April 25, 2019 (View All Issues)
Phase III Data Support Use of Gilteritinib in Relapsed or Refractory FLT3-Mutated AML
Treatment with gilteritinib, an oral type 1, FLT inhibitor, significantly improved overall survival compared with chemotherapy in patients with FLT3-positive relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to the final results of the phase III ADMIRAL trial.1 The longest survival for ...
Tale of Two FLT3 Inhibitors in AML: Gilteritinib and Quizartinib
Data supporting the use of FLT3 inhibitors in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were featured at the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. Gilteritinib was evaluated in combination with induction and consolidation as front-line therapy in newly diagnosed patients with AML,1 and...
The Microbiome: The Next Target in Cancer Therapy
With the recent breakthroughs in immunotherapy, treatments that modulate the immune system are now being used across numerous cancer types and across the spectrum of disease with significant success, but not all patients achieve objective responses. There is still a critical need to better...
Shared Decision-Making in Lung Cancer Screening: Whence? Whither?
We read with interest a recent article published on ASCOPost.com, which summarized a paper on the role of shared decision-making in lung cancer screening.1,2 The summary and original report highlight a mandate by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that bears careful...
Tumor-Treating Fields Plus Chemotherapy Improved Survival in Unresectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
The addition of tumor-treating fields to standard-of-care chemotherapy has been found to be safe and effective in the treatment of unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Data presented at the 2019 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium showed that patients receiving the combination of...
Mitigating Frailty and Sarcopenia to Improve Treatment Outcomes in Lung Cancer
Frailty and sarcopenia are common conditions among patients with lung cancer and are linked with decreased survival as well as increased surgical complications, chemotherapy toxicity, and cost of care. If a survey of oncologists at the 2019 Multidisciplinary Thoracic Cancers Symposium is any...
Role of Repeat PET/CT Scans in Ensuring Accuracy of Staging of Locally Advanced NSCLC
Findings from a new study highlight the importance of timing in initial staging positron-emission tomography (PET) and/or computed tomography (CT) scans for patients with locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving chemoradiation therapy.1
According to data presented at the 2019...
Online Tool May Improve Guideline Concordance for Patients With Lung Cancer
An online tool that allows patients to input their clinical and pathologic features as well as explore treatment options in a structured manner based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network® Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) may help drive smoking cessation and testing for ...
Preliminary Results Show Activity for Mesothelin‑Directed CAR T-Cell Therapy in Malignant Mesothelioma
A phase I clinical trial showed encouraging results with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeted to the mesothelin protein in patients with mesothelin-associated malignant pleural solid tumors—primarily, malignant mesothelioma—that had progressed following standard platinum-based...
Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, Elected AACR President-Elect 2019–2020
The members of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) recently elected Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD, as its President-Elect for 2019–2020. He officially became President-Elect at the 2019 AACR Annual Meeting and will assume the presidency at the 2020 AACR Annual Meeting in San Diego.
The...
Ryan C. Fields, MD, Named Chief of Surgical Oncology at Washington University in St. Louis
Ryan C. Fields, MD, has been named Chief of the Section of Surgical Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Fields, who joined the faculty in 2011, is also Associate Professor of Surgery, Associate Program Director of the General Surgery Residency Program, and...
Biomarkers Can Now Help Guide Treatment Selections in Breast Cancer
A growing list of biomarkers is beginning to drive targeted therapy in breast cancer, and clinicians can take advantage of these assays to make treatment selections, Debu Tripathy, MD, Professor of Medicine and Chair of Breast Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,...
PRIMeR Study Explores Meaning of Minimal Residual Disease in Myeloma
In a study that earned a Best Abstract Award at the 2019 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy (TCT) Meetings in Houston, minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity at 1 year after autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) and maintenance lenalidomide therapy was an independent prognostic...
New ASCO Guidelines on Early Detection and Treatment of Colorectal Cancer in Resource-Stratified Settings
ASCO has approved two new resource-stratified guidelines aimed at improving the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer in all resource settings. The guidelines are a continuation of ASCO’s efforts to provide evidence-based recommendations for the management of malignancies...
