News &amp; Updates

Denosumab appears to have a neutral effect on the risk of composite and specific cardiovascular outcomes among patients with primary osteoporosis, whereas romosozumab may contribute to an increased risk of four-point major adverse cardiovascular event, according to the results of a meta-analysis.

Denosumab safer than romosozumab in terms of cardiovascular outcomes

Slideshow: Highlights from the ESMO Asia 2019.

Slideshow: Highlights from the ESMO Asia 2019.

Statin use reduces post-colonoscopy CRC risk

05 Dec 2019 by

Individuals who use statins for ≥90 days before colonoscopy have a significantly reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) after a negative procedure, a large retrospective cohort study in Hong Kong has shown.

Statin use reduces post-colonoscopy CRC risk

CASPIAN: Durvalumab + platinum-etoposide improves OS in ES-SCLC

05 Dec 2019 by

First-line treatment with durvalumab + platinum-etoposide (EP)* improves overall survival (OS) in Asian patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), according to the CASPIAN** study.

CASPIAN: Durvalumab + platinum-etoposide improves OS in ES-SCLC

PIONEER 2: Oral semaglutide trumps empagliflozin in HbA1c lowering

Oral form of the GLP-1* analogue semaglutide was superior to the SGLT-2i** empagliflozin in reducing HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) uncontrolled on metformin, according to the head-to-head PIONEER 2*** trial.

PIONEER 2: Oral semaglutide trumps empagliflozin in HbA1c lowering

Inflammatory bowel disease factors in chronic kidney disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) contributes to an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, with the risk highest for younger patients, as shown in a study. Meanwhile, the use of IBD medications does not offer a protective benefit.

Inflammatory bowel disease factors in chronic kidney disease

Ultrasound-guided core biopsy foretells treatment outcome in breast cancer

In breast cancer, especially hormone-negative tumours, an ultrasound-guided core biopsy (CNB) is useful for predicting pathologic complete response (pCR) to chemotherapy and may thus help to avoid surgery for some patients, a study has found.

Ultrasound-guided core biopsy foretells treatment outcome in breast cancer

Cannabinoids ineffective for mental disorders

Evidence to support the use of pharmaceutical cannabinoids in the treatment of mental disorders is lacking, a recent systematic review and meta-analysis showed.

Cannabinoids ineffective for mental disorders

$FLAG ± IDA regimen for children with relapsed/refractory acute leukaemia shows high toxicity$

FLAG ± IDA regimen for children with relapsed/refractory acute leukaemia shows high toxicity

Use of fludarabine cytarabine and granulocyte colony stimulating factor with or without idarubicin (FLAG ± IDA) leads to a 69-percent rate of complete remission in children with relapsed/refractory acute leukaemia, but only 48 percent of patients survive to bone marrow transplantation, a study has shown.

FLAG ± IDA regimen for children with relapsed/refractory acute leukaemia shows high toxicity

Immunotherapy not superior to chemotherapy for cisplatin-ineligible metastatic urothelial carcinoma

There appears to be no significant survival difference between first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and carboplatin-based chemotherapy in cisplatin-ineligible metastatic urothelial carcinoma patients, according to a Taiwan study presented at the recent 2019 Asia Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO Asia 2019).

Immunotherapy not superior to chemotherapy for cisplatin-ineligible metastatic urothelial carcinoma