Metastasis-directed therapy may prolong progression-free survival

Image credit National Cancer Institute

CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 12, 2022 – For patients with prostate cancer that has spread to a single site outside the prostate, a therapy approach called metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) might extend the progression-free period following initial treatment, a small study shows in the Dec. 1, 2022 issue of The Journal of Urology.

Normally after surgery or radiation therapy to eradicate prostate cancer, men whose tumors had spread to a single nearby lymph nodes or bone, called "oligorecurrent cancer" are given androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in an effort to keep the cancer from continuing to grow. 

Adding drug to androgen suppression boosts progression-free survival

Image credit CDC

CANCER DIGEST – Nov. 6, 2022 – An investigational therapy increased progression-free survival in 40 percent of nine patients whose prostate cancer had become resistant to hormone-blocking therapy according to a study was published in the August 30, 2022 journal Molecular Therapy.

The small trial conducted at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center in Los Angeles involved giving the 9 patients the monoclonal antibody immunotherapy drug, carotuximab.

In the trial led by Neil Bhowmick, PhD and Edwin Posada, MD, each of the 9 patients had become totally resistant to at least one androgen suppressor, these are drugs that suppress the hormones that fuel prostate cancer growth.

Cancer deaths continue to decline

CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 29, 2022 – Cancer deaths in the US continued to decline between 2015 and 2019 according to the latest Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, published Oct. 27, 2022 in the journal Cancer.

“Today’s report is good news in our fight against cancer and is a reminder of the importance of President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot℠ initiative,” said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. 

Chemical hair straighteners linked to higher risk of uterine cancer

Credit – Sisters Study Facebook page

CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 22, 2022 – The risk of cancer of the uterus was found to be double among women who use chemical hair straightening products compared to women who did not use such products, a new study shows.

Clinical trial matching tool shortened time to consent by 55 days

Image credit – MatchMiner 

CANCER DIGEST – Oct. 15, 2022 – A clinical trial matching system shortens the time for matching cancer patients with targeted therapy trials by eight weeks, a new analysis shows.