Ending Cervical Cancer; Cancer and Suicide; COVID and Kids’ Cancers

Preventive Medicine published a supplement devoted to worldwide elimination of cervical cancer.

Patients with cancer have a high rate of suicide, and a new study provides insights into who those patients are. (Psycho-Oncology)

President Biden met with members of Congress to discuss strategies to advance cancer research, the first step in an effort to rejuvenate a cancer initiative begun during the Obama administration. (Bloomberg)

The FDA expanded approval of the ALK inhibitor lorlatinib (Lorbrena) to include first-line treatment of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer, Pfizer announced.

An international survey of pediatric cancer specialists documents multiple adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on care for children and adolescents with cancer. (The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health)

Slower walking speed predicted worse outcomes in cancer, including survival. (Washington University, NCI, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention)

Menthol cigarettes helped draw 10 million Americans into smoking over a 38-year period. (Tobacco Control)

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network published a first-ever clinical guideline for histiocytosis, a rare condition characterized by abnormal accumulation of white blood cells.

Amgen announced that blinatumomab (Blincyto) significantly improved event-free survival versus consolidation chemotherapy in relapsed pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Citing concerns about safety and clinical trial results, the FDA issued a complete response letter indicating that oral paclitaxel plus encequidar cannot be approved at this time, Athenex announced.

The FDA authorized the first robotically assisted surgical device for transvaginal hysterectomy.

FDA approval of bevacizumab (Avastin) plus atezolizumab (Tecentriq) as first-line therapy for liver cancer has created a treatment void for later lines of therapy, as use of current second- and third-line agents is contingent on use of sorafenib (Nexavar) as initial treatment. (GlobalData)

Finasteride’s protection against bladder cancer appears to extend only to Caucasian and Hispanic men and does not reduce risk in African-American men. (Journal of Urology)