Hair Relaxers’ Cancer Risk; Genetic Test Aids Rural Care; Drug Negotiation Fallout?

Regular use of chemical hair relaxers by Black women increased their risk of uterine cancer by 50%. (Boston University, Environmental Research)

Adding the immune activator BXCL701 to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) significantly improved median overall survival (OS) in small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer as compared with single-agent pembrolizumab, BioXcel announced.

Bristol Myers Squibb added to its oncology portfolio with the $5.8 billion acquisition of Mirati and the KRAS-targeted drug adagrasib (Krazati), as well as other promising oncology agents in the Mirati pipeline.

Perioperative pembrolizumab significantly improved OS in resectable stage II, IIIA, or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer, Merck announced.

An AI-driven tumor assessment system showed potential for rapid intraoperative diagnosis of central nervous system tumors. (Nature)

Universal genetic testing of newly diagnosed breast cancer at a rural hospital informed changes in planned clinical management in 70% of cases. (Annals of Surgical Oncology)

The Drug Enforcement Agency has extended a COVID-era rule to allow telemedicine prescription of controlled medications without an in-person visit through December 2024.

Drug-price negotiations, combined with the current Medicare reimbursement model, could have potentially dire financial consequences for community oncology practices. (JAMA Oncology)

The FDA cleared HistoSonics’ histotripsy device for noninvasive treatment of liver tumors.

Aggressive surgery to remove as much tumor as possible in metastatic colorectal cancer did not adversely affect patients’ quality of life. (Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network)

A blood test for ovarian cancer distinguished between benign and malignant pelvic masses with greater than 90% accuracy in a preliminary clinical test. (University of Southern California, Clinical Cancer Research)

Mucositis after treatment for head and neck cancer may occur more often than previously thought. (Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, JAMA Network Open)

An online questionnaire can help women quickly assess their risk of breast and ovarian cancer and obtain information about risk reduction and other issues. (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

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