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CNS Cancers
Immunotherapy

Is Pembrolizumab Effective in Patients With Brain Metastases?

In a phase II clinical trial, investigators found that 42% of patients with brain metastases benefited from treatment with the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab, with 7 of the 57 patients in the trial surviving for longer than 2 years. The study authors cautioned that these benefits must be ...

Hematologic Malignancies

Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange May Be at Increased Risk of Developing Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

A population-based study using information from a database of veterans found that those who had been exposed to Agent Orange may be at an increased risk of developing myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). Agent Orange is a herbicide that was used by the U.S. military in Korea and Vietnam to clear...

Issues in Oncology
Pain Management

Impact of Changing Opioid Prescription Landscape for Patients With Cancer

Despite the common use of opioids in clinical settings, new and persistent opioid prescriptions have declined among patients both with and without cancer, according to new findings presented by Baum et al at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 1592). However, the declines in opioid use among...

Bladder Cancer

Early Cessation of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy May Lead to Worse Outcomes in Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who receive fewer than three cycles of chemotherapy prior to cystectomy may have an increased risk of cancer recurrence and worse survival outcomes, according to the findings of a retrospective study presented by Chakraborty et al at the 2023 ASCO Annual ...

Hepatobiliary Cancer

Zanidatamab Shows Activity in Refractory HER2-Amplified Biliary Tract Cancer

The HER2-targeted bispecific antibody zanidatamab demonstrated durable responses in patients with treatment-refractory HER2-positive biliary tract cancer, according to research presented by Shubham Pant, MD, and colleagues at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 4008). The results were also...

Gynecologic Cancers

Addition of Olaparib and Durvalumab to Standard of Care May Prolong Progression-Free Survival in Patients With Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Patients with newly diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer without a BRCA mutation who received durvalumab and olaparib in addition to the standard of care had improved progression-free survival compared with those who received the standard of care alone, according to the interim analysis of DUO-O, an...

Breast Cancer

Adding Ribociclib to Endocrine Therapy May Reduce Recurrence Risk in Patients With Hormone Receptor–Positive, HER2-Negative Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Adding the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib to endocrine therapy resulted in a significant improvement in invasive disease–free survival for patients with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer. Findings from the phase III NATALEE trial were presented by Dennis J. Slamon, MD, ...

Gynecologic Cancers

Simple Hysterectomy May Be a Safe Option for Patients With Early-Stage, Low-Risk Cervical Cancer

Simple hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection may be a safe treatment option for patients with early-stage, low-risk cervical cancer and may help improve quality of life, according to results from the large, international phase III SHAPE clinical trial. The research was presented by Plante...

Bladder Cancer

Extended Lymphadenectomy May Not Benefit Patients With Clinically Localized Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Extended lymphadenectomy in patients undergoing radical cystectomy for clinically localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer was not associated with improved disease-free survival or overall survival and may increase the risk of adverse events and postsurgical mortality, according to new findings...

Colorectal Cancer

Study Finds Wide Variations in Intratumoral Microbiome of Patients With Early- vs Late-Onset Colorectal Cancer

Researchers have found that the bacteria, fungi, and viruses within the tumors of patients with colorectal cancer varied significantly depending on whether they were diagnosed with early-onset or late-onset disease, according to new findings presented by Weinberg et al at the 2023 ASCO Annual...

Global Cancer Care

ATOM Coalition Seeks to Ensure Equitable Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

A new global health initiative, the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, may be capable of reducing the burden of suffering and death from cancer in low- and middle-income countries by improving patient access to essential cancer medicine. Gilberto Lopes, MD, FASCO, MBA, will highlight...

Prostate Cancer

FDA Approves Olaparib Plus Abiraterone and Prednisone or Prednisolone for BRCA-Mutated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

On May 31, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved olaparib (Lynparza) in combination with abiraterone and prednisone (or prednisolone) for adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, as determined by an...

Breast Cancer
Geriatric Oncology

Chemotherapy Dose Intensity and Survival in Older Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Analysis From the HOPE Trial

In an analysis from the HOPE trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Mina S. Sedrak, MD, MS, and colleagues found that approximately one-fifth of older women with early-stage breast cancer received a relative dose intensity (RDI) of neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy that was below...

