In a nutshell This article evaluated the use of bevacizumab alongside chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after the progression of the disease following treatment with bevacizumab. Some background Cancer cells need blood supply in order to grow. They do so by forming new blood vessels thereby feeding...
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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 article evaluated whether the use of a minimally invasive diagnostic technique called laparoscopy before surgery to treat peritoneal carcinomatosis improves the selection of patients who can benefit the most from treatment. The authors of the study found that laparoscopy can be used to select patients for whom surgery may be a...
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In a nutshell This study looked at the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment for colorectal cancer which has spread to the lungs (pulmonary metastasis). Overall, the results showed that RFA treatment gives patients a better survival rate than the previous method of systemic chemotherapy which used to be the best treatment option for...
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In a nutshell The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of microwave ablation therapy on pulmonary metastases (cancer spread to the lungs) that cannot be removed surgically. The study showed that it can be an effective treatment method with a success rate depending on the tumor size. Some background Pulmonary metastases...
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In a nutshell This paper looks at a new method of treating pulmonary metastases (spread of colorectal cancer to the lungs). This new treatment is called radiofrequency ablation. The authors showed that this technique can prevent local tumor progression for extended periods of time and offers good overall survival rates. Some background When...
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In a nutshell This review provided the long-term outcomes of the first human trial of the anti-PD-1 drug BMS-936558. It also evaluated whether restarting therapy for cancer recurrences can be effective. Results showed that anti-PD-1 drugs have clinical potential. Some background The PD-1 protein (or "programmed cell death-1" protein)...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This article reviewed several clinical studies where radical surgical procedures have been used to treat rectal cancer that has invaded the area of the pelvis. Some background The sacrum bone is the lowest part of the spine which sits between the hip bones. It is made up of 5 vertebrae which are separate bones during...
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In a nutshell This paper presents the results of a clinical study which looked at the use of a new drug called Bosutinib (Bosulif) for the treatment of breast cancers diagnosed as being stage III or IV. In patients previously treated with chemotherapy, Bosutinib showed promising efficacy in delaying cancer progression. Some background Locally...
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In a nutshell This article evaluates the use of Calcium and magnesium (Ca/Mg) infusions for the prevention of Oxaliplatin-related neurological side effects in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The main findings were that Ca/Mg helps preventing neuro-toxic side effects of Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimens. Some background...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The present study looked at the persistence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with breast cancer, after they had completed chemotherapy for at least 6 months. Except for slight impairments in verbal abilities (e.g. word-finding difficulty) and visuo-spatial abilities (e.g. getting lost more easily), no...
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