Amsterdam, The Netherlands: The use of an intensified form of radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers can improve overall survival rates compared with standard radiation therapy, according to results from a large study presented on Saturday at the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1]. A comparison of altered fractionation radiotherapy (AFRT) […]
Category: Cancer
Longest follow-up of largest number of melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab shows some survive up to ten years
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Patients with advanced melanoma, who have been treated with the monoclonal antibody, ipilimumab, can survive for up to ten years, according to the largest analysis of overall survival for these patients, presented at the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013) [1] on Saturday. Professor Stephen Hodi (MD), Assistant Professor of Medicine at the […]
Anti-cancer drug T-DM1 benefits women with advanced breast cancer who have failed several previous treatments: results from TH3RESA trial
Amsterdam, The Netherlands: First results from a phase III clinical trial of the combination drug, T-DM1, show that it significantly improves the length of time before the disease worsens in women with advanced HER2 positive breast cancer whose cancer has recurred or progressed despite previous treatments, including trastuzumab and lapatinib. In a late-breaking presentation to […]
First randomised trial of targeted cancer medicine in all tumour types to be presented at ECC2013; results will pave the way for personalised treatment
A further step along the road to the personalisation of cancer medicine, where treatment is based on the individual molecular characteristics of tumours rather than their primary site, will be presented at the 2013 European Cancer Congress (ECC2013), which starts on Friday 27 September in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dr Christophe Le Tourneau, Head of the […]
Large study reveals increased cancer risks associated with family history of the disease
A family history of cancer increases the risk of other members of the family developing not only the same cancer (known as a concordant cancer) but also a different (discordant) cancer, according to a large study of 23,000 people in Italy and Switzerland. The research, published in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology [1], […]
Significant under-use of genetic testing for inherited cancers puts health of entire families at risk
Paris, France: A new study of the use of genetic testing for cancer-causing mutations in affected families in France has found that its take-up is very low. Professor Pascal Pujol, Head of the Cancer Genetics Department, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France, told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics that analysis of […]
Palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases in the elderly has positive effects on pain and quality of life
Geneva, Switzerland: Giving palliative radiotherapy to elderly patients with painful bone metastases can significantly improve their quality of life, a Dutch researcher told the 2nd Forum of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO). With the number of elderly patients who suffer from metastatic disease on the increase due to the ageing of the population […]
Commonly used drug can limit radiation damage to lungs and heart for cancer patients
Geneva, Switzerland: Unavoidable damage caused to the heart and lungs by radiotherapy treatment of tumours in the chest region can be limited by the administration of an ACE inhibitor, a drug commonly used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, a group of Dutch researchers have found. [1] Common cancers such as breast, oesophagus, lung, and […]
Intensity modulated radiotherapy reduces side effects in patients with early breast cancer
Geneva, Switzerland: Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) gives better results than standard radiotherapy in patients with early breast cancer, according to results from a randomised trial presented to the 2nd Forum of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO). IMRT is an advanced, high-precision form of radiotherapy that can deliver an even dose of radiation, […]
New radiotherapy approach reduces symptoms of dry mouth in patients with head and neck cancers
Geneva, Switzerland: Researchers have shown for the first time that it is possible to reduce the distressing symptoms of dry mouth in patients treated with radiotherapy for head and neck cancers if the radiation dose to a salivary gland (called the submandibular gland) on the opposite side to the tumour is kept to the minimum. […]