http://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress provides the latest news from American Society of Clinical Oncology New results from a retrospective study conducted in Europe suggest that anti-HER2 treatments, like the widely used breast cancer agent trastuzumab (Herceptin), have anti-cancer effects in a small subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring specific HER2 protein mutations. Although genetic changes cause tumor cells to make too much of the HER2 protein in up to 20% of lung cancers, mutations in the HER2 gene occur in only 1-2% of lung cancers. Such mutations in the HER2 gene lead to continuous activation of the protein, which keeps tumor cells alive and stimulates their growth. This is the largest study to date to explore the effect of anti-HER2 drugs among patients with these rare mutations who had already completed standard initial chemotherapy. The findings, published April 22 in the in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, suggest that HER2 testing to identify patients who might benefit from such treatments may be worthwhile. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-patients-lung-cancer-specific-her2.html Cancer Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:00:07 EST news285849980 New results from a clinical trial conducted in Shanghai, China, indicate that adding cetuximab (Erbitux) to standard chemotherapy enables some patients with otherwise inoperable liver metastases due to colorectal cancer have their metastases surgically removed. Such surgery can be curative, and is generally critical to long-term survival. While this combination regimen is a standard treatment option for many patients with advanced colorectal cancer, this is the first randomized study to explore its impact on inoperable liver metastases. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-04-adding-cetuximab-chemotherapy-enables-patients.html Cancer Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:32:25 EST news284657518 New results from a large observational follow-up study conducted in Shanghai, China, indicate that women with lung cancer who consumed more soy food prior to their cancer diagnosis lived longer than those who consumed less soy. The study, published March 25 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, provides the first scientific evidence that soy intake has a favorable effect on lung cancer survival. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-higher-soy-intake-prior-lung.html Cancer Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:00:09 EST news283435449 New results from a prospective clinical trial conducted in France show that children with low-risk retinoblastoma do not need postoperative (adjuvant) chemotherapy to prevent disease recurrence or metastasis; the results also suggest that certain patients with intermediate-risk disease can receive less aggressive adjuvant treatment, or perhaps forego it altogether. Avoiding chemotherapy spares patients from treatment side effects and long-term health risks, such as cardiovascular disease and development of a second cancer. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-03-prospective-children-retinoblastoma-safely-adjuvant.html Cancer Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:00:03 EST news281624036 The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has just released its annual report on the top cancer advances of the year. Clinical Cancer Advances 2012: ASCO's Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer, highlights major achievements in precision medicine, cancer screening and overcoming treatment resistance. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-12-american-society-clinical-oncology-issues.html Cancer Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:00:12 EST news273757673 A large population- and health systems-based prospective study reports earlier discussions about end of life (EOL) care preferences are strongly associated with less aggressive care in the last days of life and increased use of hospice care for patients with advanced cancer. The study, published November 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, provides the first-of-its –kind scientific evidence that timing of EOL care discussions affects decisions about EOL care. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-earlier-life-discussions-linked-aggressive.html Cancer Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:58:33 EST news272037501 A study by the Children's Oncology Group (COG) reported that five-year survival for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL, the most common type of pediatric cancer) among children treated through COG clinical trials increased from 83.7 percent during the period 1990-1994 to 90.4 percent in the period 2000-2005. The improvements in survival were observed among all children over age 1 regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, or subtype of ALL. This analysis, which is the largest study to date of ALL survival, showed similar gains in 10-year survival. The findings are published March 12 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-steady-long-term-survival-children-acute.html Cancer Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:00:09 EST news250779264 Dutch investigators have reported that women who received CMF chemotherapy (a combination regimen including the drugs cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil) for breast cancer between 1976 and 1995 scored worse on cognitive tests than women who never had cancer. The differences in performance were subtle but statistically significant, and occurred mainly in word learning, memory and information processing speed. The findings – published February 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology – indicate that cognitive problems, which are known to occur shortly after treatment, may also be observed 20 years after treatment. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-long-term-cognitive-effects-breast-cancer.html Cancer Mon, 27 Feb 2012 16:00:08 EST news249565758 A new prospective study of patients with Lynch syndrome – an inherited disorder of cancer susceptibility caused by mutations in specific DNA repair genes – provides the first strong evidence that people with Lynch syndrome face significantly increased risks of breast and pancreatic cancers. The study also provided new, clearer estimates of the risks of cancers already recognized to be associated with Lynch syndrome, including those of the colon, uterus, ovary, kidney, stomach and bladder. The findings – published February 13 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology – may have implications for screening and early detection of cancers in patients with the condition. Additionally, the study showed that relatives of individuals with Lynch syndrome who do not carry a genetic mutation associated with the condition have no increased risk of developing cancer, compared to the general population. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-02-prospective-analysis-links-breast-pancreatic.html Cancer Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:00:19 EST news248370504 A large, retrospective study shows that children of childhood cancer survivors who received prior treatment involving radiation to testes or ovaries and/or chemotherapy with alkylating agents do not have an increased risk for birth defects compared to children of survivors who did not have such cancer treatment. The findings provide reassurance that increased risks of birth defects are unlikely for cancer survivors who are concerned about the potential effects of their treatment on their children, and can help guide family planning choices. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-childhood-cancer-survivors-exposure-chemotherapy.html Cancer Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:36:25 EST news242930171 The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) today released Clinical Cancer Advances 2011: ASCO's Annual Report on Progress Against Cancer, an independent review of the advances in cancer research that have had the greatest impact on patient care this year. The report also identifies the most promising trends in oncology and provides insights from experts on where the future of cancer care is heading. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-12-american-society-clinical-oncology-issues.html Cancer Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:36:10 EST news242325328 A new study has shown that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used to evaluate responses to pre-surgery (neo-adjuvant) chemotherapy or radiation may predict survival among patients with advanced rectal cancer. The findings suggest that MRI-assessed tumor responses to neoadjuvant therapy can help physicians to better plan their patients' subsequent treatments. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-08-mri-survival-locally-advanced-rectal.html Cancer Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:00:05 EST news233847271