In a nutshell This study compared the effectiveness and safety of nivolumab (Opdivo) and docetaxel (Taxotere) for the treatment of advanced squamous-cell non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study concluded that nivolumab is more effective and safer than docetaxel for this type of cancer. Some background PD-L1 is a protein that...
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Can pertuzumab improve long-term response rates in HER2-positive breast cancer?
In a nutshell The authors aimed to assess whether adding pertuzumab (Perjeta) to chemotherapy could improve response in women with metastatic (has spread) breast cancer. This study showed that adding pertuzumab to chemotherapy resulted in higher response rates among women with breast cancer that relied on the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) to...
Read MoreCombination treatment with nivolumab and ipilimumab in untreated advanced melanoma
In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effect of nivolumab (Opdivo) or ipilimumab (Yervoy) alone, or in combination in advanced melanoma. The authors found out that the combination therapy was more effective than treatment with either of the single drugs. Some background In advanced melanoma (stages 3 and 4), cancer spreads from the skin to...
Read MoreReconsidering chemotherapy for older men with advanced prostate cancer
In a nutshell This study investigated the effects of health status in older patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer on treatment outcome with taxane-based chemotherapies. Researchers reported that taxane-based chemotherapies were associated with a significant survival benefit, regardless of age and health status. Some background...
Read MoreLooking for colorectal cancer patients with newly-diagnosed metastasis for regorafenib trial
In a nutshell This phase 2 study recruiting in New York aims to determine the effectiveness of regorafenib (Stivarga) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The main outcome will be time to disease progression. The details The standard treatment for metastatic (spread to other areas of the body) colorectal cancer is a combination of...
Read MoreEffect of isolated limb perfusion on quality of life of melanoma patients
In a nutshell The authors assessed the effect of isolated limb perfusion (a technique to administer drugs) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in melanoma patients. The authors concluded that ILP caused an initial decrease in HRQoL followed by a steady maintenance after 12 months of treatment. Some background Isolated limb...
Read MorePersonalized peptide vaccine shows promising early-phase results
In a nutshell This study examined personalized peptide vaccine (PPV) immunotherapy in the treatment of advanced metastatic prostate cancer. Researchers reported that patients treated with PPV showed delayed disease progression and increased overall survival. Some background Immunotherapy has recently been under intense investigation as a possible...
Read MoreTreatment with vemurafenib before surgery in metastatic melanoma
In a nutshell The authors assessed the effect of vemurafenib (Zelboraf) in metastatic (spread to other areas of the body) melanoma patients prior to surgery. The authors found that surgery to remove metastatic tumors is safe and effective during or just after treatment with vemurafenib. Some background In advanced melanoma (stages 3 to...
Read MorePrevention of bone mineral loss in prostate cancer patients
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the change in bone density in patients who received luteinizing hormone-releasing agonists (LHRHa, treatments that reduce testosterone production in the body) compared to estradiol patches (patches that deliver the hormone estradiol). The authors concluded that EPs reduce the loss of bone density and...
Read MoreImportance of surgical margin in melanoma
In a nutshell The authors compared the effect of narrow and wide surgical margins on long-term survival of advanced melanoma patients. The authors found that for melanoma of 2 mm thickness or greater, the surgical margin should be 2 cm. Some background The standard treatment for skin cancer remains surgical removal of the tumor along with some of...
Read MoreDealing with cancer pain: Low-dose morphine examined
In a nutshell This study compared weak opioids and low-dose morphine in providing pain relief for moderate cancer pain. Researchers concluded that low-dose morphine is more suitable as pain management for moderate cancer pain than weaker pain relievers. Some background The guidelines for cancer pain relief developed by the World Health...
Read MoreDealing with cancer pain: Low-dose morphine examined
In a nutshell This study compared weak opioids and low-dose morphine in providing pain relief for moderate cancer pain. Researchers concluded that low-dose morphine is more suitable as pain management for moderate cancer pain than weaker pain relievers. Some background The guidelines for cancer pain relief developed by the World Health...
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