Christina Bennett, MS

Christina Bennett, MS, is an independent medical journalist who writes about a variety of medical topics, including oncology, health care policy, and cell and gene therapies. She has a bachelor's degree in biomedical science and a master’s degree in science and technology journalism, both from Texas A&M University. She is a member of the Association of Healthcare Journalists and the National Association of Science Writers and was one of a dozen journalists selected for the 2017 National Cancer Reporting Fellowships.

All articles by Christina Bennett, MS

Gynecologic Cancer

PARP Inhibitor Maintenance Improves PFS in Patients with Platinum-Sensitive, Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Christina Bennett, MS

May 17, 2021

Maintenance with a PARP inhibitor benefited all subsets of patients

Median overall survival was 42 months in patients who received sorafenib and 13 months in patients who received chemotherapy alone.

Hematologic Cancers

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients With Half-Matched Donors See Improved Outcomes

Christina Bennett, MS

May 13, 2021

Outcomes have improved during the past decade for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who undergo haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation.

MRI of glioblastoma multiforme / Science Source

Brain Cancer

Early Radiotherapy Preserves Vision in Certain Children With Glioma

Christina Bennett, MS

May 13, 2021

Early radiotherapy may preserve visual acuity for certain children with sporadic optic pathway/hypothalamic gliomas.

Colored x-ray of a large cancerous bladder tumor (white) / Science Source

Gastrointestinal Cancers

High Body Mass Index Is a Risk Factor for Gallbladder and Biliary Tract Cancer Mortality

Christina Bennett, MS

May 11, 2021

A decrease in obesity rates may reduce the burden of gallbladder and biliary tract cancer worldwide, according to the results of a study.

Renal Cell Carcinoma

Active Surveillance Deemed “Justifiable” Option for Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Christina Bennett, MS

May 6, 2021

For real-world patients with mRCC, active surveillance may be a worthwhile alternative to immediate systemic therapy.

The combination may be an attractive option for some, but further research is needed to target the t

Skin Cancer

Risk for Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Increases With Age

Christina Bennett, MS

April 15, 2021

Among patients younger than 49 years, those with actinic keratosis had a nearly 7-times greater likelihood of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma than patients without actinic keratosis.

Low levels of human ß-defensin 1 in sperm may explain some of the common causes of male infertility.

Pediatric Cancer

Youth With Cancer May Need Parental Help When Deciding Sperm Banking

Christina Bennett, MS

April 8, 2021

After a cancer diagnosis, male adolescents may be unprepared to make decisions about fertility preservation independently and instead need parental involvement.

Increased travel burden is associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Upfront Low-Dose Chemo-Immunotherapy Safe, Effective for Elderly With CLL

Christina Bennett, MS

April 7, 2021

A study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide combined with rituximab for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma in elderly patients and those with comorbid conditions.

Investigators assessed sodium bicarbonate’s viability as a pharmacologic strategy in mouse models and humans with acute myeloid leukemia.

Pediatric Cancer

Blinatumomab Improves Outcomes in Children With High-Risk B-ALL

Christina Bennett, MS

April 7, 2021

A multicenter, randomized, phase 3 trial compared blinatumomab with intensive multidrug consolidation chemotherapy in children with high-risk, first-relapse B-cell ALL.

CTA asked Dr. Patnaik about the evolving understanding of CMML’s molecular underpinnings, diagnosis,

General Oncology

Sequencing-Directed Therapy Found to Benefit Patients With Advanced Cancers

Christina Bennett, MS

April 6, 2021

The Michigan Oncology Sequencing Program involved patients with advanced solid tumors who underwent next-generation sequencing to identify variants and potentially guide treatment.

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