News
Most People Trust AI Less Than Physicians, Survey Finds
Two national surveys examining trust and acceptance of medical artificial intelligence (AI) have found that while most people are reluctant to use AI tools to diagnose their health condition, they see potential in the technology’s ability to help diagnose cancer. The findings, published by Sobolev e...
ESTRO 2025: Major Advances in Radiotherapy for Anal and Rectal Cancers
The ASCO Post Staff
In May in Vienna, five studies presented at ESTRO (European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology) 2025 showcased how radiotherapy is reshaping the landscape for anal and rectal cancers. From reduced-dose treatments to cutting-edge combinations with immunotherapy and chemotherapy, these innovations ...
Everolimus Plus Lanreotide vs Everolimus Alone in Aggressive Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Caroline Helwick
In patients with aggressive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, first-line treatment with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus and the somatostatin analog lanreotide more than doubled the median progression-free survival for patients vs everolimus alone, in the phase III JCOG1901 (STARTER-NET) tr...
Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: 2- vs 8-Week Course
The ASCO Post Staff
The phase III HYPO-RT-PC trial has shown that a 2-week course of radiotherapy for localized prostate cancer—also known as ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy—may be just as safe and effective as the traditional 8-week schedule—even 10 years after treatment. The findings were presented at the 2025 Eu...
Preoperative Endocrine Therapy for Older Women With Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer: Impact on Radiotherapy Decisions
Providing a brief, 90-day course of preoperative endocrine therapy to older women with early-stage, estrogen receptor–positive, invasive breast cancer may significantly alter both patient preferences and physician recommendations regarding adjuvant radiation therapy, according to data presented duri...
Number of Cancer Survivors in the United States Reaches 18.6 Million and Projected to Exceed 22 Million by 2035
The ASCO Post Staff
The number of people living with a history of cancer in the United States is estimated at 18.6 million as of January 1, 2025, and projected to exceed 22 million by 2035, according to a new report, Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Statistics, 2025, led by the American Cancer Society (ACS). The study...
Radiation Therapy: Hypofractionation vs Conventional Fractionation in Patients With Breast Cancer Planning Breast Reconstruction
Postmastectomy radiation therapy may be significantly shortened for many patients planning breast reconstruction, according to data from a large phase III trial (RT CHARM, Alliance A221505).1 Investigators reported that hypofractionated (short-course) radiation therapy was found to be noninferior to...
Early Research Evaluates Association Between Diet and Lung Cancer Risk
The ASCO Post Staff
The long-term impact of diet on health has been well studied, leading to guidance about limiting the consumption of red meat, alcohol, and other foods associated with an increased risk of malignancies such as colorectal, breast, and liver cancers. Researchers at the University of Florida Health ev...
Final Overall Survival Data: Amivantamab-vmjw Plus Lazertinib vs Osimertinib in EGFR-Mutated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Susan Reckling, MA
The phase III MARIPOSA trial was a head-to-head comparison of the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor osimertinib and the combination of the bispecific EGF receptor–directed and MET receptor–directed monoclonal antibody amivantamab-vmjw and the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor lazertinib in the first-line ...
Early-Onset Breast, Colorectal, Melanoma, Thyroid, Testicular, and Other Cancers Are on the Rise in the United States
A study by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) investigating cancer incidence in the United States between 2010 and 2019 has found that breast, colorectal, endometrial, pancreatic, and kidney cancers are becoming more common among individuals younger than age 50. Although the study di...
ASTRO Survey Data Illustrate Impact of Continued Medicare Cuts on Cancer Care
The ASCO Post Staff
Recent national survey data from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) have shown that further cuts to Medicare reimbursement for radiation therapy would increase patient wait times for cancer treatment and force clinic downsizing. Nearly all (96%) of the 675 physicians responding to t...
ASH Studies Bolster Support for Menin Inhibitor in Acute Leukemia
Caroline Helwick
The recent approval of the oral menin inhibitor revumenib brought much-needed treatment to patients with a challenging subset of disease: adults and children with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia harboring a lysine methyltransferase 2A gene (KMT2A) translocation or rearrangement. Approval was b...
