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The LAURA trial, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that osimertinib significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring an EGFR mutation after chemoradiotherapy. The study included 216 patients, with 143 receiving osimertinib and 73 receiving a placebo. Osimertinib reduced the risk of progression or death by 84% compared to the placebo. The most common adverse effects reported included radiation pneumonitis, diarrhea, rash, and COVID-19. The findings suggest that osimertinib should be considered as a treatment option for patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC. [Extracted from the article]

A study published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians highlights the disparities in cancer incidence among LGBTQ+ patients. Previous studies have attributed these disparities to minority stress theory, which suggests that discrimination and mistrust in medical settings contribute to increased stress and health risks. The study found that lesbian individuals had the highest cancer incidence rates, being twice as likely to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer, basal cell carcinoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The research emphasizes the need for inclusive research and tailored healthcare interventions to address the unique cancer risks and needs of sexual minority populations. [Extracted from the article]

A new study surveyed 204 oncologists to gather their views on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in cancer care. The study found that most oncologists believed that AI models should be explainable by them and that patient consent is important when using AI for treatment decisions. However, many oncologists lacked confidence in identifying biases in AI models. The study highlights the need for structured AI education and ethical guidelines in oncology. AI tools in oncology are being developed rapidly and have the potential to assist with treatment decisions, radiographic response assessment, and clinical trial identification and assessment. However, there are concerns about accuracy and the need for validation and involvement of oncologists in the development of these tools. The ethical deployment of AI in oncology requires infrastructure that supports oncologist training, transparency, consent, accountability, and equity. It is also important to understand the views of patients, especially those in historically marginalized and underrepresented groups, on these issues. [Extracted from the article]

A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine investigated the effectiveness of a new blood-based test called Shield for screening colon cancer. The test is meant for average-risk individuals with no family or personal history of colon cancer or advanced polyps. The study found that the Shield test was as effective as stool-based tests for detecting colon cancer, particularly early-stage cancers. However, it was less sensitive for detecting advanced precancerous lesions. The researchers believe that this blood test could improve screening rates and potentially reduce colon cancer deaths. [Extracted from the article]

It has long been believed - but with few large-scale epidemiological studies to prove it - that ultra-processed foods can contribute to a number of cancers. Substituting minimally processed foods for ultra-processed foods also appeared to lower cancer risk, but not by as much, and there were fewer cancer sites for which the authors found significant associations in relation with ultra-processed foods than with processed foods. [Extracted from the article]

The investigators found that the test's sensitivity for cancer detection increased with more advanced cancer stages, and that there was some variation in accuracy depending on referral pathway, symptom cluster, and symptoms. With these caveats, researchers found that the most common cancer diagnoses of the 368 cancers detected were colorectal cancer (137, 37.2%), lung cancer (81, 22.0%), uterine cancer (30, 8.2%), oesophago-gastric cancer (22, 6.0%), and ovarian cancer (14, 3.8%). [Extracted from the article]

Dr Ramsdale also believes that there may be opportunities to reconsider some medications or adjust regimens and perhaps reduce some of the risk of cancer treatment toxicity and or increase the cancer treatment's effectiveness. Dr Ramsdale adds that the detailed information they were able to gather about exactly what medications the patients were taking, how they were doing during cancer treatment, and how much cancer treatment they received was valuable: "This information is often unavailable to researchers." Known as the Geriatric Assessment for Patients 70 Years and Older (GAP70+) study, it assessed clinician-rated grade 3-5 chemotherapy toxicity in older adults with advanced cancer who were undergoing a new cancer treatment regimen. [Extracted from the article]