In a nutshell This study investigated the effectiveness and safety of combined treatment with dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and trametinib (Mekinist) in patients with BRAF mutated stage 3 or 4 melanoma. Researchers suggested that the combination treatment has durable (3 years or more) results. Some background Patients with metastatic (spread to...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study investigated the survival outcomes of surgery in melanoma patients with metastasis in the abdominal organs (AV; spread to others internal organs such as liver, stomach etc). Researchers suggested that surgery is an important treatment option for these patients. Some background Surgery is an important treatment option...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study investigated the safety and effectiveness of treatment with combination cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), methotrexate (Otrexup) and 5-fluoruoracil (Efudex) (CMF) plus trastuzumab (Herceptin) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC, cancer that has spread beyond the breast) patients. CMF plus trastuzumab (CMF+T) was found to...
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In a nutshell This study investigated how effective and safe radium 223 dichloride treatment was in patients with castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). It was concluded that radium 223 dichloride increased overall survival, reduced symptomatic skeletal events risk and was safe. Some background Treatment to decrease the male hormones,...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study investigated the safety of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and surgery in colon cancer patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM). Researchers reported that HIPEC and surgery was associated with an increased risk of complications. Some background When colon cancer spreads to the abdominal lining (known as...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study compared the benefit of combining different local therapies with hormone therapy for metastatic prostate cancer. Researchers reported a survival benefit for patients treated with surgery or intensity modulated radiation therapy (a type of radiation therapy) before hormone therapy. Some background Hormone therapy is...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the effect of panitumumab (Vectibix) in overall survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer without a KRAS or RAS mutation. Researchers suggested that panitumumab significantly improved survival in these patients. Some background Panitumumab is a therapy that targets a...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether abiraterone (Zytiga) or enzalutamide (Xtandi) should be administered first in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Authors report preliminary evidence for reduced disease progression when administering abiraterone before enzalutamide compared to the reverse sequence. A significant...
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In a nutshell This trial examined whether osimertinib (Tagrisso) was effective at treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has progressed after EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment. The authors concluded that osimertinib is both effective and tolerable as treatment for these patients. Some background...
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In a nutshell This study examined evidence for the benefits of adding chemotherapy early to hormone therapy for metastatic prostate cancer. Authors concluded that early evidence indicates a survival benefit with the addition of chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer. Some background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a type of hormone...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study examined whether the duration of primary (first round) hormone therapy impacts abiraterone (Zytiga) treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Researchers concluded that the benefits of abiraterone were not dependent on the duration of primary hormone therapy. Some background Androgen...
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In a nutshell This study compared the effectiveness of the chemotherapy FOLFIRI plus cetuximab (Erbitux) and FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab (Avastin). Researchers suggested that FOLFIRI plus cetuximab is associated with a higher effectiveness in treating metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) colorectal cancers. Some background FOLFIRI is...
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