In metastatic colorectal cancer, the BRAF V600E mutation, which affects around 10% of patients, portends a poor outcome. Initial standard chemotherapy often fails, and after it does, patients survive for a median of only 4 to 6 months. A phase 3 trial reports a significant improvement in overall survival with two different treatments: a triplet therapy consisting of encorafenib (Braftovi TM , Array BioPharma), binimetinib (Mektovi TM , Array BioPharma), and cetuximab (Erbitux®, Eli Lilly); ...

By inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways, EGFR inhibitors have shown efficacy in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, most patients who receive EGFR inhibitors develop adverse skin events, such as acneiform rash, xerosis, paronychial inflammation, pruritis, photosensitivity, and hair and eyelash alteration. If not properly managed, these toxicities can lead to physic...

​ Carlos Fernández-Martos, MD, and colleagues recently reported that in patients with high-risk, locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma, adding aflibercept (Zaltrap®, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) to a modified schedule of fluorouracil/leucovorin/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX6) followed by standard chemoradiotherapy and total mesorectal excision surgery increased treatment efficacy, producing a higher complete pathologic response rate . In this interview with i3 Health, Dr. Fernández-Martos discusses t...

A new study reports that epidermal growth factor (EGF) ointment is effective in managing skin toxicities and improving quality of life in patients treated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors. By inhibiting EGFR signaling pathways, which play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of a variety of cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors and anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies are effective ...

In addition to the known cancer risks associated with consumption of red and processed meats, a new study warns of an increased cancer risk from poultry. "The latest meta-analysis from the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research concluded that red meat was a probable cause and processed meat a convincing cause of colorectal cancer," write the researchers in their presentation abstract in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health , led by first author Anika Knüppe...