News
The burden of thyroid cancer increases worldwide
The global burden of thyroid cancer is increasing worldwide, according to a cross-sectional study with data from 195 countries just published in Jama Network Open. The study, by Jun Lyu and colleagues from the Jinan University in... [ more ]
AACR: cancer vaccine combination shows clinical activity in advanced solid tumors
According to an industry-funded, preliminary clinical trial presented at the AACR Virtual Annual Meeting currently underway, a personalized cancer vaccine in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab appears to be well tol... [ more ]
Cancer prevention through physical activity and diet: an updated guideline from the U.S.
According to the latest update of the American Cancer Society (ACS) guideline, four main pillars are needed to keep cancer away using diet and exercise. Here they are: achieve and maintain a healthy body weight throughout life, be... [ more ]
The burnout epidemic in oncology, highlights form ASCO 2020
“Burnout is universal and no one is immune. We are all in this together and together we can come up with solutions”. Tara Sanft, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven (U.S.A.), came to these con... [ more ]
Cancer drugs, costs and clinical benefits are not aligned
According to an international study just published in Lancet Oncology, the cost of new cancer drugs is not associated to the clinical value of the therapy: “In the USA and European countries, prices of cancer drugs should be bett... [ more ]
A global registry for children with cancer and COVID-19
While a deeper knowledge about the impact of COVID-19 disease on cancer patients is essential, sharing information is likewise important. For these purposes, a number of registries, which gather different data including patients’ ... [ more ]
Hormone therapy for prostate cancer may shield from COVID-19
Prostate cancer patients treated with androgen-deprivation therapies (ADTs) seem to have a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 complications compared to patients not treated with ADTs and compared to other cancer patie... [ more ]
The misuse of “noninferiority” in presenting trials is often misleading
When researchers have the opportunity to present their trials at medical meetings, they tend to use not-negative conclusions to discuss formally negative results. A research published in JAMA Oncology by a group of Italian oncolog... [ more ]
Artificial intelligence might help improve the classification of colorectal polyps
Deep neural networks are as good as practicing pathologists in classifying colorectal polyps, according to an experiment by a computer science and clinical research team led by Saeed Hassanpour, from the Dartmouth Cancer Center in... [ more ]
Gender equality in cancer research is still far away
Despite a positive trend toward equality in the past 3 decades, a substantial gendered difference is now persisting in oncology publications, favouring male first and last authors. “The academic medicine pipeline poses a significa... [ more ]
European heavy weights share their wisdom on how to deal with COVID-19 and cancer
The consortium Cancer Core Europe has collected, elaborated and shared the steps top experts have taken, while scientific evidence is still in the making... [ more ]
The prevalence of vaping among cancer survivors is worrying
The use of electronic cigarettes, or vaping, seems to be particularly common among young cancer survivors: according to a survey on a sample of nearly 1,500 young adult (YA) cancer survivors, just published as a research letter in... [ more ]
What we know, and ignore, of pediatric palliative care
In discussing palliative care, it has often been asked whether quality of time was important like quantity of life, if not more. And, when patients are children, the answer can become very complex. «If the goal of palliative care ... [ more ]
Trends in liver cancer: is it time to change prevention strategies?
Between 1990 and 2017 the incidence of primary liver cancer (PLC) globally decreased in younger (<30 years) and middle-aged (30-50 years), while increasing in older people (>60 years). Primary prevention strategies and changes in ... [ more ]
AACR calls on US Congress to take quick action against COVID-19
The Board of Directors of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) wrote to the members of the US Congress urging them to act quickly to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic: «Time is of the essence, and we call on you and... [ more ]
COVID-19: Cancer World editor and immunologist Adriana Albini explains how it works and how researchers are hoping to tame it
International collaboration, data sharing and investing in research is how we’ll tame the COVID-19 virus, explains Cancer World editor Adriana Albini.... [ more ]
Parity and breast cancer risk are not so strictly linked
The reduction in birth rate has been blamed in the past for the increase in breast cancer in young women, but now a study just published in JAMA Network Open offers evidence refuting this hypothesis...... [ more ]
Cancer survivors need more (and longer) support
After defeating cancer, people are facing other worries, which too often remain unsolved, even though they are seeking for help, according to a Canadian study concluding that it’s time to enhance survivorship care: «Without approp... [ more ]
COVID-19: ECCO demands attention to protect cancer patients
The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat for cancer patients, which deserve to be protected through immediate action on several levels all over Europe, according to a statement published today by the European Cancer Organi... [ more ]
Can we still rely on Omega-3 & Co. for cancer prevention and management?
According to an extensive systematic review recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, there is no evidence for a protective role of polyunsaturated fat (PUFAs) against the risk of cancer. Moreover, a very high intake of... [ more ]
COVID-19 and cancer, still more questions than answers
COVID-19 outbreak poses a severe threat to the health of millions of people worldwide, including cancer patients. What do we know about SARS-CoV-2 infection in this specific population? The analysis of data coming from a prospecti... [ more ]
More evidence-based info on off-patent oncology drugs
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has offered help to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its ambitious Project Renewal, that aims to evaluate accumulated scientific evidence on safety and efficacy of ... [ more ]
A step forward in prostate cancer screening optimisation
A single prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement in midlife may help to personalise prostate cancer screening, resulting in a reduced risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of indolent cancers. The authors of the study just ... [ more ]
UNESCO pledges to end the gender imbalance in science
Science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.... [ more ]
New evidence shows effectiveness of a single-dose of HPV vaccine
To prevent pre-invasive cervical disease, a single dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine could be enough. Investigation of more than 130,000 young women suggests that 1 dose of quadrivalent (4vHPV) vaccine has the same...... [ more ]
Everyone is invited to help with the EU Beat Cancer Plan
Today, on World Cancer Day, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of a EU-wide public consultation on the forthcoming “Beating Cancer Plan”, which aims to improve prevention, diagnosis, ... [ more ]
Non-cancer drugs repurposing, a new trick to win the onco-challenge?
