“The overarching objective [of this study] is to improve the early detection of CRC at younger ages, which holds significant potential for improving patient outcomes.”—Yin Cao, ScD, MPH Eight years ago, Paula Chambers-Raney from Houston, Texas, suffered from stomach pain, blood in her stool, and anemia. Her primary care physician told her that she had hemorrhoids. Then, over the next 18 months, other

No abstract is available for this article.

There is encouraging news for patients with endometrial cancer based on the results of two recent phase 3 clinical trials: Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy may appreciably increase progression-free survival for patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. Both trials—NRG-GY018 and RUBY— were presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology 2023 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer in

Salivary gland cancers are a rare, histologically diverse group of tumors. They range from indolent to aggressive and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment, but radiation and systemic therapy are also critical parts of the care paradigm. Given the rarity and heterogeneity of these cancers, they are best managed in a multidisciplinary program

No abstract is available for this article.

Anew study raises an alarm over polypharmacy, an issue that is not new but may become more worrisome because of an aging population and a myriad of new drugs coming to market, including cancer drugs. The study appears in Cancer (doi:10.1002/cncr.34642). Corresponding author Erika Ramsdale, MD, MS, geriatric oncologist and associate professor of hematology/oncology in the Department of Medicine at the

“Fertility preservation is about preserving your future options so that you aren’t taking options away from your future self. In this complicated context, living a long distance from the fertility preservation clinic can become yet another barrier, and clinicians can help patients by strategizing with them about ways to overcome such logistical challenges.”—Timothy D. Gilligan, MD For patients with

Patient navigation is a strategy for overcoming barriers to reduce disparities and to improve access and outcomes. The aim of this umbrella review was to identify, critically appraise, synthesize, and present the best available evidence to inform policy and planning regarding patient navigation across the cancer continuum. Systematic reviews examining navigation in cancer care were identified in the

In this issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Chan and colleagues1 describe an umbrella review of 61 systematic reviews published between 2012 and 2022, along with a review of 53 primary studies published globally since 2021. Patient navigation (PN) has many definitions, and, in this, review PN was defined according to the definition of Wells et al.2 combined with that of Dalton et al.,3 which

The standard for cancer staging in the United States for all cancer sites, including primary carcinomas of the appendix, is the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system. AJCC staging criteria undergo periodic revisions, led by a panel of site-specific experts, to maintain contemporary staging definitions through the evaluation of new evidence. Since its last revision, the AJCC has restructured

In July 2020, the American Cancer Society (ACS) released an updated cervical cancer screening guideline calling for primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening as the preferred strategy.1 Primary HPV screening refers to cervical cancer screening with an HPV test alone as the initial screening modality. Under this strategy, cervical cytology is reserved for use as one option for a triage test should

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by rapid growth and high metastatic capacity. It has strong epidemiologic and biologic links to tobacco carcinogens. Although the majority of SCLCs exhibit neuroendocrine features, an important subset of tumors lacks these properties. Genomic profiling of SCLC reveals genetic instability, almost universal inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes TP53

There remains a need to synthesize linkages between social determinants of health (SDOH) and cancer screening to reduce persistent inequities contributing to the US cancer burden. The authors conducted a systematic review of US-based breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer screening intervention studies to summarize how SDOH have been considered in interventions and relationships between SDOH

Case presentation and overview The patient is a 19-year-old female who had an incidental thyroid nodule discovered on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in July 2020 during the work-up of a superficial, midline neck cellulitis. She reported having noticed a bulge in her neck a few years prior but had never been concerned about it. She began seeing an endocrinologist and underwent a thyroid ultrasound

Case presentation A man aged 45 years with hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented to his primary care physician with a 3-month history of a golf ball-sized right upper back mass. Ultrasound was performed, revealing a well defined lesion with mixed echogenicity, thought to be consistent with a lipoma. Clinically, however, the mass rapidly enlarged and became painful. The patient was referred to dermatology

In February 2022, the White House announced the reignition of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative with the goals of reducing the death rate from cancer by at least 50% over the next 25 years and improving the experience of people and their families living with and surviving cancer. A core component of the Cancer Moonshot Initiative is the facilitation of multisector partnerships to solve the compelling

Increased attention to the rehabilitation needs of children with cancer is vital to enhance health, quality-of-life, and productivity outcomes. Among adults with cancer, rehabilitation recommendations are frequently incorporated into guidelines, but the extent to which recommendations exist for children is unknown. Reports included in this systematic review are guideline or expert consensus reports

No abstract is available for this article.

