FDA Approval of Ibrutinib for Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia a First for These Patients
February 4th 2015The recent extended approval of ibrutinib for the treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), the disease's first FDA-approved therapy, has provided new hope for patients with the orphan disease.
Momentum Builds for National Plan for Precision Medicine
January 30th 2015During President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address last week, he announced a nationwide Precision Medicine Initiative that would help cure diseases such as cancer and diabetes. This morning he built on his announcement and outlined a $215 million plan to help develop precision medicine nationwide.
Radiation Therapy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer: When Less Is More
January 30th 2015Women diagnosed with early-stage breast disease have a variety of decisions to make regarding their treatment options. For example, some women may be eligible for breast-conserving surgery, which typically includes a lumpectomy followed by radiation.
Cancer Deaths Continue to Decline, Report Says
January 21st 2015Each year, the American Cancer Society publishes its annual cancer statistics, highlighting gains as well as areas that need continued focus. For 2015, the organization's report shows a 22% decrease in cancer death over the past 20 years, equating to more than 1.5 million lives saved-a positive trend seen for the past few years.
Survivors Often Face Lingering Problems Long After Treatment, Survey Finds
January 20th 2015With the number of cancer survivors expected to reach 19 million by 2024, how these individuals fare long-term is an issue of ongoing interest and concern. An analysis of findings from a large survey of survivors conducted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) has found that many survivors continue to face physical, mental, and financial difficulties long after their treatment ends.
Less Frequent Dosing of Pancreatic Cancer Regimen Effective, Less Toxic
January 19th 2015Changing the administration schedule for gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) from weekly to every other week significantly reduced side effects without impacting efficacy as a frontline treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, according to a retrospective study presented at the 2015 GI Cancers Symposium.
Avoiding Surgery Works for Some Patients With Rectal Cancer
January 13th 2015A "watch and wait" surveillance approach may allow certain patients with rectal cancer to achieve excellent outcomes without immediate surgery, according to a retrospective review of clinical data presented at the 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
Investigators Find Potential Genetic Clues to Disparities in Colon Cancer
January 13th 2015Researchers from the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered new gene mutations that are unique to colon cancer in African American patients, who have the highest incidence and death rate from the disease.
Vitamin D Demonstrates Multiple Benefits for Patients With mCRC
January 12th 2015Patients with newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who had higher levels of vitamin D in their blood lived a median of 8 months longer and experienced greater disease-free survival after their cancer treatment
A New Standard Treatment for Stage I, HER2-Positive Breast Cancer?
January 9th 2015Results of a phase II study showed that women with small, stage I HER2-positive tumors who received a combination of lower-intensity chemotherapy and the targeted drug trastuzumab following surgery were highly unlikely to have the cancer recur within 3 years
As Teen Use of E-Cigarettes Climbs, Societies Call for More Regulation
January 8th 2015The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) have collaborated on an outline that would help policymakers regulate electronic cigarettes and other electronic nicotine devices (ENDS) without undermining their potential as a smoking cessation tool, the two cancer organizations announced.