Cancer Information Highlights, January 8, 2020

Cancer Information Highlights, January 8, 2020

Cancer Information Highlights

From the National Cancer Institute

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

New from NCI Oncofertility: Creating a Bridge Between Cancer Care and Reproductive Health   As survival rates have increased for young people with cancer, so has the need for doctors to talk with patients and families about how cancer and its treatment can affect fertility. In this conversation, Dr. Teresa Woodruff discusses oncofertility, a field of medicine that connects oncology with reproductive health. Brain Cancer Cells Hijack Gene “On Switches” to Drive Tumor Growth   Learn about a recent discovery from a study of brain cancer cells. Scientists believe they have uncovered another way that cancer cells may support their own uncontrolled growth. PDQ Cancer Information Summary Updates Cancer Pain Our PDQ summary on cancer pain includes updated information on pain caused by specific types of cancer treatments, assessment of cancer pain, and treatment options for cancer pain. Drug Information Updates Enzalutamide Use in Prostate Cancer The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval for enzalutamide (Xtandi) now includes treatment of metastatic prostate cancer that is castration resistant (has not responded to treatments that lower testosterone levels). The drug was previously approved for use in patients whose prostate cancer is castration sensitive (has responded to treatments that lower testosterone levels). Olaparib for Pancreatic Cancer We’ve updated our drug information summary for olaparib (Lynparza). It was recently approved by FDA as maintenance therapy in certain adults with metastatic pancreatic cancer that has germline mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Zanubrutinib for Mantle Cell Lymphoma We’ve added a new drug information summary for zanubrutinib (Brukinsa), which was recently approved by FDA to treat mantle cell lymphoma in adults who have received at least one other type of treatment.

Also of Interest HPV and Pap Testing HPV tests detect HPV infections that can cause abnormal cervical cells. Pap tests detect abnormal cervical cells and early cervical cancers. Learn how HPV tests and Pap tests are done, how often testing should be done, and how HPV test results are reported. Monoclonal Antibodies Monoclonal antibodies are immune system proteins that are created in the lab to treat cancer. Learn how they work against cancer, types of cancer that they treat, and side effects they may cause.