In a nutshell The authors analyzed the 5-year survival rate in advanced melanoma patients treated with a combination of ipilimumab (Yervoy) and dacarbazine (DTIC, DTIC-Dome) in a phase III clinical trial. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the...
Read MoreConfined or spread disease-Spread with distant metastasis Posts on Medivizor
Can the original location of your tumor predict the future of your cancer?
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 MorePredicting response to treatment in cancer that has spread
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 MoreImmunotherapy in advanced melanoma: a review
In a nutshell The authors reviewed different immunotherapies for advanced melanoma. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. Immunotherapy is a common treatment used in advanced melanoma. It uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. This...
Read MoreRetargeting: Treatment for metastatic HER2+ breast cancer that has progressed following targeted treatment
In a nutshell The authors reviewed the benefits and safety of ado–trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla), a treatment for metastatic breast cancer (cancer that has spread to other areas of the body). Some background Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 positive (HER2) breast cancer depends on HER2 for growth. Treatments that target the HER2...
Read MoreHow safe and effective is retreatment with ipilimumab in advanced melanoma?
In a nutshell The authors analyzed the effectiveness and safety of retreatment with ipilimumab (Yervoy) in patients with advanced melanoma. Some background The survival rate in advanced melanoma is poor. Ipilimumab, an immunotherapy (treatment that uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer), is an...
Read MoreTargeting chemotherapy and hormone therapy resistant breast cancer
In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of lapatinib (Tyverb) as treatment for women with metastatic breast cancer (the tumor has spread to other organs) where previous treatment has proven ineffective. Some background Circulating tumor cells (CTC’s) are cells from a primary tumor that have migrated into the blood...
Read MoreTraditional Chinese medicine; the effects on breast cancer survival
In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine used with conventional breast cancer treatments on breast cancer survival. Some background Traditional Chinese medicine is an alternative therapy that can complement breast cancer treatments. This generally includes various forms of herbal medicine,...
Read MorePoor performance status: should chemotherapy still be given?
In a nutshell The authors examined whether chemotherapy can benefit metastatic colorectal cancer patients (patients whose cancer has spread from the colon or rectum to distant sites) with high ECOG scores. Some background The ECOG scoring system measures how much the cancer is impacting a patient’s daily living abilities (performance...
Read MoreSkin side effects in combination therapy versus single therapy in melanoma
In a nutshell The authors aimed to compare safety of a combination therapy over a single therapy in advanced melanoma patients. Some background In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. In the majority of advanced melanoma patients, BRAF genes are mutated (permanently...
Read MoreLung invasion: what are the outcomes of colorectal cancer patients who have undergone lung surgery?
In a nutshell This study examined cancer relapse rates and treatment options for patients with colorectal lung metastases (colorectal cancer that has spread to the lungs) after curative lung surgery. Some background Roughly 20% of patients with colorectal cancer will have cancer in a distant organ by the time they are diagnosed. The cancer will...
Read MoreRadiofrequency ablation as an alternate therapy option in metastatic skin cancer; more research needed?
In a nutshell The authors reviewed pros and cons of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of skin cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic melanoma). Some background RFA is a technique that selectively removes or destroys (ablates) damaged tissues using the heat generated by high frequency current. RFA offers an...
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