MAYO CLINIC

Exact Sciences presents data at ACG 2024 showing Cologuard Plus™ as the most efficient noninvasive colorectal cancer screening strategy, with high sensitivity and specificity for both cancer and precancer, leading to the highest life-years gained and the fewest colonoscopies.

Mark R. Litzow, MD, discusses the ECOG-ACRIN E1910 trial, evaluating blinatumomab (Blincyto) added to chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone for B-cell precursor ALL. The study enrolled 488 patients aged 30-70, achieving an 81% complete remission rate. Patients were assessed for MRD status; MRD-negative patients were randomized to receive either conventional consolidation chemotherapy or chemotherapy plus blinatumomab. About 20% of patients underwent allogeneic transplant if indicated.

Cardiac surgery during pregnancy is rare but necessary in some cases; a 40-year Mayo Clinic study found low maternal mortality but significant fetal mortality and high preterm deliveries. Delivery before surgery may improve fetal outcomes. Preconception counseling and multidisciplinary management are crucial for high-risk patients.

Second Missouri bird flu case confirmed with no known exposure to farm animals; CDC reports no human-to-human spread, but concern grows over potential transmission.

A study in PLOS One finds that standing on one leg for 30 seconds is a better indicator of healthy aging than grip or knee strength tests. Balance, crucial for preventing falls, can be improved through practice.

Four leading cancer research organizations in the U.S. and Canada open patient enrollment for myeloMATCH, a precision medicine clinical trial portfolio for AML and MDS. The trials, led by the NCI's NCTN, aim to accelerate precision medicine in myeloid malignancies and develop new therapies. myeloMATCH offers advanced biomarker testing at no cost, with results returned within three days, and is structured into four tiers based on the patient's treatment stage.

Four leading cancer research organizations in the U.S. and Canada open patient enrollment for myeloMATCH, a precision medicine clinical trial portfolio for adults with AML or MDS. The trials, designed by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, Canadian Cancer Trials Group, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and SWOG Cancer Research Network, aim to accelerate precision medicine in myeloid malignancies and develop new therapies. Three treatment trials are now open, with more in development, and researchers hope to enroll 5,000 or more patients. myeloMATCH offers advanced biomarker testing at no cost, with results returned within three days, and structured into four tiers based on the patient's treatment journey.

A clinical trial is testing if benfotiamine, converted to Vitamin B1, can benefit Alzheimer's patients by potentially slowing symptom progression, offering a safer, more cost-effective option. The BenfoTeam trial, administered by MedVadis, involves over 400 patients across 50 U.S. sites, aiming to determine if the drug can reverse or improve cognitive function. Alzheimer's patients like Tim Muther participate hoping to contribute to a future cure.

Telo Genomics Corp. presented TeloViewSMM's superior performance over the 20-2-20 score in identifying high and low-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) patients at the IMS 2024 annual meeting. The test, analyzed on a 160-patient cohort, offers high sensitivity and specificity for SMM stratification, addressing a critical unmet need. Dr. Shaji Kumar presented the results, highlighting TeloViewSMM's potential for non-invasive, periodic use via blood tests, with an estimated market of over 500,000 tests per year.

Four farm workers in Washington are presumed to have contracted bird flu from culling infected poultry, marking the state's first human H5N1 cases. The workers experienced mild symptoms and are being treated with antiviral medication. This raises concerns about potential human-to-human transmission, as similar cases have been reported in California and Missouri, where health care workers developed mild respiratory symptoms after exposure to a bird flu patient.