Originally developed and approved for use in diabetes, inflammation and other non-oncological diseases (even osteoarthritis in dogs), many drugs could have a pivotal role in treating cancer. And they could be more abundant than ex... [ more ]
Genetics of breast cancer: much more than a BRCA story
Over 450 departments and institutions worldwide have contributed to the most comprehensive study conducted so far on breast cancer risk variants whose results have been published in Nature Genetics. The fine mapping of 150 breast ... [ more ]
The European Parliament launches a new committee on cancer
The European Parliament has announced the establishment of a Special Committee on Cancer: "If we combine our research, our resources and our experience, the European Union c... [ more ]
More data on physical activity and reduction of cancer risk
Recommended leisure-time physical activity is associated with a lower risk of 7 types of cancer, according to a new study published on Journal of Clinical Oncology. «In the past decade, our knowledge of the number of cancers linke... [ more ]
Real-world evidence in oncology has benefits (and risks)
Despite some weaknesses, real-world data can have a pivotal role in oncology, helping researchers and physicians to better understand the efficacy of anti-cancer treatments and how to manage the side effects.This is the position... [ more ]
Artificial intelligence is prone to overdiagnosis
The use of artificial intelligence might increase the speed and the consistency of cancer diagnosis, but could also exacerbate the problem of overdiagnosis, according to a perspective article recently published in the New England ... [ more ]
Patient-reported outcomes have prognostic value in predicting survival
Quality of life assessment is becoming increasingly important in oncology: a paper published in The Lancet Oncology by Andrew Bottomley of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) in Brussels, Belgium... [ more ]
Investment in childhood cancer research is lagging behind
Relatively low levels of investments from major funders, no recent acceleration in funding observed, and a decline in new commitments to funding since 2011: this is the main – and somehow discouraging – picture of investments for ... [ more ]
Published meta-analyses’ long way to reproducibility
According to a recent study published in JAMA Oncology, the findings of published meta-analyses on cancer treatments can be recalculated only in 2 cases out of 3. This does not imply that the findings are not true, the authors say... [ more ]
Family history of cancer and starting age of screening: should guidelines be revised?
When it comes to deciding the age for starting mammography, family history of cancer should count more, according to an analysis of Swedish registries just published in JAMA Oncology.... [ more ]
It’s hard to be a physician and a mother
The emotional support from colleagues is there, but many hurdles are present for physician mothers, making the maternity/family leave a big challenge for several women. “Physicians taking maternity leave experience unique challeng... [ more ]
Lung cancer association takes a stand against e-cigarettes
On November 12, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) issued a policy statement that strongly discourages the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes, or e-cigs) by non-smokers. The timing of the re... [ more ]
ABC Lisbon: good communication to improve patients’ wellbeing
In her emotional speech at the Lisbon ABC5 - Advanced Breast Cancer Fifth International Consensus Conference opening session she made it clear that “ABC patients need much more than clinical care”. Specifically for her... [ more ]
Artificial intelligence can help start dialogue on end of life options
An algorithm might help to arrange a timely advance care planning conversation to agree with patients on their goals and wishes. The timing of such a discussion is crucial, and data have shown that the majority of cancer patients ... [ more ]
Breast cancer death rates keep declining, at a slower pace
While breast cancer incidence rates are still on the rise, mortality rates keep decreasing, although at slower pace than in past. This is one of the take-home messages from Breast Cancer Statistics 2019-2020, the biennial update o... [ more ]
A new form of psychotherapy overcomes the fear of cancer recurrence
A pilot randomised clinical trial demonstrates that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a feasible and promising treatment for fear of cancer recurrence (FCR), a very disruptive condition affecting cancer survivors. Since the number of cancer survivors is expected to increase in the coming years, this treatment may be beneficial to a large number of people. [more]
Older women rarely benefit from mammography
Mammograms are unlikely to benefit older women with increased comorbidity, as they would probably die from something else before they could develop breast cancer. That is what results from a new study on more than 220,000 women, p... [ more ]
New cancer drugs may not work the way scientists thought
Many cancer drugs undergoing clinical trials kill malignant cells by acting on targets different from the one they were intended to hit. This surprising finding warns against poor preclinical characterization of targets and potent... [ more ]
Highlights from ESMO 2019: bridging the gap between the research setting and the bedside
More than 28,500 participants from 138 countries worldwide pacifically invaded Barcelona, Spain, from September 27 to October 1, attending 299 sessions with 2,218 accepted abstracts and 93 late-breaking abstracts, during the event... [ more ]
The higher price of new cancer drugs is rarely justified
Most cancer drugs introduced since 2004 provide low added value compared to previously approved medications, but have much higher prices, according to a French study presented at the congress of the European Society for Medical On... [ more ]
Less frequent screening for lung cancer is equally lifesaving
The ten-year results of the Multicentric Italian Lung Detection (MILD) trial demonstrated that prolonged screening with biennial low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is safe and effective compared to annual test, leading to a comparable reduction in lung cancer (LC) mortality in subjects with negative baseline LDCT. [more]
Highlights of the 20th World Conference on Lung Cancer
The latest developments in the field of lung cancer were discussed last week in Barcelona (Spain) during the 20th edition of the World Conference on Lung Cancer organized by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). The focus of clinical studies ranged from screening to treatment of advanced disease. [more]
