ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

India Launches First Indigenous HPV Test Kits for Cervical Cancer Screening

a month ago

• Indigenously developed HPV test kits for cervical cancer screening were launched in Delhi, targeting the seven to eight most common cancer-causing HPV types specific to India's population. • The RTPCR-based diagnostic kits, validated through collaborative research led by AIIMS Delhi, offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional Pap smears and HPV DNA tests for national cancer screening programs. • With cervical cancer being the second most common cancer among Indian women and accounting for 25% of global mortality, these kits align with WHO's recommendation for HPV testing as the preferred screening method.

Chemoradiation Fails to Improve Survival in Resected Gallbladder Cancer: ACCELERATE Trial

4 months ago

• The phase 3 ACCELERATE trial found that adding chemoradiation (CRT) to chemotherapy did not improve relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with resected gallbladder cancer. • Median survival was 52.7 months, with a hazard ratio of 1.59 for RFS in the combination arm compared to chemotherapy alone. • The trial, though the first prospective study on adjuvant CRT in gallbladder cancer, requires a larger sample size to validate these findings due to incomplete accrual.

TOPSPIN Study Reveals Effective Single-Pill Combinations for Hypertension in South Asians

4 months ago

The TOPSPIN study, conducted by the Centre for Chronic Disease Control in collaboration with AIIMS and Imperial College London, has demonstrated the effectiveness of three double anti-hypertensive pill combinations in South Asian populations with uncontrolled hypertension. The study found that all three combinations were equally effective and safe, achieving blood pressure control in approximately 70% of participants. This research provides a significant advancement in hypertension management for South Asians, offering clinicians a roadmap for treatment.

Camrelizumab and Apatinib Show Promise in Neoadjuvant Treatment of TNBC

5 months ago

• Camrelizumab plus chemotherapy significantly improved pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in early or locally advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). • Apatinib combined with sintilimab and chemotherapy demonstrated a high pCR rate of 70.6% in early TNBC, suggesting synergistic effects. • Both camrelizumab and apatinib regimens exhibited manageable safety profiles, supporting their potential as new neoadjuvant therapeutic options. • Biomarker analysis in the apatinib study identified correlations between immune response and pCR, offering insights for predicting treatment efficacy.

Key Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: New Therapies, Treatment Strategies, and Long-Term Data

6 months ago

• Early, intensive 'top-down' therapy with TNF blockers plus immunomodulators shows superior outcomes compared to the traditional 'step-up' approach for newly diagnosed Crohn's disease. • Risankizumab (Skyrizi) and guselkumab (Tremfya) receive FDA approval for ulcerative colitis, offering new options for patients who have not responded well to conventional treatments. • Research indicates intensified infliximab dosing does not improve outcomes in steroid-refractory acute severe ulcerative colitis, suggesting a need for alternative strategies. • Long-term data reveals tulisokibart maintains clinical and endoscopic improvements in IBD patients, supporting its advancement to phase III trials.

EUS-Guided Celiac Plexus Block Shows Promise in Pancreatic Cancer Pain Management

7 months ago

• Endoscopic ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block (EUS-CPB) is being investigated for pain palliation in pancreatic cancer patients. • A multi-center, randomized controlled trial is underway to evaluate the efficacy of EUS-CPB compared to standard pain management. • The study aims to determine if EUS-CPB can reduce pain intensity and improve quality of life for patients with pancreatic cancer. • Preliminary results suggest EUS-CPB could offer a valuable alternative or adjunct to traditional pain control methods.

BART Trial: Adjuvant Radiotherapy Shows Tolerable Toxicity Profile in Bladder Cancer

8 months ago

• The BART trial investigated adjuvant radiotherapy (ART) following radical cystectomy and chemotherapy in high-risk muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). • Results indicated that ART did not significantly increase severe acute or late toxicity compared to observation alone. • Grade 2 acute toxicities, mainly bowel-related, were more frequent in the ART arm but resolved without intervention. • The study suggests ART is a safe and tolerable option for MIBC, with ongoing assessment for oncological efficacy.

Gemcitabine Shows Comparable Efficacy to Mitomycin C in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

8 months ago

• A randomized phase II trial compared intravesical gemcitabine to mitomycin C after resection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). • Recurrence rates and time to recurrence were similar between gemcitabine and mitomycin C groups after one year of follow-up. • Gemcitabine instillation was slightly less costly than mitomycin C, with comparable adverse event profiles observed in both groups. • These findings suggest gemcitabine as a potential alternative to mitomycin C for immediate post-resection instillation in NMIBC.