A pioneering study has found that an individualized approach to breast cancer screening that assesses patients’ risk, rather than annual mammograms, can lower the chance of more advanced cancers, while still safely match people to the amount of screening they need. 

Newly published research in the Journal of Clinical Oncology reports on a phase 2 clinical trial that finds that children with a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma which hasn’t responded to initial treatment or that has relapsed may benefit from adding antibody treatment to usual chemotherapy.

Tanning bed users are known to have a higher risk of skin cancer, but for the first time researchers have found that young indoor tanners undergo genetic changes that can lead to more mutations in their skin cells than people twice their age.  

About The Study: In this secondary analysis of the WISDOM trial, a randomized clinical trial that enrolled women without breast cancer ages 40 to 74, criteria-independent genetic testing in a pragmatic trial identified a substantial number of women with clinically actionable results, many of whom would not have qualified for genetic testing under current guidelines. These findings support broader access to genetic testing as part of personalized breast cancer risk assessment.

Maher El-Kady, whose work on energy solutions promises a cleaner, more sustainable and more accessible energy future, and Dr. Dennis Slamon, whose groundbreaking innovations in breast cancer treatment have benefited millions around the globe, today join more than 30 other UCLA researchers who have received the honor — the highest professional distinction awarded to inventors.  

About The Study: In a randomized clinical trial, researchers found risk-based breast cancer screening was as safe as annual screening for detecting advanced cancers but did not reduce breast biopsy rates. Corresponding author Laura J. Esserman, MD, MBA, of the University of California, San Francisco, will present the study at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Mature nodal T-cell lymphoma is a type of rare and aggressive blood cancer. Limited data make it difficult to identify high-risk patients or tailor treatment strategies, so most patients receive similar care despite differences in disease characteristics and outcomes. A new study led by investigators from PETAL Consortium at the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute found that among patients who achieved a complete remission after initial chemotherapy treatment, survival was worse for those whose disease relapsed within 12 months of initial treatment, suggesting that alternative strategies are needed to benefit these patients. The results are published in Blood.