Stella Kyriakides named European Health Commissioner
Stella Kyriakides, a medical psychologist with many years of experience in the field of social affairs, health and cancer prevention, will lead the health portfolio in the new European Commission, according to an announcement by ... [ more ]
Cancer is twice as deadly as heart disease in high-income countries
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality among middle aged adults globally, accounting for 40% of all deaths, but in high-income countries cancer is now responsible for twice as many deaths as CVD (55% vs 23%), according to a new report from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiologic (PURE) study published in The Lancet. [more]
Linking DNA methylation to Aspirin use and breast cancer survival
In women diagnosed with first primary breast cancer (BC), a closer look to epigenetic might be the “ace in the hole” to better understand the link between Aspirin use and prognosis and to refine patients stratification and risk-reducing strategies. Findings from a study recently published in Cancer suggest that the [more]
Kid-friendly conferences might reduce gender inequalities
Among young oncologists, women encounter more difficulties than men in attending conferences and this may affect their professional satisfaction. This is the key message of a survey conducted by a group of researchers of the John ... [ more ]
Health warnings on alcohols are invisible for most young drinkers
Labels containing warnings on the health risks associated with alcohol consumption are usually not noticed and remembered by teenagers, who should be in principle among the main targets. According to a study published in the Jou [more]
Tobacco control is improving (slowly) worldwide, WHO reports
Launched in late June this year, the 2019 WHO Report "Offer help to quit tobacco use" claims that 5 billion people (65% of the world's population) are exposed to at least one measure to control the tobacco epidemic. They were... [ more ]
Burden of cancer types is not reflected in research funding
A new study on the allocation of research funding in the United States concluded that highly deadly cancer types are under-supported. This may be at least partially due to the impact of emotional choices on fundraising, since canc... [ more ]
Nearly half of cancer patients don’t feel involved in treatment decisions, survey finds
Almost half (47%) of patients with cancer do not think that they have been sufficiently involved in the treatment decision process. This is what the international All.Can cancer initiative reveals in its report Patient insights on... [ more ]
Cancer deaths translate to billions of lost earnings per year
Almost 95 billion dollars of lost earnings. That’s the estimated price USA paid in 2015 for cancer-related deaths in people aged 16 to 84 years, according to a paper recently published in JAMA Oncology by Farhad Islami, American C... [ more ]
Cancer clinical trials recruit younger and younger patients
Seminal data from decades ago already demonstrated a marked underrepresentation of older patients in clinical trials: now an analysis of more than 300 randomised clinical trials (RCTs) shows not only that the disparity persists but the gap between trial and population median ages is widening. [more]
New evidence supports inverse association between cancer and Alzheimer
Among patients with a history of cancer, risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) might be lower: a study published in JAMA Network Open showed that elderly cancer patients had modestly higher memory function and slower memory decline both ... [ more ]
Social networks and digital oncology to reach young patients with cancer
The scientific community should always be on the same page as the patients, and in order to really meet the needs of adolescents and young adults (AYA) a smart and flexible digital system is somehow mandatory in cancer care, accor... [ more ]
Novel hematological therapies were the main focus of the EHA congress
Several new agents and combination therapies for the treatments of haematological malignant and non-malignant diseases were presented at the 24th congress of the European Haematology Association (EHA) that took place 13-16 June 20... [ more ]
The real impact of checkpoint inhibitors is not as hoped
It seems that the big revolution linked to the introduction of checkpoint inhibitor drugs is still far to come. According to estimates recently published in JAMA Network Open, only a small percentage of patients eligible for these... [ more ]
More than 50 percent rise in chemotherapy demand by 2040
Between 2018 and 2040, patients requiring first course chemotherapy will significantly increase annually, accordingly to a modelling study published in The Lancet Oncology.For the first time researchers estimated the scale of chem... [ more ]
Cancer data standards will make it easier to share information through the electronic health record
The mCODE project will provide a common platform and language to collect all the data on cancer patients. The initial set of standards has been released at ASCO 2019 in Chiacgo. Data collection, retrival and use both by patients a... [ more ]
Incidence of colorectal cancer is on the rise among young adults
Data from 20 European countries show that in the past 15 years colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence increased among young adults. The awareness of the changing epidemiology of CRC could have a practical implication: to reconsider at ... [ more ]
A manifesto to make breast cancer a top priority in EU
“For any incoming MEP or Commissioner, tackling breast cancer should be a top priority. We are still seeing major inequalities across the individual EU member states in breast cancer diagnosis and care, which result in some countr... [ more ]
Trials on anticancer drugs often have inadequate control arms
Randomized controlled trials that have been used for the FDA approval of new anticancer drugs were sometimes based on a flawed design, with suboptimal control arms... [ more ]
The annual ESTRO congress outlines the future of radiotherapy
The combination of immuno-oncology and radiotherapy, new technologies, new indications, the role of artificial intelligence: these are the highlights of ESTRO38, the annual congress of European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncolog... [ more ]
Cancer enters the campaign for European Commission President
Manfred Weber, one of the leading candidates to become the next president of the European Commission, has promised to “make the fight against cancer an absolute priority” in the next five years.... [ more ]
Alternative therapies in cancer: don’t ask don’t tell?
