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Top stories in oncology: FDA expands indications for breast cancer drug, diet soft drinks reduce mortality from colon cancer

Among the top stories in oncology are the FDA approving more uses for breast cancer drug ribociclib, a study on the impact diet soft drinks have on one’s mortality from colon cancer, and how meal times may lower a person’s risk for breast and prostate cancers.

Other top stories include how the risk for cancer-associated thrombosis is elevated in patients with implanted ports and how utilizing complementary medicine increases the risk for cancer-related death. – by Janel Miller

FDA expands Kisqali approval for advanced, metastatic breast cancer

The FDA approved ribociclib for use in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as initial endocrine-based therapy for pre- or perimenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER-2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Read more.

Diet soft drinks linked to reduced colon cancer recurrence, mortality

Patients with advanced colon cancer who drank artificially sweetened soft drinks had a reduced risk for recurrence and cancer-specific mortality, study data showed. Read more.

Early dinner associated with reduced risk for prostate, breast cancer

People who ate their evening meal before 9 p.m. or left a 2-hour window between eating dinner and going to bed had a 20% lower risk for breast or prostate cancer than those who ate after 10 p.m. or went to bed fewer than 2 hours after eating, according to findings published in the International Journal of Cancer. Read more.

Venous thromboembolism incidence appeared high among patients with solid tumors who had implanted ports, according to study results. Read more.

Use of complementary medicine linked to greater risk for cancer death

The use of complementary medicine for the treatment of lung, breast, prostate or colorectal cancer was associated with almost double the risk for death compared with adherence to conventional cancer treatment, according to results of a retrospective, observational study. Read more.