About The Study: In this secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial, fewer than 1 in 10 older adults with advanced cancer participating in the trial prioritized extending survival over maintaining quality of life. Patient preference for extending survival or maintaining quality of life was not associated with up-front treatment modifications or downstream outcomes, suggesting a possible lack of responsiveness of the current oncology care delivery system to patient preference. 

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a particularly aggressive form of blood cancer that usually progresses rapidly if swift and intensive treatment is not applied. Although the disease can often be contained by chemotherapy (remission), it returns in many patients. A permanent cure is often only possible with a stem cell transplant - provided that the leukemia can be sufficiently contained beforehand. A new Germany-wide study led by the Dresden University Medicine has shown that the combination of intensive chemotherapy and the substance venetoclax can significantly improve the success rate of treatment of aggressive acute leukemia. This has been confirmed by the results of RELAX, with remission in 75% of the cases compared to the past attempts yielding an only 40 percent remission rate. The study was published in the renowned journal The Lancet Haematology.

UCLA scientists have developed a next-generation CAR-T cell therapy that can overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, a protective shield that tumors use to weaken immune cells, block their attack and fuel tumor growth.