Digital Breast Tomosynthesis May Improve Cancer Detection

Digital breast tomosynthesis, which produces three-dimensional images of the breast, may be more accurate than mammography in detecting breast cancer but may also expose women to more radiation.

Study Supports Link Between Child CT Exposure, Cancer Risk

Irradiation from diagnostic computed tomography (CT) scans is associated with an increased risk of cancer among children and adolescents exposed to CT.

Frequent Heartburn Linked to Cancer of Pharynx and Larynx

Frequent heartburn is associated with a higher risk of cancers of the pharynx and larynx, which may be reduced by the use of antacids.

National Lung Screening Trial Results as Expected

The initial results from the National Lung Screening Trial concur with the literature, with more positive screening results, diagnostic procedures, and lung cancers detected with low-dose computed tomography vs. chest radiography screening.

For Men With Prostate Cancer, Comorbidities Up Other-Cause Risk

Among men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer the risk for other-cause mortality increases with the number of comorbid conditions, particularly in older men.

Risk Factors ID'd for Cutaneous Cell Carcinoma

The risks of metastasis and death associated with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma are low, but significant, and risk factors for poor outcome include tumor diameter, invasion beyond fat, poor differentiation, and location.

Study: Midlife Fitness May Protect Against Cancer

Men's middle-aged fitness level may protect against cancer.

Obinutuzumab Reduces Disease Progression Risk in CLL Study

Genetech announced results from CLL11, a Phase 3 study of obinutuzumab (GA101), comparing the combination of either obinutuzumab or Rituxan and chlorambucil to chlorambucil alone in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Tied to Lower Alzheimer's Risk

Older individuals with nonmelanoma skin cancer seem to have a significantly reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

SPACE, RF Ablation Combo Safe and Effective for Lung Cancer

For unresectable lung tumors, the combination of segmental pulmonary arterial chemoembolization (SPACE) and percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation helps achieve better local tumor progression rates than RF ablation alone.

New Drug Approved for Advanced Prostate Cancer

The FDA has approved Bayer's Xofigo for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer with bone metastases.

Personalized Medicine Approvals for Lung Cancer Patients

The cobas EGFR Mutation Test has been approved to identify patients with non-small cell lung cancer who are candidates for receiving Tarceva as first-line treatment.

Adcetris Under Review for Retreatment and Extended Duration Therapy

The FDA has accepted Seattle Genetics' sBLA for filing of Adcetris for retreatment and extended duration beyond 16 cycles of therapy in relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Creative Arts Therapies Up Mental Health for Cancer Patients

For cancer patients, creative arts therapies (CATs) are associated with improvements in psychological symptoms and quality of life.

Study: No Need to Stop Warfarin for Pacemaker, ICD Surgery

For patients undergoing pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator surgery, the incidence of clinically significant pocket-device hematoma is significantly reduced with continued warfarin therapy vs. heparin bridging.

Death Up in Weekend ER Visits for Prostate Cancer Patients

For patients with metastatic prostate cancer, visiting the emergency department over the weekend is associated with increased odds of mortality.

Mutations in CSF3R Common in CNL, Atypical CML

For patients with chronic neutrophilic leukemia and atypical (BCR-ABL1-negative) chronic myeloid leukemia, activating mutations in the gene encoding the colony stimulating factor 3 receptor (CSF3R) are common.

Most Skin Cancer is Treated With Surgery

Regardless of patient life expectancy, most cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are treated surgically.

MnDCT Beats Chest X-Ray for Detecting Lung Cancer

Minimal Dose Computed Tomography Scan of the Chest (MnDCT) delivers a radiation dose comparable to that of chest X-ray, with greater sensitivity for detecting new or recurrent lung cancer.

EGFR Antagonists Go Head-to-Head in Colorectal Cancer Trial

Phase 3 trial evaluating Vectibix vs. Erbitux for the treatment of chemo-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer meets its primary endpoint for overall survival.

