FDA approves atezolizumab with chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer

The FDA approved atezolizumab with chemotherapy after a trial in 711 adults and one child with stage III colon cancer. The combination halved the risk of cancer returning or death compared with chemotherapy alone.

What this means. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for bowel cancer. Doctors can now prescribe it outside a trial.

Tomosynthesis may reduce interval breast cancer rates

In a randomized trial, digital breast tomosynthesis plus synthesized mammography may have avoided about a quarter of invasive breast cancers found between screening rounds over two years, compared with digital mammography. The trial’s main outcome was not statistically significant.

“TOSYMA-2 indicates that about a quarter of invasive interval cancers occurring with digital mammography over 2 years might be avoided with digital breast tomosynthesis plus s2D mammography screening.”

What this means. A trial in breast cancer that split people into groups at random, the fairest kind of test.

Five-year colonoscopy timing matched three years for colorectal cancer

In a trial of 10,799 people with high-risk adenomas removed, starting surveillance colonoscopy at 5 years was no worse than starting at 3 years for colorectal cancer risk. More than 99% remained cancer-free during about 5 years, whichever schedule they followed.

What this means. A trial in bowel cancer that split people into groups at random, the fairest kind of test.

INSR engineering protected immune cells from gastrointestinal cancer stroma

In lab tests using patient tumor samples and models, researchers found that boosting the insulin receptor in engineered immune cells helped them keep their cancer-targeting receptors and improved their ability to attack gastrointestinal tumors.

“Collectively, these findings identify a stromal-mediated metabolic immune evasion pathway in gastrointestinal tumors, uncovering a potential strategy to potentiate CAR-engineered therapies.”

What this means. Lab or animal research on several cancer types. Not yet tested as a treatment in people; many lab results never reach patients.