June 2017 - Cancer Currents Blog
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Extensive Lymph Node Surgery Does Not Increase Survival in MelanomaA conservative approach to lymph node removal surgery may be best for people with melanoma that has spread from the skin to one or a small number of nearby lymph nodes, new results from a large international clinical trial suggest.
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Introducing DAVE: Online Analysis Tools for the Genomic Data CommonsNCI has released an online, open-access cancer research resource for the Genomic Data Commons called the Data Analysis, Visualization, and Exploration Tools, or DAVE.
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FDA Expands Approval of Ceritinib for ALK-Positive Non-Small Cell Lung CancerThe FDA has approved the targeted therapy ceritinib as an initial treatment for patients with lung cancer that has a mutation in the ALK gene.
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FDA Approves Pembrolizumab for Tumors with Specific Genetic FeaturesFDA approved pembrolizumab for patients with solid tumors that have specific genetic features, called mismatch repair deficiency and high microsatellite instability. This is the first approval based on a genetic feature, rather than cancer type.
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Abiraterone Improves Survival for Some Men with Hormone-Sensitive Prostate CancerIn two large clinical trials, adding the hormone-blocking drug abiraterone to androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) allowed men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer to live longer than men who were treated with ADT alone.
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Trastuzumab Emtansine Improves Survival in Previously Treated Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast CancerTwo clinical trials show that trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) improves survival compared with other standard treatments for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that has progressed after treatment with other HER2-targeted drugs.
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Genomic Study Seeks Clues to Help Explain Breast Cancer DisparitiesUsing one of the largest collections of tumor samples from African Americans with breast cancer, researchers tried to assess the extent to which the molecular characteristics on these tumors might help to explain breast cancer disparities.
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CAR T Cells: Expanding into Multiple MyelomaResults from two early-phase trials presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting suggest that an immunotherapy using genetically engineered immune cells may be effective in patients with advanced multiple myeloma.
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Biomarker Test Could Reduce Unnecessary Biopsies to Detect Prostate CancerFindings from a new study show testing for two biomarkers in urine may help some men avoid an unnecessary biopsy to detect a suspected prostate cancer.
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Less Chemotherapy May Be Best Choice for Some Patients with Colon Cancer, Study ShowsA shorter course of chemotherapy following surgery may be preferred to longer treatment for some patients with colon cancer, results of an international collaborative study suggest.
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FDA Expands Approval of Pembrolizumab for First-Line Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung CancerFDA approved the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab to be used with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.
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HPV Vaccination Linked to Decreased Oral HPV InfectionsA study of more than 2,600 young adults found that the prevalence of oral infection with four HPV types, including two cancer-causing types, was 88% lower in those who reported receiving at least one dose of an HPV vaccine than in those not vaccinated.
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Midostaurin Approved by FDA for Acute Myeloid LeukemiaThe FDA has approved midostaurin for patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with mutations in the FLT3 gene. The approval also covers several rare conditions.