Gene-Based Test Predicts Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness

Oncotype DX, the first-of-its-kind biopsy-based prostate cancer test, is now available to help physicians and their patients choose the most appropriate treatment.

FDA Proposes to Increase User Awareness of Sunlamp Risks

The U.S. FDA has proposed an order to reclassify sunlamp products from a low-risk to a moderate-risk device, which would require comprehensive risk labeling on such products.

Name Confusion Could Lead to Mix-up of Two Breast Cancer Drugs

The FDA is alerting health care professionals of possible medication errors resulting from confusing generic names for Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine) and Herceptin (trastuzumab).

Study: Incidence of Testicular Cancer Up Over 20 Years

The incidence of testicular germ cell tumors increased from 1992-2009, especially among Hispanic men.

Recommended Age for Prostate Cancer Screening Upped to 55

New AUA guidelines for prostate cancer screenings increase the recommended age from 40 to 55, and recommend screenings every two years instead of annually.

Study Looks at Value of Longer Intervals After Breast Biopsy

For patients with benign radiologic-pathologic concordant minimally invasive breast biopsy, interval imaging performed after <12 months has a low yield and high cost for detection of breast cancer.

Average of 13 Mutations ID'd in Adult AML Genomes

Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) genomes have an average of 13 mutations, and almost all cases have at least one nonsynonymous mutation in a category of genes relevant for pathogenesis.

Janssen R&D Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Daratumumab

Janssen Research & Development announced that the FDA granted daratumumab Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma.

Injection Now Available for Lymphatic Mapping

Lymphoseek Injection is now available for use in lymphatic mapping procedures that are performed to help in the diagnostic evaluation of potential cancer spread for patients with breast cancer and melanoma. Lymphoseek was approved by the FDA in March 2013.

Breast Implants May Impair Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Women who have received cosmetic breast implants may have an increased risk of diagnosis at a non-localized stage of breast cancer, and seem to have worse breast cancer survival.

Female Smokers More Susceptible to Colon Cancer

Female smokers seem to be more susceptible to colon cancer than male smokers, particularly to proximal colon cancer.

Comprehensive Discussion With Docs Ups Cancer Screening

Having more comprehensive discussions about colorectal cancer screening with primary care providers is associated with increased odds of screening.

Med Errors Common Among Pediatric Cancer Outpatients

Among pediatric cancer patients who receive medications at home, errors are common, with a rate of 3.6 errors with injury per 100 patients.

History of Skin Cancer Linked to Secondary Cancers

Men and women with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) are at modestly greater risk of secondary cancers at other sites.

Integrated 2D/3D Mammogram Improves Cancer Detection

Mammography with integrated two-dimensional (2D) imaging together with tomosynthesis with three-dimensional (3D) imaging is associated with improved breast cancer detection.

Delay Time Linked to Reduced Survival in Breast Cancer

For young women with breast cancer, a longer treatment delay time is associated with decreased survival; and women with early-stage breast cancer with Medicaid are more likely to undergo mastectomy than those with private insurance.

Obesity Tied to Risk of Prostate Cancer After Negative Biopsy

In men with an initial benign biopsy or transurethral resection of the prostate, obesity is associated with the presence of precancerous lesions in the initial biopsy and a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

Merck's Lambrolizumab Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation

The FDA has designated Merck's lambrolizumab (MK-3475) as Breakthrough Therapy for the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma. Lambrolizumab is an investigational antibody therapy targeting Programmed Death receptor.

Study Describes Outcomes, Therapies for HER2-Mutated Lung Cancers

For HER2-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer, half of tumors are detected at stage IV, and anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) treatments are associated with encouraging response rates and disease control rates.

Mammogram Rates Unchanged Since USPSTF Recommendations

There has been no change in mammography screening rates among women aged 40 years or older following publication of the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations.

Tonsillectomy Pre-Radiation Ups Survival Rates with Carcinoma

For patients with stage I and II primary tonsil carcinoma, radiotherapy after tonsillectomy is associated with improved overall survival and disease-specific survival, compared with radiotherapy after biopsy.