According to a nationwide survey, almost one out of three patients with cancer or cancer survivors in the US use complementary/alternative medicines (CAMs). And among them, three out of ten do not think that their physician should... [ more ]
FDA warns that we are trusting surgeon-robots too much
The US Food and Drug Administration issued a safety communication about robotically-assisted surgical procedures for cancer prevention or treatment, pointing out that their safety and effectiveness has not been established yet. ... [ more ]
Home stool test might replace first-line colonoscopy
A new article published in Annals of Internal Medicine states that average risk patients can safely choose for an annual home stool test instead of a screening colonoscopy.... [ more ]
ESMO delivers its recipe to prevent shortages of essential medicines in Europe
Even essential medicines can at times become difficult to find in Europe, and this can in some cases represent a threat to the life of cancer patients who are otherwise being treated effectively: to prevent future shortages of ess... [ more ]
Mind the label! Especially with low-risk neoplasms
According to a paper published in JAMA Oncology, the disease label has a profound influence on patient decision-making in the setting of low-risk malignant neoplasms and can also lead to overtreatment. In a discrete choice experim... [ more ]
One cycle of chemotherapy or radiotherapy does not affect sperm count
According to an article published in the journal Annals of Oncology, men with early stage testicular cancer (Testicular Cancer in Clinical Stage I, or TC CS I) can be treated with one course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy after s... [ more ]
An unexpected side-effect of radiotherapy
The staff of a crematorium in the United States was contaminated after dealing with the dead body of one or more persons who had died right after a radiotherapy course, raising concerns about the risk for human ashes to become pot... [ more ]
A Manifesto to put childhood cancers high in the European agenda
he European Parliament that will be elected in the coming months has to deal with more than 35.000 new cancer diagnoses in children and young people, more than 6.000 deaths among young patients, and nearly half a million childhoo... [ more ]
Early-phase trials are moving away from the “big killers”
No more colorectal or lung cancer in phase 1 trials. Stretching the point, this could be the scenario in the near future following the trends described in an abstract presented at the International Congress on Targeted Anticancer ... [ more ]
Half of pediatric cancers undiagnosed and untreated worldwide
Nearly one in two children with cancer are never diagnosed and may die untreated, according to a a new model proposed in a study published in The Lancet Oncology by Zachary Ward and colleagues from Harvard University T.H. Chan S... [ more ]
Mammography screening and improved treatment saved half a million women
As many as Baltimore’s residents. This is the answer to the question: “How many breast cancer patients have been saved from death in the past 30 years thanks to mammography screening and improved treatment?”. Baltimore has over 60... [ more ]
Kids born with assisted reproduction are not at higher risk of getting cancer
Do children born after assisted reproductive technology (ART) have an increased risk of developing cancer than other children? Many studies published in recent years have provided contradictory evidence, but the largest research j... [ more ]
Case reports: when a consent could become a barrier to medical education
In a viewpoint published on JAMA Oncology, experts from University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, have raised the question whether it is always convenient to ask patient consent before publishing case reports. ... [ more ]
Regular NSAID use may improve survival in head and neck cancer
A subset of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who regularly used aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for more than 6 months showed longer disease-specific survival and overall survival than nonreg... [ more ]
With ICIs, the effect of mutations changes with cancer types
“Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments benefit some patients with metastatic cancers, but predictive biomarkers are needed”: starting from this premise, a group of researchers of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center i... [ more ]
World Oncology Forum articulates the case for investing in affordable cancer care
Following the third UN high-level summit on non-communicable diseases last September, and with preparations for the 2019 high-level summit on Universal Health Coverage gathering speed, the World Oncology Forum (WOF) is making the ... [ more ]
The slow adoption of biomarkers affects cancer treatment in Greece
A huge gap in the Hellenic Organization for Health Care Services Provision reimbursement system (EOPPY) for cancer biomarkers is causing a lot of trouble for doctors and patients. At the moment the Ministry of health approved the ... [ more ]
Cancer and suicide risk: we know when, not who, how nor why
In the six months after a diagnosis of cancer, suicide risk increases significantly, up to 20% relative to the general population, according to a paper recently published on JAMA Psychiatry.... [ more ]
Adjuvant therapy in stage III colon cancer: is less (really) better?
The results of the IDEA collaboration opened a still unsolved debate about the possibility to halve the duration of adjuvant therapy after surgery of stage III colon cancer. Italian oncologists discussed the practical effects... [ more ]
It’s urgent to learn more on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Toxicity
Checkpoint inhibitors have significant side effects, that according to an analysis published in Jama are still poorly known by many health professionals. It is “urgent”, according to authors, “to identify who is at highest risk of... [ more ]
For cervical cancer, open surgery is better than minimally invasive surgery
In patients with early cervical cancer, minimally invasive surgery is likely not be the best option, according to two studies with “alarming data” appearing in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.... [ more ]
EuropaColon expands into Digestive Cancers Europe
With the goal of “saving additional 250,000 Europeans every year”, EuropaColon decided to expand its activities to all digestive cancers: oesophageal, stomach, colon, rectum, pancreas and rare digestive cancers.... [ more ]
Lung cancer mortality expected to decrease over the next half century
“Tobacco control efforts implemented since the 1960s will continue to reduce lung cancer rates well into the next half-century. Additional prevention and cessation efforts will be required to sustain and expand these gains to furt... [ more ]
Reimbursement of newly approved cancer drugs may take more than one year
After the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves a new cancer drug, reimbursement decisions by each country’s health authorities can take up to one year, with wide variations between countries. according to a study just... [ more ]
Low-adherence to hormonal therapy among premenopausal early breast cancer patients
“At one year from initiation of TAM, plasma measurements show that a substantial proportion of premenopausal patients are not adequately adherent to this treatment. Poorly-adherent patients could benefit from metabolic and pharmac... [ more ]
World Thrombosis Day: what’s the role of thrombosis in cancer?
