Smokers with breast cancer; hepatocellular carcinoma therapy

A recent study found that Black women who smoked at the time of breast cancer diagnosis had a greater risk for all-cause mortality than those who never smoked, highlighting the importance of smoking cessation.

The increased mortality risk appeared to be most pronounced among women with 10 or more pack-years of smoking, according to researchers. It was the top story in hematology/oncology last week.

Another top story was about a phase 3 study that showed radiation therapy reduced pain among patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Read these and more top stories in hematology/oncology below:

Smoking at breast cancer diagnosis linked to higher mortality risk among Black women

Black women who smoked at the time of breast cancer diagnosis had a 52% increased risk for all-cause mortality compared with Black women who never smoked, according to study results published in JAMA Network Open. Read more.

Radiation therapy reduces pain in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Single-fraction radiation therapy reduced hepatic pain among most patients with end-stage hepatocellular carcinoma or liver metastases, according to randomized phase 3 study results presented at ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Read more.

Tislelizumab regimen new first-line option for gastric, gastroesophageal cancer subgroup

Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in OS vs. chemotherapy alone among patients with PD-L1-positive, advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. Read more.

Long-course chemoradiation may improve organ preservation rates in rectal cancer

A long course of chemoradiation therapy appeared associated with higher organ preservation rates vs. a short course among a cohort of patients with rectal cancer, according to a study presented at the ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Read more.

FDA approves Jaypirca for advanced mantle cell lymphoma

The FDA granted accelerated approval to pirtobrutinib for the treatment of certain patients with advanced mantle cell lymphoma. Read more.