In a nutshell This study examined the potential benefit of early intensive hormonal therapy (combined androgen blockade) in men with high-risk local prostate cancer, given before surgery. Researchers concluded that intensive hormone therapy may be more effective than standard treatment in reducing androgen levels, but seldom results in complete tumor...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the risk factors for recurrence in breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy without radiation therapy. The study concluded that by using these risk factors, a subgroup of patients could be defined as being at a high risk for recurrence and most likely to benefit from post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). Some...
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In a nutshell The aim of this clinical trial recruiting in British Columbia and Ontario, Canada, is to determine the effectiveness of “intensity modulated radiation therapy” (IMRT) in large-breasted women lying face down (prone) compared to those lying face up (supine). The main outcome will be the rate of moist...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the outcome of a new type of surgery for rectal cancer. Some background A main treatment for rectal cancer is surgery to remove the tumor (resection) and to reattach the remaining ends of the digestive tract (anastomosis). In the past, this surgery has been done through one large cut in the abdomen, a fairly...
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In a nutshell The authors determined the effect of PTEN in tumor upgrading in prostate cancer patients. Some background Prostate surgery is a common treatment in prostate cancer. It involves surgically removing the prostate gland. The PTEN gene acts as a tumor supressor (protects normal cells from progressing to...
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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 The authors determined the relationship between hypertriglyceridemia (high levels of a specific fat in the blood) and biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer patients following prostate surgery. Some background Prostate surgery is a common treatment for prostate cancer involving surgical removal of the prostate...
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In a nutshell This phase 2 trial located in the United States aims to determine whether patients with rectal cancer have better outcomes with chemotherapy before chemoradiation (chemotherapy plus radiation) or after chemoradiation. The outcome to be measured is the number of patients who survive without cancer. The details In...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to give specific breast cancer treatment guidelines determined by medical experts. Some background The St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference is held every two years. Leading experts in breast cancer research meet at this conference to determine the most up-to-date guidelines for treatment. The 2015...
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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 determined the effect of hormone therapy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Some background Localized prostate cancer is confined within the prostate gland. Hormone therapy is a common treatment used in prostate cancer. It targets the male sex hormones active in prostate cancer,...
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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...
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