The 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
The annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology was held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago and attracted approximately 20,000 participants from around the world, including clinicians, academicians, allied health professionals, and others interested in oncology. The conference featured the latest advances in clinical cancer research, with presentations focusing on novel targeted therapies as well as improvements in chemotherapy and radiation therapy approaches.
In one study, Erin Van Blarigan, Sc.D., of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues found that patients with stage III colon cancer whose lifestyle was consistent with the American Cancer Society guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for cancer survivors had lower risk of death compared to patients who did not follow the guidelines.
The investigators found that colon cancer patients who had a healthy body weight, engaged in regular physical activity, and ate a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains had a 42 percent lower chance of death during the study compared to patients who did not engage in these behaviors.
“Individuals who provide care for cancer survivors should: (1) familiarize themselves with the American Cancer Society guidelines; (2) assess patients’ body weight, physical activity, and diet; and (3) counsel patients to exercise and eat at least five servings of vegetables per day and choose whole grain over refined grain products,” Blarigan said.
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
In The Platinum Study, Mohammad Issam Abu Zaid, M.B.B.S., of the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, and colleagues aimed to identify the prevalence of late complications from cisplatin-based chemotherapy, including the study of peripheral neuropathy, hearing loss, low testosterone, and metabolic syndrome, in testicular cancer survivors.
“In this analysis, we found that 38.5 percent of 491 testicular cancer survivors who were previously treated with chemotherapy had hypogonadism (defined as low testosterone level greater than 3 ng/mL or treatment with testosterone replacement therapy),” Abu Zaid said.
The investigators also found that survivors with low testosterone levels were more likely to report having hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, and anxiety or depression. Genetic variations in the sex-hormone binding globulin gene appear important in explaining some of the variation in testosterone levels, according to Abu Zaid, but this finding needs confirmation in future studies.
“There will always be the potential for late complications from curative platinum chemotherapy. Mitigating approaches are the usual — weight control, exercise, and monitoring blood pressure and cholesterol levels,” Abu Zaid said. “We will never omit cisplatin from the treatment regimen to prevent complications, but recognizing and treating symptomatic hypogonadism can improve quality of life and lessen adverse health outcomes, especially the metabolic syndrome and resultant diabetes, hyperlipidemia. and early cardiac problems.”
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
In the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, Todd M. Gibson, Ph.D., of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and colleagues found that advances in childhood cancer treatment protocols have reduced the incidence of serious chronic morbidity in this population.
The investigators found that the rate of severe health problems by 15 years after diagnosis in the 1990s was 8.8 percent among survivors, which is lower than those diagnosed in the 1980s (10.1 percent), and even lower than those diagnosed in the 1970s (12.7 percent). The researchers also found that the largest decreases in the rate of severe health problems after diagnosis were among those with Wilms’ tumor (43 percent) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (25 percent).
“Our analysis marks the first comprehensive assessment of changes in the rates of chronic health complications over time in a large group of cancer survivors,” Gibson said in a statement. “From our findings, it is clear that survivors diagnosed and treated in more modern treatment eras are doing better. Not only are more children being cured, but they also have lower risk for developing serious health problems due to cancer treatment later in life.”
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
ASCO: Industry Perks Influence Physicians’ Choice of Cancer Rx
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Free meals, paid travel expenses, and fees for consulting or lecturing influence the drugs a doctor chooses when treating two different types of cancer, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: SWOG Trials Have Had Considerable Impact on Cancer
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Over the past 60 years, SWOG treatment trials have had a considerable impact on patients with cancer, according to a study published online June 5 in JAMA Oncology to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: CAR T-Cell Therapy Promising in Multiple Myeloma
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A new type of immunotherapy appears to provide long-lasting protection against multiple myeloma, according to the results from an early clinical trial presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Novel Meds Show Promise in Advanced NSCLC
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Two new medications that target specific genetic mutations may improve survival for patients with specific types of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to two studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Recent Drop in Additional Surgery Post Lumpectomy
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 2013 to 2015 there was a decrease in additional surgery after initial lumpectomy, concomitant with a 2014 consensus statement endorsing a margin of “no ink on tumor,” according to a study published online June 5 in JAMA Oncology. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Agreement Lacking With ESMO on Most Effective Drugs
TUESDAY, June 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — There is little agreement between the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Value Framework and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale, according to a study published online June 2 in The Lancet Oncology. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Abiraterone Extends Survival in Metastatic Prostate CA
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In men with advanced prostate cancer, abiraterone (Zytiga) lowers risk of death by nearly 40 percent when added to standard androgen deprivation therapy, according to two studies published online June 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Gene-Targeted Drug Shows Efficacy for Child, Adult Cancers
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An experimental drug that targets tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) fusion, larotrectinib, can battle a range of advanced cancers in adults and children, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Survival Up With Patient-Reported Outcomes During CA Tx
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A patient-reported outcome (PRO) intervention for symptom monitoring is associated with improved overall survival for patients treated with chemotherapy for metastatic solid tumors, according to a research letter published online June 4 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Olaparib Efficacious in BRCA-Related Breast Cancer
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Olaparib (Lynparza) monotherapy can provide a significant benefit over standard therapy in women with human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer and a germline BRCA mutation, according to research published online June 4 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research was published to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Single Radiation Tx Enough for Spinal Pain in Cancer Mets
MONDAY, June 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Just one dose of radiation works as well as a full week of treatment for metastatic spinal canal compression, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Capecitabine May Extend Survival in Biliary Tract Cancer
FRIDAY, May 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Capecitabine (Xeloda) may prolong survival in patients with biliary tract cancer, according to a study scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, to be held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Vaccination Tied to Substantial Reduction in Oral HPV
FRIDAY, May 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination appears to confer a high degree of protection from oral HPV infections, according to a study scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, to be held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Early Detection of Cancers Up Since Affordable Care Act
THURSDAY, May 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — More cancers have been diagnosed in their early stages since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was implemented, according to a study scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, to be held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
ASCO: Nut Consumption Ups Survival in Stage III Colon Cancer
THURSDAY, May 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Colon cancer patients might improve their odds of survival if they eat nuts along with consuming an overall healthy diet and getting regular exercise, according to two studies scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, to be held from June 2 to 6 in Chicago.
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