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...
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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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In a nutshell This study examined the benefit of enzalutamide (Xtandi) in treating patients with advanced prostate cancer requiring chemotherapy. Researchers concluded that enzalutamide treatment results in delayed disease progression and increased overall survival. Some background Hormone therapy is commonly used to treat prostate cancer. By...
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In a nutshell This study aimed to see whether combining postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) with adjuvant (following surgery) chemotherapy would be effective in patients with N2 (spread to lymph nodes around the lung) non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The researchers concluded that using PORT in combination with chemotherapy increased overall survival...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effectiveness of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), a virus therapy, for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage 3/4), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. Immunotherapy (uses body’s own immune system to fight cancer) and targeted therapy are...
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In a nutshell This study investigated whether retreatment with cetuximab (Erbitux) was effective in patients whose cancer had progressed after treatment with cetuximab or panitumumab (Vectibix). The results showed that retreatment was effective in patients who had responded to previous treatment. Some background Colorectal cancer progresses...
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In a nutshell This trial examined the effectiveness of combining brachytherapy (a type of radiation) and chemotherapy for the treatment of locally recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has already been treated. The trial concluded that the combination of treatments was more effective than chemotherapy alone. Some background Locally...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of afatinib (Gilotrif) in lung cancer patients with advanced (cancer has spread), uncommon epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Some background EGFR mutations are found in 15% of lung cancer patients. Certain EGFR mutations can predict whether drugs, such as tyrosine...
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In a nutshell This study examined the effectiveness of palbociclib (Ibrance) in the treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients. The authors found that palbociclib treatment increased progression free survival. Some background Major treatment options for hormone receptor-positive (HR+, dependent on the hormones estrogen and/or...
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In a nutshell The authors assessed the risk of eye inflammation in late-stage melanoma patients treated with vemurafenib (Zelboraf). Some background In advanced melanoma (stage 3/4), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. BRAF genes are often mutated (permanently changed) in advanced melanoma. BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) such as...
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In a nutshell The authors reviewed different treatment options available for melanoma patients with cancer spread to the liver. Some background In advanced melanoma (stages 3 and 4), cancer has spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. This is known as metastasis. Treatment of liver metastasis in advanced melanoma still remains a...
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In a nutshell The authors analyzed the effect of combination treatment with inerleukin-2 (Proleukin) injected in skin, with imiquimod (Zyclara) ointment in advanced skin cancer. Some background In advanced skin melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads rapidly from the skin to the surrounding lymph nodes and the lymphatic channels (important part of...
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