There is too little awareness about cancer associated thrombosis: this is the main result of the first survey on awareness of cancer related thrombosis presented on October 16th by ECPC (the European Cancer Patient Coalition) duri... [ more ]
Immunologists Allison and Honjo won the Nobel prize for their work on checkpoints
American James Allison and Japanese Tasuku Honjo have been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine thanks to their findings leading to recent new approaches in cancer treatment.... [ more ]
Fatal reactions to immunotherapies are rare, but have diverse causes
The most commonly prescribed class of immunotherapies (called ICIs, immune checkpoint inhibitors) are not free from fulminant and fatal toxic side effects; the researchers of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center recently evaluated ... [ more ]
Catalan independence yellow ribbons clashing with a cancer symbol in Spain
On Tuesday 11th of September Catalonia (Spain) celebrated its 'National Day'. Hundreds of thousands Catalans in favor of independence filled the streets, wearing yellow ribbons: the symbol they are using for claiming freedom for ... [ more ]
Mind your head (and neck), say famous paintings
Over 20 specialised centres that will be open to the public, and events in ten cities will be part of the Italian effort to raise public awareness on early diagnosis in head and neck cancers, within the European “Make Sense Campai... [ more ]
Terminally ill patients are given preventative medicines until they die
Among patients hospitalised for advanced lung cancer, the prescription of preventative medicines for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, antiplatelet agents, and vitamins/minerals is very common not only at the moment of admis... [ more ]
Second opinions offend oncologists in two ways
Physicians seem to accommodate to patients’ requests of second opinions trying not to harm neither the relationship with patients themselves nor with colleagues. Oncologists usually cooperate among each other, even though they do ... [ more ]
Doctors should care more of financial toxicity, US survey warns
For many patients newly diagnosed with cancer, financial toxicity should be on top of the list of their doctors concerns: according to a US survey described on the peer-reviewed journal Cancer, published by the American Cancer Soc... [ more ]
A new test for castration-resistant prostate cancer welcomed warmly
A blood test that can predict how men with advanced prostate cancer will respond to specific treatments has been validated in a multi-institution cohort study, recently published on Jama Oncology by an International group coordina... [ more ]
Users of alternative remedies tend to refuse cancer treatments, with increased mortality
Cancer patients who use complementary medicine tend to refuse effective treatments more often than non users, and this reflects on increased mortality: this is the conclusion of an observational study just published on Jama Oncolo... [ more ]
New markers could pave the way to early diagnosis of AML in the healthy population
A research letter just published in the journal Nature by an International group of researchers directed by Grace Collord of the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Cambridge, in England, "provides proof-of-principle that ... [ more ]
Governments urged to do more against cancer and other non-communicable diseases
The organisations of oncologists ESMO and ASCO are worried by the "tsunami of future cancer cases that will drain our health systems and our economies".... [ more ]
Chasing teenage clouds away, with music
The song is captivating, with professional music and arrangements. The voices are those of the teenage patients of the pediatric unit of Milan’s Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori who worked for several months to record a video just re... [ more ]
Outstanding journalism recognised in the Cancer World Award
Journalists from India, Germany, France, Pakistan and Syria have been recognised for their outstanding achievement in the 2018 Cancer Journalism Award, organised by Cancer World magazine. A remarkable 181 entries produced in 2017 ... [ more ]
The National Guideline Clearinghouse will be shut down soon
The website of the US National Guideline Clearinghouse, that currently makes available 359 guidelines related to oncology, will be closed in mid-July, for lack of federal funding.... [ more ]
SEEKing cancer with liquid biopsy
It’s called CancerSEEK the first experimental noninvasive blood test that could screen eight different cancers and localize their source. It was developed by an international research team based at Johns Hopkins University in Balt... [ more ]
Acupuncture and behavioral therapy can improve sleep in cancer survivors
Acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) can improve insomnia severity beyond traditional medicine, and have lasting effects, according to a study – funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institu... [ more ]
Cannabis can be an option in palliative care
Cannabis is an effective and safe option to help patients cope with malignancy related symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, sleep disorders, pain, anxiety, and depression. ... [ more ]
A new tool for mastering cancer genetics: the Pan Cancer Atlas
The largest survey conducted so far on the genetics of tumours has catalogued the data of over 11 thousand tumours from 33 of the most prevalent forms of cancer. It is now available online.... [ more ]
A single PSA test in asymptomatic men has no mortality benefit
The British CAP Randomized Clinical Trial that recruited more than 400.000 subjetcs observed an increase in diagnoses, but no significant effect on the reduction of prostate cancer mortality after a median follow-up of 10 years.... [ more ]
Cancer in childhood leaves a burden on mental health
