John Schieszer

Tumor samples from a single patient with melanoma provided researchers with new information about gene expression profiles that could inform immunotherapy treatments in the future.

By better understanding the similarities and differences between T-cell receptors, researchers will be better able to develop personalized cancer immunotherapies.

Patients may be able to shorten their chemotherapy course after surgery for lymph node–positive colon cancer, according to an analysis of six clinical trials.

A Web-based tool that enables patients to report their symptoms in real time, triggering alerts to clinicians, may improve survival.

Widespread routine genomic testing is feasible in patients with advanced cancer, though there may be a clinical benefit to only a subset of patients.

Larotrectinib may provide consistent and durable antitumor activity in TRK fusion cancers, across a wide range of ages and tumor types.

Single radiation treatment may be as effective as a full week of radiation in patients with metastatic spinal canal compression.

A Web-based program is now providing new opportunities for alleviating stress and improving quality of life in cancer patients.

Significant improvements in treatment protocols have reduced the incidence of serious chronic late health effects in survivors of childhood cancer treatment.

A new study is suggesting that a high percentage of testicular cancer survivors may suffer from hypogonadism.

Researchers at Seattle Children's Research Institute announced the first-in-human clinical trial aimed to extend remission for children and young adults with leukemia treated with CAR T-cell immunotherapy.

Computerized registry couldbe easily adopted in the U.S.,according to Italian developers. Developing a web-based registry amongcommunity oncologists may be usefulfor collecting significant informationabout febrile events in patients withhematologic malignancies.

Selected rectal cancer patients who undergo optimal surgery with TME can still benefit from short-term preoperative radiation therapy.

In a data analysis involving more than 10,000 breast cancer patients, adding radiation therapy to breast-conserving surgery reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence within 10 years by nearly 15% and reduced the overall chance of dying from the disease by nearly 4% (from 25.4% to 21.7%). These findings provide oncologists with specific numbers they can give their patients when discussing the use of post-lumpectomy radiation therapy and the risk of recurrence, according to the study authors.

Adding chemotherapy to radiation therapy for muscle invasive bladder cancer may allow up to 67% of patients to be free of disease two years post-treatment, according to a study out of the UK. In addition, this treatment combination may offer a significant number of patients a better quality of life by avoiding surgery.

An update of a long-term denosumab (Xgeva) trial offers another bisphosphonate as an alternative to zoledronic acid (Zometa) that is more convenient, less toxic, and more effective in bone metastases. But oncologists need to perform an oral exam of patients with bone metastases before placing them on denosumab.

As the FDA considers whether to rescind approval for bevacizumab (Avastin) in the adjuvant setting, “disappointing” results from the GeparQuinto study indicate the agent may be best reserved for patients with triple-negative disease.

Although there was no benefit for Zoledronic acid overall, the researchers reported significantly improved disease-free survival and overall survival in women who were more than five years postmenopause. Adjuvant bisphosphonate efficacy may be dependent on low estrogen concentration within the bone microenvironment, according to Robert Coleman, MD.

More oncologists in the past few years have opted to consolidate with other practices in their area or sought employment at hospitals. Results from an ongoing survey highlights the ups and down of cancer care, with most professionals reporting they are happy with their chosen specialty.

Investigators from the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg reported on the effects of LMV-601 on cultured human cervical cells. LMV-601 is a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) inhibitor.

With the increased use of human papillomavirus vaccines such as Gardasil and Cervarix, the medical community is likely to see a decrease in cases of genital warts and other complications caused by several HPV strains. But it may be a decade or two before oncologists can expect to see a decline in cervical cancer rates attributable to the use of these relatively new vaccines.

Proponents of targeted intraoperative radiotherapy say the technique matches whole-breast alternative for reducing recurrence.

New studies show dramatic results in overall and progression-free survival, but not all patients will benefit from aggressive treatment.

An advisory panel recommended revoking bevacizumab’s approval in breast cancer. Oncologists and patients express concern about what the future holds for those who do benefit from bevacizumab.

Published trial results fail to offer information that oncologists need for clinical translation.