Three-fold increase in remission for multiple myeloma patients receiving new version CAR T-cell therapy

Illustration of CAR T-cell therapy courtesy of UT Southwestern
Medical Center

CANCER DIGEST – March 20, 2021 – A new version of CAR T-cell therapy provided a three-fold increase in length of remission for patients with multiple myeloma who have relapsed multiple times, according to results of an international study.

The study conducted in the US, Canada and Europe involved 128 patients with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow that steadily reduces the ability of the immune system cells to protect body from infections. The results were published in the Feb. 25, 2021 New England Journal of Medicine.

Review finds benefits of lung cancer screening outweigh harms

CANCER DIGEST – March 13, 2021 – Lung cancer screening with computed tomography or CT scans does detect early lung cancers and reduce deaths due to lung cancer, but it is not without some adverse consequences, according to a comprehensive review by University of North Carolina researchers.The review is published in JAMA on March 9, 2021.

"Applying screening tests to a population without symptoms of disease can certainly benefit some people but also has the potential for some harms," said lead author Daniel Jonas, MD, MPH, who conducted most of this research while he was a professor at the UNC School of Medicine. "In the case of lung cancer screening, we now have more certainty that some individuals will benefit, with some lung cancer deaths prevented, and we also know others will be harmed."

Walking pace may be linked to cancer survival

Photo credit – Washington University news

CANCER DIGEST – March 6, 2021 – Slow walking appears to be linked to higher risk of dying of any cause for patients who have survived cancer, a new study shows.

"To our knowledge, this analysis is the first to explore the relationship between cancer, walking pace and subsequent mortality in 15 different cancer types," said Elizabeth Salerno, PhD, who conducted this research while a postdoctoral researcher at the NCI. "Next steps include identifying the underlying reasons for these associations. It's possible that slow walking may be due to the cancer itself, adverse effects of treatment, or changes in lifestyle.