News
After Covid: AACR call to action to improve cancer care
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has issued ‘a call to action’ to build on lessons learnt from Covid-19 to modernize cancer patient care. The ‘ACCR Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Cancer Research and Patient Care’, published…
Study suggests prehabilitation should become standard of care in oesophageal cancer
Enrolling oesophageal cancer patients in prehabilitation exercise programmes can boost tumour regression during chemotherapy. The small study, published in British Journal of Sports Medicine (online 1 February, 2022), demonstrated improved pathological, radiological and immunological responses to chemotherapy for those in the…
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),…
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…
Ending cancer service delays and backlogs: voices from the frontline
Pandemic-related delays and backlogs in cancer diagnosis, screening and treatments can be rapidly addressed if health services invest now in data systems that monitor needs and resources, together with innovative ways to meet that need. This was the key message…