The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has conducted a comprehensive analysis of cancer statistics for different age groups in the United States. The study reveals that between 2010 and 2019, the incidence rates of 14 cancer types increased among people under the age of 50. These cancer types include breast cancer, colorectal cancer, kidney cancer, uterine cancer, and others.

Lead investigator Meredith Shiels, Ph.D., notes that this study provides a starting point for understanding which cancers are increasing among individuals under 50. The causes of these increases are likely to be specific to each type of cancer, including changes in cancer risk factors, screening or detection methods, and clinical diagnosis or coding.

The researchers analyzed incidence and mortality trends for 33 cancer types using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s United States Cancer Statistics database and national death certificate data. They examined six age groups: three early-onset (15-29 years, 20-39 years, and 40-49 years) and three older-onset (50-59 years, 60-69 years, and 70-79 years).

The study found that the incidence of nine cancer types increased in at least one of the younger age groups, including female breast, colorectal, kidney, testicular, uterine, pancreatic, and three types of lymphoma. Although death rates did not increase in early-onset age groups for most of these cancers, researchers observed concerning increases in rates of colorectal and uterine cancer deaths at younger ages.

Only five cancer types increased in incidence among one of the younger age groups but not among any of the older age groups: melanoma, cervical cancer, stomach cancer, myeloma, and cancers of the bones and joints.

To better understand the magnitude of these increases, researchers estimated how many additional people were diagnosed with early-onset cancers in 2019 compared to expected diagnoses based on rates in 2010. The largest absolute increases were seen for female breast cancer (4,800 additional cases), followed by colorectal (2,100), kidney (1,800), uterine (1,200), and pancreatic cancers (500).

The researchers speculate that risk factors such as increasing obesity may have contributed to some of the increases in early-onset cancer incidence. Changes in cancer screening guidelines, advances in imaging technologies, and increased surveillance of high-risk individuals may also have led to earlier cancer diagnoses, potentially contributing to rising rates among younger age groups.

To more fully understand and address these increasing rates, future studies should examine trends in early-onset cancers across demographics and geography in the U.S. and internationally. Additional research is also needed to better understand the risk factors that are particularly relevant to younger people.

Sleep apnea, a condition that causes repeated disruptions to breathing during sleep, has been linked to cognitive decline and memory-related brain changes in older adults. A study published online in Neurology found that the severity of drops in oxygen levels during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was strongly associated with degeneration of brain regions associated with memory.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when throat muscles relax during sleep, blocking the airway and causing a person to wake up repeatedly to breathe. This disrupted sleep pattern can lower oxygen levels, which in turn can damage small blood vessels in the brain.

The study included 37 people with an average age of 73 who did not have cognitive impairment. Researchers measured their oxygen levels throughout the night during all stages of sleep, including REM sleep. Participants also had brain scans to measure brain structure and took a memory test before and after sleep.

The results showed that lower oxygen levels during REM sleep were associated with higher levels of white matter hyperintensities in the brain, which can be caused by injury to small blood vessels. Having a blood oxygen level of 90% or lower is cause for concern. The study also found that having more white matter hyperintensities was linked to decreased volume and reduced thickness in areas associated with memory.

“This study may partially explain how obstructive sleep apnea contributes to cognitive decline associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease,” said study author Bryce A. Mander, PhD. “It highlights the importance of addressing sleep disorders as a potential risk factor for cognitive decline.”

The study has some limitations, including that participants were primarily white and Asian people, so results may not be the same for other populations.

Overall, the findings suggest that sleep apnea is associated with cognitive decline and memory-related brain changes in older adults. Addressing sleep disorders and maintaining good sleep hygiene can help mitigate these risks.

The article describes a groundbreaking study that has shown promising results in treating lymphoma patients who have resisted multiple rounds of other cancer treatments, including commercially available CAR T cell therapies. The new enhanced CAR T cell therapy, dubbed huCART19-IL18, was found to be highly effective in 81% of patients and resulted in complete remission in 52%. This is a significant improvement over traditional CAR T cell therapies, which have been shown to result in long-term remission in only around 50% of patients.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, used a new process that shortens the manufacturing time for the CAR T cells to just three days. This means that patients with aggressive, fast-growing cancers can begin CAR T cell therapy quicker than is currently possible with standard manufacturing times of nine to 14 days.

The addition of interleukin 18 (IL18) to the CAR T cells enhanced their ability to attack cancer cells and protected them from immune suppression and T cell exhaustion. The researchers also found that the type of CAR T cell therapy patients previously received may impact the efficacy of huCART19-IL18.

This study represents a significant development in the ongoing evolution of CAR T cell therapy, as it is the first time a cytokine-enhanced CAR T has been tested in patients with blood cancer. The researchers believe that incorporating cytokine secretion into CAR T cell design will have broad implications for enhancing cellular therapies, even beyond blood cancers.

The study has already led to several other clinical trials being planned, including studies for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Another trial for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma using a similar IL18-armored CAR T cell product is currently enrolling patients. On the manufacturing side, the team is partnering with a Penn spinout company to improve the process for how these CAR T cells are created and expanded in the laboratory before being reinfused into the patient.

Overall, this study has shown promise in treating lymphoma patients who have resisted multiple rounds of other cancer treatments, and further research is needed to fully understand its potential.