Being diagnosed with cancer as a kid is associated with an increased risk of mental health events later in life, according to an article recently published in Cancer.... [ more ]
To stay afloat, cancer patients in the US need a “financial navigator”
A cancer diagnosis in the United Stated is so costly, on so many different aspects, that a new professional figure of “financial navigator” is emerging, to manage all the issues that so far have been partially followed by medical ... [ more ]
New rules limit the professional exposure to cancer-causing substances in Europe
The European Commission has recently annonced its proposal to limit workers' exposure to five cancer-causing substances... [ more ]
Californian coffee will soon carry a label on cancer risk
In California, coffee will soon have to carry a label stating that the beverage can cause cancer: a court decicded to impose the warning because of the presence of acrylamide in the drink. The compound is used in certain industria... [ more ]
Liquid biopsies are not fit for clinical practice, yet
More convenient and less risky for patients than proper, traditional ones, liquid biopsies are being rapidly adopted; they can be performed on a serial basis and, in theory, give more complete information. ... [ more ]
Blind women lend a hand for early detection of breast cancer
The enhanced tactile sensitivity of blind and visually impaired women might make them especially suitable for breast examination, according to a visionary German gynaecologist. If it’s true that mammography is an effective breast ... [ more ]
Breast cancer patients say excessive fears surround radiation therapy
The perspective of undergoing radiation therapy usually scares most breast cancer patients, but according to a new study most women treated with modern breast radiation therapy describe their experience as much better than they ex... [ more ]
A world without cancer: how a pseudoscientific congress opened a fierce debate in Spain
“Breast cancer can be cured just being aware of the disease and doing nothing". It’s just one of the many senseless things attendees heard at the congress A World Without Cancer: what your doctor is not telling you, held last mont... [ more ]
The European Commission wants more reliable tools for health technology assessment
«Better quality, innovative healthcare for the benefit of patients, especially those with unmet medical needs» this is the mail goal of the proposal for strenghtening cooperation within the European Union on the assessment of heal... [ more ]
Cancer risk factors are in eye of the beholder?
Screening for cancer can not only affect overdiagnosis, but also misrepresent the influence of specific risk factors that might instead have no real role, argue two researchers writing on the Annals of Internal Medicine.... [ more ]
Europa Donna Italy provides guidelines for voluntary associations working in breast centres
«A common platform for a proper understanding of the interaction system and knowledge between voluntary associations operating in breast centres, specialists of breast centre, political and territorial authorities involved in the ... [ more ]
Tito Fojo: Cancer drugs not delivering on their potential
New drugs being approved for treatment of patients with cancer are providing an average of only 2.5 months of extra life, a leading researcher has told the World Oncology Forum (WOF). Tito Fojo, Professor of Medicine at Columbia... [ more ]
Austerity measures in Greece leave cancer patients without treatment
Swiss drugmaker Roche confirmed on Monday October 30th the withdrawal from the «positive list» of drugs reimbursed in Greece of cobimetinib, used to treat melanoma in adults in combination with vemurafenib, after the government im... [ more ]
Chatham House calls on oncology community to join global drive for universal health coverage
Robert Yates from the Chatham House policy institute has called on the oncology community to join the global campaign for universal health coverage as the best way of ensuring that governments allocate sufficient resources to... ... [ more ]
ABC4, Lisbon 2017: day two report
Day two of ABC-Lisbon featured a pioneer in metastatic breast cancer advocacy, Musa Mayer, who gave the ABC Award lecture. Mayer told the history of how the “silent voices” of women with advanced disease came eventually to be hear... [ more ]
Rifat Atun: Seven point strategy to tackle global cancer
Rifat Atun, Director of Global Health Systems at Harvard, warns the cancer community they must heal fragmented delivery and financing systems to tackle cancer worldwide. He summarises a seven point strategy from the World Oncology... [ more ]
At the ABC in Lisbon, crossing the lines between being a doctor and patient
One talk dominated the opening day of the fourth Advanced Breast Cancer conference in Lisbon (ABC-Lisbon) – a powerful, personal testimony from Bella Kaufman, an Israeli breast cancer oncologist and ABC-Lisbon faculty member who... [ more ]
Is a global movement to tackle cancer possible?
At some point in this century cancer will become the leading cause of global deaths. It is already the leading cause of premature death under the age of 70 in 48 higher income countries and second or third in another 100 countries... [ more ]
A is for apple (but not always in Africa)
In many books used for teaching the alphabet to children, the letter A is associated to an apple: the association may seem obvious, but usually it is not so for an African child: in Africa A is not for apple, but more likely for a... [ more ]
The (overrated) power of the hazard ratio
«Maybe in our fight against cancer we are just looking at the wrong endpoints, focusing our attention on techinicalities like the hazard ratio of a trial instead of thinking at the best way to help the patient improving its qualit... [ more ]
Are cancer patients right in looking for robotic surgery?
