[Comment] Denosumab for myeloma bone disease: ready for prime time?
Increased osteoclast activity is the hallmark of myeloma bone disease and RANKL is the most potent osteoclast activator. Bisphosphonates and monoclonal antibodies targeting RANKL (eg, denosumab) inhibit osteoclasts and are the mainstay of therapy of cancer-related bone disease. Bisphosphonates reduce skeletal-related events. Zoledronic acid, a potent bisphosphonate, improved survival compared with clodronate of patients with myeloma in a large study1 that used thalidomide-based or conventional chemotherapy. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 8, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Meletios A Dimopoulos, Efstathios Kastritis Tags: Comment Source Type: research
[Articles] Development and validation of a gene expression-based signature to predict distant metastasis in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study
The DMGN is a reliable prognostic tool for distant metastasis in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma and might be able to predict which patients benefit from concurrent chemotherapy. It has the potential to guide treatment decisions for patients at different risk of distant metastasis. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 7, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Xin-Ran Tang, Ying-Qin Li, Shao-Bo Liang, Wei Jiang, Fang Liu, Wen-Xiu Ge, Ling-Long Tang, Yan-Ping Mao, Qing-Mei He, Xiao-Jing Yang, Yuan Zhang, Xin Wen, Jian Zhang, Ya-Qin Wang, Pan-Pan Zhang, Ying Sun, Jing-Ping Yun, Jing Zeng, Li Li, Li-Zhi Liu, Na Li Tags: Articles Source Type: research
[Comment] Collaborative action will generate better outcomes
The most meaningful collaborative action in nasopharyngeal cancer occurred two decades ago, with the development of a single staging system for the disease.1 Incorporation of the Ho staging system into the tumour –node–metastasis–American Joint Committee on Cancer (TNM–AJCC) staging system acknowledged the experience of the Asian centres where nasopharyngeal cancer is endemic. This new system allowed, for the first time, ease of direct comparison and collaboration between Asian and non-Asian centres in the management of nasopharyngeal cancer. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 7, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: June Corry Tags: Comment Source Type: research
[Articles] Effect of early and systematic integration of palliative care in patients with advanced cancer: a randomised controlled trial
The findings of this study show that a model of early and systematic integration of palliative care in oncological care increases the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer. Our findings also show that early and systematic integration of palliative care is more beneficial for patients with advanced cancer than palliative care consultations offered on demand, even when psychosocial support has already been offered. Through integration of care, oncologists and specialised palliative care teams should work together to enhance the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 2, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Ga ëlle Vanbutsele, Koen Pardon, Simon Van Belle, Veerle Surmont, Martine De Laat, Roos Colman, Kim Eecloo, Veronique Cocquyt, Karen Geboes, Luc Deliens Tags: Articles Source Type: research
[Articles] Chromatin organisation and cancer prognosis: a pan-cancer study
The consistent prognostic prediction of Nucleotyping in different biological and technical circumstances suggests that the marker of chromatin heterogeneity can be reliably assessed in routine clinical practice and could be used to objectively assist decision making in a range of clinical settings. An immediate application would be to identify high-risk patients with stage II colorectal cancer who might have greater absolute benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Clinical trials are warranted to evaluate the survival benefit and cost-effectiveness of using Nucleotyping to guide treatment decisions in multiple clinical setting...
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 2, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Andreas Kleppe, Fritz Albregtsen, Ljiljana Vlatkovic, Manohar Pradhan, Birgitte Nielsen, Tarjei S Hveem, Hanne A Askautrud, Gunnar B Kristensen, Arild Nesbakken, Jone Trovik, H åkon Wæhre, Ian Tomlinson, Neil A Shepherd, Marco Novelli, David J Kerr, Hå Tags: Articles Source Type: research
[Comment] Early integration of palliative care —new evidence and old questions
How to integrate patient-centredness with a tumour-directed treatment approach when treatment options are becoming increasingly complex is a continuous challenge in contemporary oncology. Influential organisations worldwide recommend early integration of oncology and palliative care as a means to achieve this goal.1 –3 (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 2, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Stein Kaasa, Jon H åvard Loge Tags: Comment Source Type: research
[Comment] Next-generation nuclear morphology to grade solid tumours
A central task for surgical pathologists diagnosing tumours is to reliably assess tumour aggressiveness from morphologic features. This tumour grade guides clinical therapy planning, and specific grading systems exist for all major tumour types. Typical components of grading systems are tissue architecture, degree of resemblance to the respective benign tissue, mitotic activity, necrosis, and aberrances in nuclear morphology (ie, nuclear pleomorphism, variations in size, nucleolar prominence, and chromatin distribution). (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 2, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Glen Kristiansen Tags: Comment Source Type: research
[News] Cancer diagnosis distress eased through online intervention
The psychological distress faced by newly diagnosed patients with cancer could be alleviated through a web-based stress management intervention (STREAM), according to a recent study. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Elizabeth Gourd Tags: News Source Type: research
[News] Source of stem cells in haploidentical transplantation
The use of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) as the stem cell source in patients with acute leukaemia undergoing haploidentical transplantation with post-transplantation cyclophosphamide does not change survival outcomes but significantly increases the risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) compared with transplantation using bone marrow, according to recent research. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Manjulika Das Tags: News Source Type: research
[Clinical Picture] Autoimmune hypophysitis
A 82-year-old male patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma presented to the outpatient clinic at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX, USA) in April, 2015 with worsening fatigue, headache, dizziness, blurry vision, and nausea. He had received treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, ipilimumab (an anti CTLA-4 antibody) 4 weeks before presentation. A brain MRI showed a diffuse pituitary enlargement in the T1-weighted coronal section (figure, A) and sagittal section (figure, B), with increased thickening of the pituitary stalk and enhancement of adjacent dura, suggestive of hypophysitis. (...
