In a nutshell This study compared the effectiveness and safety of nivolumab (Opdivo) and docetaxel (Taxotere) for the treatment of advanced squamous-cell non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study concluded that nivolumab is more effective and safer than docetaxel for this type of cancer. Some background PD-L1 is a protein that...
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Immune-related adverse events in nivolumab treated melanoma patients
In a nutshell The authors evaluated immune system-related adverse events and outcomes in melanoma patients treated with nivolumab (Opdivo). Some background In the advanced stage of melanoma (stage 3/4), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment option in advanced melanoma....
Read MoreIn what order should chemotherapies be delivered?
In a nutshell This review discussed the use of second-line chemotherapy (therapy after disease progression despite initial treatment) in colorectal cancer. Some background Patients with advanced (spread to lymph nodes and beyond) colorectal cancer often require a second round of chemotherapy following their first treatments. The use of multiple...
Read MoreIpilimumab-induced hypophysitis in advanced melanoma
In a nutshell The authors analyzed the occurrence, management and risk factors of hypophysitis (a complication of the immune system following ipilimumab [Yervoy] therapy) in advanced melanoma patients. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads rapidly from the skin to other parts of the body....
Read MoreImmunotherapy and targeted therapy for advanced melanoma: a review
In a nutshell The authors reviewed immunotherapies and targeted therapies for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Some background In advanced melanoma (stage IV), cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. Immunotherapy and targeted therapy are promising treatment options for this disease. These therapies...
Read MoreNon-sentinel lymph node status in melanoma: how important it is for cancer staging?
In a nutshell The authors analyzed the importance of non-sentinel lymph nodes in predicting the outcomes for patients with skin melanoma. Some background In skin melanoma, sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the first lymph node (tiny, bean-shaped organ that helps fight infection) to which the cancer cells are believed to have spread...
Read MoreImmunotherapy of melanoma: present options and future promises
In a nutshell The authors reviewed current and future immunotherapies for the treatment of melanoma. Some background In the advanced stages of melanoma (stage III/IV), cancer spreads rapidly from the skin to other parts of the body. This is known as metastasis. Conventional cancer treatments such as radiotherapy (directs a...
Read MoreTargeting chemotherapy and hormone therapy resistant breast cancer
In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of lapatinib (Tyverb) as treatment for women with metastatic breast cancer (the tumor has spread to other organs) where previous treatment has proven ineffective. Some background Circulating tumor cells (CTC’s) are cells from a primary tumor that have migrated into the blood...
Read MoreComparing two chemotherapy-based treatments in advanced lung cancer
In a nutshell The authors compared the overall survival benefits of two chemotherapy-based combination treatments in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The combination treatments were S1 plus cisplatin (Platinol) and docetaxel (Taxotere) plus cisplatin. Some background NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer. In the...
Read MoreIs a combination of capecitabine and irinotecan with bevacizumab effective?
In a nutshell This paper studied the effectiveness and safety of a capecitabine (Xeloda) plus irinotecan (Campto) chemotherapy regimen (XELIRI) with bevacizumab (Avastin) in previously untreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (cancer that has spread to other parts of the body). Some background Standard treatment for patients...
Read MoreLinifanib with carboplatin and paclitaxel in nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer
In a nutshell The objective of this study was to determine whether addition of linifanib to a combination of carboplatin (Paraplatin) and paclitaxel (Taxol) could benefit advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Some background Nonsquamous NSCLC is a type of lung cancer where the cancer starts in cells other than...
Read MoreIpilimumab treatment improves survival in advanced skin cancer patients
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine long-term survival in advanced skin cancer patients treated with ipilimumab. Some background Advanced melanoma is skin cancer that has spread deep within the skin to other sites of the body. There are limited treatments available for advanced skin cancer and patients have poor five-year survival...
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