Does robotic surgery offer superior outcomes? Yes and no – or better: yes and maybe – answers a study published earlier this month in The Lancet Oncology: their clinical benefit is still uncertain, but robots appear to offer supe... [ more ]
ESMO publishes the Patient Guide on Survivorship
The new "Patient Guide on Survivorship" produced jointly by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) the European Cancer Patient coalition (ECPC) and the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) is now available... [ more ]
BRCA1 could not wait: Mary-Claire King tells the story of her “special” week of 36 years ago
What happens to a strong and motivated scientist when she is left by her husband? When it happened to Mary-Claire King, many unusual things happened: she learned that she had just been awarded tenure at the Berkeley University and... [ more ]
IBM Watson’s skills in oncology? Elementary, according to an investigation
The «intelligent» supercomputer that IBM started selling around three years ago as "Watson for Oncology" claiming that it was capable of recommending the best cancer treatments to doctors was the object of an in-depth investigatio... [ more ]
PSA for prostate cancer screening: still a balancing act
The conclusions of the 2012 Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) could be wrong: the authors of the trial – published on the Journal of the National Cancer Institute – had found no reduction in pro... [ more ]
Solange Peters will be ESMO President for 2020-2021
Solange Peters, MD, PhD, head of the Medical Oncology Service, chair of Thoracic Oncology, Oncology Department, of the University Hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, CHUV), will be the Pres... [ more ]
Hair loss caused by chemo: an online registry will help to learn more
Hair loss can be a big concern for many cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and according to a recent review of the literature published on the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, «scalp cooling efficacy is dependent on man... [ more ]
Europe should act to curb alcohol consumption, cancer experts say
Rates of alcohol-related digestive cancers are expected to increase very rapidly in Europe, according to an alarming new report issued by United European Gastroenterology (UEG) that calls for a new strategic, political and clinica... [ more ]
The BMJ decries the gap in cancer mortality between rich and poor countries
Cancer control measures that have contributed to increase life expectancy in rich populations have yet to be seen in poorer populations, according to a study just published on The BMJ by a group led by Dr. Bochen Cao of the Intern... [ more ]
Cyclists raise funds for the Cancer Association of Botswana
Gaborone - Botswana’s cancer conscious cyclists – Team Chainring have embarked on a 1000kilometres ‘Ride for Pink’ to create awareness and raise funds for Cancer Association of Botswana (CAB).
... [ more ]
... [ more ]
The National Health Insurance Fund now helps Kenyans with cancer
Thousands of cancer patients in Kenya die prematurely due to lack of treatment. In a country where health insurance is a preserve of the wealthy, most patients are forced to sell their cows or land to pay for surgery, radiotherapy... [ more ]
“The Big Four of the Millennium” in Women’s Health
“The Big Four of the Millennium” was recently announced at the 61st Congress of the German Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics. This honor identifies four individuals, whose life’s work created the standards of women’s health th... [ more ]
Tattoo works of art on the breast after mastectomy gives back the self-confidence
Rea undertakes to make a tattoo on the breast after mastectomy and rehabilitation. And most of the times this is not just a tattoo. This is an inspired work of art.... [ more ]
For the first time, the FDA approves a cancer drug for use based on biomarker and not origin
Pembrolizumab is the first drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use based on a biomarker (a specific genetic feature) rather than the location in the body where the tumor originated. The drug is indicated for... [ more ]
Rare cancers account for one fifth of new diagnoses in the US
According to an analysis just published on American Cancer Society's CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, rare cancers account for almost a fifth of all new diagnoses, and up to over two thirds of all new diagnoses... [ more ]
Biosimilars in oncology: challenges and opportunities
ESO created a Task Force to discuss challenges and opportunities related to biosimilars in oncology, that started to analyze facts and debunk some myths, and will come up in the near future with a position paper on the topic.... [ more ]
Cancer drugs: don’t give in to political pressure, warns report
A team of researchers studied the impact of the NHS Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) that was introduced in the UK in 2010 following media criticism that cancer patients were being denied access to the latest treatments. By 2016 it had spe... [ more ]
Tackling rare cancers through more unified research and care all around Europe
Rare cancers were among the topics discussed last month at the 3rd conference on European Reference Networks held in Vilnius, in Lithuania, where Dr Paolo Casali, from the Milan's Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori illustrated the goal... [ more ]
US doctors continue to recommend mammography more often than most International guidelines
When it comes to breast cancer screening with mammography, are women receiving a coherent message about the best age to start and to stop, and about frequency? A survey examined the situation in the United States, and concluded th... [ more ]
Cancer prevention, bad luck and bad wording
Cancer, genetics, “bad luck” and prevention through lifestyle: two years after their first study that tried to quantify the random mutations that accumulate during stem cell divisions in healthy cells and drive cancer in different... [ more ]
A call to action to defeat advanced and metastatic breast cancer
A call to action to intervene on the many gaps in the care of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer (ABC/mBC), the European School of Oncology announced at the 15th St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference in... [ more ]
Breast units are effective, and must become the standard: the EBC Manifesto
Breast units staffed with specialist multidisciplinary teams deliver superior care and quality of life to women and men with breast cancer: this is the premise of the Manifesto on Breast Cancer Centres/Units that was discussed in ... [ more ]
Signed in Greece the “Road map for treating breast cancer”
The Greek women sitting in the National and European parliament managed to find a prominent place in the political agenda for women with breast cancer through the establishment of the so-called “road map for treating breast cancer... [ more ]
How to improve cancer care in Europe? Two reports propose solutions
Two comprehensive reports addressing cancer care in Europe have been published recently: «Past and current approaches to cancer care may not be sufficient for tomorrow. We face limited resources and a demand for cancer that will o... [ more ]
“Help a Dane”: a brilliant online campaign against melanoma
Images of carbonized pizza, paella, croissant and meatballs with tzaziki are smartly used by a Danish campaign on sun safety advice for Danes tourists who love to spend their holidays in Southern Europe, where their delicate skins... [ more ]
Romanians protest against corruption that plagues hospitals
The protest that brought many Romanians in the streets, ignited by a law proposal on corruption, soon touched other sensitive topics, including the dramatic state of public hospitals. A highly contested law proposed by the governm... [ more ]
Cost of drugs and the role of patients: lessons learned at ECCO 2017
The cost of drugs and the critical importance of the patient voice in designing clinical trials were two of the key issues picked out by journalists who attended the European Cancer Congress (ECCO 2017) recently held in Amsterdam.... [ more ]
Is first-in-human clinical research always ethical?
