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[Articles] Abemaciclib plus abiraterone in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CYCLONE 2): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

Dual inhibition of CDK4 and CDK6 and the androgen receptor pathway with abemaciclib plus abiraterone did not improve radiographic progression-free survival compared with abiraterone alone in the CYCLONE 2 study population with mCRPC. Safety of the combination was consistent with the previously reported safety of the individual drugs. Additional research is required to identify effective combination therapies for patients with mCRPC, especially in those presenting with adverse prognostic characteristics.

[Articles] Long-term overall survival with dual CTLA-4 and PD-L1 or PD-1 blockade and biomarker-based subgroup analyses in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review and reconstructed individual patient data meta-analysis

Compared with single PD-L1 or PD-1 inhibition, dual immune checkpoint blockade with CTLA-4 and PD-L1 or PD-1 inhibitors was associated with improved overall survival in patients with advanced NSCLC and PD-L1 TPS less than 1% and in those with STK11 mutations, but not in the overall population. Prospective validation of these results in clinical trials is warranted.

[Articles] Clinical potential of whole-genome data linked to mortality statistics in patients with breast cancer in the UK: a retrospective analysis

We show that breast cancer genomes are rich in predictive and prognostic value. We propose a two-step model for effective clinical application. First, the identification of candidates for targeted therapies or clinical trials using highly individualised genomic markers. Second, for patients without such features, the implementation of enhanced prognostication using genomic features alongside existing clinical decision-making factors.

[Perspectives] Abdominal shielding not recommended for diagnostic imaging with ionising radiation during pregnancy

In part due to its rare occurrence, cancer during pregnancy poses unique challenges that require careful consideration of both maternal and fetal health. For the best possible outcome for both mother and child, management during pregnancy should closely follow established guidelines.1 Oncological staging is necessary to identify optimal personalised treatment plans for each patient, and should be performed in the same manner as for patients who are not pregnant. However, selecting appropriate imaging methods, especially among those that use ionising radiation, requires a careful balance between maternal benefits and fetal risks.

[Perspectives] Subcutaneous immunotherapy—a wolf in sheep's clothing?

Over the past decade, subcutaneous formulations of anticancer drugs—originally administered intravenously—have been increasingly developed and subsequently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This new route of administration benefits patients with increased convenience. In this essay, we describe and discuss the growing adoption of subcutaneous formulations and also consider the potential future economic effects, particularly in relation to immunotherapy.

[News] British Columbia's proposed law to combat deceptive practices promoting vaping products

On Oct 8, 2025, a new law was introduced in British Columbia, Canada, that, if passed, will take action against e-cigarette (vape)manufacturing companies that cause harm to the public through deceptive promotion of vaping products. It is reportedly the first law in Canada that intends to recover health-care costs from companies involved in misleading activities to sell vaping products.

[News] Atlas of Palliative Care in Africa

The new 2025 edition of the Atlas of Palliative Care in Africa reveals a continent where palliative care services remain underdeveloped and essential medicines are scarce, with poor integration into health systems. Moreover, insufficient training is constraining Africa's ability to address serious health-related suffering (SHS), which is affecting an estimated 17·6 million people per year, driven by a rapidly rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and ageing populations.

[News] Launch of a financing programme for women's cancers in the Indo-Pacific region

A new US$50 million Technical Assistance Facility (TAF) for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and women's cancers will begin by supporting the elimination of cervical cancer in Indonesia. The initiative was launched by the Women's Health and Economic Empowerment Network (WHEN) and the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC) on Sept 24, 2025, in New York, NY, USA, at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. “Cervical cancer elimination is a ‘best buy’ in NCD control.

[News] New system to allow artificial intelligence clinical trials to take place across all UK NHS Trusts

The UK National Health Service (NHS) is to construct and rollout a pioneering new cloud computer system that will allow artificial intelligence (AI) tools to be tested on an unprecedented scale across the NHS by cutting waste, duplication, and time needed to complete clinical trials, with a central aim to boost screening, including early diagnosis of cancer.

[News] WHO calls for investment in cancer prevention and care within a wider NCD strategy

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now account for seven of the world's ten leading causes of death and kill 18 million people each year before age 70 years. WHO recently launched a new investment case urging countries to scale up proven, cost-effective interventions. The analysis, Saving Lives, Spending Less, estimates that implementing WHO's “best buys” in 176 countries would cost about US$3 per person annually. By 2030, the package could save more than 12 million lives, prevent 28 million heart attacks and strokes, add 150 million healthy life-years, and generate around US$1 trillion in economic benefits.

[Corrections] Correction to Lancet Oncol 2024; 25: 1337–46

Dawson LA, Ringash J, Fairchild A, et al. Palliative radiotherapy versus best supportive care in patients with painful hepatic cancer (CCTG HE1): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 study. Lancet Oncol 2024; 25: 1337–46—In this Article, in the last paragraph of the Results section, the proportion of patients who reported any grade 2 or worse adverse event 1–3 months after randomisation should have been eight (24%) of 33 patients in the radiotherapy plus best supportive care group.

[Corrections] Correction to Lancet Oncol 2024; 25: e363–73

Aggarwal A, Simcock R, Price P, et al. NHS cancer services and systems—ten pressure points a UK cancer control plan needs to address. Lancet Oncol 2024; 25: e363–73—In this Policy Review, the second sentence in paragraph 4 of the Pressure point 6 section should have said “six times” instead of “600 times”. This correction has been made to the online version as of Oct 27, 2025.

[Correspondence] Unadjusted external controls and endpoint selection in Chinese cancer drug trials

I read with interest, the Article by Yichen Zhang and colleagues,1 which presents an important retrospective evaluation of the evidential standards underpinning cancer drug approvals in China between 2017 and 2021. Although the study admirably highlights methodological concerns surrounding trial design and bias, I wish to raise two additional critical methodological shortcomings that warrant further scrutiny.

[Correspondence] It takes two to tango: importance of oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor in endometrial cancer

We congratulate Nicole Concin and colleagues with the effort put into the updated ESGO–ESTRO–ESP guidelines.1 Although we support the integration of oestrogen receptor status in the guideline, we wonder why progesterone receptor expression is not included. In our opinion, oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor have additional prognostic and predictive value in endometrial cancer, and these receptors are cheap and well established biomarkers available worldwide for breast and endometrial cancer diagnosis.

[Correspondence] PSMA-TTV as a point-of-care selector

In The Lancet Oncology, Louise Emmett and colleagues1 present an elegant prespecified substudy from the ENZA-p trial that shows that baseline prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-PET total tumour volume (PSMA-TTV) is not only prognostic for overall survival, but also predictive of benefit from adding [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 to enzalutamide as a first-line treatment in patients with high-risk, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, whole-body standardised uptake value (SUV) mean did not show predictive value in this combination setting.