Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The Cost Of Cancer: Over $156 Billion Each Year, Thanks To Drug Prices
ScienceDaily: Cancer Costs US More Than $156 Billion Annually, With Drugs A Leading Expense
Care for the 15 most prevalent types of cancer in the U.S. cost approximately $156.2 billion in 2018, according to a team researchers. The team also found that medication was the biggest expense and that medication expense for breast, lung, lymphoma and colorectal cancers incurred the most costs. (Penn State, 10/6)
CIDRAP: Pandemic Lockdowns Affected Cancer Surgery Globally, Study Says
Planned cancer surgery was delayed during the pandemic worldwide, with 15% of people putting off an operation during full COVID-19 lockdowns, according to a study yesterday in The Lancet Oncology. The researchers looked at 20,006 adults at 466 hospitals and 61 countries who were planning on receiving surgery for the 15 most common solid cancer types during the COVID-19 pandemic. All were followed for a minimum of 12 weeks (until surgery or Aug 31, 2020), but even after a median of 23 weeks, 10.0% still hadn't had their surgery. All had at least one COVID-19–related reason, most commonly concern about infection risk to the patient (72.8%), and 15.3% reported at least one additional non-COVID reason. (10/6)
In other news about cancer —
The New York Times: Exercise May Alleviate ‘Chemo Brain’ In Breast Cancer Patients
Regular exercise may help lessen “chemo brain” among women being treated for breast cancer, according to a large-scale new study of the associations between physical activity, chemotherapy and cognition. The study, which involved more than 500 women with breast cancer, finds that those who were the most active before, during or after their treatment were the least likely to develop the memory decline and foggy thinking that characterize chemo brain. The study does not pinpoint precisely how exercise may protect the brain during chemotherapy, but does suggest even small amounts of activity, such as a half-hour walk when possible, could make a difference in cancer patients’ ability to think and remember as they move toward recovery. (Reynolds, 10/6)
ScienceDaily: Small Molecule May Prevent Metastasis In Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is projected to claim 53,000 lives in the United States this year alone and, as with most cancers, the disease is deadliest when it metastasizes. It follows that the most effective way to control it would be a drug that targets metastasis itself -- preventing cancer cells from breaking off the primary tumor, or reining in rogue cells before they spread throughout the body and seed secondary tumors. Now, a new study identifies a small molecule that could, in the future, be administered alongside standard chemotherapies to stave off colorectal cancer metastasis. (Rockefeller University, 10/6)
ScienceDaily: Super-Enhancers: The Villain Fueling Certain Cancers
Researchers identified a small RNA molecule called miR-766-5p that reduces expression of MYC, a critical cancer-promoting gene. This microRNA reduces levels of proteins CBP and BRD4, which are both involved in super-enhancer (SE) formation. SEs form in areas of DNA that can fuel MYC expression and tumor progression. This study provides strong evidence for developing miR-766-5p as a novel therapeutic to treat MYC-driven cancers. (Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 10/5)
Forbes: Here’s How Artifcial Intelligence Can Help Predict Breast Cancer Risk
Researchers from the Jameel Clinic at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have been working on a mammography-based deep learning model to help predict breast cancer earlier. The Mirai model uses an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to predict breast cancer risk more accurately based on radiology images. (Kite-Powell, 10/6)
