Cancer Information Highlights, May 22, 2019

Cancer Information Highlights, May 22, 2019

Cancer Information Highlights

From the National Cancer Institute

Updating you about cancer causes, prevention, screening, treatment, coping, and more

New from NCI Pediatric MATCH Finds More Genetic Changes than Expected   An early report from the NCI–COG Pediatric MATCH trial shows that 24% of young people with advanced cancer who had their tumors tested for genetic changes were eligible to receive one of the targeted therapies in the study. Prostate Cancer Prevention and Finasteride   The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial showed that finasteride can reduce the risk of prostate cancer but might increase the risk of high-grade disease. NCI’s Dr. Howard Parnes talks about more recent findings and what they mean for men aged 55 and older. Less Chemotherapy for Some Children with Liver Cancer Read about the results of a phase 3 clinical trial that suggest that some children with liver cancer may need less chemotherapy than is typically used to treat the disease. New Drugs, New Side Effects: Complications of Cancer Immunotherapy The growing use of cancer immunotherapy has revealed a variety of side effects related to this treatment approach. Researchers are now trying to better understand how and why these side effects occur and develop ways to better manage them. Targeted Therapy Proves Effective for Rare Blood Cancer   Read about a clinical trial that showed that adults with a rare type of blood cancer called blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, or BPDCN, appear to benefit from treatment with a targeted therapycalled tagraxofusp. Vaccine to Treat Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Advancing in Clinical Trials In some people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, treating a single tumor with a vaccine can help to shrink, or even eliminate, tumors in other parts of the body. Read about the results from a small clinical trial that tested this treatment. Video—Cancer Clinical Trials in Your Community Researchers in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) describe this national network. The network makes it easier for people from diverse settings to enroll in cancer clinical trials and seeks to improve cancer care for everyone. PDQ Cancer Information Summary Updates Mycosis Fungoides (Including Sézary Syndrome) We’ve revised our PDQ summary on treatment for mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome with updated descriptions of the tests used for diagnosis and the descriptions of the disease stages. Drug Information Updates Avelumab in Renal Cell Carcinoma We’ve updated our drug information summary for avelumab (Bavencio) to include a recent approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Avelumab is now approved to be used with axitinib for first-line treatment of renal cell carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer. Ramucirumab Use in Liver Cancer  FDA approval for ramucirumab (Cyramza) now includes treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (the most common type of liver cancer) in patients who have a high level of alpha-fetoprotein in the blood and have already been treated with sorafenib.

Also of Interest Symptoms of Cancer Cancer can cause many symptoms, but people who have these symptoms are more likely to have problems other than cancer. Learn about common cancer symptoms and what to do if you have symptoms that last more than a few weeks. Risk Factors: Sunlight Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month is the perfect time to learn why too much sun can cause cancer and the best ways to protect yourself and your family.