Breast Cancer
Survivorship

TAILORx Update: 12-Year Recurrence and Survival Outcomes for Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Long-term recurrence and survival data are now available from the groundbreaking TAILORx trial. With 12 years of follow-up, the updated analysis—reported by Sparano et al at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) 2022 (Abstract GS1-05)—confirms the original findings that chemotherapy may...

Issues in Oncology

SGLT2 Inhibitors and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Older, Anthracycline-Treated Patients With Cancer

In a population-based cohort study reported in JACC: CardioOncology, Abdel-Qadir et al found that receipt of sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization for heart failure—but not risk for heart failure—among patients aged ≥ 65 years with...

Skin Cancer

Diffusing Alpha-Emitter Radiation Therapy for Recurrent or Unresectable Skin Cancers

In a small study reported in JAMA Network Open, D’Andrea et al found that diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy—a novel solid tumor management strategy using alpha-particle interstitial brachytherapy—appeared to be safe and showed activity in patients with recurrent or unresectable skin...

Breast Cancer

HER3-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugates Show Encouraging Results in Breast Cancer Subtypes

Early-phase data from the SOLTI TOT-HER3 and ICARUS-BREAST01 trials suggest that the novel HER3-directed antibody-drug conjugate patritumab deruxtecan may have beneficial activity in patients with hormone receptor–positive/HER2-negative and triple-negative breast cancer subtypes, according to...

Multiple Myeloma
Genomics/Genetics

CRISPR Approach May Help Identify Promising Therapeutic Targets in Patients With Multiple Myeloma

Researchers have identified 116 genes as key molecular vulnerabilities for multiple myeloma, according to a novel study published by de Matos Simoes et al in Nature Cancer. The findings demonstrated the potential for these genes to act as leads and help researchers discover new therapeutic options...

Solid Tumors
Issues in Oncology

UICC Urges Action on World No Tobacco Day to Prevent Tobacco-Related Cancer Deaths

The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has called for greater action for World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2023 in light of a new study published by Safiri et al in Cancer Medicine, which found that 2.5 million tobacco-related cancer deaths were reported in 2019.

The UICC is a global...

Supportive Care
Symptom Management

Patients Who Practice Qigong May Be Able to Improve Their Cancer-Related Fatigue

Researchers have found that patients with cancer-related fatigue who practiced qigong may have demonstrated clinically significant improvements in their fatigue burden after 10 weeks, according to a new study published by Zimmerman et al in Integrative Cancer Therapies. The findings revealed that...

Expert Point of View: Rebecca A. Dent, MD, MSc

Invited discussant Rebecca A. Dent, MD, MSc, Senior Consultant, National Cancer Center Singapore, and Chairman of Medical Oncology at Duke-NUS Medical School, called the findings from these studies “very promising” and “provocative” but acknowledged that the small number of patients precludes...

Prostate Cancer

FDA Approves Flotufolastat Fluorine-18 Injection, First Radiohybrid PSMA-Targeted PET Imaging Agent for Prostate Cancer

On May 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the optimized, high-affinity radiohybrid prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging agent flotufolastat fluorine-18 (Posluma). Flotufolastat F-18 is indicated for PET imaging of...

Colorectal Cancer
Lung Cancer
Breast Cancer
COVID-19

Incidence of Colorectal, Lung, and Breast Cancers May Be Rising Due to COVID-19–Related Screening Delays

Delays in cancer screenings during the COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in lower reported incidences of colorectal, lung, and breast cancers, reflecting potentially high rates of undiagnosed cancer and later-stage diagnoses, according to a new study published by Romatoski et al in the Journal of ...

Bladder Cancer
Immunotherapy

New Bladder Cancer Classification May Predict Response to BCG Immunotherapy in Patients With Non–Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Researchers have developed a new strategy to identify which patients with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer may be most likely to resist first-line treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy, according to a new study published by Jong et al in Science Translational Medicine. The...

Breast Cancer

Addition of First-Line Dalpiciclib to Letrozole or Anastrozole in Hormone Receptor–Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer

In an interim analysis of a Chinese phase III trial (DAWNA-2) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Zhang et al found that the addition of the CDK4/6 inhibitor dalpiciclib to letrozole or anastrozole improved progression-free survival as first-line treatment in patients with advanced hormone...

