Cancer Information Highlights, August 2, 2017

Cancer Information Highlights, August 2, 2017

Cancer Information Highlights From the National Cancer Institute Updating you about cancer causes, prevention, screening, treatment, coping, and more   New from NCI NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH Trial Launches   The nationwide precision medicine trial will enroll children and adolescents with advanced cancer that hasn’t responded to standard therapy. Patients whose tumors have certain genetic changes will be treated with drugs that are designed to target those changes. Cooling Cap to Reduce Hair Loss Cleared for Wider Use   The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared a cooling cap—a device designed to reduce hair loss during chemotherapy—for use by patients with any type of solid tumor. Follow-Up Medical Care   All cancer survivors should have follow-up care, which means seeing a health care provider for regular medical checkups once you have finished treatment. Visit our updated page to learn about follow-up care plans, tips for talking with your doctor, and more. Two-Drug Combination Approved for Lung Cancer with Changes in the BRAF Gene FDA approved the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib to treat patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that has a change in the BRAF gene called the V600E mutation. Drug Information Updates Blinatumomab Use in Leukemia We’ve updated our summary on blinatumomab to reflect FDA’s recently expanded approval for use of the drug in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is Philadelphia chromosome positive. The previous approval was limited to patients with ALL whose tumor cells did not have this genetic alteration. Dabrafenib for Lung Cancer We’ve updated our drug information summary on dabrafenib, which was recently approved by FDA to be used with trametinib to treat non-small cell lung cancer that has a certain mutation in the BRAF gene. Trametinib for Lung Cancer We’ve updated our drug information summary on trametinib, which was recently approved by FDA to be used with dabrafenib to treat non-small cell lung cancer that has a certain mutation in the BRAF gene.   Also of Interest Brain Cancer Visit the gateway page for brain and other central nervous system cancers. Learn about the different types, how they are treated, ongoing research, and basic statistics. Chronic Inflammation Learn about chronic inflammation and how it increases the risk of certain cancers. Hair Loss (Alopecia) Some types of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to the head can cause hair loss. Learn ways to manage this problem and read tips for talking with your doctor.