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Top stories in hematology/oncology: USPSTF upholds recommendation against pancreatic cancer screening, cancer screening rates ‘unexpectedly high’ among oldest old

Among the top stories in hematology/oncology last week were the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force upholding its recommendation against pancreatic cancer screening for asymptomatic adults with no family history of the disease and a report that found individuals aged 85 years and older underwent cancer screening at “unexpectedly high” rates even though it is generally not recommended for this age group.

Other highlights included a, a Q&A focusing on study results that suggested young-onset colorectal cancer is often misdiagnosed and identified at later stages, results from a phase 3 trial that found chemoradiotherapy significantly improved overall survival and failure-free survival among women with high-risk endometrial cancer and a decision by the Trump administration to make chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy available to all Medicare beneficiaries.

USPSTF upholds recommendation against screening for pancreatic cancer

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reaffirmed its stance against pancreatic cancer screening for asymptomatic adults with no family history of the disease. Read more.

Cancer screening rates ‘unexpectedly high’ among adults aged 85 years and older

Individuals aged 85 years and older underwent cancer screening at “unexpectedly high” rates even though it is generally not recommended for this age group, according to a report published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Read more.

Researchers target delays in diagnosis, rising incidence of young-onset colorectal cancer

Data presented at this year’s American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting suggest young-onset colorectal cancer often is misdiagnosed and identified at later stages. Additionally, nearly 70% of patients younger than 50 years reported having to see at least two physicians before being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Read more.

Chemoradiotherapy improves survival in high-risk endometrial cancer

Chemoradiotherapy significantly improved overall survival and failure-free survival compared with pelvic radiotherapy alone among women with high-risk endometrial cancer, according to results from the PORTEC-3 randomized phase 3 trial published in The Lancet Oncology. Read more.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy made available to all Medicare recipients

The Trump Administration made chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy available to all Medicare beneficiaries via a long-awaited final coverage decision made by the CMS. Read more.