August 2022 - Cancer Currents Blog
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For Common Form of Bladder Cancer, Chemo Combo Effective Alternative to BCGThe standard treatment for high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), a drug called BCG, has been in shortage for a decade. Bladder cancer experts agree that gemcitabine and docetaxel offers an effective alternative to BCG, after a study showed that 82% of patients with high-risk NMIBC treated with the combination were alive 2 years later without their cancer returning.
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Study Tackles Key Questions about Liver Transplants for People with Liver CancerFor some people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, a liver transplant is the only hope for a cure. A new study shows a high 10-year survival rate for people who got a liver transplant after their tumors were “downstaged” to become eligible for a transplant.
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Abnormal Collagen May Be Weak Spot for Pancreatic CancerAbnormal collagen that is formed only by pancreatic cancer cells ramps up activity that increases tumor growth and survival, a study found. In mice, blocking production or effects of the abnormal collagen made treatment for pancreatic cancer more effective.
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Targeting Inflammation Emerges as a Strategy for Treating CancerInflammation is considered a hallmark of cancer. Researchers hope to learn more about whether people with cancer might benefit from treatments that target inflammation around tumors. Some early studies have yielded promising results and more are on the horizon.
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Pembrolizumab Improves Survival in Advanced Triple-Negative Breast CancerAdding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to chemotherapy can help some patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer live longer. In the KEYNOTE-355 trial, overall survival improved among patients whose tumors had high levels of the PD-L1 protein.
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Targeting the Accomplice: A Potential Treatment Approach for RhabdomyosarcomaThe fusion protein that drives the growth and survival of some rhabdomyosarcoma tumors relies on the KDM4B enzyme, researchers have found. Treating mice with a KDM4B-blocking drug and chemotherapy nearly eliminated rhabdomyosarcoma tumors with the fusion protein.
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Aided by Community Health Workers, People with Advanced Cancer Need Fewer Hospital VisitsRegular visits and calls from community health workers showed many benefits for those with advanced cancers, from greater use of palliative care to improved quality of life, a new study has shown.