NCCN Awards Grants to Study Trifluridine and Tipiracil
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) Oncology Research Program has funded three investigators from NCCN Member Institutions—Patrick Boland, MD, and Sarbajit Mukherjee, MD, MS, both of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Amit Mahipal, MBBS, of Mayo Clinic Cancer Center—to...
Giulio Draetta, MD, PhD, Named Chief Scientific Officer at MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has named Giulio Draetta, MD, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer, a new position that champions innovation, develops strong partnerships, and provides focused leadership on the science and clinical translation of research programs.
Dr. Draetta...
Molecular Profiles and Immunotherapy Outcomes in BRAF V600E– and V600K–Mutant Melanoma
In a study reported in Clinical Cancer Research, Alexander M. Menzies, MD, of Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, and Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, and colleagues found that BRAF V600K melanomas are less responsive to BRAF inhibitor with or without MEK inhibitor...
Ramucirumab in Sorafenib-Pretreated Patients With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma
In the phase III REACH-2 trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Andrew X. Zhu, MD, of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues found that ramucirumab improved overall and progression-free survival vs placebo in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and...
Ramucirumab After Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Efficacious Therapy With Applicability Challenges
In the 2 years since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of regorafenib in the treatment of patients with sorafenib-refractory advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, we oncologists have witnessed a veritable avalanche of newly approved medicines for the treatment of advanced...
ASCO Honors Leaders in Cancer Care With 2019 Special Awards
ASCO and ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation are proud to recognize the winners of ASCO’s Special Awards and Conquer Cancer’s Women Who Conquer Cancer Mentorship Awards and Tribute Award. The recipients of these awards have worked to transform cancer care around the world.
Don’t miss the opportunity...
Today’s Breakthroughs Require Year-Round Support
Promising breakthroughs in cancer care don’t just happen overnight. They are the result of years of hard work by the brightest minds in cancer research. Yet many are unaware of the vast resources necessary to fuel cutting-edge research projects. Increasing awareness around this issue is vital to...
Register Now for the ASCO/FDA Workshop on Oncology Clinical Trial Outcomes
Registration is now open for the 4th Annual U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Clinical Outcome Assessments in Cancer Clinical Trials Workshop, which will take place on July 12 at the FDA White Oak Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. The 1-day workshop, which will be co-hosted by ASCO and the...
2019 ASCO Annual Meeting Global Health Track
ASCO Annual Meeting attendees with an interest in global health will find a deep portfolio of relevant sessions in the 2019 program. A preliminary list of global health–related sessions is below; visit am.asco.org or check the 2019 iPlanner for the most updated program information, including...
Managing the Cost of Cancer Care Can Be Overwhelming: This ASCO Resource Can Help
A cancer diagnosis is often overwhelming, and adding financial burden to the mix can sometimes feel unmanageable. Give your patients the practical information they need with the Managing the Cost of Cancer Care booklet from ASCO. It covers health insurance benefits, information about the Affordable ...
Robert A. Kyle, MD, Luminary in Myeloma Research: Journey From a One-Room Schoolhouse to Groundbreaking Research
In this installment of Living a Full Life, guest editor Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, interviewed multiple myeloma pioneer Robert A. Kyle, MD, whose groundbreaking work has changed the practice of hematology. Among his many honors are the David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award from ASCO and the Wallace H....
House Calls With Her Physician Father Sparked an Interest in Palliative Care for Janet L. Abrahm, MD
Nationally regarded palliative care expert Janet L. Abrahm, MD, was born and reared in San Francisco. Her father was a solo practitioner who saw medicine as a great profession. “My father would come home from his office for dinner and when he finished, he’d do house calls, often bringing us with...
Cancer Research UK Tackles Global Cancer Challenges With £60 Million
CANCER RESEARCH UK announced recently that it is funding three new international oncology research initiatives. Collectively, the teams have been awarded almost £60 million.
