Stress and Fatal Cancer; Win for J&J in Talc Cases; Medicaid $$ and Cancer Outcomes

Chronic, lifelong stress may increase the risk of fatal cancer. (Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, SSM-Population Health)

A federal bankruptcy judge has temporarily blocked New Mexico and Mississippi from suing Johnson & Johnson for allegedly misleading consumers about the safety of the company’s talc-containing products. (Reuters)

The American Oncology Network has entered into an agreement with Digital Transformation Opportunities to become a publicly traded company.

The combination therapy dabrafenib (Tafinlar)/trametinib (Mekinist) produced an 89% response rate in relapsed/refractory hairy cell leukemia associated with BRAF V600E mutations. (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Blood)

Pfizer announced that the PARP inhibitor talazoparib (Talzenna) plus enzalutamide (Xtandi) significantly improved radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) as compared with enzalutamide and placebo.

Meanwhile, Clovis Oncology announced that its PARP inhibitor rucaparib (Rubraca) improved rPFS in mCRPC associated with BRCA or ATM mutations.

Breast cancer mortality continues to decrease, but a big gap remains between white and Black women. (American Cancer Society)

Eating and swallowing exercises during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer may help reduce the risk and severity of treatment-related dysphagia. (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery)

States that spent more on Medicaid had lower cancer incidence and mortality. (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Appropriate use of less expensive cancer drugs led to significantly lower healthcare costs without reducing the quality of care. (American Society of Clinical Oncology)