December 5: The Week in Cancer News

Every week, the editors of Cancer Today magazine bring you the top news for cancer patients from around the internet. Stay up to date with the latest in cancer research and care by subscribing to our e-newsletter.

HPV Vaccines Found Effective and Safe in Research Reviews

Two large research reviews show that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are safe and effective at preventing cervical cancer. One review included 225 observational studies, representing more than 132 million people from around the world. Women who were vaccinated before age 16 have an 80% lower risk of developing cervical cancer. The second study, which looked at 60 randomized controlled trials, found a 30% reduction in girls or women who tested positive for abnormal cells on the cervix that were related to HPV infection and can potentially progress to cancer compared with unvaccinated peers. When looking specifically at abnormal cells linked to strains of HPV targeted by the vaccine, they found a 60% reduction. In both reviews, researchers noted that common short-term side effects could include mild pain or swelling around the injection site. “The vaccine works. Full stop,” cervical cancer researcher Linda Eckert told NBC News. “The vaccine is safe. Full stop.” Eckert, an obstetrician and gynecologist at UW Medicine, was not involved in either study. In November, an Australian cancer research organization reported there were no new cases of cervical cases in 2021 for women under age 25 for the first year since they began tracking diagnoses in 1982, NBC News reported. In addition, Scotland reported no new cases of cervical cancer in women fully vaccinated.

FDA Approves Immunotherapy for Stomach Cancers

The Food and Drug Administration approved the immunotherapy drug Imfinzi (durvalumab) to be given with chemotherapy before and after surgery to treat gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer. This is the first immunotherapy regimen approved for administration before surgery in these cancer types, Healio reported. The agency based this approval on the phase III MATTERHORN trial in 948 patients. Patients receiving Imfinzi along with a combination of chemotherapy drugs before and after surgery were 29% more likely to live without cancer progressing two years after treatment than patients receiving a placebo with chemotherapy and surgery. Gastric cancer, also called stomach cancer, forms in the lining of the stomach, and gastroesophageal junction cancer forms where the stomach connects with the esophagus. In previous coverage of the MATTERHORN trial results, lead author Yelena Janjigian, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, told Cancer Today it was notable that Imfinzi improved outcomes in cases with different biomarkers and tumor types. “For patients, this offers a meaningful step forward: better long-term outcomes without major added toxicity,” Janjigian said.

Breast Density Information Can Increase Confusion, Anxiety

Women who received notifications about breast density after mammography reported more anxiety and confusion compared with women who didn’t receive breast density notifications, according to research from Australia. Dense breast tissue can look similar to cancer on mammograms, which can camouflage tumors. Women with dense breasts may also have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. The study, published in BMJ, included 2,401 women who had been found to have dense breasts through mammogram screening in Australia between September 2023 and July 2024 and who were divided into three groups: those whose mammogram results did not include breast density findings, those who received their mammogram and breast density results accompanied by written information about breast density, and those who received the results with a link to an informational video. Four to six weeks after screening, researchers sent participants surveys about their feelings and plans to follow up on the findings with their health care providers. Women who were told they had dense breasts were about 30% more likely to report feeling anxiety than those who were not told about their breast density. Compared with women who were not told about breast density, those who received written information were 92% more likely to report feeling confused, and those directed to the informational video were 76% more likely to report confusion. Women who were told they had dense breasts were more likely to say they planned to speak with their general practitioner about the results, the Guardian reported. “Knowing personal risk of breast cancer could allow people to make informed decisions about their own breast health. But studies like this one are really important to understand the impact of informing people about personal risk factors like breast density, including on a person’s mental health,” Melanie Sturtevant, associate director of policy, evidence and influencing at Breast Cancer Now, a nonprofit that supports research for breast cancer in the United Kingdom, told the Guardian. In 2024, the U.S. required medical practices to include breast density notifications with breast cancer screening results. However, there are no established guidelines about whether women with dense breasts should receive additional screening.

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