These 5-year research programs will investigate how the microbiome can be manipulated to treat bowel cancer, find new ways...
New Model May Improve Prediction of Risk in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
A PERSONALIZED risk-prediction model for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has been developed through the use of a machine-learning approach that analyzes genomic and clinical data for an individual patient. According to lead investigator Aziz Nazha, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic, the model provides...
Early Studies of Two Regimens Show Benefit in High-Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
MORE DATA are in to support early intervention for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma—an early, asymptomatic entity lacking the presence of CRAB criteria (elevated calcium, renal failure, anemia, bone lesions). The latest come from two phase II studies presented at the 2018 American Society of...
The Evolving Role of Pathologists in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer
In the past, the role of the pathologist was primarily to present anatomic pathology findings on various specimens, particularly at tumor boards. However, in the emerging age of personalized medicine and molecular diagnostics, the responsibilities of pathologist have greatly expanded into...
City of Hope Recognizes Two Professors for Oncology Advances
EACH YEAR, City of Hope recognizes several oncologists for their research contributions. Recently, City of Hope named Alexandra Levine, MD, MACP, and Dan Raz, MD, MAS, as award winners.
Margaret L. Kripke Legend Award
DR. LEVINE, Professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell ...
Dance/Movement Therapy: Getting to Feelings That Have No Words
Dance/movement therapy is a complementary modality that is being explored for symptom control and for improving the quality of life of patients with cancer, especially pediatric patients. Self-expression as well as the creative and interpersonal aspects of dance/movement therapy can help patients ...
The Boy I Never Knew
The ASCO Post is pleased to reproduce installments of the Art of Oncology as published previously in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. These articles focus on the experience of suffering from cancer or of caring for people diagnosed with cancer, and they include narratives, topical essays,...
Effect of Lymphadenectomy on Progression-Free and Overall Survival in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
In the international phase III LION study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Philipp Harter, MD, and colleagues found that lymphadenectomy did not improve progression-free or overall survival vs no lymphadenectomy in women with advanced ovarian cancer.
Study Details
The trial...
Modeling Projections of Global Cervical Cancer Control
In a modeling study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Karen Canfell, DPhil, and colleagues detailed the preventive effects on cervical cancer that could be achieved by scaled-up human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical screening efforts with the aim of disease elimination.
The major...
Well-Deserved Attention on Lung Cancer Screening
SCREENING FOR LUNG CANCER among high-risk groups deserves the attention that Steven E. Vogl, MD, brought to it in his column At Microphone 1 in the February 10 issue of The ASCO Post. Subspecialist oncologists are not always attuned to the needs of their patients outside of their own specialty.1...
Rising Rates of Six Obesity-Related Cancers Among Younger Adults
PHYSICIANS SHOULD routinely assess the body mass index (BMI) of their patients and offer counseling and/or referrals to a nutritionist or dietician to patients with a BMI of > 30 kg/m2, Ahmedin Jemal, DVM, PhD, told The ASCO Post. Those actions plus community-level policies designed to increase...
Study Finds Radiation Therapy After Surgery for Pediatric Ependymoma Improves Survival
RADIATION THERAPY immediately following surgery in children with ependymoma, the third most common pediatric brain tumor, nearly tripled survival, in a Children’s Oncology Group (COG) clinical trial led by Thomas E. Merchant, DO, PhD, Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at St. Jude...
Young People Get Lung Cancer, Too
I’ve been in excellent physical shape my whole life. Growing up, it was my dream to play Division 1 soccer in college, and I trained hard throughout high school to achieve that goal. My dream came true, in 2005, when I was invited to play soccer at East Carolina University. I was eager to bond...
Arts in Medicine: Visible Ink Hosts 11th Year of Live Patient Performances
ON MARCH 18, 2019, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) hosted another set of successful live performances of works by patients with cancer as part of its Visible Ink writing program. Held at The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, Visible Ink celebrates its 11th year of the ongoing...
