Posts by author
Janet Fricker
Citizen science: Do your bit for cancer research by playing a game
Calling all gamers ‒ you can do your bit for advancing cancer research by playing a video game. While this may sound like the ultimate excuse, Spanish investigators really have just launched a smartphone game ‒ the GENIGMA challenge ‒…
Study unveils how obesity raises cancer risk
Obesity-dependent changes in lipid handling in cells may explain why overweight people are more prone to developing cancer than those of normal weights. The study, published in Nature Communications (14 January 2022), identifies higher levels of palmitic acid as the…
Sitting and lack of physical activity is a deadly combination in cancer survivors
Cancer survivors who combine being inactive (or insufficiently active) with sitting for more than eight hours a day dramatically increase their risk of both cancer specific and overall mortality. The prospective cohort study, published in JAMA Oncology (6 January 2022),…
Lung cancer screening: 2022 could be a turning point for Europe
If cancer screening policies were driven purely by mortality rates and curability, then lung cancer would long have topped the priority list for population screening programmes. Accounting for almost one in every four cancer deaths in men and almost one…
Academic oncology: women’s careers at high risk for continued inequality
More than half of women in oncology practice believe their gender adversely affects their prospects for job promotion, especially in academia. The cross-sectional survey, published in JAMA Netw Open (December 30, 2021), found that more academic female oncologists than non-academic…
High-fibre diets associated with improved melanoma immunotherapy response
Melanoma patients eating greater quantities of fibre-rich foods at the start of checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy survive longer than patients with insufficient dietary fibre intake. The observational study, published in Science (23 December 2021), reports benefits to be most noticeable among…
Early exercise helps avoid shoulder problems after breast cancer treatment
Introducing a physiotherapy-led exercise programme following treatment for breast cancer reduces upper limb disability. The UK study, published in The British Medical Journal (online 11 November), found no increase in complications, lymphoedema or adverse events for patients allocated exercise. “Our…
Antihistamines could improve efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors
Over-the-counter antihistamines appear to improve outcomes for cancer patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors. The study, reported in Cancer Cell (published online 24 November), found that melanoma and lung cancer patients taking antihistamines targeting the H1 receptor during anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment achieved…
Study provides insights into long-term effects of childhood cancers
People surviving childhood cancers have a higher risk of other morbidities as they grow older. The study, published online The Lancet Regional Health-Europe (14 November), found that a greater burden of disease was experienced by patients receiving combined treatment with…
Study challenges dogma that RCC is biologically radioresistant
Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) represents a safe and effective non-invasive treatment for oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The study, published in Lancet Oncology, supports sequential radiotherapy as an alternative treatment option to systemic therapy for oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma.…