Understanding Complex Tumor Heterogeneity
While personalized medicine is seen as a way to target an individual cancer patient’s tumors, using targeted agents, immunotherapy, and chemotoxic drugs, researchers are increasingly finding that not only do the cancers of individuals vary widely, but that tumors within a patient can also be quite different at the molecular level. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 21, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Incidence of HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer on the Rise in Canada
Researchers in Canada have shown for the first time that the incidence of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers is increasing among the Canadian population. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 21, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Bacteria in Mouth May Promote Colorectal Cancer
Two separate studies have found direct evidence that F. nucleatum, a bacteria found in the mouth and in periodontal plaques, promotes growth of colorectal tumors. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 21, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Pattern in Lung Cancer Pathology May Predict Recurrence Risk
Identification of a significant micropapillary component within lung adenocarcinomas predicts a higher risk of relapse following lung-sparing surgery, according to results of a new study. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 20, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Slide Show: Esophageal Cancer
This esophageal cancer slide show features pathology slides of Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal adenocarcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma and sarcomatoid carcinoma of the esophagus. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 20, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Using Quality-Measures Data to Address Sleep-Wake Disturbances
At ONS Congress 2013, Janet Gordils-Perez, Carla Schaefer, and Jacquelyn Lauria from CINJ discuss evidence-based tools developed to support nursing assessment and effective interventions for patients with sleep-wake disturbances (abstract 120187). (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 19, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Fertility-Preservation Education Program at MSKCC Boosts Nurse Discussion of Options, Referrals
At ONS Congress 2013, Rebekah Clark discusses a standardized fertility-preservation education program that boosted nurse-patient discussion of fertility options from 0 to 71% and referrals for interested patients from 17% to 80% (abstract 95960). (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 19, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Age Not Predictive of Recurrence in HER2 Breast Cancer
A retrospective analysis of the HERA trial indicated that young age was not associated with early recurrence in women with HER2-positive breast cancer, despite previous research suggesting that young age at diagnosis might be a risk factor for recurrence and death. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 19, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Marker Could Predict Dabrafenib Response in Melanoma
Researchers found that circulating cell-free DNA could represent a possible predictive marker of response in advanced melanoma patients treated with dabrafenib. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 19, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Education Aids in Decision-Making to Prepare for End of Life
Being offered a brief, dedicated discussion of end-of-life decisions relatively early in the trajectory of advanced cancer led to an earlier placement of do-not-resuscitate orders and decreased the likelihood that patients died in a hospital, a new study showed. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 17, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Slide Show: Breast Carcinoma
This breast cancer slide show features pathology slides of DCIS, LCIS, Paget’s disease, and invasive ductal and lobular carcinoma at various magnifications. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 16, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial: Long-Term Follow-Up
The long-term follow-up of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial confirms that finasteride reduces the risk of low-grade prostate cancer by one-third, but there were no significant survival differences between the two study arms. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 16, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

“I’m the Decider! (Is That OK with You?)”
Today, after reviewing a CT scan (and screwing my courage to the sticking-place) I went into an exam room, looked a patient in the eye and said: “The liver lesions have started to grow again. I think we need to change your treatment.” (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 15, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Introducing a New Resource for Readers of ONCOLOGY: The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria
The ACR Appropriateness Criteria®, and their mission to improve the knowledge of practicing oncologists and the level of care our patients receive, is wholly consistent with the goals of ONCOLOGY. We are hopeful that our readership will find the ACR Appropriateness Criteria® a valuable resource in their day-to-day practice. I personally look forward to future guidelines in this series. (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 15, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast: ‘Making the Punishment Fit the Crime’
To make the punishment fit the crime, you would want the decision of whether or not to use adjuvants to be informed by the degree of risk that the DCIS would recur. What factors can predict for an increased risk of recurrence, or more importantly, the risk of an invasive breast cancer occurring? (Source: Cancer Network)
Source: Cancer Network - August 15, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news