Türkiye battles multiple wildfires, hundreds evacuated
Türkiye continues battling large-scale forest fires across multiple provinces, with hundreds evacuated and extensive firefighting efforts underway since June 27.
A groundbreaking study presented at ASCO reveals that AstraZeneca’s experimental pill camizestrant, when used based on blood test results, can halve the risk of breast cancer progression or death—potentially reshaping treatment for patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer
AstraZeneca’s experimental drug camizestrant significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death in patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer by 56%, when prescribed based on early blood test results rather than visible tumor growth, experts announced Sunday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago.
The international trial marks a major shift in cancer treatment strategy by using liquid biopsy—a blood test that detects ESR1 gene mutations indicating early resistance to standard hormone therapies. Camizestrant, a selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), was shown to be effective in patients with early treatment resistance, even before tumors could be detected via imaging.
“This is going to be very impactful for our patients,” said Dr. Hope Rugo, head of breast medical oncology at City of Hope, California. “We’re staying ahead of the curve rather than reacting after the disease has already progressed,” added Dr. Eleonora Teplinsky, another ASCO expert.
The Phase 3 clinical trial involved 3,256 women, all previously treated with aromatase inhibitors and CDK4/6 inhibitors like Pfizer’s Ibrance or Novartis’ Kisqali. Among them, 315 women who developed ESR1 mutations were selected for a randomized trial. Those who switched to camizestrant plus CDK4/6 inhibitors experienced a median 16 months of progression-free survival compared to 9.2 months in the control group that continued standard therapy.
Camizestrant is not yet FDA-approved, but based on these findings, it may soon be adopted as part of a new treatment paradigm for early intervention in breast cancer progression.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot acknowledged that integrating liquid biopsy into routine practice would initially be challenging but emphasized it as the future of cancer care.
In a separate announcement at the same ASCO meeting, another AstraZeneca drug, Imfinzi (durvalumab), showed promise in improving outcomes for early-stage stomach and esophageal cancer patients. When added to chemotherapy before and after surgery, Imfinzi reduced the risk of cancer recurrence, progression, or death by 29%.
Both sets of results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and are expected to have lasting implications for the future of oncology.
Iran launched 18 ballistic missiles late Sunday targeting the U.S. military’s Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American installation in the Middle East.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
The U.S. Embassy in Qatar has advised American citizens to shelter in place amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, as part of a broader global security alert issued by Washington.
France will impose its toughest outdoor smoking restrictions starting Monday, banning smoking at beaches, parks, playgrounds, and bus stops.
Scientists in Australia and the U.S. have developed an AI tool that could transform cancer care by revealing the hidden diversity of tumour cells and guiding more targeted therapies.
Singapore has launched its largest-ever study on paediatric food allergies, aiming to better understand and address the growing burden of allergic reactions among children.
Bill Gates says his foundation will not compensate for funding shortfalls caused by U.S. and UK aid cuts to global vaccination efforts, warning of rising child mortality as a result.
The world is facing a health financing emergency as global health investment risks falling to its lowest level in a decade, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned.
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