2024 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer Finds Mortality Rates Continue to Decline
Overall deaths from cancer over the past 2 decades have steadily declined in both men and women in the United States, according to the 2024 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, which was published by Recinda L. Sherman, MPH, PhD, ODS-C, of the North American Association of Central ...
Proton Therapy and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer
Proton beam therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were found to offer equivalent quality-of-life outcomes for patients with localized prostate cancer, according to data from the PARTIQoL trial. This phase III trial showed no measurable differences between the two approaches in ter...
Benefit Suggested for Early Treatment of Advanced-Stage, Very Low–Tumor Burden Follicular Lymphoma
Caroline Helwick
In the phase III JCOG1411/FLORA trial of patients with untreated advanced-stage, very low–tumor burden follicular lymphoma, rituximab induction delayed disease progression to high–tumor burden follicular lymphoma and delayed the initiation of cytotoxic chemotherapy, according to Japanese investigato...
inMIND Trial: Tafasitamab Plus Lenalidomide and Rituximab in Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma
The addition of tafasitamab, a CD19 monoclonal antibody, to the commonly used lenalidomide and rituximab backbone significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, according to data presented during the 2024 American Society of Hematology (...
Study Finds No Clear Evidence That Red Wine Mitigates Cancer Risk
The ASCO Post Staff
The consumption of alcohol has been associated with increased cancer risk, but red wine has been perceived by some as a healthier choice compared to white wine and other types of alcohol. Investigators evaluated whether the anticancer properties of red wine were greater in a recent study published b...
Cancer Mortality Rates Continue to Decline, Incidence Rates in Women Rise, and Racial Disparities Persist
Jo Cavallo
The findings in the American Cancer Society (ACS) annual report, Cancer Statistics, 2025,1 showed a mixed trend in cancer incidence and mortality rates. Although cancer mortality declined by 34% from 1991 to 2022 in the United States—largely because of smoking reductions, earlier detection, and impr...
Trastuzumab Duocarmazine in Previously Treated HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
The ASCO Post Staff
The studies summarized below were reported online over the past month in The ASCO Post, generating a high number of visitors. For comprehensive reviews of these studies and more, visit ASCOPost.com. Trastuzumab Duocarmazine in Previously Treated HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer In the phase...
Neoadjuvant Therapy Yields Notable Outcomes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
The ASCO Post Staff
The studies summarized below were reported online over the past month in The ASCO Post, generating a high number of visitors. For comprehensive news of these studies and more, visit ASCOPost.com. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Phase III KEYNOTE-522 The phase III KEYNOTE-522 trial has significan...
ACS Report: Despite Overall Decreases in Breast Cancer Mortality, Incidence Rising in Key Groups
The ASCO Post Staff
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently released Breast Cancer Statistics, 2024, the organization’s biennial update on breast cancer occurrence and trends in the United States. The new report finds breast cancer mortality rates overall have dropped by 44% since 1989, averting approximately 517,90...
Study Finds Fewer Than Half of Accelerated Approval Drugs Show Benefit in Overall Survival or Quality of Life Within 5 Years
In 1992, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) instituted the Accelerated Approval regulations, which allow drugs that treat serious conditions, including cancer, and fill an unmet need to be approved early based on a surrogate endpoint.1 However, any drug approved under this pathway is still ...
Study Explores How Partner Relationships Impact the Well-Being of Breast Cancer Survivors
The ASCO Post Staff
Diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer place significant stress on survivors, their partners, and their relationships. A recent study from researchers at the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University (IU)’s Schools of Nursing, Science, and Medicine is one of the first to examine the impact of r...
Atezolizumab/Cabozantinib vs Docetaxel in Previously Treated Metastatic NSCLC
Matthew Stenger
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Joel Neal, MD, PhD, and colleagues, the phase III CONTACT-01 trial has shown no significant improvement in overall survival with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor atezolizumab (multiple targets, including MET, AXL, VEGFR2, RET, and FLT) plus the monoclo...
USPSTF Issues Final Recommendation Statement on Screening for Breast Cancer
The ASCO Post Staff
On April 30, 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published a final recommendation statement on screening for breast cancer.1 The USPSTF now recommends that all women undergo screening for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74. More researc...
