Clinical trials testing cancer immunotherapies significantly under-represented Black patients. So while these treatments have resulted in dramatically improved outcomes for some patients, researchers from the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center wanted to understand whether that success holds true for patients who are Black.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued today an updated clinical guideline for physicians who use radiation therapy to treat patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. This update incorporates new data on patient selection and best practices from several practice-changing clinical trials published since the prior guideline was issued in 2020. The updated ASTRO guideline is published in Practical Radiation Oncology.

Tamoxifen is a common and important treatment to prevent breast cancer from recurring. A new study shows that variation in a patient’s gut microbiome can impact how effective the treatment is.

Keck School of Medicine of USC has embarked on a collaboration with Autobahn Labs, an accelerator for early-stage drug discovery, to identify and advance cutting-edge scientific findings into new therapies - with a special focus on critical unmet medical needs. By leveraging USC’s scientific expertise and Autobahn’s drug discovery capabilities, the collaboration is expected to accelerate the development of novel therapeutics that address critical medical needs and improve patient outcomes. As part of the agreement with USC, Autobahn will invest up to $5 million per selected project to support the development of new pharmaceuticals.

About The Study: In this cohort study, racial and ethnic disparities in early-onset (before 50 years of age) colorectal cancer mortality were evident, with the highest burden among Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander and non-Hispanic Black individuals. These results provide evidence of the role of social determinants of health in explaining these differences.