«We must abandon the fiction that current oversight systems are adequate to protect volunteers in first-in-human trials or to steward scientific efforts»: this is the strong conclusion of a paper published in Nature by two bioethi... [ more ]
US healthcare and research communities protest Trump’s ban on seven Muslim countries
Healthcare professionals in the United States are worried by the impact that the executive order by President Donald Trump barring access in the country to nationals of seven predominantly Muslim countries is having on hospitals a... [ more ]
A viral campaign recruits lemons against breast cancer
A brilliant visual campaign called «Know your Lemons» (hashtag #knowyourlemons), launched by a British charity to increase awareness about breast cancer prevention, become viral on social media, with over 7 million views in a few ... [ more ]
Kudos to the recipients of the Cancer World Journalism Awards 2016
Journalists from China, Germany, India and Kenya have been recognised for their outstanding articles on cancer in the 2016 Cancer World Journalism Awards. The awards, organised by the European School of Oncology’s Cancer World mag... [ more ]
Not all social relationships are beneficial to breast cancer patients
In women hit by breast cancer, the size and type of social relationships influence the rates of recurrence and mortality, according to a research published on Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. In gene... [ more ]
Jama Oncology updates the Global burden of cancer
In the last decade, cancer cases increased worldwide by 33 percent, mostly due to population aging, population growth and changes in age-specific cancer rates: this is one of the key conclusions of the new report from the Global B... [ more ]
A new comprehensive cancer research center announced in Greece
Efforts to establish a new comprehensive cancer research center in Athens as part of the National Hellenic Research Foundation are underway, according to the director of the foundation, Dr. Vasilis Gregoriou. The National Hellenic... [ more ]
Journalists can apply for Amsterdam conference until Wed Nov 16th
The deadline for applying for a journalist grant to the ECCO congress has been extended. The new deadline is Wednesday 16th November •
Reporting on Cancer ESO @ #ECCOCongress Fellowship – 27-30 January 2017 – Amsterdam... [ more ]
Reporting on Cancer ESO @ #ECCOCongress Fellowship – 27-30 January 2017 – Amsterdam... [ more ]
Six questions to look at, when dealing with active surveillance
For patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa), active surveillance might not be easy to deal with, with possible repercussions on the quality of life: starting from this åassumption, the European School of Oncology convened a ... [ more ]
In the US, costs of breast cancer treatments vary wildly
An observational cohort study just published on the peer-reviewed journal Cancer concluded that the costs of breast cancer chemotherapy vary widely in the United States, even among treatment regimens with similar efficacy, and tha... [ more ]
Personalized oncology: too good to be true?
Is there too much hype surrounding personalized oncology? An article just published on The New England Journal of Medicine (available only to subscribers) essentially invites to use more caution: «There should be a clear message t... [ more ]
Cancer in Greek islands: not a paradise anymore
Living high in the Cretan mountains, breathing fresh air, walking along shepherds’ paths, eating fresh fruits and vegetables may sound like the healthiest way of life. Unfortunately this is not the case in Crete, w... [ more ]
Adverse events appear to be systematically underreported in clinical trials
«There is strong evidence that much of the information on adverse events remains unpublished and that the number and range of adverse events is higher in unpublished than in published versions of the same study»: this is the concl... [ more ]
The Evidence Blocks will help discuss affordable cancer care with patients
When discussing about therapies, particularly in oncology, affordability needs to be addressed as one of the top priorities, along with safety and efficacy of the intervention, and quality and consistency of the evidence: this is ... [ more ]
The Cancer World Journalism Award 2016 is now inviting submissions
The call for submissions for the 2016 edition of the Cancer World Journalism Award is open: outstanding pieces of journalism that contributed to reshape the way we think about cancer will be awarded a prize of €1500. A winner will... [ more ]
Why can’t doctors get rid of “futile” treatments at the end of life?
The Journal of Medical Ethics recently published the results of an Australian survey involving 96 physicians from 10 medical specialties who were asked why patients at the end of life are often ... [ more ]
Fellowhips available for European journalists reporting on cancer
Health journalists from all over Europe are invited to apply for one of the 12 fellowships to attend the European Cancer Congress ECCO2017, which will be held in Amsterdam from 27-30 January 2017, with the theme “From evidence to ... [ more ]
Mental health might be negatively affected by a recent cancer diagnosis
Cancer diagnosis seems associated with an increased risk of some mental health disorders, and increased use of psychiatric medications, according to a Swedish cohort study published on JAMA Oncology. The study by Donghao Lu and co... [ more ]
A new model for active surveillance of low-risk prostate cancer
A new model of active surveillance (AS) for patients with low-risk prostate cancer proved to be effective in helping clinicians to appropriately select and follow patients preventing the risk of overtreatment, according to the res... [ more ]