The aim of following patients with cancer over many years is to catch tumors that recur, improve outcomes, even reveal important trends. However, long-term cancer follow-ups require extensive human resources and will inevitably decrease over time. Is the information researchers ultimately acquire worth the heavy lift? A recent analysis of…
NCI-Sponsored Trials Have Added 14 Million Years of Life for Cancer Patients
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Over the past four decades, randomized clinical trials run by the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) has generated substantial gains in life-years for patients with cancer, according to a new analysis. They have also had an “enormous influence on the cancer…
Management of Malignant Alimentary Tract Obstruction
The American Gastroenterological Association published a clinical practice update expert review for managing malignant alimentary tract obstructions (MATOs) that includes 14 best practice advice statements, ranging from general principles to specific clinical choices. “There are many options available for the management of MATOs, with the addition of new modalities as…
Common Blood Pressure Medications Linked to Increased Skin Cancer Risk
(Reuters Health) – Thiazide diuretics, which are used by many older patients to control blood pressure, are linked to increased risk of certain skin cancers in a new Canadian study. The analysis of data from more than 300,000 Ontario adults aged 66 and older revealed that prolonged use of thiazides,…
Postpandemic Vision: Half of Cancer Visits via Telemedicine
In the postpandemic era, about half of all visits by cancer patients with oncologists could be successfully conducted via phone- and video-based telemedicine, according to a new poll of American cancer specialists. After the pandemic, an estimated 33% of patients could be seen using video visits, and 13% could be…
Liquid Biopsy After Hepatectomy Promising Aid in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Liquid biopsy following resection of colorectal liver metastases allows non-invasive molecular profiling which may help spot hard-to-detect remaining disease, according to Houston-based researchers. Dr. Yun Shin Chun told Reuters Health by email that analysis of circulating tumor DNA “also termed liquid biopsy, has the potential…
IBD Associated With High-Grade Cervical Neoplasia in Women
(Reuters Health) – Women with inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to develop high-grade cervical neoplasia as well as persistent or recurrent cervical neoplasia, a Dutch study suggests. Researchers examined cervical cytology and histology data for 2,098 women with IBD and 8,379 women in a matched cohort from the general…
Quick MRI Scan for Routine Prostate Cancer Screening?
Could imaging be used for routine screening for prostate cancer in healthy men — similar to mammography for breast cancer screening? A quick scan — with 15-minute, contrast-free MRI — detected more clinically significant prostate tumors than the usual screening with a blood test for prostate specific antigen (PSA) in…