Depending on Condition, Outcomes Vary After Colectomy

After elective colectomy, patients with diverticular disease have worse outcomes and higher costs than patients with colon cancer but better outcomes and lower costs than patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Smartphone Apps Vary in Accuracy in Judging Melanoma Risk

The diagnostic accuracy of smartphone applications that analyze photos of pigmented skin lesions for melanoma risk is highly variable and incorrectly classifies about a third of melanomas as benign.

For Older Men, Prostate Biopsy Uncommon After Abnormal PSA

For older men with abnormal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, performance of prostate biopsies is uncommon and decreases with advancing age and worsening comorbidity.

Radiation Dose Impacts Lesion Size on Chest CT Exams

The estimated sizes of lung nodules and mediastinal lymph nodes vary considerably with the radiation dose of chest computed tomography examinations.

PSA in Midlife Can Predict Later Risk of Prostate Cancer Mortality

Prostate-specific antigen concentrations in midlife can be used to predict the long-term risk of prostate cancer metastasis or death from prostate cancer.

Increase in DCIS Diagnoses Tied to Computer-Aided Detection

The use of computer-aided detection for screening mammography has increased in prevalence and is associated with increased diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).

Endocrine Therapy Often Incomplete After Breast Cancer

About 25% of women with breast cancer either never initiate adjuvant endocrine treatment or stop treatment prematurely.

Similar Outcomes for Robotic, Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

For men undergoing routine surgical treatment for localized cancer of the prostate, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy does not result in better functional outcomes compared to laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

Pediatric Melanomas Are Increasing 2% Per Year

The incidence of pediatric melanoma has increased by about 2% per year, and this incidence trend is influenced by gender, age, and stage at diagnosis, primary site, and ultraviolet-B exposure.

In-Transit Melanoma Advance Is Difficult to Predict

Progressive disease cannot be reliably predicted by patient, clinical, or procedural factors in patients receiving regional therapy for advanced melanoma of the extremities.

Report: Breast Cancer Screenings Should Be Personalized

Optimal breast cancer screening should be personalized for each woman and may go beyond mammography.

Elorac's Topical Naloxone Lotion Granted Fast Track Designation

The FDA has granted Fast Track designation to Elorac's naloxone topical lotion, an opiate antagonist with no agonist activity, for the relief of pruritus in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Cancer Society: Room for Improvement in Cancer Prevention, Detection

Despite improvements in aspects of cancer prevention and early detection, American Cancer Society urged more systematic efforts to reduce tobacco use and obesity, and expand the use of screening tests could prevent much of the suffering and death of cancer.

Parenting Magazines Give Little Attention to Sun Protection

Two popular U.S. parenting magazines give little attention in terms of articles or advertisements to preventing skin cancer risk.

Long-Term Selenium Intake Tied to Prostate Cancer

Toenail selenium, which reflects long-term selenium intake, is associated with a decrease in the risk of advanced prostate cancer, especially during later follow-up.

Breast Cancer Treatment Receives 'Breakthrough Therapy' Designation

The FDA has granted a Breakthrough Therapy designation to Pfizer's palbociclib, an oral and selective inhibitor of CDK 4 and 6 that is a potential treatment for breast cancer patients.

Mutation Increases Risk of Papillary Thyroid Cancer

For patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), the presence of the BRAF V600E mutation is associated with increased cancer-related mortality.

Radiation-Linked Heart Disease Ups Mortality Risk in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Radiation-associated heart disease correlates with an increased risk of death in patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.

Amount of Alcohol Intake Not Tied to Breast Cancer Survival

Moderate alcohol consumption before diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with modest improvement in disease-specific survival, although overall consumption before and after diagnosis are not linked to disease-specific survival.

Insufficient Evidence on Benefit of Screening All for Oral Cancer

Not enough evidence exists to determine the benefits and harms of primary care screening of all adults for oral cancer, according to a new report.

Among Melanoma Survivors, Many Are Still Drawn to the Sun

Although melanoma survivors tend to engage in more sun protection practices than the general population, many do not seek shade and never wear sunscreen.

