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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Nivolumab treatment for malignant skin cancer
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine the effect of nivolumab in treating malignant skin cancer. Some background Nivolumab (Opdivo) is a man-made immune cell made to attack a specific disease that has been approved for treating malignant skin cancer (cancer that has spread throughout the body). Nivolumab functions by attaching to a...
Read MoreSalvage prostate surgery and factors affecting patient outcome
In a nutshell The authors aimed to determine patient outcome after salvage prostate surgery using patient information. Some background Prostate surgery is a common cancer treatment that involves surgically removing the prostate gland. Salvage prostate surgery is carried out after radiation therapy (involves directing a beam of radiation at the...
Read MoreTreatment advances for prostate cancer bone tumors
In a nutshell The authors aimed to highlight treatments available for bone tumors resulting from prostate cancer. Some background When prostate cancer spreads outside of the prostate, tumors can form all over the body, particularly on the bone. Bone tumors can significantly affect patients by causing joint pain, nerve pain and fractures....
Read MoreAre certain metastatic colorectal cancer patients more likely to respond to aflibercept?
In a nutshell This study investigated which patients with colorectal cancer benefit from adding aflibercept (Zaltrap) to FOLFIRI (5-fluorouracil [Efudex], leucovorin, irinotecan [Camptosar]) as a second treatment for colorectal cancer. Some background About 25% of patients have metastatic colorectal cancer (colorectal cancer...
Read MoreCan bevacizumab be used a second time to treat metastatic colorectal cancer?
In a nutshell The authors investigated the efficacy and safety of continuing or reintroducing bevacizumab (Avastin) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer that has progressed. Some background Metastatic colorectal cancer indicates that the cancer has spread from the colon or rectum to distant sites in the body. Bevacizumab is...
Read MoreDoes T-DM1 have a different impact on symptoms in breast cancer compared to alternative treatment?
In a nutshell This study evaluated the benefit of the new HER2-targeted therapy T-DM1 compared to an often-used alternative treatment. Some background Breast cancers expressing the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 protein are known as HER2-positive cancer. In recent years therapies that directly target the HER2 protein, for...
Read MoreBlood protein levels could predict benefit of gefitinib in patients with advanced disease
In a nutshell This study investigated using levels of the proteins MUC1 and VEGF to predict the benefit of gefitinib in patients with advanced NSCLC. Some background Non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common type of lung cancer that can be difficult to treat. 65-75% of cases are presented at an advanced stage. Chemotherapy is often...
Read MoreAdding cetuximab (Erbitux) to brivanib alaniate (BMS-582664) does not improve patient quality of life
In a nutshell The study investigated whether cetuximab (Erbitux) and brivanib alaniate (BMS-582664) can improve the quality of life of patients with chemotherapy-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Some background Some patients with colorectal cancer have chemotherapy-refractory metastatic cancer (the cancer does not respond to chemotherapy...
Read MorePanitumumab (Vectibix) compared to cetuximab (Erbitux) in patients who do not respond to chemotherapy
In a nutshell This study assessed whether panitumumab is as good as cetuximab for patients with colorectal cancer that is unresponsive to chemotherapy (chemotherapy-refractory colorectal cancer). Some background Colorectal cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer related death worldwide. For patients whose cancer has metastasized (spread...
Read MoreNanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer
In a nutshell This study examined the benefits of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel in combination with bevacizumab as first-line treatment (the first treatment of choice) for metastatic breast cancer patients. Some background Paclitaxel is one of several chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer. However, treatment is often associated with...
Read MoreManaging the adverse effects of everolimus
In a nutshell This review summarizes the common adverse effects of everolimus (afinitor) treatment and covers the recommend management of each of these. Some background Everolimus is a drug sometimes used to treat hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer patients in addition to standard hormonal treatment. Everolimus inhibits the immune...
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