In a nutshell This study assessed the effects of reducing and withdrawing treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had achieved remission using etanercept (Enbrel) plus methotrexate (Trexall). The results showed that etanercept and methotrexate (MTX) combined led to better disease control than MTX alone, or a placebo (a substance...
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In a nutshell This study investigated the presence of the gene TMPRSS2-ERG in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer on treatment outcome with taxane-based chemotherapy. Researchers reported that TMPRSS2-ERG, as identified by blood tests, is a reliable predictors of treatment success with taxane-based chemotherapy. Some...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the effect of nivolumab (Opdivo) or ipilimumab (Yervoy) alone, or in combination in advanced melanoma. The authors found out that the combination therapy was more effective than treatment with either of the single drugs. Some background In advanced melanoma (stages 3 and 4), cancer spreads from the skin to...
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In a nutshell The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combining bevacizumab (Avastin) and chemotherapy prior to surgery in breast cancer. This study showed that adding bevacizumab to chemotherapy increased response rates among women with non-metastatic (has not spread) breast cancer. Some background...
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In a nutshell The authors evaluated the safety and effectiveness of nab-paclitaxel (Abraxene), a chemotherapy, in patients with advanced melanoma. The authors found that nab-paclitaxel was safe, effective, and provided favorable outcomes. Some background In advanced melanoma, cancer spreads from the skin to other parts of the body. This is called...
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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...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors aimed to determine erectile dysfunction and incontinence issues in patients following prostate surgery. Some background Prostate surgery is a common treatment used in prostate cancer. It involves surgical removal of the prostate gland. There are numerous types of prostate surgery. Nerve-sparing surgery aims to remove the...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The current study examined whether targeted radiotherapy benefited survival in patients with stage 3 (spread to the lymph nodes) non-small cell lung cancer. The authors found that 3-dimensional (3D) conformal radiotherapy was associated with increased survival rates in these patients. Some background Many lung cancers are not...
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In a nutshell This study examined the rates of positive surgical margins in both robot-assisted and open prostate removal surgeries. Some background Prostate cancer patients are often treated with radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate gland). In the standard, open approach an incision is made in the lower abdomen. In the...
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In a nutshell This study compared the efficacy and safety of two drug regimens in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Some background Cetuxima (Erbitux) prolongs survival of patients with metastatic (spread beyond the original location of the tumor) colorectal cancer. The effects of cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy regimens that...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The authors aimed to determine how radiotherapy influenced patient quality of life after treatment. Some background Radiotherapy is a common treatment used in prostate cancer. It targets a direct beam of radiation at the cancer site, minimizing damage to adjacent healthy cells. There are numerous types of radiotherapy, including...
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In a nutshell This study compared the disease-free survival rates of patients who had a complete mesocolic excision with patients who had conventional surgery for treatment of colon cancer. Some background Patients with rectal cancer have higher survival rates than colon cancer patients. This is in part due to the type of surgery carried out. Many...
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