August 10, 2018 (View All Issues)
- Nmazou Ozuah, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, received an international scholar grant for...
Enzalutamide Prolongs Metastasis-Free Survival in Patients With Nonmetastatic, Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
AS REPORTED in The New England Journal of Medicine by Maha Hussain, MD, of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, and colleagues, the phase III PROSPER trial has shown a 71% reduction in the risk of metastasis or death with enzalutamide (Xtandi) vs placebo in...
Why Oncologists Should Decline to Participate in the Right to Try Act
ON MAY 30, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2017.1 This law creates an additional and alternative pathway for patients with a “life-threatening disease or condition” to access...
Medical Preparedness for Nuclear Disaster
ROBERT PETER GALE, MD, PhD, DSc (hc), was on the faculty of the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine for 20 years and has served as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research. In 1986, he was asked by the ...
Abiraterone or Enzalutamide for Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer?
WHAT IS THE best choice of treatment for a man with newly diagnosed metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer after treatment with androgen-deprivation therapy—abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) plus prednisone, or enzalutamide (Xtandi)? Both drugs achieve similar cancer control in this setting,...
The US Oncology Network Promotes Marcus Neubauer, MD, to Chief Medical Officer
THE US ONCOLOGY Network recently announced the appointment of Marcus Neubauer, MD, as Chief Medical Officer, building on its mission of delivering a comprehensive approach to cancer care. Michael Seiden, MD, PhD, will continue to lead The US Oncology Network as its President.
Dr. Neubauer has...
Rebecca Yang, MD, Joins Atlantic Health System
BREAST SURGEON Rebecca C. Yang, MD, has joined Atlantic Breast Associates at Overlook Medical Center and Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, part of Atlantic Health System Cancer Care, in New Jersey. Dr. Yang is a board-certified general surgeon and fellowship-trained breast surgeon. She joins Atlantic ...
New Frontiers Being Explored in Multiple Myeloma
BEFORE TOO LONG, oncologists can expect to have an entirely new arsenal in the fight against multiple myeloma. Cutting-edge therapies on the near horizon were described in a presentation by Kenneth Anderson, MD, at the 2018 American Association of Cancer Research’s (AACR’s) inaugural conference on...
CAR T-Cell Therapy in Lymphoma: Challenges Come With Success
THE EMERGENCE of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has sparked a wave of optimism in hematologic malignancies, but as experience in using CAR T-cell therapy has grown, new challenges have surfaced. A pioneer in the field, David G. Maloney, MD, PhD, enlightened attendees on these issues ...
More Antibody-Drug Conjugates Expected to Impact Treatment of Lymphoma
FOR THE TREATMENT of lymphoma, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are becoming an important class of drugs, as described at the 2018 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference by Brad Kahl, MD, Professor of Medicine at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis.1
“We have one ADC—brentuximab vedotin ...
Novel Therapy Reduces Duration of Chemoradiotherapy-Induced Mucositis in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer
GC4419, A SMALL molecule superoxide dismutase mimetic, reduced the duration, incidence, and severity of chemoradiotherapy-induced mucositis in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer, with a safety profile comparable to that of placebo. This finding comes from a randomized phase IIb...
Lack of Congruence Among Tools Used to Assess Cancer-Related Cognitive Dysfunction
THE ASSESSMENT of cognitive dysfunction in patients who have undergone chemotherapy is complex, and although a number of strategies are available, each has its limitations, according to Karin Olson, RN, PhD, Professor in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
At...
New Tool for Assessing Frailty in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
A NEW “frailty index” may predict overall survival for patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, according to a study published in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics.1 Frailty is a critical factor in treatment decision-making for many patients with multiple myeloma, as many of these patients are ...
Ensuring Quality With Patient-Reported Outcomes and Electronic Health Records
Accurately assessing the quality of cancer care over the continuum of treatment requires a special set of metrics and data-gathering methods. Moreover, with a growing number of cancer survivors, the post-treatment care involves primary care providers who are adept at managing the comorbidities...
Encorafenib Plus Binimetinib in Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma With BRAF Mutations
In the Clinic provides overviews of novel oncology agents, addressing indications, mechanisms of action, administration recommendations, safety profiles, and other essential information needed for the appropriate clinical use of these drugs.
This past June, encorafenib (Braftovi) and binimetinib...
Actively Recruiting Clinical Trials Focused on Neurotoxicities of Treatment
The information contained in this Clinical Trials Resource Guide includes actively recruiting clinical studies focused on neurotoxicities of cancer treatment. These studies focus on the effects of chemotherapy on cognitive function, changes in resting state brain networks after stem cell...
Meeting the Challenges of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities
In 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ipilimumab (Yervoy), an anticytotoxic T-lymphocyte– associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), the first checkpoint inhibitor for the treatment of advanced melanoma.1 Since then, several more checkpoint inhibitors directed at both the programmed...