Use of Topical Diclofenac Gel to Prevent Capecitabine-Associated Hand-Foot Syndrome
Matthew Stenger
In an Indian single-center phase III trial (D-TORCH) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Santhosh et al found that the nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory topical diclofenac gel significantly reduced the risk of capecitabine-associated hand-foot syndrome vs placebo gel in patients with breast ...
Celebrating Advances in Cancer Care and a Look at How AI Is Revolutionizing Oncology
For the third year in a row, more than 250 leaders in cancer care, including cancer center directors, physicians, scientists, ethicists, journalists, public officials, and patient advocates, gathered at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, California, to attend the Nixon...
American Cancer Society Releases Updated Lung Cancer Screening Guideline
Jo Cavallo
Lung cancer incidence overall has been declining in the United States since 1992—and since 2006–2007 for both men and women by 2.7% annually and 1.1%, respectively—and overall mortality rates have declined in both men and women because of smoking cessation efforts and advances in therapy and early d...
AACR Annual Cancer Progress Report Highlights Scientific Advances Against Cancer, Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Jo Cavallo
The remarkable progress in medical research—primarily supported by federal investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)—over the past 3 decades, coupled with advances in prevention and early detection, has led to a 33% reduction in cancer mortality,...
ASCO Launches ‘ASCO Certified’ to Ensure the Delivery of High-Quality, Patient-Centered Cancer Care to Every Patient
Jo Cavallo
On October 25, 2023, ASCO announced the launch of its new flagship quality program ASCO Certified™, with the goal of ensuring that every patient with cancer has access to high-quality, patient-centered, coordinated cancer care.1 The program, which officially launched on October 27, 2023, to coincide...
Annual Report to the Nation on COVID-19’s Impact on Cancer Diagnosis Finds Sharp Declines in New Diagnoses of Six Major Cancers
Findings from the Annual Report to theNation on the Status of Cancer, Part 2: Early Assessment of the COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Cancer Diagnosis show new diagnoses of six major cancer types in the United States fell sharply between March and May 2020, coinciding with the beginning of the COVID-1...
Circulating Tumor DNA Identified in Breast Milk From Women With Breast Cancer: First Results Published
The ASCO Post Staff
Breast milk from women with breast cancer who were diagnosed during pregnancy or postpartum contains circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), according to researchers at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) in Barcelona. The investigators noted that ctDNA can be detected through liquid biopsy in bre...
Lung Cancer Screening Perceptions of Patients and Clinicians: The Power of Shared Decision-Making
Chase Doyle
Despite the benefits of lung cancer screening, including the high cure rate when found by screening compared to being discovered based on symptoms, the uptake of this technique among those who are eligible and where the screening is fully covered by insurance remains dismally low, on the order of 5%...
Expert Point of View: Joelle Fathi, DNP, RN, ARNP, CTTS, FAAN
Chase Doyle
An expert on the panel discussion of lung cancer screening from the Quantitative Imaging Workshop XIX, Joelle Fathi, DNP, RN, ARNP, CTTS, FAAN, Chief Healthcare Delivery Officer for the GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer, called the lung cancer screening study a powerful reminder of the reality on the f...
Managing Severe Diarrhea in Patients With Cancer
Meg Barbor, MPH
Diarrhea in patients with cancer is a well-known phenomenon with clear guidelines for prevention and management. However, it remains a condition with poorly explored consequences and a lack of sufficient and fast-acting treatments. In a webinar presented by members of the Multinational Association ...
Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Clinical Implications of Residual Cancer Burden
Caroline Helwick
An exploratory analysis of KEYNOTE-522, which established the benefit of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer, has now provided data to further describe prognosis and possibly guide treatment.1 In the study, presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting, event-fre...
Study Finds Patritumab Deruxtecan Active in HER3-Expressing Metastatic Breast Cancer
Caroline Helwick
The HER3-directed antibody-drug conjugate patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) showed activity in patients with heavily pretreated HER3-expressing metastatic breast cancer in a phase I/II study. Ian E. Krop, MD, PhD, Associate Director, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, Connecticut, presented these finding...
Study Shows 2 Million Life-Years Lost and $21 Billion in Lost Earnings Annually From Smoking-Associated Cancer
The ASCO Post Staff
A recent study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) reported that nearly 123,000 cancer deaths, or close to 30% of all cancer deaths, were from cigarette smoking in the United States in 2019, leading to more than 2 million person-years of lost life and nearly $21 billion in annual...
