prostate-cancer

Adding radiotherapy to hormonal therapy significantly improves prostate cancer survival—but increases complications.

Meta-analysis of 8 studies (6 RCTs, 2 cohort studies; n=18,456 patients) found ADT + RT significantly improved OS (HR 0.75), PFS (HR 0.41), and PSM (HR 0.52) compared to ADT alone. Subgroup analysis showed greatest benefit in locally advanced or node-positive disease. However, combination associated with increased risks of genitourinary (RR 1.80), gastrointestinal (RR 4.18), and sexual dysfunction (RR 1.10) complications.

Key Findings

ADT + RT improved OS (HR 0.75), PFS (HR 0.41), and PSM (HR 0.52) vs. ADT alone
Greatest OS benefit in locally advanced/node-positive disease (HR 0.66)
Increased risks: GU (RR 1.80), GI (RR 4.18), sexual dysfunction (RR 1.10) complications
Evidence quality: moderate for survival, low for complications
Results most applicable to high-risk non-metastatic and cN+ disease

Implications

ADT + RT is the preferred approach for locally advanced or node-positive prostate cancer where survival benefit is greatest. The combination should be weighed carefully in unselected metastatic patients.

Caveats

Meta-analysis of heterogeneous studies; abstract-only. Evidence certainty moderate for survival outcomes. Optimal timing and patient subgroup selection need further research.

Source: Journal of medicine and life — 2026-02-01

Landmark DCIS trial, CRC microbiome & AML combos

Two themes cut across this week’s 236 posts. The first is de-escalation: researchers are building rigorous evidence that patients can safely do less — skip lymph node surgery, forgo radiotherapy, watch pre-invasive lesions instead of cutting them out. The landmark result here is a randomized trial confirming that active surveillance

Colorectal Cancer Microbiome Discovery Platform

Analysis of 9,000+ patients revealed that only colorectal cancer — not other cancer types — consistently harbors distinct microbial communities, suggesting the gut microbiome has a unique relationship with colorectal carcinogenesis that could be exploited for diagnostics and treatment.

GBM Tumor Microenvironment Drug Target Atlas

Non-cancerous brain support cells were found to promote glioblastoma growth through paracrine signaling, and blocking this communication dramatically slowed tumor growth — revealing that GBM's microenvironment contains targetable vulnerabilities that are being systematically overlooked by drug…

BET Inhibitor Target Selectivity Database

BRD2 and BRD4 have fundamentally distinct functions — BRD2 prepares genes for activation while BRD4 triggers transcription — meaning that pan-BET inhibitors have been disrupting gene regulation in counterproductive ways, and the field now needs selective BRD4 inhibitors.