December 2025 – Page 2 – OncWonk – Dr Bier's Oncology Research Reviews

Antioxidant supplementation and breast cancer prognosis in postmenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy

December 20, 2025

| Cancer - Breast, Chemotherapy, HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy, Supplements

Comment: While the headline of this study suggests a clear danger, the methodology reveals significant issues which makes the results difficult to trust. They ‘lump’ biologically distinct agents—grouping trace minerals like selenium with high-dose Vitamin C—which renders the ‘antioxidant’ variable clinically meaningless. This is the same mistake done in this trial, which is really a […]

NSAID analgesic ketorolac used perioperatively may suppress early breast cancer relapse: particular relevance to triple negative subgroup

December 17, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancer - Breast, Medications - General Pharmaceuticals

Comment: This study is not the only one showing NSAIDs (vs tylenol) for pain management around surgery has a potential upside. However what this ones suggests is that ketorolac specifically may be a better option than other NSAIDS. that a standard perioperative analgesic acts as a potent anti-cancer agent by ‘abrogating’ the specific inflammatory signal […]

Synergistic effect of fasting-mimicking diet and vitamin C against KRAS mutated cancers

December 16, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancer - Colon, Cancers, Supplements

Comment: While the synergy described here is scientifically elegant, we must contextualize the ‘vitamin’ label. The efficacy observed in this study relies on massive pharmacological dosing—equivalent to approximately 22 grams administered daily in an average human. This magnitude of exposure is not really possible to attain from oral supplementation, which begs the question – does […]

Vitamin C intake and colorectal cancer survival according to KRAS and BRAF mutation: a prospective study in two US cohorts

December 14, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancer - Colon

Comment: This study provides a fascinating glimpse into the potential of ‘precision nutrition’—where efficacy may depend entirely on the tumor’s specific genomic profile which we now have information on. The finding that Vitamin C intake improves survival specifically and only in KRAS and BRAF mutated tumors aligns perfectly with the known biology: these mutations upregulate […]

Perioperative NSAIDs and Long-Term Outcomes After cancer Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

December 14, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancers, Medications - General Pharmaceuticals, Treatments – Conventional

Comment: This is a weak study in numerous ways, with large heterogenicity and a significant results borne of several non-significant studies which always makes it suspect. And if a patient has no contraindications, choosing an NSAID over acetaminophen if pain control is needed seems like the clear winner. The Wonk Debate – Audio Critique & […]

Breast cancer patients enrolled in the Swiss mammography screening program “donna” demonstrate prolonged survival

December 13, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancer - Breast, Mammography - Mammogram

Comment: While this data from the ‘donna’ program shows a statistically significant survival advantage for screened patients, we can’t conflate ‘survival’ with ‘reduced mortality.’ The study design focuses on women already diagnosed with breast cancer, which inherently makes the results susceptible to lead-time bias—where earlier detection creates an illusion of longer survival without necessarily changing […]

The multitargeted drug ivermectin: from an antiparasitic agent to a repositioned cancer drug

December 13, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancers, Miscellaneous, Repurposed Drugs - Anti-parasitics, Metformin

Comment: While the mechanism of repurposing ivermectin is mechanistically sound, we must be careful not to conflate “safe for occasional parasitic use” with “safe for chronic oncologic use.” The authors rely on a safety profile established at low, intermittent doses (150–200 mcg/kg). However, achieving the antitumor concentrations cited here likely requires sustained dosing up to […]

A systematic review of elastography, electrical impedance scanning, and digital infrared thermography for breast cancer screening and diagnosis

December 13, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancer - Breast, Mammography - Mammogram

Comment: While the appeal of ‘radiation-free’ screening is undeniable, the evidence presented in this review should give anyone recommending thermography pause. The extreme variability in diagnostic accuracy—with sensitivity swinging wildly from 25% to 97%—makes these tools clinically unpredictable. Crucially, the complete absence of data on asymptomatic women means we are effectively flying blind if we […]

Digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) of breast lesions: sensitivity and specificity of detection of primary breast cancers

December 13, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancer - Breast, Mammography - Mammogram, Screening

Comment: Although the concept of thermograph sounds great, the results are not. A fundamental conflict exists between the “health halo” surrounding digital thermography and the reality of the outcomes. Proponents argue that DITI can identify early metabolic shifts, yet the data confirms that it fails at the most basic requirement of a screening tool: identification of […]

Hyperglycemia and Chemoresistance in Breast Cancer: From Cellular Mechanisms to Treatment Response

December 9, 2025

| No Comments

| Cancer - Breast, Cancers, Chemotherapy

Comment: A solid, though non-systematic, review that effectively compiles preclinical evidence showing how hyperglycemia drives chemoresistance via metabolic reprogramming (the Warburg effect). Crucially, it reminds us that aggressive glycemic control is a clinically relevant intervention. The Wonk Debate – Audio Critique & Clinical Commentary: Summary: Clinical Bottom Line This narrative review synthesizes preclinical and clinical […]