Lung Cancer

Long-Term Outcomes With Single-Fraction vs Multifraction SABR for Pulmonary Oligometastases

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Shankar Siva, PhD, and colleagues, long-term outcomes of the Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) 13.01 SAFRON II phase II trial showed no difference in overall survival with single-fraction vs multifraction stereotactic ablative body...

CNS Cancers

MGMT Promoter Methylation and Survival Outcomes in Low-Grade and Anaplastic Gliomas After Alkylating Chemotherapy

In a study reported in JAMA Oncology, Kinslow et al found that MGMT promoter methylation (mMGMT) was associated with improved survival outcomes in patients receiving alkylating chemotherapy for low-grade and anaplastic gliomas.

Study Details

The study involved 411 patients with grade II or III...

Pancreatic Cancer

Minimally Invasive Distal Pancreatectomy in Patients With Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Results from the international, randomized DIPLOMA trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04483726) comparing minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (MIDP) with open distal pancreatectomy (ODP) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma showed that the rate of radical resection following...

Leukemia
Global Cancer Care

Using a Health Systems Strengthening Approach in the United States–Mexico Border Region Improved Survival Rates for Children With ALL

The implementation of a collaborative program between North American and Mexican medical institutions to achieve sustainable, high-quality care at a public hospital in the United States–Mexico border region for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and improve outcomes has resulted in...

Breast Cancer

Telephone-Based Weight Loss Intervention for Patients With Breast Cancer and Overweight/Obesity

A randomized study by Jennifer A. Ligibel, MD, Director of the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies and Healthy Living at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, evaluating the impact of a telephone-based weight loss intervention in...

Gastrointestinal Cancer
Health-Care Policy

Medicaid Expansion Associated With a Reduction in Mortality for Black Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancers

Studies showed that racial minorities experience disparities in access to cancer treatment and survival. In an effort to improve access to care for disadvantaged populations, the Affordable Care Act provided funding to states to expand Medicaid eligibility criteria and provide coverage to...

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Luspatercept Improves Reliance on Blood Transfusions for Patients With Lower-Risk MDS

Patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) who received luspatercept to treat anemia instead of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs)—the current standard of care—needed fewer blood transfusions and clinic visits. These findings from the phase III COMMANDS trial will be presented...

Gynecologic Cancers
Immunotherapy

Adding Pembrolizumab to Chemotherapy May Improve Survival in Patients With Advanced Cervical Cancer

Adding the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab to chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab, improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer, regardless of whether the cancer expressed PD-L1. These findings from the KEYNOTE-826...

Breast Cancer

Effect of HER2 Expression Levels on Survival Outcomes in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Targeted Therapy Plus Endocrine Therapy

In a single-institution cohort study reported in JAMA Network Open, Jason A. Mouabbi, MD, and colleagues found no difference in survival outcomes between patients with hormone receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer with low vs no HER2 expression who received targeted therapy and endocrine...

Kidney Cancer
Immunotherapy

Anti–PD-L1 Combination vs Sunitinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

In a meta-analysis reported in a research letter in JAMA Network Open, Maiorano et al found that first-line anti–PD-L1 treatment combinations did not significantly improve overall survival vs sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. A progression-free survival benefit was...

Breast Cancer
Issues in Oncology

Computer‐Aided Diagnosis May Improve Breast Ultrasound Performance

Deep learning–based computer-aided diagnosis on breast ultrasound may significantly improve radiologists’ diagnostic performance and reduce the frequency of benign breast biopsies, according to a new study published by He et al in the American Journal of Roentgenology. Compared with previous...

Immunotherapy
Issues in Oncology

Interleukin-21 Identified as Potential New Therapeutic Target to Prevent Endocrine Autoimmune Adverse Effects From Cancer Immunotherapy

Researchers have discovered that interleukin-21 may be a potential therapeutic target to help reduce the endocrine autoimmune adverse effects and prevent the thyroid autoimmunity experienced by patients with cancer undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, according to a novel study...

