In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effects of GC1008 (Fresolimumab) as a treatment option in advanced malignant melanoma. Some background Transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) is a protein in the body that helps to maintain cell growth and the immune system. In advanced cancer TGFβ can lose this function and can instead...
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In a nutshell The aim of this trial is to determine the effectiveness of the combination of pembrolizumab (Keytruda), dabrafenib (Tafinlar), and trametinib (Mekinist) as a treatment for patients with advanced melanoma. This trial will measure the safety and tolerability of the three therapies, as well as the progression-free survival time of the...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the benefit of combining post-operative radiation therapy with surgery and chemotherapy for the treatment of SCLC. Some background Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 15% of all lung cancers. In 40% of patients SCLC is diagnosed at a limited stage (present in a single lung). The standard care given...
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In a nutshell This clinical trial in New Jersey and Massachussetts (United States) aims to study anastrozole (ANAS, Arimidex) in treating aromatase inhibitor musculoskeletal symptoms in female patients with stage I-III breast cancer. The outcome to be measured is the stopping of treatment due to musculoskeletal symptoms and its association with the...
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In a nutshell This study examined the frequency of deep lymph node metastasis in melanoma, the consequences of this metastasis on disease progression and survival, as well as ways to predict which patients may experience deep lymph node metastasis. Some background Lymph node metastases are common in melanoma (when the cancer cells spread from the...
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In a nutshell This paper studied the effect of adding carboplatin (Paraplatin) to neoadjuvant therapy (given before main treatment) in patients with triple negative breast cancer and HER2-positive breast cancer. Some background HER2 positive breast cancer is associated with over-expression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor...
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In a nutshell This study examined the use of sequential chemotherapy and erlotinib as a first-line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer. Some background Certain genetic mutations, for example in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR; a protein found on the surface of cells in the body), can often play a role in the growth of...
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In a nutshell This study examined whether circumferential resection margins (CRM) are useful for predicting disease outcome in patients who have received chemoradiotherapy (chemotherapy plus radiotherapy). Some background Locally advanced rectal cancer indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the lining of the rectum or has spread to the nearby...
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In a nutshell This paper investigates measurement of the levels of the protein prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) as a predictor of cancer returning when the patient is treated with neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy and radiotherapy. Some background Prostate cancer patients have been shown to have higher rates of biochemical relapse-free...
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In a nutshell This paper studied the characteristics of recurrence (return of cancer) in patients with triple negative breast cancer. Some background Triple negative breast cancer is a subtype of breast cancer that is associated with poorer outlook or prognosis. It means that the tumor is estrogen receptor negative (absence of estrogen...
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In a nutshell This study compared patient outcomes after laparoscopic surgery (a modern, minimally-invasive technique involving very small incisions) and minilaparotomy (a larger incision is made which allows direct visualization of the surgery). Some background Surgery is the main treatment for rectal cancer. Open surgery is the original surgical...
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In a nutshell This study examined the link between locally advanced prostate cancer and the risk of poorer disease outcome. Some background Although prostate cancer is very common, most men do not die from it. This is because the cancer usually grows very slowly. The risk of death increase if the cancer has begun to spread...
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