A major clinical trial confirms the value of giving carboplatin chemotherapy and standard radiation therapy together to patients with advanced oropharynx cancer. While the approach, called concurrent chemotherapy, causes more side effects than radiation treatment alone, patients receiving the concurrent therapy lived almost twice as long as the patients receiving radiation alone.

An important study establishes a technique called sentinel lymph node biopsy as a standard part of breast cancer surgery. The procedure involves removing the lymph node closest to the primary tumor – the "sentinel" node – and examining it under a microscope for evidence of cancer. If the sentinel node is cancer-free, no further lymph nodes are removed and the patient is spared the previous practice of removing a large number of nodes and possibly larger sections of the breast. This more conservative approach allows for easier recovery and reduces the risk of postoperative side effects such as lymphedema, a painful swelling of the arm. If cancer is found, additional nearby lymph nodes are assessed, and often removed, and the patient is treated with additional chemotherapy after surgery. Recently, studies have shown that for some women, removing just the sentinel node may be sufficient.

A surgical technique called sentinel lymph node biopsy becomes a less invasive way to assess whether early-stage melanoma has spread to surrounding lymph nodes. The procedure involves surgically removing the lymph node(s) that receives lymph drainage from the primary tumor – the "sentinel" node – and then examining it under a microscope for evidence of cancer. If the sentinel node is cancer-free, no further lymph nodes are removed and the patient is spared the previous practice of removing multiple lymph nodes. This more conservative approach is easier on patients and reduces the risk of post-operative side effects such as lymphedema. Later studies show that results of sentinel lymph node biopsy are one of the most important predictors of risk for melanoma recurrence. This information helps doctors determine which patients should be treated more aggressively to prevent their cancer from returning.

Surgeons develop and refine transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) – surgery performed via a scope inserted into the anus to remove early-stage rectal cancers less invasively. This approach is especially important as an option for patients who are too ill or elderly to undergo an open abdominal operation.

Surgeons refine the standard surgical approach for removing pancreatic tumors, called the "Whipple" procedure. The modified pylorus (stomach)-preserving approach takes less time to perform, requires a shorter hospital stay, and results in similar survival outcomes. Patients treated with this new approach also have a lower risk of long-term side effects, which can include gastrointestinal distress, ulcers, cramping and dizziness.

While radical surgery had been routinely used to treat breast cancer, a more limited surgical procedure called total mastectomy (removing just the breast tissue instead of removing the breast, chest wall muscle and underarm lymph nodes) is confirmed to be as effective for women with early-stage breast cancer. The procedure reduces pain after surgery and speeds recovery for patients. This advance paves the way for future breast-conserving surgeries.