New Cancer Breakthrough: A Single Immunotherapy Doubles Survival Time (5 minutes reading)

A new treatment using immunotherapy has helped patients with head and neck cancer live twice as long without the disease coming back, according to a major international study.

The drug, pembrolizumab, was tested in a large clinical trial across 24 countries. Patients who received it before and after surgery stayed cancer-free for an average of five years, compared to just 2.5 years with standard treatment alone.

This is a big deal because treatments for this type of cancer haven’t changed in over 20 years, and survival rates have been low. The drug works by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.

The treatment was especially helpful for patients with high levels of a certain immune marker (PD-L1), but it also worked well for others. Doctors believe giving the drug before surgery helps “train” the immune system to keep fighting the cancer afterward.

One patient, Laura Marston, called the treatment “the gift of life” after surviving stage 4 tongue cancer thanks to the trial.

Experts hope this breakthrough will soon be approved for wider use, potentially changing the future for thousands of patients.

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Can Exercise Fight Cancer? This NASA-Inspired Therapy Says Yes! (5 minutes reading)

What do astronauts and cancer patients have in common? More than you'd think. Dr. Jessica Scott, a former NASA scientist now at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is pioneering research showing that exercise can counteract the physical toll of cancer treatments — just like it helps astronauts recover from zero gravity.

Her team found that regular, personalized exercise not only improves physical and mental health during cancer treatment but may also slow tumor growth. In a groundbreaking clinical trial, men with early-stage prostate cancer exercised at home using treadmills and wearable tech. The results? Just under four hours of weekly exercise reduced key cancer-related biomarkers — without any other treatment.

This research is the first to treat exercise like a drug: prescribed in specific doses, monitored, and tested for biological effects. While more studies are needed to prove long-term survival benefits, the early signs are promising.

The ultimate goal? To make exercise a standard, personalized part of cancer care — just like chemotherapy or radiation.

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 AI Spots Breast Cancer Missed by Doctors—Before It’s Too Late (5 minutes reading) 

A new study from UCLA shows that artificial intelligence (AI) could help doctors find breast cancers that are often missed during routine mammograms. These are called interval breast cancers, which grow between regular screenings and are usually harder to treat because they’re found later.

Researchers looked at nearly 185,000 past mammograms and found 148 cases where cancer was missed. They used an AI tool called Transpara to re-analyze the original scans. The AI flagged 76% of the missed cancers and was especially good at spotting ones that were visible but overlooked by radiologists.

Even when the cancer was very subtle or nearly invisible, the AI still caught many of them. For example, it flagged 90% of cases where the cancer was visible but misread, and 69% of cancers that were completely hidden on the scan.

While AI isn’t perfect and sometimes marks the wrong areas, it could act as a helpful second opinion for doctors. The study suggests that using AI in screenings could reduce missed cancers by up to 30%, leading to earlier treatment and better outcomes for patients.

This research is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. and could change how breast cancer is detected in the future. 

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Big Drop in Breast Cancer Deaths Among Young Women (5 minutes reading) 

A new study shows that breast cancer deaths in women aged 20 to 49 dropped sharply between 2010 and 2020. The biggest improvements came after 2016, thanks to better treatments, more targeted medicine, and improved access to care.

Researchers looked at over 11,000 deaths and found that all types of breast cancer and all racial and ethnic groups saw declines. The most common type, called luminal A, had the biggest drop. However, younger women (ages 20–39) with this type had lower survival rates than expected, which may mean their cancers behave differently.

Despite the progress, Black women still had the highest death rates and the lowest survival, showing that health gaps remain. Experts say more research and better access to screening and treatment are needed, especially for high-risk and underserved groups.

This study highlights how far we've come in fighting breast cancer in young women—but also how much more we can do to save lives.

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No Surgeries Needed: Immunotherapy Offers Hope for Early-Stage Cancer Patients (5 minutes reading)

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has revealed a promising new treatment for early-stage cancers. The immunotherapy drug dostarlimab, owned by GlaxoSmithKline, has shown remarkable results in eliminating tumors in patients with mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) cancers.

Dostarlimab is a PD-1 blocking agent that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. This drug was used in a phase 2 study involving patients with stage I, II, or III dMMR solid tumors, including rectal and nonrectal cancers. The study included 117 patients who were treated with dostarlimab for six months. The results were impressive: 84 patients had a complete response to the treatment, meaning their tumors were eliminated, and 82 patients avoided surgery altogether. Recurrence-free survival at two years was 92%.

This breakthrough means that many patients can avoid invasive surgeries and preserve their organs, significantly improving their quality of life. The study's success offers hope for extending this treatment to other early-stage cancers. This innovative approach could revolutionize cancer treatment, providing a less invasive and more effective option for patients.

New England Medical Journal 

 

 

The Impact of Stress on Cancer: What You Need to Know

Chronic stress can make cancer worse and help it spread. Studies in animals and human cells show that stress hormones, which are natural in humans, play a big role in this process. Norepinephrine, a hormone released when we're stressed, helps tumors grow by forming new blood vessels and spreading cancer cells. It also activates certain immune cells that can protect tumors and wake up dormant cancer cells.

