In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of two genes – ERG and PTEN – as markers in prostate cancer progression. Some background Prostate surgery is a common treatment in prostate cancer. It involves surgically removing the prostate gland. The ERG gene is a cancer gene that contains a protein...
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In a nutshell This study looked at whether chemotherapy following surgery could improve survival in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Some background Adjuvant chemotherapy refers to chemotherapy is given after a primary treatment, such as surgery. The effectiveness of this has not been well established in elderly patients with...
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In a nutshell This study looked at whether a blood test which measures plasma osteopontin (OPN) levels can predict the likely course of colorectal cancer. Some background The pronosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) following surgery remains poor. This is often due to the cancer spreading. It is hoped that by finding a method of predicting or...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine whether or not there was a link between reproductive characteristics of women and their potential risk of cancer recurrence (the cancer returns) and survival. Some background Breast cancer survival is influenced by a range of risk factors. A woman’s reproductive history can often be associated, as...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine if acupuncture could reduce medication-induced hot flashes in patients with breast cancer. Some background Aromatase inhibitors are a form of hormone therapy used for women with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer (dependent on the hormones estrogen or progesterone for growth). Hot flashes are an...
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In a nutshell The authors compared the effectiveness of robot-assisted and open prostate surgery in prostate cancer patients. Some background Prostate surgery is a common treatment option in prostate cancer. It involves surgically removing the prostate gland. There are numerous types of prostate surgery. Open radical prostate...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effectiveness of radiation therapy after surgery in the management of desmoplastic melanoma (a rare kind of skin cancer). Some background Desmoplastic melanoma is a rare form of skin cancer where the cancer cells are surrounded by fibrous tissues (e.g. tissues that make up ligaments, tendons or...
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In a nutshell The authors compared the risk of developing subsequent melanoma in patients who have different stages of primary early stage melanomas. Some background Once primary early stage skin melanoma (first occurrence of melanoma) is diagnosed, there is a risk of developing subsequent melanoma within 10 years. Therefore,...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the significance of cancer cells mutations (a permanent change in the genetic core of the cell) and their impact on a patient’s eligibility for certain therapy drugs. Some background Tumor suppressor genes (such as BRCA-1) protect cells from becoming cancerous through mechanisms that repair damage...
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In a nutshell This study looked at two different types of surgery: single port and multi-port surgery and compared the outcomes of each for colorectal cancer patients. Some background Studies have shown that surgical removal of tumors via a surgical method known as laparoscopic surgery is beneficial. Laparoscopic surgery is sometimes called...
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In a nutshell The authors determined the risk of disease progression in melanoma patients based on the status of sentinel lymph node (SLN). Some background Classification of skin melanoma based on SLN is the standard procedure used to determine the course of treatment in melanoma patients. SLN is the first lymph node...
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In a nutshell The authors analyzed the risk factors for developing brain metastasis in head and neck melanoma. Some background Head and neck melanomas occur in 15-20% of all skin melanomas. Head and neck melanoma often spread (metastasis) to the brain, resulting in poor survival time. The chance of developing brain metastasis in...
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