Despite their elevated risk for developing cervical, oropharyngeal, and other human papillomavirus (HPV)–related cancers and the strong and consistent evidence for the HPV vaccine’s safety and efficacy, many young cancer survivors reject this vaccine. In a new study appearing in Cancer, researchers from Emory University School of Medicine and the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center (both in Atlanta

“Our findings illustrate that suicide is an important risk following cancer surgery and highlight the need to develop and implement distress screening programs in surgical oncology practices.” —Chi-Fu Jeffrey Yang, MD A new study finds that patients with cancer who have under gone surgery have a greater suicide risk than the general population. Also, the researchers found that patients with deadlier

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system for all cancer sites, including anal cancer, is the standard for cancer staging in the United States. The AJCC staging criteria are dynamic, and periodic updates are conducted to optimize AJCC staging definitions through a panel of experts charged with evaluating new evidence to implement changes. With greater availability of large data sets

Case presentation A 63-year-old woman who was a former smoker with a past medical history of hypertension and gastroesophageal reflux disease initially presented with upper abdominal pain. Her family history was notable for breast cancer in her mother, lung cancer in her father, and renal cell carcinoma in her sister. An ultrasound showed a heterogenous mass in the left lobe of the liver measuring

I first encountered CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians as a medical student. Back then, the American Cancer Society (ACS) printed hundreds of thousands of copies that were mailed (without any charge) to practicing physicians and dropped off by ACS volunteers at medical schools, with the goals of educating students about cancer and inspiring some of us to pursue careers in cancer-related specialties

Hormone receptor (HR)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer is defined by the presence of the estrogen receptor and/or the progesterone receptor and the absence of HER2 gene amplification. HR-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer accounts for 65%–70% of all breast cancers, and incidence increases with increasing age. Treatment varies by stage, and endocrine

No abstract is available for this article.

Cancer survivors may be more susceptible to frailty-related bone fractures to the pelvis and vertebrae according to a study by American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers. “Prior to our study, there was some evidence to suggest that cancer survivors may be at a higher risk of bone fractures,” says Erika Rees-Punia, PhD, MPH, senior principal scientist of the Department of Population Science at the ACS

There is compelling evidence of a causal relationship between depictions of cigarette smoking in movies and youth smoking initiation. —Kelly D. Blake, ScD A new study finds that a near majority of adults favor R ratings for movies that show actors smoking. R ratings restrict viewing by people younger than 17 years without an accompanying parent or adult guardian. The study appears in the American Journal

Advances in biomarker-driven therapies for patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) both provide opportunities to improve the treatment (and thus outcomes) for patients and pose new challenges for equitable care delivery. Over the last decade, the continuing development of new biomarker-driven therapies and evolving indications for their use have intensified the importance of interdisciplinary

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Every 3 years, the American Cancer Society provides an update of CRC statistics based on incidence from population-based cancer registries and mortality from the National Center for Health Statistics. In 2023, approximately 153,020 individuals will be diagnosed with CRC and 52,550 will die from the disease

Advances in energy balance and cancer research to date have largely occurred in siloed work in rodents or patients. However, substantial benefit can be derived from parallel studies in which animal models inform the design of clinical and population studies or in which clinical observations become the basis for animal studies. The conference Translating Energy Balance from Bench to Communities: Application

Each year, the American Cancer Society estimates the numbers of new cancer cases and deaths in the United States and compiles the most recent data on population-based cancer occurrence and outcomes using incidence data collected by central cancer registries and mortality data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics. In 2023, 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths are projected

No abstract is available for this article.

