Keytruda Plus T-VEC Falls Short in Unresectable Melanoma
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus intratumoral talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC, Imlygic) did not significantly improve survival in unresectable melanoma as compared with pembrolizumab alone, an international phase III trial showed. Although the combination improved median progression-free survival (PFS) by almost 6 months (14.3 vs 8.5 months), the difference did not achieve statistical significance (P=0.13). Median overall survival (OS) […]
It’s worth the money to pay for a weight loss program: Those in the program enjoyed more success compared to going it alone
For people trying to improve their health and lose weight by themselves — privately tracking and journaling meals and exercise — new research from UBC Okanagan suggests it is time to call in the professionals. Dr. Lesley Lutes’ latest research paper, published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, suggests […]
Chronic Conditions Require States Do More Than Expand Medicaid, Study Finds
Just expanding Medicaid was not enough to improve cardiovascular health for people across the country who have low incomes, according to a study highlighting the importance of implementing other policy strategies. Based on an analysis of 2019 survey data, adults in one of the 12 states that did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care […]
End of the Line for a Failed Prostate Cancer Drug
The androgen synthesis inhibitor orteronel failed to improve survival in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) despite a twofold improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) versus standard androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), a large randomized trial showed. Patients randomized to ADT plus orteronel had a median overall survival (OS) of 81 months compared with 70.2 months with ADT plus […]
Automated Head-Raising Device Tied to Better CPR Results in Cardiac Arrest
A device that raises the head during CPR to improve blood circulation boosted the likelihood that patients in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) reached neurologically intact recovery, a researcher reported. Patients who received CPR along with the EleGARD “head-up” device were more likely than those in a comparison group to reach “neuro-intact” survival,” according to Paul […]
White House Rolls Out National Plan to Fight Long COVID
The Biden administration unveiled a new plan on Tuesday to improve the nation’s understanding of long COVID and to better prevent, detect, and treat the condition, particularly in hard-hit communities. “Long COVID is real, and there is still so much we don’t know about it,” said Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier […]
Fluorescence-Guided Lumpectomy Shows Promise
A fluorescence-guided imaging system could improve intraoperative detection of residual breast cancer in women undergoing lumpectomy, a prospective single-arm study suggested. The system, which incorporates the activatable fluorescent imaging agent pegulicianine (LUM015) had higher sensitivity, though lower specificity, than standard pathology review of the main lumpectomy specimen, reported Shelley Hwang, MD, MPH, of Duke University […]
Active Cellular Immunotherapy Disappoints in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
An autologous dendritic cell-based immunotherapy (DCVAC/PCa) added to chemotherapy did not improve survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), a phase III trial found. Among over 1,100 men with mCRPC, median overall survival (OS) was 23.9 months in those who received DCVAC/PCa plus docetaxel-prednisone compared with 24.3 months for those who received placebo […]
What’s the Best Way to Treat Femur Breaks From Bone Metastases?
BALTIMORE — The use of long-stem hemiarthroplasty (LSHA) did not improve quality-of-life (QoL) or functional outcomes compared to intramedullary nailing (IMN) in treating pathological fractures of the pertrochanteric femur caused by bone metastases, a researcher reported. In the randomized controlled surgical trial, short-term outcomes (3 to 12 months) demonstrated that mean Toronto Extremity Salvage Scores […]
Could Docetaxel Have Role in Unfavorable-Risk Prostate Cancer?
Adding docetaxel to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plus radiation therapy (RT) failed to improve survival in unfavorable-risk prostate cancer, though the combination may hold benefit for certain patients, long-term results of a randomized trial found. While the regimen did not prolong overall survival (OS) among all men with unfavorable-risk nonmetastatic cancer after a median of […]