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Sunday 20 October 2019
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Topic: Oncology

October 16, 2019
Imaging tumour stiffness could help enhance treatment for certain types of cancer
Initial studies established that collagen was key to keeping breast and pancreatic cancers stiff and inaccessible to treatments. In contrast, tumours arising from the nervous system were relatively soft and lacking in collagen
Using a non-invasive imaging technique that measures the stiffness of tissues gives crucial new information about cancer architecture and could aid the delivery of treatment to the most challenging tumours, new research shows.
 
Magnetic resonance elastography was able to visualise and measure how stiff and dense tumours are in mice. The technique, which can be implemented on conventional clinical MRI scanners, may help select the best treatment course for some cancer patients.
 
October 10, 2019
Expert view: Recognising World Stomach Day
On 2 October, 2019, United European Gastroenterology, the European Association for Gastroenterology, Endoscopy and Nutrition, and the Healthy Stomach Initiative, recognised World Stomach Day
Originally initiated by the Health Stomach Initiative, World Stomach Day aims to raise awareness of the global burden of gastric diseases and the need for further research in the field as well as improved prevention and treatment strategies. 
 
October 7, 2019
Exercise can lessen heart damage from chemotherapy
The paper highlights the importance of an individual exercise plan for each patient, taking into account personal history, cancer treatment, response to exercise, and personal preferences
Patients with cancer should receive a tailored exercise prescription to protect their heart, reports a paper published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
 
'Cancer patients are often less active than adults without cancer,' said author Dr Flavio D'Ascenzi, University of Siena, Italy. 'However, exercise is essential for patients diagnosed with cancer who are under treatment, irrespective of the type of treatment.'
 
October 3, 2019
Boxing move knocks cancer cells out
The idea of the ‘one-two punch’ arose out of earlier research in which researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute exploited a weak point in resistant skin cancer cells in order to destroy them

A classic boxing move, the ‘one-two punch’, could also be effective against cancer: a left jab knocks cancer cells senseless, quickly followed by a right hook that knocks them out altogether.

Researchers at the Netherlands Cancer Institute have shown that cancer cells are vulnerable to this kind of approach.

October 1, 2019
First targeted therapy for cholangiocarcinoma shows clinical benefit
Despite the low incidence, most patients die from the disease and therefore new effective therapies are urgently needed

New data have shown for the first time that targeted therapy can improve the outcome of patients diagnosed with advanced cholangiocarcinoma.

October 1, 2019
Whole genome sequencing could enable personalised cancer treatment
This international collaboration of researchers used WGS to analyse tumours from patients who had been diagnosed as having triple negative breast cancers

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of tumour cells could help predict the prognosis of a patient's cancer and offer clues to identify the most effective treatment, suggests an international study published in Nature Medicine.

September 23, 2019
Larotrectinib receives first tumour-agnostic licence in EU
A first-in-class oral TRK inhibitor designed to treat tumours that have an NTRK gene fusion, larotrectinib is the first treatment in the EU to receive a tumour-agnostic indication

Bayer has announced that the European Commission has granted conditional marketing authorisation in the European Union (EU) for the targeted oncology treatment Vitrakvi® (larotrectinib).

The drug is indicated for the treatment of adult and paediatric patients with solid tumours that display a Neurotrophic Tyrosine Receptor Kinase (NTRK) gene fusion, who have a disease that is locally advanced, metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and who have no satisfactory treatment options.

September 20, 2019
Combination therapies could help treat fatal lung cancers
Drugs targeting G12C KRAS mutations are showing promising anti-tumour activity and few adverse effects in US clinical trials, but it is unclear how long any response will last before the cancer becomes resistant
A new study led by the Francis Crick Institute and The Institute of Cancer Research in London has found that combining a new class of drug with two other compounds can significantly shrink lung tumours in mice and human cancer cells.
 
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, looked at G12C KRAS inhibitors. This new type of drug targets a specific mutation in the KRAS gene that can cause cells to multiply uncontrollably and lead to fast-growing cancers.
 
