Top stories in hematology/oncology: Breath test may detect cancer early, adjuvant chemotherapy with radiotherapy improves survival

Among the top stories in hematology/oncology last week were a Q&A about a 2-year trial of a breath test for the early detection of multiple cancer types and phase 3 study results that suggested adding adjuvant chemotherapy to postoperative radiotherapy improved disease-free survival and overall survival among patients with locally advanced bladder cancer after radical cystectomy.

Other highlights included the FDA approving pembrolizumab for adjuvant treatment of patients who have melanoma with lymph node involvement who underwent complete resection, the FDA granting priority review to three oncology therapies and a study that found the use of filgrastim was associated with a higher risk for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia among older patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Breath test has 'potential to revolutionize' cancer detection, diagnosis

Researchers in the United Kingdom have launched a 2-year trial to evaluate whether a breath test can be used for early detection of multiple cancer types. Read more.

Adjuvant chemotherapy with radiotherapy improves survival in locally advanced bladder cancer

Adding adjuvant chemotherapy to postoperative radiotherapy improved disease-free survival and overall survival among patients with locally advanced bladder cancer after radical cystectomy, according to results of a randomized phase 3 study presented at Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Read more.

FDA approves Keytruda for adjuvant treatment of melanoma

The FDA approved pembrolizumab for adjuvant treatment of patients who have melanoma with lymph node involvement who underwent complete resection. Read more.

FDA grants priority review to three oncology therapies

The FDA granted priority review to three drugs in development for oncology indications. Read more.

Filgrastim use increases risk for myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Use of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor filgrastim appeared to be associated with a higher risk for myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia among older patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to results of a retrospective study published in Cancer. Read more.