Top stories in hematology/oncology: Possible link between height, cancer risk; adjuvant radiation improves survival outcomes

Among the top stories in hematology/oncology last week were study findings that suggested taller individuals may be at higher risk for certain cancer types and research that determined adjuvant radiation therapy improved survival outcomes among patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Other highlights included clinical trial results that suggested the combination of pembrolizumab and axitinib extended progression-free survival compared with sunitinib as first-line treatment for patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, trial results that found targeted radiation therapy produced high response rates among men with prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer and an analysis that found conservative prostate cancer management with active surveillance or watchful waiting increased significantly between 2010 and 2015 among men with low- and intermediate-risk localized disease.

Data provide insight into 'not trivial' link between height, cancer risk

Taller individuals may be at higher risk for certain cancer types, according to study findings published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Read more.

Adjuvant radiation improves survival in advanced squamous cell carcinoma with certain features

Adjuvant radiation therapy improved survival outcomes among patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma that included perineural invasion and regional disease, according to findings published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. Read more.

Pembrolizumab plus axitinib new standard first-line treatment for advanced kidney cancer

The combination of pembrolizumab and axitinib extended OS and PFS compared with sunitinib as first-line treatment for patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, according to results of the randomized phase 3 KEYNOTE-426 clinical trial that were presented at Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Read more.

Targeted radiation therapy yields high response rates in metastatic prostate cancer

The targeted radiation therapy Lutetium-177 PSMA-617 produced high response rates among men with prostate-specific membrane antigen-positive metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, according to results of a single-arm, phase 2 trial that were presented at Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Read more.

Conservative management becomes most common approach for low-risk prostate cancer

Conservative prostate cancer management with active surveillance or watchful waiting increased significantly between 2010 and 2015 among men with low- and intermediate-risk localized disease, according to results of a SEER analysis published in JAMA and presented at Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Read more.