News

Genetic changes that occur during DNA cloning in people with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancer may affect the efficacy of targeted and immunologic therapies. Repeated testing may be necessary to ensure that targeted treatments keep up with the changes in DNA.

Based on data from the phase III MONARCH 3 trial, the FDA has approved abemaciclib (Verzenio) for use in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for the frontline treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Survivors of childhood cancer could be up to 20 times more likely to develop ischemic heart disease or to have strokes than their siblings. To determine their level of risk, researchers used a prediction model that included factors like gender, type of chemotherapy, and radiotherapy exposure to the head, neck, or chest.

In a promising development in brain cancer research, injectable viruses have been found to be able to breach the blood-brain barrier and deliver immunotherapy to tumors.

Researchers developed the Head and Neck Survivorship Tool: Assessments and Recommendations (HN-STAR) to crunch patient-reported data and generate survivorship care plans to help those patients self-manage their care. Their study found that these plans could improve post-treatment care.

Lymph node surgery may be necessary to stop the spread of cancer, but it may cause people to have a limited range of motion. In addition to educating people about possible adverse effects, a new study suggests that nurses should also be explaining the benefits of physical therapy.

A study done at SUNY Downstate Hospital found that black women of Caribbean descent with type I or type II endometrial cancer expressed significant differences in genetic variations when compared with a nationwide population of patients with endometrial cancer.

Recognizing and understanding how to manage side effects related to immunotherapy treatements is key for nurses. To educate healthcare teams on immunotherapy-related toxicities, The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology issued new guidelines.

Smoking prevention programs need to include warnings that the risk of “trying” a cigarette can lead to daily smoking, and that 69% of people in global survey data who have tried a cigarette became smokers.

The FDA has approved durvalumab (Imfinzi) for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not progressed following chemoradiotherapy.

Advancements in CAR-T cell therapy are changing the way many cancers are being treated.

Agios Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has granted a priority review designation to its targeted therapy, ivosidenib (AG-120), for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory IDH1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Both par­ents and clinicians need more valid information to guide them on how to interact with a child during painful procedures related to cancer treatment.

Screening for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women who are not known to have a high-risk hereditary cancer syndrome has no benefit and may lead to harm due to false positives, according to a new review conducted by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer now have their first FDA-approved treatment. Apalutamide (Erleada) was approved based on the phase III SPARTAN trial in which apalutamide reduced the risk of metastasis or death by 72% in patients with nonmetastatic CRPC.

The BD Onclarity HPV Assay can detect up to 14 types of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) and identify genotypes that are strongly associated with cervical cancers.

Pfizer announced that the FDA has granted a priority review to a new drug application for lorlatinib, an ALK inhibitor, for use in patients with ALK-positive metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed on 1 or more ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Patient navigation is playing an increasingly vital role in guiding patients with breast cancer through the maze of the American healthcare system. The Patient Navigation Initiative is a pioneering project of Susan G. Komen of Greater New York City focused on helping women overcome barriers to care, which leads to improved outcomes.

Incorporating patient navigation into cancer care makes good business sense. This is the second in a series of articles about of patient navigation.

Eighty percent of hospitalized patients in the U.S. have access to palliative care services. But that means that 20% do not. For patients with cancer, this can potentially mean the difference between effective symptom management and end-of-life care, and inadequate usual care.

Empathy and cultural sensitivity enable navigators to be effective champions for patients with cancer. This is the third in a series of articles about patient navigation.

The LivingWith app helps patients connect with a close circle of contacts and enables them to ask for help with daily tasks, track their symptoms, and collect important documents and information from appointments.

William C. Huang, MD, discusses the transition from open cystectomy to minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery in the management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Based on findings from the phase III LATITUDE trial, the Food and Drug Adminstration has approved abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) for use in high-risk patients with castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

To ensure the adequate availability of IV solutions that may be in high demand during the flu season, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended the expiration dates of some IV products after Baxter, a major IV solution manufacturer, submitted safety data that indicated that extended expiration dates meet FDA safety standards.

The Canines and Childhood Cancer Study – the first and largest randomized, controlled clinical trial to measure the effects of animal-assisted therapy in the field of pediatric oncology – recently showed significant benefits to families in a time of great need.

Patients whose cancers have metastasized to the brain or central nervous system are often excluded from clinical trials, but now, new guidelines may help researchers identify appropriate clinical trials in which these people may be included.

According to results from an analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database of the National Cancer Institute, older adults with colorectal cancer are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure.