Jørgen Thorball’s Post

If you are over 45, you should be screened for colorectal cancer. I know. It's not as fun as it sounds. But caught early, it can be dealt with and you can move on with your life. Caught late, and it's going to affect your life. Today, the FDA approved a blood test, which is another option for screening. Talk to your doc about getting screened. Details: https://lnkd.in/gfMSutB4

Exciting news in the fight against colorectal cancer! Guardant Health’s Shield™ blood test has received FDA approval as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer, making it the first blood test to meet performance requirements for Medicare coverage. This innovative test offers a simple, convenient, and non-invasive alternative to traditional screening methods, potentially increasing screening rates and saving more lives through early detection. At Lampgen Clinical Research, we recognize the impact of such advancements in oncology. As a leading staffing firm, we are committed to providing expert oncology CRAs to ensure your cancer clinical trials are monitored with the highest standards of ICH/GCP and industry expertise. We take pride in supporting companies pioneering these critical developments in cancer care. #OncologyResearch #ClinicalTrials #CancerScreening #ColorectalCancer #FDAApproval #MedicareCoverage #PrecisionOncology #GuardantHealth #EarlyDetection #HealthcareInnovation #LampgenClinicalResearch #CRAs #CancerAwareness ⛓️💥 https://lnkd.in/eWJw45E9

🩸New FDA-Approved Blood Test for Colon Cancer Screening ▶ Blood Test: Guardant Health's Shield test is now FDA-approved, offering an additional option to detect colorectal cancer early. ▶ Function: This test doesn’t replace colonoscopies but serves as an early warning, prompting follow-up with definitive testing if needed. ▶ Effectiveness: This test is 83% effective in detecting colorectal cancers by identifying DNA traces in the bloodstream. ▶ Frequency: Recommended every 3 years, starting at age 45, aligning with current colorectal screening guidelines. ▶ Screening Impact: Could increase screening rates, which are currently below 60%, potentially improving early detection rates. ▶ Rising Incidence: There’s been a notable rise in colorectal cancer among people under 55, with the average age of diagnosis decreasing from 72 to 66 in the past 20 years. 💡Imagine the impact of a similar blood test approach for lung cancer screening—catching cancer early and saving more lives. 🫁 Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer globally and in the US. Yet, screening for lung cancer is significantly underutilized. More on this in the comments below👇🏽 ======= If you find this helpful, 👍 Like this ♻ Repost it to raise awareness & Follow Bhanu for more #Oncology #Cancer #Screening #EarlyDetection #Blood #Test #Healthcare #Innovation https://lnkd.in/gD7dubuA

The American Lung Association's 2024 State of Lung Cancer report calls for all states to implement policies to ensure biomarker testing is included in insurance coverage. “More people with lung cancer are living longer, and that is something to celebrate. However, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths in the US,” Harold Wimmer, president and chief executive officer of the American Lung Association, said. Read more about this year's report on Oncology Nursing News: https://lnkd.in/e7fjYF8K

#Colorectalcancer Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in adults in the United States. The lifetime risk of colorectal cancer in the United States is approximately 4%, with an estimated 53,000 deaths expected from the disease in 2024. Early detection of colorectal cancer is crucial for improving overall survival rates, as 5-year survival is significantly higher among individuals with localized disease compared to those with metastatic disease. For more insights, visit: https://thereportdesk.com/ https://lnkd.in/g_H3ZpJH #colorectalcancer #genomics #FDA #GuardantHealth

Shield Blood Test, The first blood test for detecting colon cancer, developed by Guardant Health, demonstrated 83% sensitivity in detecting individuals with colorectal cancer. It also showed 13% sensitivity in detecting advanced adenomas. With the approval of the blood test, there is a need for a comprehensive evaluation of its performance in various clinical settings. This includes assessing its sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in detecting colorectal cancer and advanced precancerous lesions. Studies can compare the performance of the blood test with other screening methods like stool-based testing. #colorectalcancer #FDA #genomics #research

As September comes along, an entire month dedicated to Prostate Cancer Awareness, I want to bring attention to an often overlooked aspect of cancer treatment—medication adherence. Prostate cancer affects millions of men worldwide, and even though there are advances in treatment that's provided hope and improved survival rates, the effectiveness of these treatments hinges on one critical factor: the patient’s commitment to their medication regimen. Studies have consistently shown that adhering to prescribed medications is vital in managing prostate cancer. These medications can significantly slow the progression of the disease, improve quality of life, and extend survival. But it only works if patients follow their plans consistently. This is where the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) plays the part. The MMAS is more than just a questionnaire—it’s a proven tool that healthcare professionals can use to assess a patient's adherence to their medication regimen. By identifying potential barriers to adherence, the MMAS helps clinicians tailor their counseling and support strategies to each patient’s needs, ensuring they stay on track with their treatment. Effective counseling, guided by tools like the #MMAS, empowers patients to take control of their health- self management of their medication taking regimen, making informed decisions that improve their outcomes. This September, as we raise awareness about prostate cancer, let’s also remember the importance of medication adherence and the tools available to support it. The fight against prostate cancer doesn’t stop with diagnosis or even with treatment; it continues with every pill taken, every regimen followed, and every life saved through vigilance and adherence. Showcasing several articles on prostrate cancer and effectiveness of medication adherence, as measured by the MMAS.

Happy to share our updated RIN results in MSS chemo-refractory non-liver metastatic colorectal cancer- median OS 27.5months. We never gave up on immunotherapy in microsatellite stable CRC (and low TMB). We have shown that site of metastatic disease matters and that some of the non-liver metastatic disease patients can have very profound and durable responses to RIN therapy. Here we show that a large proportion of the non-liver metastatic disease patients derived clinical benefits for several years after starting RIN (regorafenib ipilimumab nivolumab) treatment. 3 patients are without any active metastatic disease more than 3.5 years from initiating treatment (more than 1.5 years without any therapy) and with negative MRD assays. In some patients with MSS CRC, we believe immunotherapy can be potentially curative. Check our updated clinical data on our RIN study in: European Journal of Cancer https://lnkd.in/gKBtSk_A

"In some patients with MSS CRC, we believe immunotherapy can be potentially curative." Dr Fakih demonstrates if the safety of the triple combo of Regorafenib/Ipi/Nivo is managed well, prolonged survival is possible for certain lucky patients! By going beyond the safety and efficacy limits of the first generation SOC such as regorafenib and Ipi/nivo IO doublet, we are looking forward to transforming the life of MSS CRC patients with nextgen CTLA-4/PD1 doublet in combination with SOCs in early and late line therapies for a broad patient population!

Interesting report in JCO regarding the use of aspirin for chemoprevention in patients with Lynch Syndrome. Aspirin has been shown to reduce the risk of colon cancer in patients with Lynch Syndrome. However, in this report, patients were actually less likely to take aspirin than to receive a colonoscopy. I do think there are some reasons for this, other than patient resistance, given that these patients were willing to receive a colonoscopy. The main reason is that the CAPP2 trial, which demonstrated the benefit of aspirin, gave a dose of 600 mg/day, a dose is generally not used today. The trial also was initially a negative trial. It only demonstrated a benefit with much longer follow-up (median of around ~5 years).  Given the higher dose of aspirin, the lack of initial benefit, and risks of aspirin therapy, we don't have universal uptake of aspirin for chemoprevention. An ongoing trial, CAPP3 (https://lnkd.in/e8XC2jHf), should answer many of these questions. It examines lower doses of aspirin to see if they result in a long-term reduction in cancer risk. If we have two large trials showing the benefit of aspirin, I think it would be hard not to recommend it for all Lynch syndrome patients. But for now, there is clinical equipoise on this subject. #coloncancer https://lnkd.in/eKAQmwzp