Report Recognizes One Particular Area of Clinical Cancer Research That Has Made Significant, Standout Progress Over the Last Year
Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, Co-Executive Editor of Clinical Cancer Advances 2017
(Alexandria, VA, Wednesday, February 1, 2017) – In the lead up to World Cancer Day on Saturday, February 4, 2017, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released its annual report on progress against cancer, Clinical Cancer Advances 2017.
In the report, ASCO names the Advance of the Year — one particular area of clinical cancer research that has made significant progress over the last year, and holds promise for more and more patients with cancer across the globe: Immunotherapy 2.0: Expanding Use and Refining Patient Selection.
In just one year, the FDA has approved five new uses for cancer immunotherapy, expanding treatment options and improving lives for patients with advanced and early-stage cancers. Immunotherapy 2.0 also represents the next wave of discovery, focused on understanding tumors at the molecular level to better select patients who are most likely to benefit from immunotherapy.
In addition to this game-changing area of research, Clinical Cancer Advances 2017 details advances across the cancer care continuum, from prevention to treatment and survivorship. Advances included in the report range from new genetic tests that may help people lower their risk of certain cancers to new treatments that target molecules that help cancers grow. Looking to the future, the report outlines emerging research on using the so-called liquid biopsies in cancer care.
The report highlights key policy issues and developments that will impact the future of U.S. cancer research and the pace of progress, including national efforts such as former Vice President Joe Biden’s cancer moonshot program.
Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, co-executive editor of the report, helps listeners understand how the nation’s investment in cancer research has led to decreased cancer rates and better patient care, as well as:
- How immunotherapy works and early clues as to when it works best.
- New cancer prevention and screening strategies, such as vitamin that lowers the risk of skin cancer.
- Why federal funding is so important and how it helps make research advances, like many of those featured in the Clinical Cancer Advances report, possible.
Now in its 12th year, Clinical Cancer Advances 2017 will be released online at asco.org/CCA and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.