Oncology News and Research

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Oncology, meaning bulk, mass, or tumor, and the suffix ''-logy'', meaning "study of") is a branch of medicine that deals with tumors (cancer). A medical professional who practices oncology is an ''oncologist''.

Electronic patient-reported symptom monitoring increases survival compared with usual cancer care

The integration of electronic patient-reported outcomes into the routine care of patients with metastatic cancer was associated with increased survival compared with usual care, according to a study published by JAMA.

5 Jun 2017

Online intervention can relieve distress, improve quality of life for cancer patients

Most patients experience significant distress after they are diagnosed with cancer. This distress not only erodes quality of life, but can also negatively affect the course of the disease and the patient's ability to tolerate treatment.

5 Jun 2017

Study finds steady decline in severe health problems for childhood cancer survivors

Treatments for childhood cancer are often intense and carry the risk of lifelong health problems for survivors. An analysis of 23,600 childhood cancer survivors in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS), funded by the National Institutes of Health, found that the rate of severe health problems occurring five or more years after diagnosis has declined over time.

5 Jun 2017

Brief psychological intervention reduces depressive symptoms in patients with advanced cancer

Advanced cancer triggers enormous distress and brings challenges that can seem overwhelming. Yet, most cancer centers lack systematic approaches to help patients and families manage the practical and emotional toll of advanced cancer.

5 Jun 2017

New targeted oral therapy results in durable responses across many kinds of cancer

Scientists may have developed the first targeted, oral, tumor-type agnostic therapy - a cancer medicine that works comparably well across many kinds of cancer, regardless of patient age. In clinical trials of adults and children with 17 different types of advanced cancer, larotrectinib treatment resulted in responses in 76% of patients.

5 Jun 2017

Positive results for AstraZeneca’s PARP inhibitor Lynparza in advanced breast cancer

A new study has shown that AstraZeneca's Lynparza (olaparib) can significantly slow the progress of breast cancer that is caused partially due to mutations of the culprit gene called BRCA. BRCA gene mutations are responsible for around 3% of all breast cancers. These cases of the disease that have a basis in the gene are notoriously difficult to treat and women who are tested positive for this gene may even opt for removal of their breasts before even the cancer strikes. Noted actress Angelina Jolie went for a similar prophylactic mastectomy.

5 Jun 2017

Standard therapy plus abiraterone lowers relative risk of death in men with advanced prostate cancer

A clinical trial of nearly 2,000 men shows that adding abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) to a standard initial treatment regimen for high-risk, advanced prostate cancer lowers the relative risk of death by 37%.

5 Jun 2017

Study provides reassurance to breast cancer survivors who contemplate pregnancy

Findings from a retrospective study of 1,200 women provide reassurance to breast cancer survivors who are contemplating pregnancy.

5 Jun 2017

Combination therapy shows potential for effective treatment of RAS-mutant cancers

A study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has shown promise for effective treatment of therapy-resistant cancers caused by a mutation of the RAS gene found in many cancers.

2 Jun 2017

Genetic sequencing could help direct treatment for 72% of advanced cancer patients

A new analysis finds that nearly three-quarters of 500 patients with advanced cancer could be referred to a potential targeted treatment based on the results of a comprehensive analysis of their tumor's genetic landscape.

2 Jun 2017

Researchers find way to attack sleeper cells that cause breast cancer recurrence

Though researchers have made tremendous strides in saving the lives of patients diagnosed with breast cancer, the disease still comes back after treatment in 30 percent of women.

2 Jun 2017

Immunotherapy combination offers new hope for women with early stage triple negative breast cancer

A Yale Cancer Center clinical trial combining the immune checkpoint inhibitor (durvalumab/MEDI4736) with chemotherapy as preoperative treatment for early stage triple negative breast cancer disclosed a 71% pathologic complete response to the combination treatment in the initial phase I trial.

2 Jun 2017

As government-funded cancer research sags, scientists fear U.S. is ‘losing its edge’

Less and less of the research presented at a prominent cancer conference is supported by the National Institutes of Health, a development that some of the country's top scientists see as a worrisome trend.

2 Jun 2017

Early study of experimental vaccine shows escalating immune response in patients with sarcoma

The critical component of an experimental vaccine led to an escalating immune response in patients with sarcoma, an indicator of its potential anti-cancer effects.

2 Jun 2017

Experimental drug increases progression-free survival in pancreatic cancer patients, clinical trial shows

By adding an experimental drug to a standard chemotherapy regimen, a subset of patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer had a significantly longer period before the cancer progressed as compared with those who received the standard treatment, according to a Phase 2 clinical trial led by an investigator at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

1 Jun 2017

Moffitt researchers hope to improve personalized radiation therapy for head and neck cancer patients

Radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments used to fight cancer, with an estimated 500,000 people each year receiving radiation therapy either alone or in combination with other treatments.

31 May 2017

Novel vaccine therapy can generate immune responses in patients with HPV-related head and neck cancer

A novel vaccine therapy can generate immune responses in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCCa), according to researchers at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

31 May 2017

Clinical trial uses small molecule to treat men with incurable prostate cancer

NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine have begun the first clinical trial in the United States that uses a small molecule to treat men with progressive prostate cancer that has spread beyond the prostate and is no longer responding to hormonal therapy.

31 May 2017

Combined modality treatment provides alternative to complete bladder removal for patients with MIBC

A meta-analysis of previously published cancer research showed no difference in five-year and 10-year survival rates between patients who underwent radical cystectomy, which is the surgical removal of the bladder, and a bladder-preserving combined modality treatment (CMT) plan, which combines radiation therapy, chemotherapy and the removal of the bladder tumor.

31 May 2017

Combining oral drug with personalized cell therapy can lead to complete remission in CLL patients

Combining the kinase inhibitor ibrutinib with an investigational personalized cellular therapy known as CTL119 can lead to complete remission in patients with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn's Abramson Cancer Center

31 May 2017

Oncology News and Research

Further Reading

Electronic patient-reported symptom monitoring increases survival compared with usual cancer care

Online intervention can relieve distress, improve quality of life for cancer patients

Study finds steady decline in severe health problems for childhood cancer survivors

Brief psychological intervention reduces depressive symptoms in patients with advanced cancer

New targeted oral therapy results in durable responses across many kinds of cancer

Positive results for AstraZeneca’s PARP inhibitor Lynparza in advanced breast cancer

Standard therapy plus abiraterone lowers relative risk of death in men with advanced prostate cancer

Study provides reassurance to breast cancer survivors who contemplate pregnancy

Combination therapy shows potential for effective treatment of RAS-mutant cancers

Genetic sequencing could help direct treatment for 72% of advanced cancer patients

Researchers find way to attack sleeper cells that cause breast cancer recurrence

Immunotherapy combination offers new hope for women with early stage triple negative breast cancer

As government-funded cancer research sags, scientists fear U.S. is ‘losing its edge’

Early study of experimental vaccine shows escalating immune response in patients with sarcoma

Experimental drug increases progression-free survival in pancreatic cancer patients, clinical trial shows

Moffitt researchers hope to improve personalized radiation therapy for head and neck cancer patients

Novel vaccine therapy can generate immune responses in patients with HPV-related head and neck cancer

Clinical trial uses small molecule to treat men with incurable prostate cancer

Combined modality treatment provides alternative to complete bladder removal for patients with MIBC

Combining oral drug with personalized cell therapy can lead to complete remission in CLL patients

A best-practice guide for laboratory services in oncology trials eBook

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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