Another stress hormone, glucocorticoids, can stop cancer cells from dying naturally (a process called apoptosis) and make them resistant to chemotherapy. These hormones can also prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells.

Although some studies suggest that stress might lower survival rates in cancer patients, the evidence isn't strong. Managing stress is important for cancer patients because it can improve their quality of life and possibly help with treatment. Techniques like mindfulness, counseling, and exercise can help reduce stress.

 

Hugh Jackman's Battle with Skin Cancer (5 minutes reading) 

Hugh Jackman, the famous actor known for his role as Wolverine in the X-Men series, has faced multiple battles with skin cancer. His journey began in 2013 when he was first diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. Jackman has undergone several surgeries to remove cancerous cells from his nose.

Despite the seriousness of his condition, Jackman has remained positive and proactive about his health. He frequently shares updates with his fans, encouraging them to use sunscreen and get regular skin checks. His openness about his diagnosis and treatment has raised awareness about skin cancer and the importance of early detection.

Jackman's resilience and determination have allowed him to continue his successful career in Hollywood while managing his health. His story is a powerful reminder that with proper care and vigilance, it's possible to overcome cancer and lead a fulfilling life.

By incorporating these habits into your daily routine, you can significantly lower your risk of developing skin cancer.

1. Avoid Sun Exposure During Peak Hours: The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Try to stay indoors or in the shade during these hours 

2. Wear Protective Clothing: Long-sleeved shirts, pants, and wide-brimmed hats can help protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Look for clothing with a high ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) 

3. Use Sunscreen: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Reapply every two hours, or more often if you're swimming or sweating

4. Avoid Tanning Beds: Tanning beds expose you to high levels of UV radiation, which can increase your risk of skin cancer 

5. Wear Sunglasses: Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays 

6. Regular Skin Checks: Perform regular self-examinations and visit a dermatologist for professional skin checks. Early detection is key to successful treatment 

 

New Immunotherapy Shows Promise in Shrinking Metastatic Tumors (5 minutes reading)

A recent clinical trial led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has shown promising results for a new form of cancer treatment called tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. This personalized immunotherapy, combined with the drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda), significantly shrank tumors in patients with various metastatic gastrointestinal cancers.

TIL therapy works by selecting immune cells from the patient's tumor that specifically target cancer cells. These cells are then grown in large quantities in a lab and administered back to the patient. In the trial, nearly 24% of patients treated with selected TILs and pembrolizumab saw a substantial reduction in tumor size, compared to only 7.7% of patients treated with TILs alone.

The trial included 91 patients with advanced cancers such as esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, colon, and rectal cancers. The best results were seen in patients who received both TIL therapy and pembrolizumab, with some experiencing tumor shrinkage lasting from several months to over five years.

This breakthrough offers hope for using cell-based immunotherapy to treat common solid tumors, which has been challenging for researchers. The study's lead investigator, Dr. Steven A. Rosenberg, believes this approach could pave the way for more effective cancer treatments in the future.

Researchers are now working on methods to improve TIL therapy by identifying immune cells that target multiple proteins within tumors, aiming to increase the number of patients who respond positively to this treatment.

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Prevention and Screening Save Lives in Five Major Cancer Types

From 1975 to 2020, efforts in prevention and screening helped avoid 4.75 million deaths from breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers. This study by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) shows that these efforts have saved more lives than treatment advances.

Key findings include that smoking cessation prevented 3.45 million deaths from lung cancer. In breast cancer, treatment advances saved most lives, with mammography screening also contributing. Screening and removal of precancerous lesions prevented 160,000 deaths from cervical cancer. Screening and removal of polyps averted 79% of 940,000 deaths from colorectal cancer. PSA testing and treatment advances saved 360,000 lives from prostate cancer.

The study emphasizes the importance of combining prevention, screening, and treatment to reduce cancer death rates. The Biden Cancer Moonshot aims to cut the cancer death rate by 50% by 2047, highlighting the crucial role of prevention and screening efforts.

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Innovative Cancer Treatment: Engineered Fat Cells to "Starve" Tumors

Scientists have developed a groundbreaking treatment that uses genetically modified fat cells to slow tumor growth by depriving them of essential nutrients. In a recent study, researchers engineered white fat cells to aggressively consume nutrients like glucose and fatty acids. When these modified cells were implanted near tumors in mice, the tumors grew more slowly.

This new approach, called adipose manipulation transplantation (AMT), showed promising results even when the engineered fat cells were implanted far from the tumors. The researchers believe these cells outcompete cancer cells for nutrients, effectively suppressing tumor growth.

Unlike existing cellular therapies that use immune cells, AMT uses a patient's own fat cells, which are less likely to trigger an immune response. This makes AMT a potentially safer and more effective option for cancer treatment.

The study leader, Dr. Nadav Ahituv, suggests that this innovative therapy could be a new form of cancer treatment. Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects and potential resistance of cancer cells to this treatment. However, the findings offer hope for a nontoxic, nutrient-based approach to cancer therapy that could revolutionize treatment options in the future.

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