Two Million Cancers; Casgevy OK’d for Thalassemia; Rectal Exams and Prostate Cancer

While cancer mortality continues to decline, the number of new cases is projected to top 2 million in 2024, according to the American Cancer Society’s annual report on cancer statistics.

The FDA approved exagamglogene autotemcel (Casgevy) for transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia in patients 12 years and older, maker Vertex announced. This follows last month’s approval of the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing cell therapy for sickle cell disease.

Based on results of the THOR study, the FDA granted full approval to erdafitinib (Balversa) for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in patients with susceptible FGFR3 genetic alterations who have previously been treated with at least one line of systemic therapy, including a PD-1/L1 inhibitor.

And the agency cleared Stentra, a personalized 3D-printed oral stent solution, to help direct radiation to the target tumor area in head and neck cancer patients while reducing harmful effects to the surrounding tissue, developer Kallisio announced.

A cohort study of more than 40,000 cancer patients found that those enrolled in high-deductible health plans experienced substantial out-of-pocket increases and had fewer visits with noncancer physicians. (JAMA Oncology)

Cord blood-derived, CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor natural killer (CAR-NK) therapy yielded an overall response rate of 49% in a small phase I/II study involving patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. (Nature Medicine)

Should digital rectal examinations play a role in screening for prostate cancer? (European Urology Oncology)

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force posted a draft research plan on risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer.

Researchers have developed a machine learning algorithm that predicts treatment resistance. (Cancer Discovery)

The U.S. government is getting ready to release a study on cancer rates caused by contaminated water at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. (Reuters)

Relatives of patients with myelodysplastic neoplasia, acute myeloid leukemia, or acute lymphoblastic leukemia have an increased risk of developing cancer, a study in Cancer Epidemiology showed.

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