September 17, 2019
Study shows an increased risk of prostate cancer in men with BRCA2 gene fault
Researchers have found that men who carry the BRCA2 gene fault were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than non-carriers
Men with the BRCA2 gene fault have an increased risk of prostate cancer and could benefit from PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing to help detect the disease earlier, according to researchers funded by Cancer Research UK.
 
Previous studies have shown that PSA is not a suitable test for screening for prostate cancer in the general population, and this remains the case. There are limitations to the PSA test - including false positives, false negatives and overdiagnosis.
 
September 17, 2019
UK study finds only a third of women take up all offered cancer screenings
In a paper published in the Journal of Medical Screening, researchers from King's College London and Queen Mary University of London have found that despite free cancer screening programmes, only 35% take part in all offered programmes
In England, women are invited for screening for three types of cancer concurrently in their sixties; for the last cervical screen before they exit the programme, for breast screening every three years, and for bowel screening every two years. 
 
This means that an average woman aged 60 can expect to receive five or six cancer screening invitations by the time she turns 65. In England, cancer screening is provided by the NHS free of charge.
 
September 12, 2019
Durvalumab shows significant survival benefit in small cell lung cancer
Across all efficacy endpoints, benefits were observed in patients treated with Imfinzi plus chemotherapy vs. SoC.
Results presented at the Presidential Symposium of the IASLC 2019 World Conference on Lung Cancer have shown improved overall survival with Imfinzi in small cell lung cancer. 
 
September 12, 2019
Nivolumab increases overall survival in advanced lung cancer
At five years, patients who were treated with nivolumab experienced a five-fold increase in long-term overall survival (OS) benefit versus docetaxel, with OS rates of 13.4% versus 2.6%, respectively
Results from the pooled analysis of the CheckMate -017 and -057 studies of five-year overall survival in patients with previously-treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer have been announced. 
 
Among patients with an objective response to nivolumab, 32.2% continued to see a response at five years compared to 0% on docetaxel. The median duration of response was 19.9 months for nivolumab-treated patients versus 5.6 months for docetaxel.
 
September 11, 2019
Calling attention to colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is Europe’s second biggest cancer killer, claiming the lives of nearly 200,000 people across the continent each year. Current trends predict that the burden of colorectal cancer could increase by 12% by 2020, affecting 502,000 Europeans a year by 2020.1
 
September 11, 2019
Chemotherapy dose standardisation and optimisation
Standardisation of doses of intravenous chemotherapy agents was initially proposed to improve pharmacy capacity and reduce medication errors and wastage; however, further optimisation of the administration of anticancer drugs can potentially contribute to a more efficient oncology unit
The dosing of chemotherapy agents involves a delicate balance between the desired efficacy and the drug’s acceptable toxicity. Traditionally, the doses of anticancer drugs were calculated according to body weight or surface area, but in 2018, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) released a position statement supporting dose standardisation, or dose banding, for intravenous chemotherapy drugs for adults with cancer. This standardisation and optimisation of doses in oncology brings benefits to hospitals, as well as health care providers and patients.
September 11, 2019
Cytoxic handling: isolators versus cabinets?
Cytotoxic chemotherapy is synonymous with a narrow therapeutic index, severe adverse effects for patients and occupational exposure risks for pharmacy and nursing staff
The majority of cytotoxic drugs are administered as sterile injections or infusions, which means asepsis must be maintained during the preparation and administration of chemotherapy, particularly because many patients are immunocompromised. Protecting healthcare staff from occupational exposure, ensuring sterility of parenteral chemotherapy and complex clinical management issues all combine to present a multidimensional challenge to pharmacy staff and specialist chemotherapy nurses.
 
September 11, 2019
MRI-guided radiotherapy: A real time, personalised treatment method
Using data from online MR guidance, we will be able to image biomarkers during treatment and thus be able to adapt the plan or even change the treatment intent based upon real-time data
September 11, 2019
New challenges for aseptic drug preparation
Notwithstanding the need for contingency planning, the use of automation seems to be the natural next step forward for a safer and more efficient compounding of hazardous medicines
Cancer Research UK states that between 2014 and 2016, 363,484 new cases of cancer were reported and, with year-on-year increases, these drugs will only become more commonly used.
 
