[Oncology].

The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) determined that there were twelve major advances in medical oncology last year. Endocrine-responsive breast cancer benefits from tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor taken for more than five years. Zoledronic acid, a bisphosphonate, reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence in premenopausal women undergoing hormonal-suppression therapy. Bevacizumab was for use in combination with paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer Cetuximab added to chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer patients increased survival by up to 21%. Adjuvant gemcitabine doubled disease-free survival in pancreas cancer. Adjuvant pegylated interferon cuts the risk of recurrent melanoma by 18%. Bendamustine abolishes signs of activity of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 30% of patients. The HPV vaccine--now approved for prevention of cervical cancer--might have a role in preventing oral cancers and a review of 45 studies showed that oral contraceptives reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.