Tailored Psychotherapy Eases Depression in People with Advanced Cancer

Cancer Information Highlights, August 22, 2018

Cancer Information Highlights From the National Cancer Institute Updating you about cancer causes, prevention, screening, treatment, coping, and more   New from NCI Tailored Psychotherapy Eases Depression in People with Advanced Cancer   Results from a new clinical trial show that three to six sessions of a tailored psychotherapy approach may reduce depression or help prevent the onset of depression in people with advanced cancer. Liquid Biopsy May Predict Risk of Breast Cancer Returning Years Later A type of liquid biopsy may help doctors predict which breast cancers may return after several years and which patients may be candidates for treatments to prevent or delay it. New Immunotherapy Option for Cervical Cancer and Rare Lymphoma   The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for some women with advanced cervical cancer and some patients with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Interim Results of a Clinical Trial for HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer  The trial was designed to see if cetuximab and radiation would be less toxic than cisplatin and radiation, without compromising survival for people with the disease. Read about the unexpected results. Combination Immunotherapy Approved for Metastatic Colon and Rectal Cancers FDA has approved the combination of two immune checkpoint inhibitors, ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo), for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose tumor cells have defects that affect their ability to repair DNA. Targeted Drug Approved for AML with Certain Gene Changes FDA approved ivosidenib (Tibsovo) for the treatment of adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that has a specific mutation in a gene called IDH1. Free NCI E-Books Now Available in the Government Bookstore NCI's popular patient education e-books are now available for download through the U.S. Government Bookstore. PDQ Summary Updates Aromatherapy and Essential Oils We’ve revised our PDQ summary on aromatherapy and essential oils with updated information about several clinical trials of aromatherapy. Skin Cancer Treatment Our PDQ summary on skin cancer treatment has undergone a major revision. It includes updated information on risk factors, factors that affect prognosis, staging, and treatment options for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Drug Information Updates Granisetron We’ve added a new drug summary for granisetron (Sancuso, Sustol), which is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Granisetron Hydrochloride We’ve added a new drug summary for granisetron hydrochloride, which is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy and to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting after surgery.   Also of Interest Infographic—Types of Genetic Mutations in Cancer How do DNA mutations cause cancer? This infographic illustrates how some types of genetic mutations change proteins in ways that cause cells to grow out of control, leading to cancer. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines Learn about vaccines that protect against the types of HPV infections that cause cervical cancer and several other types of cancer. How Cancer Is Diagnosed Learn about tests and procedures that doctors might order to diagnose cancer.