Survivorship
Issues in Oncology

Prevalence of Functional Limitations in U.S. Cancer Survivors

In a study reported in a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Patel et al found that the prevalence of self-reported functional limitations in U.S. cancer survivors increased between 1999 and 2018.

Study Details

The analysis included adults in the 1999 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) ...

Bladder Cancer
Issues in Oncology

BCG Vaccines May Provide Protective Effect Against Alzheimer's Disease

Researchers have found that patients treated with the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine may have a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, according to a novel study published by Weinberg et al in JAMA Network Open.

Background

The BCG vaccine has been known to offer...

Hematologic Malignancies

FDA Approves Avapritinib for Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis

On May 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the tyrosine kinase inhibitor avapritinib (Ayvakit) for the treatment of adults with indolent systemic mastocytosis. Avapritinib is the first and only approved therapy for indolent systemic mastocytosis. Systemic mastocytosis is a rare ...

Solid Tumors
Immunotherapy

Tumor Mutational Burden and Outcomes in Patients With Advanced Cancers Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

In a study reported in JAMA Network Open, Charu Aggarwal, MD, MPH, and colleagues found that patients with advanced solid cancers and a high tumor mutational burden (TMB-H) had improved overall survival with immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy vs those with a low tumor mutational burden (TMB-L).

...

Colorectal Cancer
Genomics/Genetics
Immunotherapy

Addition of Panitumumab to Trifluridine/Tipiracil in Anti-EGFR Treatment Rechallenge in Refractory RAS Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

In the Italian phase II VELO trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Napolitano et al found that anti-EGFR treatment rechallenge with the addition of panitumumab to trifluridine/tipiracil improved progression-free survival in the third-line setting for patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal...

Bladder Cancer

Radical Cystectomy vs Trimodality Therapy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

In a retrospective analysis reported in The Lancet Oncology, Zlotta et al found that trimodality therapy was associated with similar outcomes compared to radical cystectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Study Details

The study involved 722 patients with clinical stage T2–T4N0M0 ...

Lymphoma

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Epcoritamab-bysp for Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma

On May 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to the bispecific CD20-directed CD3 T-cell engager epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly) for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)–not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from...

Breast Cancer

Assay Prediction of pCR in Patients With HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Treated With Neoadjuvant Paclitaxel, Trastuzumab, and Pertuzumab

In an analysis reported in JAMA Oncology, Waks et al found that the HER2DX assay performed well in predicting the likelihood of pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients with early HER2-positive breast cancer receiving de-escalated neoadjuvant treatment with paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and...

COVID-19

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children With Cancer and COVID-19

In a U.S. cohort study reported in JAMA Oncology, Martin et al described the clinical course and potential factors associated with post–COVID-19 multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with cancer also infected with COVID-19. Post–COVID-19 multisystem inflammatory syndrome is a...

Survivorship
Issues in Oncology

Study Analyzes Relationship Between Cancer Survivors’ Tobacco Use, Symptom Burden, and Motivation to Quit Smoking

Investigators have found that current smoking and vaping may be associated with a higher burden of symptoms among adult cancer survivors but that these symptoms may not have had an impact on the desire to quit smoking. The new study was published by Price et al in Cancer.

Background

Continued...

Survivorship

Late Major Surgical Intervention in Survivors of Childhood Cancer

In an analysis from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Dieffenbach et al found that childhood cancer survivors had a heavy cumulative burden of late major surgical interventions.

Study Details

The study involved data from the CCSS on 5-year survivors of...

Gastrointestinal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Issues in Oncology

Association Between Overweight/Obesity and Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancer

Researchers have found that individuals in early and middle adulthood who have a body mass index (BMI) indicating that they have overweight or obesity may be at an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer, according to a new study published by Loomans-Kropp and Umar in JAMA Network...

Prostate Cancer

Use of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors and Prostate Cancer Mortality

In a systematic review and meta-analysis reported in JAMA Oncology, Baboudjian et al found no significant association between the use of 5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) and the risk of prostate cancer mortality.

As stated by the investigators, “Recently, several large, high-quality analyses have...

