In a nutshell This study looked at whether classifying a person’s cancer based on how it has started to grow into the local tissue can predict spread to lymph nodes (metastases). Some background A common treatment option for patients with T1 colorectal cancer (cancer is beginning to spread into the muscle layer) which has not...
Read More
In a nutshell This review looked at the effectiveness of angiogenesis inhibitors (such as bevacizumab [Avastin] or aflibercept [Eylea]) in colorectal cancer, and in what sequence these treatments should be used. Some background Angiogenesis inhibitors (AIs) prevent the formation of new blood vessels necessary for tumor growth. They are often used...
Read More
In a nutshell This study looked at whether the original location of tumors which have spread can predict how the cancer may progress. Some background Despite many advances in the field of colorectal cancer, relatively few markers have been found which help predict patient survival. Some factors, such as whether there is a mutation (abnormality) in...
Read More
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” ~Dalai Lama In 2008, Audrey Guth, mother and president of Diamond Personnel, a nanny placement agency in Toronto Canada, arrived at the hospital for breast cancer chemotherapy. She saw mothers receiving chemotherapy infusions holding “really young...
Read More
In a nutshell This study looked at the usefulness of measuring the levels of a certain type of white blood cell in cancer tissue as a method of predicting the progression of rectal cancer. Some background Neoadjuvant therapy is when patients are given an initial treatment before their main cancer treatment. For example,...
Read More
In a nutshell This study looked at whether measuring a specific enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), in tissue can help predict the way in which a person’s cancer may progress following treatment. Some background A common treatment option for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) that has spread to other areas of the body (metastatic...
Read More
In a nutshell This study looked at the safety and effectiveness of a type of chemoradiotherapy following surgery for rectal cancer. Some background Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA. Advanced radiation treatments such as three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and...
Read More
In a nutshell This study looked at whether a treatment known as radiofrequency ablation is useful in treating cancer which has spread to a patient’s adrenal glands. Some background The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys and make several hormones for the body. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy are often used to treat cases where...
Read More
In a nutshell This study examined the impact of higher calcium, vitamin D and dairy products on colorectal cancer survival. Some background Patients who have a diet high in calcium, vitamin D and dairy products are generally known to have a lower risk of colorectal cancer. However, no research has been done on whether having a diet high in...
Read More
In a nutshell This study looked at whether the levels of two types of cells in your blood before surgery can predict the likely course for your condition. Some background Surgery is the preferred treatment for patients with colorectal cancer that has not started to spread. Despite high success rates, the cancer returns in almost 30% of cases....
Read More
In a nutshell This study looked at the impact of two treatments, chemoradiotherapy and chemotherapy, on the survival of patients with rectal cancer and on the return of their cancer. Some background Normally, prior to surgery to remove rectal cancer, a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is given. Chemotherapy uses a drug or...
Read More
In a nutshell This study examined whether the albumin to globulin ratio (a measure of inflammation in the body) could predict the response to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. Some background Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. Patients with colorectal cancer that has spread from its original site and whose cancer cannot...
Read More