ACS Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors and Outcomes After Colon Cancer Diagnosis
IN A STUDY reported in JAMA Oncology, Erin L. Van Blarigan, ScD, of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues found that adherence to American Cancer Society (ACS) nutrition and physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors was associated with improved survival among...
FDA Approves HPV Test for First-Line Cervical Cancer Screening
ON JULY 30, 2018, Roche announced approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its cobas HPV Test in first-line screening for cervical cancer in women 25 years and older using cervical specimens collected in SurePath preservative fluid. The FDA first approved the cobas HPV test...
TAILORx: How to Apply This Landmark Study
TAILORx changes the configuration of the ball field and the shape of the ball in deciding which women will be recommended chemotherapy after resection of node-negative, hormone receptor–positive breast cancer. TAILORx was presented by Joseph Sparano, MD, at the 2018 ASCO Plenary Session and...
CMS Proposes Extended 340B Cuts for 2019
ON JULY 25, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2019 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule. Among other provisions, the proposal would extend 2018 reimbursement cuts to the 340B Drug Pricing Program to include currently excepted, off-site...
American Cancer Society Outlines Blueprint for Cancer Control in the 21st Century
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is outlining its vision for cancer control in the decades ahead in a series of articles that began publishing in early July in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The series of articles forms the basis of a national cancer control plan, with a blueprint toward the ...
Abemaciclib as Initial Therapy for Hormone Receptor–Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer
Early in 2018, abemaciclib (Verzenio) in combination with an aromatase inhibitor was approved as initial endocrine-based therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer.1,2
Supporting Efficacy Data
Approval was based on findings...
Real-World Evidence Gaining Credibility and Practicality in Treatment Evaluation
In a Friends of Cancer Research (Friends) meeting devoted to real-world evidence, members of the cancer community generally agreed that its use has an increasingly important role to play in gathering the data necessary to test, evaluate, and bring new therapeutic agents to market. This Friends...
Academic Oncology and Industry Offer the Best of Both Worlds for Mace L. Rothenberg, MD
GUEST EDITOR
Dr. Abraham is the Director of the Breast Oncology Program at Taussig Cancer Institute, and Professor of Medicine, Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic.
For this installment of the Living a Full Life series, guest editor Jame Abraham, MD, interviewed Mace L. Rothenberg, MD, ...
Clinical Cancer Researcher Gini Fleming, MD, Firmly Believes in the Power of Ideas
Gini Fleming, MD, had a peripatetic path to her destination as a gynecologic and breast cancer expert. As a child, she moved around a lot, living in about 10 or 12 different places, so she had no real sense of being born and reared in any particular place.
“My parents married young, when my...
FDA Approves Ivosidenib for Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia
On July 20, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ivosidenib (Tibsovo) for adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible IDH1 mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test.
Approval was based on an open-label, single-arm, multicenter...
St. Baldrick’s Foundation Announces 2018 Summer Grant Recipients
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation has announced its 2018 summer grant recipients, including seven from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers.
2018 Recipients
Researchers at Baylor Awarded Multiple Grants to Study Treatment Resistance in Breast Cancer
To better understand the causes of resistance to treatment in estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer, the Department of Defense has awarded researchers at Baylor College of Medicine multiple grants to study gene anomalies in estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer that are associated with...
Andrea M. Abbott, MD, Joins Fox Chase Cancer Center
The Fox Chase Cancer Center recently announced the addition of Andrea M. Abbott, MD, as Assistant Professor in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging. She joined the team that uses imaging technology to aid in cancer diagnosis, staging, and guidance of treatment.
Dr. Abbott comes to Fox Chase...
ACS Commission on Cancer Announces Outstanding Achievement Awards
The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has granted its 2017 Outstanding Achievement Award to a select group of 16 accredited cancer programs throughout the United States. Award criteria were based on qualitative and quantitative surveys of cancer programs conducted...
NCCN Announces New Patient Guideline in Liver, Gallbladder, and Bile Duct Cancers
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) has released a new resource to help patients with liver, gallbladder, and bile duct cancers better understand their diagnosis and treatment options. This new edition of the NCCN Guidelines for Patients® takes the evidence-based, expert consensus...
Durvalumab After Chemoradiation in Unresectable Stage III NSCLC
Early in 2018, durvalumab (Imfinzi) was approved for the treatment of unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation therapy.1,2
Supporting Efficacy Data
Approval was based on a planned interim...
Reishi Mushroom
The ASCO Post’s Integrative Oncology series is intended to facilitate the availability of evidence-based information on integrative and complementary therapies sometimes used by patients with cancer. Ting Bao, MD, DABMA, MS, and Jyothirmai Gubili, MS, present information on the use of reishi...
Following a Healthy Diet and Avoiding Alcohol May Reduce Overall Cancer Risk
The World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research has estimated that in developed countries, about 35% of breast cancers and 45% of colorectal cancers could be prevented with better adherence to nutritional recommendations. A large prospective study evaluating adherence to...
