The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) recently released the 13th edition of its annual edition of its Annual Progress Report citing some exciting advances in cancer research and treatment.
Key findings in the report show the following…
- With advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment, the age-adjusted overall cancer death rate in the U.S. fell by 33% between 1991 and 2020—an estimated 3.8 million cancer deaths averted.
- Breast cancer mortality declined by 43% between 1989 and 2020, leading to 460,000 fewer breast cancer deaths.
- The decrease in lung cancer mortality has accelerated from 0.9% a year between 1995 and 2005 to nearly 5% a year between 2014 and 2020.
- From August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 14 new anticancer therapeutics that continue to revolutionize treatment options for patients.
The answer to the questions of “will we ever cure cancer?” is “yes” we are making steady progress in many areas. Cancer, of course is not one disease but many, and progress in the treatment of lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma, and early-stage solid tumors such as breast, colon, and prostate cancer has been steady due to advances in the development of immunotherapy, precision cancer medicines, and blood based multi-gene and biomarker testing.
Genomic testing and advances in precision cancer medicines and immunotherapy have contributed to the improved outcomes seen in advanced lung and breast cancer cited above as well but more work needs to be done, especially for other advanced solid tumors, particularly those affecting the gastrointestinal tract and brain.
A look at the advances made in treating leukemia highlight the progress and role that sequential clinical trials play in improving survival. Prior to 1984 the major advance in curing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) was the development of stem cell transplantation. The Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to E. Donnell Thomas for developing this “curative therapy” at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. The therapy was used to treat the famous Opera Tenor Jose Carreras.
The slide shows how sequential advances in cancer care at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston steadily improve upon the early results obtained with stem cell transplantation through the development of sequential clinical trials incorporating new anti-cancer drugs into an overall treatment strategy. Today over 85% of individuals survive ALL following treatment with Blincyto, and Iclusig without using chemotherapy – only reserving stem cell transplant for those at highest risk or with recurrent leukemia.
Connect With Others for Support and information
CancerConnect was the first social network created for people with breast cancer. Founded by oncologists to support myeloma patients and their caregivers, over 40 million individuals have accessed CancerConnect programs since 1997. CancerConnect is used by leading cancer centers like Dana Farber, Roswell Park and The James at Ohio State to support their patients. Join the conversation, ask questions, share your experience, and learn how the best cancer centers are treating breast cancer from others. Share your experience, ask a question, or start a conversation by posting on CancerConnect.
References:
2. https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2023.41.36_suppl.398868