Although no one disputes the efficacy of opioids for the relief of pain related to cancer and its therapies, there is alarm over nonmedical opioid use (NMOU) and its substantial adverse impacts on patients, their families, and their communities. A new study reports on an approach called Compassionate High-Alert Team (CHAT) to counteract NMOU. “Non-medical opiate use is a frequent and devastating complication

The real harm as I see it is when we take a leap of faith based on old data that may not be generalizable to some of our patients. —Arif Kamal, MD, MBA, MHS A new study finds that patient participation in clinical trials (CTs) leading to approval for hematologic cancer indications significantly underrepresents certain at-risk demographic groups in comparison with their incidence of these diseases.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy defined by the clonal proliferation of transformed plasma cells. Despite tremendous advances in the treatment paradigm of MM, a cure remains elusive for most patients. Although long-term disease control can be achieved in a very large number of patients, the acquisition of tumor resistance leads to disease relapse, especially in patients with triple-class

A quintessential setting for precision medicine, theranostics refers to a rapidly evolving field of medicine in which disease is diagnosed followed by treatment of disease-positive patients using tools for the therapy identical or similar to those used for the diagnosis. Against the backdrop of only-treat-when-visualized, the goal is a high therapeutic index with efficacy markedly surpassing toxicity

As many countries experience population aging, patients with cancer are becoming older and have more preexisting comorbidities, which include prevalent, age-related, chronic conditions such as dementia. People living with dementia (PLWD) are vulnerable to health disparities, and dementia has high potential to complicate and adversely affect care and outcomes across the cancer trajectory. This report

Cancer development is driven by the accumulation of alterations affecting the structure and function of the genome. Whereas genetic changes disrupt the DNA sequence, epigenetic alterations contribute to the acquisition of hallmark tumor capabilities by regulating gene expression programs that promote tumorigenesis. Shifts in DNA methylation and histone mark patterns, the two main epigenetic modifications

Cancer is one of the foremost health problems worldwide and is among the leading causes of death in the United States. Gastrointestinal tract cancers account for almost one third of the cancer-related mortality globally, making it one of the deadliest groups of cancers. Early diagnosis and prompt management are key to preventing cancer-related morbidity and mortality. With advancements in technology

CASE PRESENTATION A 73-year-old, para five, postmenopausal woman with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, sarcoidosis, and osteoarthritis presented to the Emergency Department with shortness of breath, abdominal distention, and early satiety for 1 month. She had a remote history of an abdominal hysterectomy for uterine fibroids. Chest x-ray and subsequent computed tomography

American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) individuals are diverse culturally and geographically but share a high prevalence of chronic illness, largely because of obstacles to high-quality health care. The authors comprehensively examined cancer incidence and mortality among non-Hispanic AIAN individuals, compared with non-Hispanic White individuals for context, using population-based data from the

No abstract is available for this article.

Although it is widely accepted that obesity is a cancer risk factor, there has been little research showing that losing weight and maintaining that loss reduce the risk of developing and possibly dying of certain cancers. A new study by Cleveland Clinic Health System (CCHS) researchers, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (doi:10.1001/jama.2022.9009), does just that by focusing

“Our results suggest that screening at ages 45 to 49 is likely to yield substantial longterm benefits, lending support to the recent change in guidelines. We also believe that 45- to 49-year-olds should be included when calculating ADR.” —Uri Ladabaum, MD In response to the increase in colon cancer rates in younger individuals in 2018, the ACS—with other organizations following suit—recommended lowering

The most common cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the United States is oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), and its incidence has been rising since the turn of the century. Because of substantial long-term morbidities with chemoradiation and the favorable prognosis of HPV-positive OPC, identifying the optimal deintensification strategy for this group has been a keystone of academic head-and-neck

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver tumor and remains a fatal malignancy in the majority of patients. Approximately 20%–30% of patients are eligible for resection, which is considered the only potentially curative treatment; and, after resection, a median survival of 53 months has been reported when sequenced with adjuvant capecitabine. For the 70%–80% of patients

