In a nutshell This article reviewed the effects of age and co-morbidities (co-existing medical conditions or diseases in addition to cancer) on mortality in prostate cancer patients. Mortality rates directly from prostate cancer (cancer specific mortality; CSM), and those from other causes (other cause mortality; OCM) were compared. Some background...
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In a nutshell In this study, researchers evaluated whether a genetic test called Oncotype DX, reduced the use of chemotherapy treatment for patients with node-positive and estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. Some background Some breast cancers grow in response to estrogen, the main female sex hormone, via their receptor (a protein found on...
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In a nutshell The aim of this study was to examine the association between recreational physical activity and leisure time spent sitting before and after diagnosis with survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Some background There is growing evidence that exercise is safe and well-tolerated by patients with cancer during and after the...
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In a nutshell This article looked at the risk of adverse events such as heart disease, blood clots, strokes and fractures in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. Some background Treatments for prostate cancer can result in numerous side effects. For example, endocrine (hormonal) treatments can result in low bone density (weak bones prone to...
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In a nutshell This study tested the effect of complete axillary lymph node removal, on survival without recurrence of the cancer (called disease free survival or DFS) in patients with breast cancer. Some background Lymph nodes are small organs which are part of the immune system. They filter fluid called lymph. Lymph can be thought of as the...
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In a nutshell This study looks at survival rates and side effects after 5 years following a newer radiotherapy procedure in patients with breast cancer. This radiotherapy procedure is called accelerated partial breast irradiation (ABPI) delivered using 3-dimentional conformal external beam radiation therapy (3D-CRT). Some background Treatment for...
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In a nutshell This article evaluated the benefits of continuing trastuzumab treatment after disease progression in patients with HER2+ metastatic (spread to distant organs and tissues) breast cancer. Some background Breast cancer cells have on their surface some proteins called receptors. Hormones bind to these receptors causing changes in the...
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In a nutshell This phase 3 clinical trial investigated the safety and efficacy of lapatinib (Tykerb) in women with HER2 positive early-stage breast cancer. Some background HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer is a type of cancer where a protein named human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is present on the surface of the breast...
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In a nutshell This article looked at the use of a platinum based chemotherapy (cisplatin) to a non-platinum based chemotherapy for patients with triple negative breast cancer. Some background Most breast cancers have on their surface some proteins called receptors that help the breast cancers grow. These can be hormone receptors (estrogen or...
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In a nutshell This study examined the long-term survival rates in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with ipilimumab. Some background A melanoma that has metastasized (spread) to other areas of the body is called metastatic melanoma. Patients with metastatic melanoma have had, in general, low rates of survival. Currently, researchers are...
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In a nutshell The aim of this phase 1 clinical trial was to assess the safety and efficacy of combined therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab (Yervoy) in patients with advanced melanoma. Some background Advanced melanoma is cancer of the pigmented (colored) cells of the skin (or "melanocytes") that has spread to distant lymph nodes or...
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In a nutshell This review analyzed the results from several clinical trials which compared the benefits of the standard dose of 250mg of fulvestrant (Ful) once a month to higher doses in breast cancer patients. Some background Some breast cancers need estrogen (a female sex hormone) to grow. Cancer cells respond to estrogen via...
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