Colorectal Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Kidney Cancer
CNS Cancers
Gastroesophageal Cancer
Lung Cancer
Breast Cancer
Gynecologic Cancers
Hepatobiliary Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Multiple Myeloma
Leukemia

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: 2023 Updates

In 1996, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® published its first set of Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) covering eight tumor types. Guidelines are now published for more than 60 tumor types, subtypes, and topics. During the NCCN’s 28th Annual Conference, updates...

Bladder Cancer
Gynecologic Cancers
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Palliative Care

Specialist Palliative Care for Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery for Cancer

In a single-center trial reported in JAMA Surgery, Shinall et al found that specialist palliative care did not improve quality of life or survival vs usual care in patients undergoing nonpalliative major abdominal surgery for cancer.

Study Details

In the trial, 235 patients scheduled for...

Leukemia

Augmented Early Intensification and Higher Consolidation Methotrexate Dosing Show No Benefit in Childhood ALL

Results of the Intercontinental-Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster 2009 trial in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Campbell et al. Findings included no benefit of augmented early intensification in intermediate-risk or high-risk patients and no...

Hepatobiliary Cancer
Lung Cancer
Issues in Oncology

Cancer-Specific Mortality Rates Vary Widely Across the Globe, Study Finds

Investigators have found that in the majority of countries studied, the recent mortality rates for all major cancer types have decreased except for lung cancer among female patients and hepatic cancer among male patients—where increasing rates were observed in most countries, according to a novel...

Lung Cancer

Does Prediagnosis Smoking Cessation Improve Overall Survival in Patients With NSCLC?

In a cohort study reported in JAMA Network Open, Wang et al found that overall survival in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who stopped smoking prior to their cancer diagnosis was better than overall survival among those who were current smokers at the time of their diagnosis.

...

Leukemia
Immunotherapy

First-Line Venetoclax Combinations vs Chemoimmunotherapy in Fit Patients With CLL

In the phase III GAIA–CLL13 trial reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Barbara Eichhorst, MD, and colleagues found better outcomes with venetoclax plus obinutuzumab and veneto­clax, obinutuzumab, and ibrutinib compared with chemoimmunotherapy as first-line treatment in fit patients with ...

CNS Cancers

Implantable Ultrasound Device to Open Blood-Brain Barrier for Peritumoral Delivery of Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel in Recurrent Glioblastoma

In a small single-institution phase I trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Sonabend et al found that an implantable device for low-intensity pulsed ultrasound with concomitant administration of intravenous microbubbles (LIPU-MB) may be safely used to open the blood-brain barrier to permit...

Breast Cancer

Trastuzumab/Pertuzumab Plus Neoadjuvant Paclitaxel or Endocrine Therapy in Hormone Receptor–Positive, HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer

In a German phase II trial (WSG-TP-II) reported in JAMA Oncology, Gluz et al found that the addition of neoadjuvant paclitaxel monotherapy to trastuzumab/pertuzumab resulted in a higher pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in patients with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-positive early breast...

Gynecologic Cancers
Issues in Oncology

Patients With Cervical Cancer May Be at Higher Risk for Urinary Tract Infections After Radical Hysterectomies

Patients with early-stage cervical cancer may have an increased risk of developing catheter-associated urinary tract infections following radical hysterectomies if they had a history of smoking or used catheters for more than 7 days postsurgery, according to a new study by Mercadel et al in the...

Leukemia

Addition of Quizartinib to Chemotherapy in Newly Diagnosed FLT3-ITD–Positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia

As reported in The Lancet by Erba et al, the phase III QuANTUM-First trial has shown prolonged overall survival with the addition of the FLT3 inhibitor quizartinib to chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-internal-tandem-duplication (ITD)-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Study...

Gynecologic Cancers
Issues in Oncology

HPV Self-Collection Kits May Increase Cervical Cancer Screenings Among Underscreened, Underserved Patients

Researchers have found that mailing human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection kits in addition to offering scheduling assistance to underscreened, underserved patients may increase the rate of cervical cancer screenings compared with scheduling assistance alone, according to a new study published...

CNS Cancers
Immunotherapy

Combined Delivery of DNX-2401 Plus Pembrolizumab May Be Safe and Effective in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma

Intratumoral delivery of the engineered oncolytic virus DNX-2401 in combination with subsequent immunotherapy with pembrolizumab may be safe and effective at improving survival outcomes in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, according to a study published by Nassiri et al in Nature Medicine.

