Oncology

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in combination with nab-paclitaxel and pembrolizumab shows promising pathological complete response rates. Pembrolizumab (pembro) is the only approved immune checkpoint inhibitor for the neoadjuvant treatment of early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It was introduced in combination with carboplatinum/paclitaxel and anthracycline/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy. Nab-paclitaxel (nP), although not approved, is also effective in TNBC.  A study...

Greater associations seen for those without colonoscopy screening, with smoking history, and for recent diabetes diagnosis   Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), with increased associations for those without colonoscopy screening and with smoking history, according to a study published online Nov. 14 in JAMA Network Open.  ...

The place of care—whether a hospital or a doctor’s office—may have a profound impact on the quality and type of breast cancer care, as well as the reported side effects. One study reports disparities in breast cancer treatments and side effects between African American and White women. White women experience breast cancer more frequently, but...

Clinical disparities are apparent in aggressive triple-negative breast cancer based on age and ethnicity. A recent study identifies unique epigenetic differences in triple-negative breast cancer tumors among younger African American women, suggesting potential clinical implications for diagnostics and treatment approaches. Younger African American women with triple-negative breast cancer exhibit distinct DNA methylation profiles. The unique...

Research reveals potential biological factors contributing to racial disparities in breast cancer mortality rates. MicroRNA-510-5p’s interaction with the scaffolding protein caveolin-1, specifically, could drive aggressive tumor growth and highlight potential reasons behind racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes. miR-510-5p’s regulation of caveolin-1 in fibroblasts potentially fuels aggressive tumor growth. Black women with breast cancer show...

Researchers explored the intricate relationship between HIV infection in Ethiopian women and the development of precancerous cervical lesions, addressing existing inconsistencies in the literature, with the goal of determining the true impact of HIV on the risk of precancerous cervical lesions in this population. Some studies hint at a significant link between HIV and pre-cancerous...

This study reveals that obese individuals are 1.28 times more likely to develop right-sided colon cancer and highlights factors like age, sex, and race that influence this risk. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common cancer types in the United States and globally. There are two distinct types of CRC: right-sided colon cancer (RsCC)...

Findings seen in clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients at very high disease risk after nephrectomy from EVEREST trial For patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) at very high risk for recurrence, adjuvant everolimus is associated with significantly improved recurrence-free survival, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the European...

A study in China shows that enhanced access to health insurance may help close an urban–rural gap in cancer treatment. A new Chinese retrospective study published in the journal Risk Management and Healthcare Policy explored how better insurance coverage may enhance access to novel cancer therapies, like targeted anti-cancer drugs. Enhanced insurance coverage may also...