune checkpoint inhibitors, 59% received antibiotics 1 year before ICU treatment, while 19% received antibiotics 60 days before ICI.  The authors of the study further state that more data is required to further explore the association between antibiotic exposure, ICI treatment and survival outcomes among cancer patients in diverse settings. 

To read more about this study, click here. 

Sources mentioned: 

• Eng L, Sutradhar R, Niu Y, et al. Impact of Antibiotic Exposure Before Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment on Overall Survival in Older Adults With Cancer: A Population-Based Study. JCO; Published online 24 February 2023. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.22.00074
• Pinato DJ, Cortellini A. Antibiotic Therapy: The Cornerstone of Iatrogenic Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. JCO; Published online 24 February 2023. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.23.00049

New study finds millions in U.S. missed cancer screening during second year of COVID-19 pandemic

 A new study released by the American Cancer Society has unveiled that 4.4 million fewer women were screened for cervical cancer in 2021, compared to 2019.  For breast cancer, the numbers are 1.1 million fewer breast cancer screening tests administered, along with 700,000 thousand fewer for prostate cancer. According to associate scientist Jessica Star, "the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a detrimental effect on important cancer screenings...", highlighting the importance of creating greater advocacy and awareness among get screened campaigns. 

To read more about this study, click here. 

study of Hodgkin lymphoma survivors suggests a dose-response association of colorectal cancer risk with subdiaphragmatic radiotherapy

 Findings from a case-control study of Hodgkin lymphoma survivors after a 5-year period found a "dose-response association between radiotherapy and colorectal cancer risk, and modification of this association by procarbazine."  Study authors also indicated that Hodgkin lymphoma survivors have a 2.8 times higher rate of a colorectal cancer diagnosis, a rate that remains at this increased level for over 40 years.  While these results are specific to a 5-year period (patients treated more recently would experience lower radiotherapy and chemotherapy doses), "an understanding of the dose-response relationship is needed to quantify and estimate the risk of secondary cancers based on individual treatment exposures." 

To learn more about this study, click here. 

Source mentioned: Geurts YM; Shakir R, Ntentas G, et al. Association of Radiation and Procarbazine Dose With Risk of Colorectal Cancer Among Survivors of Hodgkin Lymphoma. JAMA Oncology. Published online 2 February 2023. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2022.7153.