Colorectal Cancer

Pharmacists play a vital role in cancer prevention and early detection by educating patients on risk factors, counseling on screening guidelines, and promoting adherence to evidence-based recommendations for common cancers, such as breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, prostate, and skin cancer.

Invikafusp alfa (STAR0602; Marengo Therapeutics Inc) is being investigated as a treatment for advanced colorectal cancer with high tumor mutational burden.

The decision is based off favorable results from the BREAKWATER trial.

The researchers suggest that an imbalance between pro-inflammatory and resolving lipid mediators may drive tumor growth.

Pharmacists can educate and encourage screenings for colon cancer to ensure it is discovered as early as possible.

The addition of high-dose vitamin D3 to standard treatment did not delay the progression of cancer compared with the standard dose of vitamin D3.

The new screening test provides an easier, convenient option for patients seeking to screen themselves for colorectal cancer.

Abstracts from the OrigAMI-1 and MARIPOSA-2 trials indicated the treatment benefits of amivantamab-vmjw and chemotherapy in multiple cancer indications.

At ESMO Congress 2024, Shuji Ogino, MD, PhD, MS, explained that the rising incidence of young-onset cancer may be due to generational risk factors such as lifestyle, diet, and environmental changes, emphasizing the need for long-term research and follow up to understand early-life influences on cancer development.

The blood test offers patients advanced screening methods capable of detecting colorectal cancer in its earlier stages.

Adagrasib receives accelerated approval for patients with previously treated KRAS G12C-mutated locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC).

The test’s sensitivity in distinguishing colorectal cancer, in combination with real-world adherence, showed its ability to detect cancer at a curable stage.

The novel therapy is also being evaluated for the treatment of solid tumors in pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancers.

The sNDA was based on results from the KRYSTAL-1 study, evaluating the drug alone or in combination with other anti-cancer therapies in those with advanced solid tumors who have KRASG12C mutations.

This review summarizes current utilization of anti-HER2 targeted therapy across several non-breast solid tumors in the setting of advanced disease.

Compared with chemotherapy, nivolumab plus ipilimumab reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 79%, but further research is needed to assess overall survival.

With this approval, fruquintinib is the first and only selective inhibitor of all 3 VEGR receptor kinases to be approved in the United States for previously treated mCRC, regardless of biomarker status.

However, uncomplicated diabetes was not significantly linked to a greater risk of all-cause mortality or death from colorectal cancer.

This is the first phase 3 trial to evaluate a KRAS G12C-inhibitor plus an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody for this type of colorectal cancer.

The results also indicate an association with increased risk of colorectal and noncolorectal gastrointestinal cancers as body mass index increases over time.

In the study, investigators incorporated data from electronic health records and social determinants of health into the model to determine the likelihood in delays when starting cancer therapy.

A cancer vaccine has shown efficacy in dogs, with implications for benefit in humans.

Additionally, data from the SCARLET trial presented at ASCO 2023 indicate the safety and efficacy of sotorasib in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy treating non¬–small cell lung cancer.

Trial results support 5.4 mg/kg of trastuzumab deruxtecan as the optimal dose in individuals with HER2+ metastatic colorectal cancer.

Prediagnostic weight loss could be an important marker for colorectal cancer diagnosis.

Experts note that pharmacists are well positioned to play a key role in precision oncology and molecular tumor boards.

Research has even shown that cancer diagnosis can be significantly improved using AI, with real-time data updates, personalized attention, and ultimately better results at lower costs.

The patient's list of medications reveals significant drug interactions to be addressed.

Patients who received first-line ICI showed a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to chemotherapy treatment.

This is the first indication for tucatinib that extends beyond the treatment of advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.