...

Bladder Cancer
Genomics/Genetics
Immunotherapy

Phase II Trial of Guadecitabine Plus Atezolizumab in Patients With Metastatic Bladder Cancer

Although hypomethylating agents previously appeared to be a promising treatment option for patients with bladder cancer refractory to immunotherapy, researchers were forced to halt a recent phase II clinical trial after patients experienced either no response to treatment or rapid tumor...

Immunotherapy

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Show Promise for People Living With HIV

New research involving people living with HIV treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors has provided valuable insights into the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy in this historically excluded population, according to data published by El Zarif et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The...

Leukemia
Issues in Oncology

Extreme Poverty May Be a Key Driver for Relapse in Pediatric Patients With ALL

Pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) living in extreme poverty and undergoing maintenance therapy may have almost a twofold greater risk of relapse compared with pediatric patients who weren’t living in extreme poverty, according to a new study published by Wadhwa et al in...

Colorectal Cancer
Immunotherapy

Addition of Bevacizumab to Trifluridine/Tipiracil in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Prager et al, the phase III SUNLIGHT trial has shown prolonged overall survival with the addition of bevacizumab to trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD-TPI) in previously treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

As stated by the...

Leukemia

Induction Failure in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients With T-Cell ALL

In an analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, O’Connor et al found that pediatric and young adult patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) who did not respond to induction therapy had poorer outcomes vs those with induction response. The investigators also attempted...

Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Genomics/Genetics

Potential Utility of Polygenic Risk Scores in Cancer Screening in the United Kingdom

In a modeling study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Huntley et al found that the extension of UK cancer screening programs for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers to a polygenic risk score (PRS)-defined high-risk group of patients with cancer may improve cancer case detection and avoidance of ...

Solid Tumors
Supportive Care
COVID-19

Patients With Cancer May Prefer Telemedicine Appointments Over In-Person Visits When Both Are Available

Investigators have found that telemedicine may consistently outperform in-person visits for cancer care when assessed for access to care, provider response, and patient experience, according to a new study published by Patel et al in JNCCN–Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

...

Hepatobiliary Cancer
Issues in Oncology

Immigrant Adults With Hepatocellular Carcinoma May Have Higher Survival Rates Than Those Born in the United States

Immigrant adult patients who have hepatocellular carcinoma and reside in the United States may have higher rates of survival compared with those who have the disease and were born in the United States, according to a new study published by Zhou et al in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. ...

Breast Cancer

Long-Term Risk Prediction for Invasive Breast Cancer: AI System Plus Volumetric Density on Screening Mammography

In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vachon et al found that the combination of an artificial intelligence (AI) imaging algorithm, together with measures of breast density on mammography screening, were capable of long-term prediction of risk of invasive breast cancer.

As...

Solid Tumors
Hematologic Malignancies
Genomics/Genetics

Familial Clonal Hematopoiesis in Individuals With a Mutation in Telomere-Related Gene POT1

In a study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, DeBoy et al found that individuals carrying germline heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the telomere-related gene POT1 had long telomeres and may be at risk for benign and malignant neoplasms as part of a familial clonal...

Prostate Cancer

Patient-Reported Outcomes From the NRG Oncology/RTOG 0815 in Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer

In an analysis of the phase III NRG Oncology/RTOG 0815 study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Benjamin Movsas, MD, and colleagues found few differences in patient-reported outcomes among patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer receiving short-term total androgen suppression...

Prostate Cancer

Addition of Short-Term ADT to Dose-Escalated Radiotherapy in Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Daniel J. Krauss, MD, and colleagues, the phase III NRG Oncology/RTOG 0815 study showed no significant improvement in overall survival with the addition of short-term androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) to dose-escalated radiotherapy in patients...

President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, as Director of the NIH

In a statement released by The White House on May 15, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s preeminent biomedical research organization. As the statement makes clear, Dr. Bertagnolli is a ...

Issues in Oncology
Solid Tumors

Young Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders May Face Highest Rates of Cancer Mortality

Investigators have found that young Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander patients may experience the highest rates of cancer mortality of any racial group in the United States among those aged 20 to 49 years. The new data were published by Haque et al in the Journal of the National Cancer...

