Hem/Onc Roundup: Largest Single-Year Cancer Mortality Decline, FDA Approvals, and more

Here are the top stories covered by DocWire News this week in the Hematology & Oncology section. This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved new therapies, a report indicated the largest single-year drop in U.S. cancer mortality, and more.

The U.S. cancer mortality rate has continued to decline for the 26th year in a row, according to data from the American Cancer Society report. In particular, 2016 to 2017 saw the largest single-year decline in cancer mortality at 2.2%. The report was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

The FDA approved Ayvakit™ (avapritinib) for adults with unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor, including those with the PDGFRA D842V mutation.

In 2018, infections caused 13% of all new cancer diagnoses, with more than 2.2 million new cases worldwide, according to a study published in The Lancet Global Health.

A new study found that many adolescent women continue to undergo pelvic examinations and Papanicolaou tests, even though current guidelines suggest they may not be necessary.

The FDA granted approval for pembrolizumab—marketed as Keytruda and manufactured by Merck—as an alternative to radical surgery in certain bladder cancer patients.

In case you missed it, more hem/onc headlines are featured below:

• Despite Lawsuits, Study Says No Link Between Talc Power and Ovarian Cancer
• Aspirin Curbs Colorectal Cancer Reoccurrence
• What’s the Life Expectancy for Childhood Cancer Survivors?
• 1 in 3 Cancer Survivors are Moderate Alcohol Drinkers
• Overweight and Obesity Linked to Cancer