Furthermore, in 2018, a National Health Service (NHS) commissioned report recorded an increase in demand for aseptically prepared products of around 5% per year.1
 
September 9, 2019
New study demonstrates potential of blood test for early lung cancer detection
The ECLS trial, conducted in Scotland with 12,209 patients, is believed to be the largest randomised controlled trial using blood biomarkers for the detection of lung cancer
Data has demonstrated the potential of Oncimmune’s EarlyCDT® Lung test to reduce the incidence of patients with late-stage lung cancer at diagnosis, compared with standard clinical diagnosis. 
 
In a randomised controlled trial of 12,209 people in Scotland at high risk of developing lung cancer, it was shown that more people were diagnosed at an early stage of the disease in the two years after taking the EarlyCDT Lung test than those in the control arm who received standard clinical care. 
September 6, 2019
Lonsurf receives marketing authorisation for previously treated metastatic gastric cancer
The decision extends the indication of Lonsurf in the EU, which already is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
Servier and its partner Taiho Pharmaceutical have announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved the use of Lonsurf® (trifluridine/tipiracil) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic gastric cancer including adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction, who have been previously treated with at least two prior systemic treatment regimens for advanced disease.
 
September 4, 2019
Sponsored: Pioneers in solid tumours: A spotlight on Janssen Oncology
Dr Joaquín Casariego discusses Janssen’s solid tumour portfolio and pipeline, highlighting their commitment to improving outcomes in the solid tumour space
Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 20 years, I joined Janssen in 2016 as EMEA Medical Director Oncology and began my current role as EMEA Therapeutic Area Lead Oncology in 2019.
 
September 3, 2019
Lack of government action on staffing undermines ambition to diagnose cancer early

In just one year, around 115,000 cancer patients in England are diagnosed too late to give them the best chance of survival, according to new calculations from Cancer Research UK.

This means that nearly half of all cancers diagnosed with a known stage in England are diagnosed at stage 3 or 4. And of these, around 67,000 people are diagnosed at stage 4 -  leaving them with fewer treatment options and less chance of surviving their disease.

August 27, 2019
Boosting the power of cancer immunotherapy treaments
Although this is early research in the lab, the findings suggest this approach could help to boost the effects of innovative cancer treatments, such as CAR-T therapy, which so far have not been used successfully to tackle solid tumours

Scientists may have found a way to pull down the protective wall that surrounds tumours, potentially re-exposing them to the killing power of the immune system and immunotherapy treatments.

The study was part funded by Cancer Research UK and published in EBioMedicine.

August 22, 2019
Research suggests antibiotic use is linked to increased risk of bowel cancer
The findings suggest a pattern of risk that may be linked to differences in gut microbiome activity along the length of the bowel and reiterate the importance of judicious prescribing, say the researchers
Antibiotic use is linked to a heightened risk of colon suggests research published online in the journal Gut.
 
The findings suggest a pattern of risk that may be linked to differences in gut microbiome (bacteria) activity along the length of the bowel and reiterate the importance of judicious prescribing, say the researchers.
 
August 7, 2019
NICE recommends additional treatment option for people with early breast cancer
Neratinib, which is taken as 6 x 40 mg tablets daily for one year, represents a further adjuvant treatment option in the early breast cancer treatment pathway
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published draft guidance recommending neratinib as an additional treatment for some people with early hormone-receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer.
 
August 6, 2019
Researchers make immunotherapy work for treatment-resistant lymphoma
Transplanting T-cells boosts efficacy of immunotherapies in several cancers
Researchers have developed a way to use immunotherapy drugs against treatment-resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas for the first time by combining them with stem cell transplantation, an approach that also dramatically increased the success of the drugs in melanoma and lung cancer
 
The study was published in Cancer Discovery in August.