Kidney Cancer
Immunotherapy

Cabozantinib in Combination With Nivolumab and Ipilimumab May Slow Progression of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

The targeted kinase inhibitor cabozantinib plus a two-drug immunotherapy combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab may be capable of slowing cancer progression in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who received no prior lines of therapy, according to a study published by Choueiri et al in...

Lymphoma

Adding Azacitidine to Standard Chemotherapy May Be Effective for Patients With PTCL-TFH

Researchers have found that azacitidine may be capable of increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy and aiding nearly 90% of patients who had peripheral T-cell lymphoma with the T follicular helper cell phenotype (PTCL-TFH) achieve remission, according to a novel study published by Ruan et al in ...

Leukemia

Ibrutinib and Rituximab vs Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab in Previously Untreated Patients With CLL

As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Peter Hillmen, MBChB, PhD, and colleagues, an interim analysis of the UK phase III FLAIR trial has shown significantly improved progression-free survival with ibrutinib and rituximab vs fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) in previously untreated...

Breast Cancer

Interruption of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy to Attempt Pregnancy in Women With Breast Cancer

In a study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Ann H. Partridge, MD, MPH, and colleagues found that temporary interruption of adjuvant endocrine therapy to attempt pregnancy was not associated with an increased short-term risk of breast cancer events among women with hormone...

Hematologic Malignancies

Ruxolitinib for Patients With Polycythemia Vera Intolerant or Resistant to Hydroxycarbamide

In a UK phase II trial (MAJIC-PV) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Harrison et al found that ruxolitinib produced a higher complete response rate vs best available therapy in patients with polycythemia vera intolerant of or resistant to hydroxycarbamide.

Study Details

In the...

Multiple Myeloma
Hematologic Malignancies

Novel Calculator May Identify Patients With Favorable-Prognosis Hematologic Cancers

Researchers have developed a calculator that may be capable of identifying patients who have multiple myeloma and light-chain amyloidosis with more benign profiles and, consequently, better prognoses, according to a novel study published by Burgos et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The...

CNS Cancers

Lenalidomide in Previously Treated Children With Low-Grade Gliomas

In a Children’s Oncology Group phase II trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Katherine E. Warren, MD, and colleagues found that lenalidomide showed activity in children with pilocytic astrocytomas and optic pathway gliomas who did not respond to initial therapy.

As noted by the...

Breast Cancer

Longitudinal Change in Mammographic Breast Density and Risk of Breast Cancer

In a study reported in JAMA Oncology, Jiang et al found that breast density decreased over time among patients undergoing mammographic screening for breast cancer, but that the decrease was smaller in the affected breast among patients who developed breast cancer vs the decrease observed in...

Prostate Cancer

Abiraterone Acetate Plus Prednisolone With or Without Enzalutamide in Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer Initiating ADT

In an analysis of the final results of two STAMPEDE platform phase III trials reported in The Lancet Oncology, Gerhardt Attard, PhD, and colleagues found that the addition of enzalutamide to abiraterone plus prednisolone did not appear to improve survival outcomes and was associated with worse...

Gynecologic Cancers
Issues in Oncology

Racial Disparities in the Risk of Ovarian Cancer for Patients With Fibroids and Endometriosis

A case-control study published recently by Harris et al in Obstetrics & Gynecology evaluated associations between endometriosis, uterine leiomyomas, and ovarian cancer risk by race, as well as the impact of hysterectomy on these associations. The investigators found that hysterectomy may modify ...

Breast Cancer
Issues in Oncology

New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Call for Earlier, More Intensive Screenings for Women at High Risk

Updated recommendations from the American College of Radiology encouraged all women—particularly Black women and Ashkenazi Jewish women—to undergo risk assessments at 25 years of age to determine whether they may need breast cancer screenings earlier than age 40, according to new guidelines...

