In a nutshell The present study investigated if patients with spread colorectal cancer that have mutations in the KRAS gene benefit from Cetuximab treatment. Some background Cancer that originates in the colon or rectum (parts of the intestine) is called colorectal cancer (CRC). If the cancer has spread from its original location, beyond the...
Read MoreIn a nutshell The present study evaluated the relationship between high insulin levels in the blood stream and the risk of cancer-related mortality. Its authors report that women with higher-than-normal insulin levels are at higher risk of death due to breast cancer. Some background Breast cancer has been shown to be more common in people who...
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This article discusses how tests such as the Oncotype DX or Mammaprint can be used to design individual treatment plans for patients with breast cancer. Patients with stage I and stage II breast cancer are treated similarly. Following surgical removal of a breast tumor, systemic (body-wide) treatment is often used. This secondary treatment is...
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In a nutshell This study questioned the benefit of adding chemotherapy to postoperative hormonal treatment in the case of lobular breast cancer. Their findings were that chemotherapy seems to offer no additional beneficial effects in women with lobular breast cancer receiving hormonal therapy. Some background There are two main types of breast...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This study evaluated if strategies to prevent cancer recurrence are associated with prolonged survival 15 years after treatment. Their main findings were that postoperative radiation managed to prevent cancer recurrence and was associated with higher rates of long-term survival. Some background Early breast cancer is often treated...
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This paper reviews chemotherapy options for triple-negative breast cancers. Breast cancer cells express 3 main receptors that can be targeted with therapy: Estrogen receptors (ER), Progesterone receptors (PR) and HER2. Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) do not express these 3 receptors and make up approximately 15% of breast cancers. Such tumors do...
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In a nutshell In this study chemotherapy and Tamoxifen were compared to Tamoxifen alone as complementary treatments after surgery for breast cancer. The main finding was that better results are obtained by adding chemotherapy. Some background Tamoxifen is a drug used for tumors which require the female hormone estrogen to grow. It...
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In a nutshell This trial compared standard chemotherapy regimens and Capecitabine (Xeloda) in women over 65 years old. The main outcome was that standard chemotherapy worked better in this age group. Some background Capecitabine is generally used in breast cancer resistant to other chemotherapy. It is also the first approved treatment that can be...
Read MoreIn a nutshell This article reviewed the possible complications that can occur after radiation therapy for prostate cancer. Some background Radiation therapy (RT) is usually given as part of prostate cancer management. RT improves the prognosis of prostate cancer by limiting the rate of recurrence (return of cancer). In early stages, RT can even...
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In a nutshell The risk of breast cancer is high (~80%) in women who inherit a damaged (mutated) gene called BRCA1 or BRCA 2 (‘BRCA carriers’). Following the first diagnosis, their risk of developing another tumor in the second breast within 10 years is 30%. Some background Some types of breast cancer need estrogen (female sex...
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In a nutshell The present study compared survivors of prostate cancer (PC) to patients of similar sexes and ages that have not had prostate cancer (non-cancer controls) based on the effects of prior treatments and treatment options on sexual, urinary, bowel and hormone functions. The main finding was that PC survivors had poorer sexual and urinary...
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In a nutshell This paper evaluated the long-term influence of prostate cancer treatment with prostatectomy or radiotherapy on urinary, bowel and sexual function. Prostatectomy was associated with a higher rate of urinary and erectile dysfunction, whereas radiotherapy caused more frequent bowel urgency at 2 and 5 years after diagnosis. Some background...
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