Leukemia, Other Pediatric Cancers Linked to Air Pollution

Increased exposure to air pollution during pregnancy and the first year of life is associated with an increased risk of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, germ cell tumors, and retinoblastoma.

Smoking When You Wake Up Increases Risk of Lung, Oral Cancers

Smokers who smoked within five minutes after waking have higher levels of tobacco smoke carcinogen and may be at higher risk for lung and oral cancer.

Novel Treatments Show Promise for Ovarian Cancer

A two-step immunotherapy approach and a novel antibody-drug conjugate, DMUC5754A, show promise for advanced ovarian cancer.

Smoking Worsens Outcomes With Advanced Colon Cancer

Smoking is tied to significantly shorter disease-free survival and time to recurrence in patients undergoing treatment for stage III colon cancer.

Cancer Risk Up for Some Exposed to Coal-Tar-Sealed Pavement

There is a significantly increased lifetime risk of cancer for individuals exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with coal-tar-sealed pavement.

'Never Events' Rare After Bladder Cancer Surgery

"Never events," ten hospital-acquired conditions deemed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as being reasonably preventable, are rare in patients with bladder cancer who have undergone radical cystectomy.

Lymphoseek Performs Well in Phase 3 Trial for Head and Neck Cancer

Results from interim analysis demonstrated that Lymphoseek met the primary efficacy endpoint of accurately identifying sentinel lymph nodes in subject with squamous cell carcinoma of the head or in the mouth, as compared to the removal of all lymph nodes during multiple level nodal dissection surgery of the head and neck.

Androgen Deprivation Tx Compared in Prostate Cancer

In patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, intermittent androgen deprivation is associated with slightly, but not significantly, worse survival than continuous androgen deprivation.

Rate of Nephrectomy at Lymph Node Dissection Is Declining

Over the last 30 years, the incidence of nephrectomy at post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection has steadily declined, most likely due to a combination of factors.

BRCA Genetic Testing Recommended for Women With Family History

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing be limited to women whose family histories are associated with an increased likelihood of having BRCA mutations.

In U.S., Cases of Anal Canal Carcinoma Have Increased

Available screening and identification of human papillomavirus likely contributed to the increased incidences of squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal and anal carcinoma in situ after 1997.

Hormone Therapy Ups Breast Cancer Risk, Mortality

Postmenopausal hormone therapy with estrogen plus progestin is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Multiple Strategies Are More Efficient for Cervical Cancer

Multiple cervical cancer screening strategies that maximize early detection of high-grade disease without excessive increases in initial testing appear to be most effective.

Metabolite-Based Test May Detect Early Pancreatic Cancer

A test that measures four serum metabolites can accurately distinguish patients with pancreatic cancer from healthy people and patients with pancreatitis.

Viral DNA-Based Testing Can Triage Women With Abnormal Pap

DNA-based testing with Hybrid Capture 2 assay is more accurate than repeat cytology in identifying women with cervical cancer when their initial Pap smear shows atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.

In Phase 2, Carcinoma Treatment Reolysin Hits Primary Endpoint

Using intravenous administration of Reolysin in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, Oncolytics Biotech says its Phase 2 single arm study has met the primary overall statistical endpoint in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Cell-Cycle Progression Panel Identifies Prostate Cancer Risk

The cell-cycle progression gene panel is useful to improve the risk stratification for men with even low-risk, clinically localized prostate cancer.

Architect AFP Test Helps Detect Birth Defects and Progress of Testicular Cancer

The FDA has approved Abbott's Architect AFP, a test to help detect serious birth defects and the progression of testicular cancer. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a biomarker that can identify the progress of diseases or conditions as well as evaluate the effectiveness of treatments.

Urine Test for HPV Now Available

Trovagene has released a urine-based molecular human papillomavirus (HPV) test designed to identify the presence or absence of 15 known high-risk HPV strains using proprietary DNA sequences.