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Ecaterina Ileana-Dumbrava, Vivek Subbiah Tags: Clinical Picture Source Type: research
[Series] Population-based cancer screening programmes in low-income and middle-income countries: regional consultation of the International Cancer Screening Network in India
The reductions in cancer morbidity and mortality afforded by population-based cancer screening programmes have led many low-income and middle-income countries to consider the implementation of national screening programmes in the public sector. Screening at the population level, when planned and organised, can greatly benefit the population, whilst disorganised screening can increase costs and reduce benefits. The International Cancer Screening Network (ICSN) was created to share lessons, experience, and evidence regarding cancer screening in countries with organised screening programmes. (Source: The Lancet Oncology)
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Sudha Sivaram, Gautam Majumdar, Douglas Perin, Ashrafun Nessa, Mireille Broeders, Elsebeth Lynge, Mona Saraiya, Nereo Segnan, Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan, Preetha Rajaraman, Edward Trimble, Stephen Taplin, GK Rath, Ravi Mehrotra Tags: Series Source Type: research
[Series] Harnessing genomics to improve outcomes for women with cancer in India: key priorities for research
Cumulatively, breast, cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer account for more than 70% of cancers in women in India. Distinct differences in the clinical presentation of women with cancer suggest underlying differences in cancer biology and genetics. The peak age of onset of breast and ovarian cancer appears to be a decade earlier in India (age 45 –50 years) than in high-income countries (age>60 years). Understanding these differences through research to develop diagnosis, screening, prevention, and treatment frameworks that ar e specific to the Indian population are critical and essential to improving women's health in I...
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Sudha Sundar, Poonam Khetrapal-Singh, Jon Frampton, Edward Trimble, Preetha Rajaraman, Ravi Mehrotra, Roopa Hariprasad, Arindam Maitra, Paramjit Gill, Vanita Suri, Radhika Srinivasan, Gurpreet Singh, J S Thakur, Preet Dhillon, Jean-Baptiste Cazier Tags: Series Source Type: research
[Series] Tackling cancer burden in low-income and middle-income countries: Morocco as an exemplar
Examples of successful implementations of national cancer control plans in low-income or middle-income countries remain rare. Morocco, a country where cancer is already the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular diseases, is one exception in this regard. Population ageing and lifestyle changes are the major drivers that are further increasing the cancer burden in the country. Facing this challenge, the Moroccan Ministry of Health has developed a we l planned and pragmatic National Plan for Cancer Prevention and Control (NPCPC) that, since 2010, has been implemented with government financial support to provide b...
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Farida Selmouni, Ahmed Zidouh, Latifa Belakhel, Catherine Sauvaget, Maria Bennani, Youssef Chami Khazraji, Abdellatif Benider, Christopher P Wild, Rachid Bekkali, Ibtihal Fadhil, Rengaswamy Sankaranarayanan Tags: Series Source Type: research
[Series] Cancer surveillance in northern Africa, and central and western Asia: challenges and strategies in support of developing cancer registries
The Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development partnership, led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), was established in response to an overwhelming need for high-quality cancer incidence data from low-income and middle-income countries. The IARC Regional Hub for cancer registration in North Africa, Central and West Asia was founded in 2013 to support capacity building for cancer registration in each of the countries in this region. In this Series paper, we advocate the necessity for tailored approaches to cancer registration given the rapidly changing cancer landscape for this region, and the c...
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Ariana Znaor, Sultan Eser, Hoda Anton-Culver, Ibtihal Fadhil, Anton Ryzhov, Barbara G Silverman, Karima Bendahou, Anna Demetriou, Omar Nimri, Cankut Yakut, Freddie Bray Tags: Series Source Type: research
[Perspectives] Demoralisation in palliative care
“A mental state of lowered morale and poor coping, characterised by feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, loss of meaning and loss of purpose in life.” This is how Professor David Kissane (Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia) introduced attendees of the Cicely Saunders International A nnual Lecture 2017 to the concept of demoralisation. Kissane went on to detail these defining components, establishing the foundations for demoralisation as an “existential psychosocial syndrome” that has been described in wide-ranging populations; from those with a terminal illness, to substanc e abusers, patients with chr...
Source: The Lancet Oncology - February 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Katherine Townsend Tags: Perspectives Source Type: research