Colorectal Cancer

Tucatinib Plus Trastuzumab in HER2-Positive, Refractory, RAS Wild-Type, Unresectable or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

As reported in The Lancet Oncology by John H. Strickler, MD, and colleagues, the phase II MOUNTAINEER trial has shown the activity of the combination of tucatinib plus trastuzumab in patients with HER2-positive, chemotherapy-refractory, RAS wild-type, unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Solid Tumors
Supportive Care

Bariatric Surgery May Reduce Risk of Obesity-Related Cancers by More Than Half

Researchers have found that patients who are obese and undergo bariatric surgery may have a greater than 50% decreased incidence rate of obesity-related cancer compared with patients who did not have the weight-loss procedure, according to new findings presented by Chittajalu et al at Digestive...

Hepatobiliary Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Issues in Oncology

Three New Studies Unveil Recent Developments in the Screening and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer and Colorectal Cancer

Researchers have revealed the impacts of several new developments in screening and treating patients with biliary tract cancer and colorectal cancer—including the development of patient-derived organoids to test chemotherapy response, the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Pragmatica-Lung Trial Begins Enrolling Patients With NSCLC Who Did Not Respond to Previous Therapy

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) announced that it has helped launch the randomized phase III Pragmatica-Lung trial examining the efficacy of ramucirumab plus pembrolizumab in treating patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The new study is one of the first NCI-supported...

Lung Cancer
Issues in Oncology

ASTRO and ESTRO Issue New Clinical Guidelines on Local Therapy for Patients With Oligometastatic NSCLC

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) provided advice on the use of definitive local therapy—including radiation and surgery—to treat patients with oligometastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to new...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics

Study Identifies Mutations That May Be Associated With Poor Outcomes in Patients With NSCLC Treated With KRAS G12C Inhibitors

Researchers have discovered that co-occurring mutations in three tumor-suppressor genes—KEAP1, SMARCA4, and CDKN2A—may be linked with poor clinical outcomes in patients with KRAS G12C–mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with the KRAS G12C inhibitors adagrasib or sotorasib,

Lung Cancer

Confirmatory Mediastinoscopy vs Immediate Resection After Endosonography for Resectable NSCLC

In a trial (MEDIASTrial) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Bousema et al found that immediate lung tumor resection after negative systematic endosonography was noninferior to confirmatory mediastinoscopy in the detection of unforeseen N2 disease in patients with non–small cell lung...

Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy

Toripalimab Plus Chemotherapy May Improve Event-Free Survival in Resectable Stage III NSCLC

An interim analysis of the Neotorch study highlighted the potential of immunotherapy for the treatment of early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to data presented by Lu et al during the ASCO Plenary Series: April 2023 Session (Abstract 425126). The findings showed a significant...

Supportive Care
Pain Management

Pain Control for Localized Spine Metastases: Stereotactic Radiosurgery vs Conventional Radiotherapy

As reported in JAMA Oncology by Ryu et al, the phase III portion of the NRG Oncology/RTOG 0631 trial showed no benefit in pain relief with use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) vs conventional external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in patients with one to three sites of vertebral metastases.

Study...

Breast Cancer

Extension of Adjuvant Anastrozole After Initial Therapeutic Regimen in Postmenopausal Patients With Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer

In a Japanese phase III trial (AERAS) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Iwase et al found that an additional 5 years of adjuvant anastrozole after 5 years of anastrozole or tamoxifen followed by anastrozole was associated with improved disease-free survival vs no further anastrozole...

Lymphoma

Does Stem Cell Transplantation Extend Survival in Patients With Advanced Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas?

In a French study (CUTALLO) reported in The Lancet, de Masson et al found that patients with advanced-stage cutaneous T-cell lymphomas who were able to undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) had prolonged progression-free survival vs matched patients receiving...

Breast Cancer
Issues in Oncology

Antibacterial Treatment May Resolve Acute Radiation Dermatitis in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Researchers have found that acute radiation dermatitis may involve the skin bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and that a simple, low-cost treatment may prevent severe cases in patients undergoing radiation therapy, according to two novel studies published by Kost et al—one a randomized clinical trial ...

Lung Cancer
Genomics/Genetics

Sotorasib in Pretreated Patients With KRAS G12C–Mutated NSCLC: 2-Year Analysis of CodeBreaK100

In an analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Grace K. Dy, MD, and colleagues report 2-year outcomes of the CodeBreaK100 phase I/II trial of sotorasib in previously treated patients with KRAS G12C–mutated locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). According...

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