In order to maintain the high standards of CA's content, the Editors of CA rely on the knowledge and dedication of many experts in deciding which topics to pursue, which manuscripts to publish, and what modifications to make to ensure medical and scientific accuracy and suitability for our readers. We thank our Associate Editors and our Editorial Advisory Board, who continue to provide these services

This article is the American Cancer Society’s update on female breast cancer statistics in the United States, including population-based data on incidence, mortality, survival, and mammography screening. Breast cancer incidence rates have risen in most of the past four decades; during the most recent data years (2010–2019), the rate increased by 0.5% annually, largely driven by localized-stage and

Over the past several years, multifaceted advances in the management of cancer have led to a significant improvement in survival rates. Throughout patients’ oncological journeys, they will likely receive one or more implantable devices for the administration of fluids and medications as well as management of various comorbidities and complications related to cancer therapy. Infections associated with

This erratum corrects the following: Elad S, Yarom N, Zadik Y, Kuten-Shorrer M, Sonis ST. The broadening scope of oral mucositis and oral ulcerative mucosal toxicities of anticancer therapies. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72(1):57–77. doi:10.3322/caac.21704 In the aforementioned article, an error appears in the Head and Neck Radiation Therapy section. The text should read as follows: “From 59.4% to 100%

A new study reports that a wide gap often exists at lung cancer screening facilities in terms of following best practices for smoking cessation as a component of their lung cancer screening programs. Although most facilities are meeting the minimum requirements for reimbursement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), few follow the smoking cessation practices needed to qualify for designation

“Lack of health insurance coverage underlies many of the observed disparities in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, survival, and mortality.” —K. Robin Yabroff, PhD, MBA Two recent studies have found that Medicaid expansion under the ACA improves overall cancer survival among all racial and ethnic groups and reduces racial disparities in cancer survival. Both articles review previously documented

Initial Case Presentation A 36-year-old woman presented to an outside hospital with abdominal pain in July of 2021. A computerized tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed multiple, hypodense lesions within the left hepatic lobe that were concerning for metastatic disease. The largest liver lesion (3.1 × 2.2 cm) was biopsied, and pathology was consistent with metastatic, moderately differentiated

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is often regarded as a less frequent pattern of spread; however, collectively across all spectra of primary tumors, the consequences of PM impact a large population of patients annually. Unlike other modes of metastasis, symptoms at presentation or during the treatment course are common, representing an additional challenge in the management of PM. Early efforts with chemotherapy

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is currently linked to almost 35,000 new cases of cancer in women and men each year in the United States. Gardasil-9 (Merck & Company), the only HPV vaccine now available in the United States, is nearly 100% effective at preventing precancers caused by oncogenic HPV types. In the United States, however, only about one half of adolescents are up to date with HPV vaccination

Sinonasal malignancies make up <5% of all head and neck neoplasms, with an incidence of 0.5–1.0 per 100,000. The outcome of these rare malignancies has been poor, whereas significant progress has been made in the management of other cancers. The objective of the current review was to describe the incidence, causes, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and recent developments of malignancies of the sinonasal

Previous studies using data from the early 2000s demonstrated that patients who were uninsured were more likely to present with late-stage disease and had worse short-term survival after cancer diagnosis in the United States. In this report, the authors provide comprehensive data on the associations of health insurance coverage type with stage at diagnosis and long-term survival in individuals aged

Anew study reports that breast cancer (BC) survivors are at a greater risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia than women who have never been treated for BC. Appearing in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (doi:10.1200/JCO.21.01738), the study is based on data derived from the Pathways Heart Study at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC). According to lead researcher, Marilyn L

“We believe everyone should do their part through vaccination and masking to protect this vulnerable community.” —Changchuan (Charles) Jiang, MD, MPH Two new studies examine COVID-19 from the perspective of cancer survivors. One of the studies, which appears in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (JNCI) (doi:10.1093/jnci/djab012), examines the prevalence among cancer survivors of medical factors

The number of cancer survivors continues to increase in the United States due to the growth and aging of the population as well as advances in early detection and treatment. To assist the public health community in better serving these individuals, the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute collaborate triennially to estimate cancer prevalence in the United States using incidence