AML Study Shows Benefit of CPX-351 vs Hypomethylating Agent Plus Venetoclax in Subgroup of Older Adults
For older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), front-line treatment with liposomal daunorubicin/cytarabine (CPX-351) appears to be equivalent to treatment with a hypomethylating agent plus venetoclax, according to data presented at the 2021 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting ...
IDH1/2 Inhibitors Show Activity in Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Caroline Helwick
The oral targeted small-molecule inhibitors of mutant IDH1 and IDH2 appear to be active in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) harboring these mutations, according to two phase II trials by the Groupe Francophone des Myélodysplasies (GFM) and its German colleagues in the European MDS Studie...
CANDOR: Continued Progression-Free Survival Benefit With Carfilzomib, Dexamethasone, and Daratumumab vs Carfilzomib and Dexamethasone in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Matthew Stenger
In an updated analysis of the pivotal phase III CANDOR trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Saad Z. Usmani, MD, and colleagues found that the addition of daratumumab to carfilzomib and dexamethasone (KdD) continued to show a large progression-free survival benefit in patients with relapsed or re...
Why Are Many Women Overdue for Cervical Cancer Screening?
The ASCO Post Staff
Cervical cancer screening has reduced new cases and deaths from the disease over the past 50 years. However, the percentage of women in the United States who are overdue for cervical cancer screening has been growing, and the reasons have not been clear. To better understand the decline in cervical...
Myeloma Trial Updates: Focus on High-Risk Patients and Measurable Residual Disease Negativity
Caroline Helwick
Newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma deemed at high risk for disease progression may achieve sustained measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity with newer regimens and transplantation, and this may translate into longer progression-free survival. That’s the key take-away message from t...
Study Finds Lower Income Eligibility Limits for Medicaid Associated With Worse Long-Term Survival for Newly Diagnosed Patients With Cancer
The ASCO Post Staff
A study investigating the association between state Medicaid income eligibility limits and long-term survival among newly diagnosed patients with cancer has found that patients living in states with lower Medicaid income eligibility limits had worse long-term survival compared with patients living...
Final Analysis of SOLAR-1: 8-Month Survival Benefit Misses Statistical Significance for Alpelisib
Caroline Helwick
The statistically significant benefit of alpelisib in reducing disease progression, as reported at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2 years ago, did not translate into a significant improvement in overall survival, although a numerical 8-month gain was observed in the final ...
KAITLIN Trial: No Subgroup Benefits More From T-DM1 Plus Chemotherapy for HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer
Caroline Helwick
In the phase III KAITLIN trial, replacing adjuvant taxane and trastuzumab with ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) did not result in a significant improvement in invasive disease–free survival in the node-positive or intent-to-treat population of women with high-risk, HER2-positive early breast cancer...
Reducing Prostate Cancer Disparity by Bringing Care to Underserved Populations
The dire cancer incidence and mortality statistics for Black patients compared with White patients are well known. Collectively, Black individuals have the highest mortality rate and shortest survival of any racial or ethnic group in the United States for most cancers. Black men also have the highes...
Modified FOLFIRINOX Established as Preferred Neoadjuvant Treatment of Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer
Caroline Helwick
In the treatment of borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the Alliance A021501 trial established neoadjuvant treatment with modified FOLFIRINOX (fluorouracil [5-FU], leucovorin, irinotecan, oxaliplatin) as a new benchmark. However, it failed to show the benefit of adding hypofracti...
Data Analysis on Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Sheds Light on the Rising Rates in Young Adults
In May 2021, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) announced that it was updating its recommendation for when individuals at average risk of colorectal cancer should begin screening. Echoing the recommendation from the American Cancer Society in 2018, the USPSTF now recommends that those ...
Study Finds Tranexamic Acid Unable to Prevent Bleeding in Patients With Hematologic Malignancies
Caroline Helwick
In the first randomized trial to evaluate prophylactic antifibrinolytic therapy in patients with hematologic malignancies, tranexamic acid failed to reduce bleeding or the need for transfusion vs placebo. The study was featured as a Plenary Session during the 2020 American Society of Hematology (ASH...
