Articles related to Oncology, Medical

Research from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center showed that combination therapy of cabozantinib and nivolumab could make curative surgery possible for some liver cancer patients who would normally not be considered for such a procedure. Among 15 people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the study who could not be treated previously with surgery, the drugs allowed 12 patients to undergo successful surgical removal of their cancer. Five of these 12 patients had only 10% or less of their tumor remaining after the drug treatment.

In this cohort study of 34,131 patients with cancer published in JAMA Oncology, trial ineligibility was associated with a greater likelihood of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) monotherapy use compared with non-ICI therapy. Among trial-ineligible patients, there were no overall survival differences between treatment with ICI monotherapy, ICI combination therapy, and non-ICI therapy.

A good primer for the oncologist on several cancer screening tests that can be administered at home and help detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages — often before people experience symptoms. Some tests, such as a screening colonoscopy, can even treat cancer by removing abnormal cells before they become problematic.

A once-hopeful antibody-drug conjugate for small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) failed to demonstrate a survival benefit in two large, randomized studies, and was found to be mostly toxic. The negative trial results have led to the end of a drug that was considered a promising potential antidote to deadly SCLC.

The incredible story of how a young mother of two children survived and ultimately overcame colon cancer that had spread throughout her body. Despite suffering severe anemia, diarrhea and emesis, and losing 25 pounds, this determined woman beat the odds.

This Children’s Oncology Group report recommends new guidance on administering radiotherapy among children with cancer. Questions are answered around imaging protocols, dose reduction, setup correction, and adaptive therapy.