FDA Expands Ribociclib Indication in Hormone Receptor–Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer
On July 18, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the indication for ribociclib (Kisqali), in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for pre/perimenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer, as initial endocrine-based...
Cedars-Sinai Affiliate Announces New Cancer Center to Open in 2019
The Torrance Memorial Medical Center, a Cedars-Sinai Medical Center affiliate, recently announced the opening of a new cancer center. The new Hunt Cancer Center will provide patients with access to subspecialists who treat more than 60 types of common, rare, and complex cancers. As part of the...
Is Universal Health Care a Human Right?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided oncology services to people with cancer who had previously been denied coverage. And for that reason alone, many oncologists supported its passage. However, even though the U.S. health-care system remains in the crosshairs of partisan politics, parties on both ...
FDA Approves First Treatment for Rare Adrenal Tumors
On July 30, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved iobenguane I 131 injection (Azedra) for intravenous use in the treatment of adults and adolescents aged 12 and older with unresectable pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma that have spread beyond the original tumor site and require ...
NIH and Prostate Cancer Foundation Launch Large Study on Aggressive Prostate Cancer in African American Men
The largest coordinated research effort to study biologic and nonbiologic factors associated with aggressive prostate cancer in African American men has begun. The $26.5 million study is called RESPOND, or Research on Prostate Cancer in Men of African Ancestry: Defining the Roles of Genetics, Tumor ...
The Story of a Notorious Cluster of Childhood Cancers
BOOKMARK
Title: Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation
Author: Dan Fagin
Publisher: Random House
Original publication date: March 2013
Price: $28.00, hardcover, 560 pages
The Toms River emerges in the Pine Barrens of northern Ocean County, New Jersey, and zigzags through wetlands, emptying...
A Celebrity Gadfly’s Reflections on His Death and Other Things Meant to Irritate
BOOKMARK
Title: Mortality
Author: Christopher Hitchens
Publisher: Twelve: Hachette Book Group
Original Publication Date: May 13, 2014
Price: $19.95, paperback, 128 pages
“There are no atheists in foxholes” is an aphorism used to contend that in times of extreme fear, such as during war or facing a...
Is Some DNA Worthless?
BOOKMARK
Title: Junk DNA: A Journey Through the Dark Matter of the Genome
Author: Nessa Carey
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Original publication date: April 2015
Price: $22.95, paperback, 360 pages
When biologists first delved into the human wonder of genes in the 1970s, they eventually...
Risk of Breast Cancer After Negative Screening Mammography
A study reported in JAMA Oncology by Anne Marie McCarthy, PhD, of the Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, and colleagues identified the risk of interval breast cancer after negative screening mammography, including the risk of poor-prognosis breast cancer.
The...
CXCR4 Antagonist Plus Eribulin in HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer
Findings in a phase I trial reported in The Lancet Oncology by Pernas and colleagues indicate activity of the combination of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor antagonist balixafortide plus eribulin (Halaven) in previously treated HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. The CXCR4–stromal cell-derived...
BRAF Mutations, Survival, and Recurrence in Patients With Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
In a study reported in JAMA Surgery by Margonis and colleagues, the presence of a BRAF V600E mutation was associated with a higher risk of recurrence and poorer overall survival among patients undergoing surgical resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Matthew J. Weiss, MD, of the...
My Incidentally Discovered Cancer
In February 2015, there was no indication that my life was about to radically change. I was a practicing attorney and happily raising two young children with my husband. At 40 years old, I was healthy—or so I thought—and had no physical symptoms to alert me to the devastating news that was about to ...
ASCO Annual Meeting Merit Awards: This Year’s Winners
The Conquer Cancer Merit Awards support oncology trainees who are first authors on abstracts selected for presentation at an ASCO scientific meeting, including the ASCO Annual Meeting and thematic symposia. Conquer Cancer recognized 127 recipients with Merit Awards at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting,...
AMA House of Delegates Adopt ASCO Resolutions
ASCO DELEGATES participated in the American Medical Association’s (AMA) June Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates (HOD). The AMA HOD is the principal policy-making body of AMA and meets twice a year to discuss pressing issues and establish association policies.
This year, delegates approved...
Newly Updated! ASCO Answers Guide to Prostate Cancer for Your Patients
FULLY UPDATED and now with 8th Edition American Joint Committee on Cancer staging information, this updated guide from ASCO is designed for people newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. It aims to help patients get organized and learn more about their diagnosis, treatment options, side effects,...
Leading International Cancer Organizations Call on United Nations Members to Reduce Disease Burden
ASCO AND the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) are calling on leaders and health ministers of the 193 United Nations (UN) member countries to reduce the burden of all noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer. The two organizations issued a joint statement in advance of the third ...
Why Do You Live to Conquer Cancer? Join New ASCO Campaign to Share Your Story!
ASCO RECENTLY launched its new “I Live to Conquer Cancer” national outreach and awareness campaign to draw attention to the critical importance of federally funded cancer research.
Through a series of compelling videos and written stories, “I Live to Conquer Cancer” puts a human face on cancer...
