Posts by author
Janet Fricker
Round-up of prostate and breast cancer studies from ESMO 2021
The 2021 Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), held 16‒21 September, featured studies that are likely to impact a broad spectrum of clinical practice. We summarise some of the findings that could change treatments for two of…
Cancer World Editor heads new AACR cancer prevention working group
Adriana Albini, Editor in Chief of Cancer World, has been appointed Chair of the new Cancer Prevention Working Group (CPWG) of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). “I’m so happy and honoured to have this responsibility, and with the…
Low risk prostate cancer: real-world data reveals high rates of switching from surveillance to treatment
Over half of men initially managed with active surveillance (AS) for ‘low risk’ prostate cancer switch within four years to definitive treatments (e.g., surgery or radiation therapy). The Canadian study, published in Urology, (20 August) provides real-world data on uptake…
Blood pressure drugs improve survival in colorectal cancer
Common Blood pressure drugs may improve survival in colorectal cancer (CRC). The study, published in Cancer Medicine, (August issue), showed use of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta blockers and thiazide diuretics were all associated with decreased cancer specific mortality.…
Cancer community fights back against Covid-19 related delays
The European Cancer Organisation is making materials available to download in 30 different languages to help advocates across Europe lobby national governments to tackle the Covid-19 threat to cancer services in their own countries. The European Time to Act campaign,…
Addressing social needs may help cancer outcomes
Identifying social needs of cancer patients and developing interventions to mitigate them could improve health outcomes. The survey-based study, published in Cancer (12 July), found unmet social needs in gynaecological cancers were associated with emergency room visits, hospital admissions and…
Aspirin cuts risk of death from a wide range of cancers
Taking aspirin together with cancer treatment results in reductions in death from cancer and all-cause mortality, both by around one fifth. The meta-analysis, published in ecancermedicalscience, (online 2 July), demonstrates benefits for aspirin across a range of cancers and shows…
Lung cancer screening: time to act on the evidence
“It’s extraordinary that screening for the biggest cancer killer is not available in most of Europe," says Anne Marie Baird, President of Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE). “Lung cancer causes more deaths in Europe than breast, colorectal and cervical cancers combined,…
Heart failure may be oncogenic, statins could reduce cancer risk
Two studies highlight the relationship between heart failure and cancer, showing people with heart failure are more likely to develop cancer, and that statins may reduce that risk. The first study, published in ESC Heart Failure (28 June 2021), found heart failure…
ACE inhibitor protects against cardiotoxicity
In HER2 breast cancer, concurrent use of the ACE inhibitor lisinopril with trastuzumab-anthracyclines benefits left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The study, abstract 509, presented in a poster session at the ASCO meeting, June 4-8, found breast cancer patients treated with…