James H. Doroshow, MD, of the National Cancer Institute, describes a new precision medicine initiative called the MATCH trial: Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice. In 2,400 NCI clinical trial sites, 3,000 patients will be screened and their tumors analyzed to determine whether they contain genetic abnormalities for which a targeted drug exists.
Daniel A. Vorobiof, MD, of the Sandton Oncology Centre, and Bernardo Leon Rapoport, MD, of The Medical Oncology Centre of Rosebank, discuss the first study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single dose of intravenous fosaprepitant. The use of this NK1 inhibitor and another (rolapitant) in a second study discussed may change the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and improve quality of life for patients (Abstracts 9629 and 9615).
Claus Garbe, MD, of the University of Tuebingen, discusses the survival of sentinel lymph node biopsy–positive melanoma patients with and without complete lymph node dissection (Abstract LBA9002).
Andrew Zelenetz, MD, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses two important lymphoma trials presented at ASCO and his views on whether their results are indeed practice-changing (Abstract 8504 and LBA8502).
John L. Marshall, MD, of Georgetown University, discusses how the cost of care affects behavior and decision-making on the part of patients and oncologists.
Robert W. Carlson, MD, of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and Richard G. Margolese, MD, of McGill University, discuss the improvement in breast cancer–free interval with anastrozole vs tamoxifen in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ undergoing lumpectomy plus radiotherapy (Abstract LBA500).