High Weight Loss, Muscle Depletion May Predict Cancer Mortality

Cancer patients with high weight loss, low muscle index, and low muscle attenuation have a poor prognosis--regardless of body mass index.

For Children, Susceptibility for Leukemia Found in Inherited Genes

For children, inherited genetic variants correlate strongly with susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Smoking Has Gender-Specific Effect in Urothelial Carcinoma

For patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU), the impact of smoking is gender specific, with worse outcomes for females than for males.

New Drug Application Submitted for Anti-Migraine Oral Thin Film, RHB-103

RedHill Biopharma and IntelGenx has submitted a New Drug Application to the FDA seeking marketing approval for acute migraine treatment drug RHB-103—a proprietary, oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan. This submission was based on a successful bioequivalence clinical trial.

Early Baldness Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk for African-Americans

For African-Americans, who are at elevated prostate cancer risk, baldness at age 30 correlates with prostate cancer, with frontal baldness linked to increased odds of high-stage and high-grade disease.

Risk of Prostate Cancer Quantified for Lynch Syndrome

Lynch syndrome carriers have about a two-fold increased risk of prostate cancer.

Study: False-Positive Mammograms Can Have Long-Term Harmful Effects

A false-positive test result from screening mammography is not harmless and can result in negative long-term psychosocial consequences.

RGS Gene Variants Linked to Bladder Cancer Outcome

For patients with bladder cancer, genetic variants in the regulator of G-protein signaling pathway are associated with risk, recurrence, progression, and death.

Engineered Immune Cells Lead to Leukemia Remission

Five patients with relapsed B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) quickly achieved complete remission after treatment with autologous engineered T cells.

No Overall Survival Benefit Tied to Bilateral Oophorectomy

At no age is there an overall survival benefit associated with bilateral oophorectomy compared with ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease.

Clinical Specialties Recalls All Compounded Products; 2nd Recall in a Week

Due to lack of sterility assurance, Clinical Specialties is voluntarily recalling all lots of sterile products that were repackaged and distributed by the pharmacy. This recall follows the company's recall of Avastin unit dose syringes on March 18th.

Endocrine Society Urges Better Standards for Estradiol Testing

A new position statement published by The Endocrine Society recommends that estradiol measurement assays and reference ranges be standardized and that the health care community work toward improving the accessibility of accurate estradiol testing methods.

Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Can Also Reduce Cancer Risk

Subjects who are enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and are meeting goals for 6-7 ideal health metrics have a 51% lower risk of incident cancer than those not meeting any goals for ideal health metrics.

Elafin Granted Orphan Designation to Prevent Inflammatory Complications in Transthoracic Esophagectomy

Proteo's Elafin has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for prevention of inflammatory complications of transthoracic esophagectomy. The orphan designation provides U.S. market exclusivity for a seven-year period upon marketing approval for the designated indication.

Eye Infections Linked to Clinical Specialties' Avastin Syringes

After reports surfaced of five intraocular infections at a physician's office, Clinical Specialties is undertaking a voluntary recall of Avastin unit dose syringes. The sterile syringes were being used solely for an off-label indication by an ophthalmologist for macular degeneration.

In Phase 3, Top-Line Results for Talimogene Laherparepvec for Melanoma

Top-line results from the Phase 3 trial of Amgen's talimogene laherparepvec, being studied for the treatment of unresected stage IIB, IIIC or IV melanoma, have been announced.

Older Women Can Safely Undergo Mammography Every Two Years

Women who are 50-74 years old can safely undergo mammography every two years instead of annually. Younger women (40-49 years old) should only undergo annual mammography if they have extremely dense breasts.

No Definitive Link Between Breast Cancer Decline, Hormone Replacement

Ecological evidence does not definitively link the decline in the use of hormone replacement therapy to a fall in the incidence of breast cancer.

Increased Chance of Ovarian Cancer for Nightshift Workers?

Nightshift work may be associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The risks were observed only for women aged 50 years and older, and for invasive and borderline tumors with serous and mucinous histologies.