Altitude - Medical & Clinical Posts

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most difficult malignancies to manage. Multiple factors contribute to poor survival in these patients, including delayed diagnosis, rapid progression to metastatic disease, pain, and blood clots, all of which can complicate care. Outcomes have improved in recent decades, yet the current 5-year survival rate is still only 9%. The […]

The efficacy and effectiveness of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in preventing major oncogenic types of HPV (HPV infection, genital warts, and high-grade cervical lesions) has been well established. However, data to inform the relationship between quadrivalent HPV vaccination and the subsequent risk of invasive cervical cancer are lacking. To address this gap, Dr Jiayao Lei […]

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy has been proven effective for the treatment of several hematologic malignancies, including a recent approval for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma. Ongoing research of autologous CAR T-cell immunotherapy continues to change the landscape in the management of hematologic malignancies. Unfortunately, not all patients who might benefit from CAR T […]

Although the future of COVID-19 remains unknown, it is clear that the pandemic’s effects will linger in many aspects of cancer care and research, including oncology clinical trials. In a recent JAMA publication, Dr Daniel V. Araujo et al shared their perspectives on the evolving landscape of oncology research. Just as patient visits for treatments and […]

To keep up with treatment trends in the ever-shifting oncology landscape, pharma and life science companies rely on real-world data from healthcare professionals (HCPs). HCPs working in cancer care can impart knowledge of the oncology market as it is driven by current practices, as well as provide insights into cutting-edge treatments and developments in patient […]

On October 7, 2020, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 to Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna for their discovery of CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors, an innovative technology for genome editing. This technology makes it possible to change the code of life over the course of just a few […]

Widespread implementation of screening mammography has enabled earlier detection of breast cancer and subsequently improved outcomes. However, there are limitations to current processes, as global access to screening mammography is constrained by availability of specialized radiologists and the potential for variation in performance among human readers. To address these restrictions, artificial intelligence (AI) computer-aided detection […]

Major advances in the treatment of lung cancer, specifically targeted therapies and immunotherapies, have demonstrated a survival benefit in clinical trials. To measure the effects of these advances at the population level, researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, conducted an analysis of the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and […]

In late July 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to brexucabtagene autoleucel (KTE-X19) for treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). MCL is a rare, aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that originates in the mantle zone of the lymph node. Brexucabtagene autoleucel, manufactured by […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges both to the medical system overall and to the ongoing treatment of patients with cancer. Patients are experiencing delays in care, additional financial strains, and mental health challenges in the current environment. To measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer patients, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action […]