August 15, 2012 (View All Issues)
Study Shows Routine CT Surveillance Overused in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma
The value of routine CT surveillance monitoring of pediatric patients for recurrence of Hodgkin lymphoma has been unclear. A study of CT surveillance recently reported by Stephan D. Voss, MD, PhD, and colleagues from the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed...
Rethinking the Role of PSA Screening in Public Health
Population screening to identify preclinical disease is considered a central factor in the decades-long decrease in mortality seen in certain cancers. However, hope in the face of deadly disease can sometimes blind us to the scientific evidence. According to the recent U.S. Preventive Services Task ...
Maintenance of Certification: One Size Should Not Fit All
After a conference call and having returned several phone calls, I again opened my ASCO Medical Oncology Self Evaluation Program (SEP) book hoping to steal an hour to reread the chapter on multiple myeloma, and begin digging deeper into head and neck cancer. It was March 2011, and my Maintenance of ...
FDA Approves Ziv-aflibercept for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
The FDA has approved ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap) for use in combination with a FOLFIRI (leucovorin, fluorouracil, irinotecan) chemotherapy regimen to treat adults with colorectal cancer. Ziv-aflibercept is an angiogenesis inhibitor that inhibits the blood supply to tumors. It is intended for patients ...
Senate Legislation Urges Federal Research Support to Improve Early Detection of Prostate Cancer
U.S. Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) led unanimous passage of Senate Resolution 493 to recognize prostate cancer as an epidemic striking African American men disproportionately, with 250% higher mortality and 60% higher incidence. This bipartisan legislation urges federal agencies to support research...
Biokine Therapeutics Awarded FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Mobilization of Stem Cells in Patients with Cancer
Biokine Therapeutics Ltd announced that it has received Orphan Drug designation from the FDA for BKT140, a highly selective chemokine receptor antagonist that induces mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow into peripheral blood for collection and subsequent transplantation in...
FDA Approves Colon-cleansing Drug for Prep Prior to Colonoscopy
The FDA has approved sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid (Prepopik) to help cleanse the colon in adults preparing for colonoscopy, Ferring Pharmaceuticals announced. The new solution is a low-volume, dual-acting stimulant and osmotic laxative.
The FDA approval is based on data...
Novel Agents Should Have Impact in Lymphocytic Leukemias
Agents with novel mechanisms of action may strongly impact outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), if data from early-phase studies presented at this year’s ASCO Annual Meeting are any indication.
There is a clear unmet need for more effective therapies ...
Supportive Care Research Runs the Gamut from Genetic Markers of Treatment Side Effects to Neuropathic Pain Therapies
Attendees from around the world gathered for the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer, held June 28–30 in New York. Below are highlights from the meeting, representing...
‘Young and Strong’ Program Addresses Multiple Needs of Women in 40s and Younger Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
“Young and Strong” is an exportable model of a program developed at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston to address the significant challenges facing young women with breast cancer. The new model has been designed to “serve young women with breast cancer who are...
Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Who, When, and How to Treat?
Differentiated thyroid cancer—papillary, follicular, and Hürthle cell carcinomas—has historically been managed by endocrinologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologists, but recent progress in the field has led to greater involvement by medical oncologists, especially in the care of patients with...
Molecularly Targeted Treatment of Thyroid Cancer Rapidly Evolving
Recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis and altered signaling pathways in thyroid cancer are improving treatment options for this malignancy, especially for the subset of patients with medullary thyroid cancer and those with differentiated thyroid cancer that has metastasized, according...
Striking Activity Shown for Regorafenib in Advanced GIST
Regorafenib, an orally administered investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has shown activity in chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer, markedly delayed disease progression in patients with treatment-refractory metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in the phase III GRID...
As Conflicting Guidelines Evolve, Experts Continue to Debate the Merits of Cancer Screening
In the 1930s and 1940s, when the American Cancer Society [ACS] first brought forth the message that early cancer detection saves lives, it was a broad brushstroke and an appropriate message. The problem now is that new technology enables us to find [tumors that would never progress to invasive...
FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Carfilzomib for Multiple Myeloma
Onyx Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has granted accelerated approval to carfilzomib (Kyprolis) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including treatment with bortezomib (Velcade) and an immunomodulatory therapy, and have...
Everolimus Approved for Advanced Breast Cancer
The FDA has approved everolimus tablets (Afinitor) for use in combination with exemestane to treat postmenopausal women with advanced hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer after failure of treatment with letrozole or anastrozole.
The approval was based on a randomized,...
Enzalutamide Gets Priority Review for Castrate-resistant Prostate Cancer
Medivation, Inc, and Astellas Pharma, Inc, announced that the FDA has accepted for filing the New Drug Application (NDA) for enzalutamide (formerly MDV3100) for the potential treatment of men with castration-resistant prostate cancer previously treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy and granted...
Radiotracer Targeting of Free Prostate-specific Antigen
Serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) are widely used as a biomarker for prostate cancer, although they often do not distinguish between normal tissue and cancer and do not always accurately reflect clinical outcome. In order to overcome the fact that the small proportion of...
Understanding and Managing Pseudoprogression in Glioblastoma Patients
Pearls in Neuro-oncology is guest edited by Tracy Batchelor, MD, Director, Division of Neuro-Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, and Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston. The series is intended to provide the practicing oncologist with guidance in managing...
Adding Bevacizumab to Chemotherapy Improves Progression-free Survival in Platinum-sensitive Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
The addition of bevacizumab (Avastin) to gemcitabine and carboplatin, followed by bevacizumab until disease progression, resulted in significantly improved progression-free survival compared to gemcitabine and carboplatin plus placebo among women with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian, primary...
No Improvement in Overall Survival, Worse Toxicity with Motesanib Added to Chemotherapy in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Two trials (E4599 and AVAiL) have suggested a benefit to adding the anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (Avastin) to chemotherapy in patients with advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Bevacizumab acts by binding directly to circulating...
Rush’s New Hospital Building Listed as One of the Most Innovative Infrastructure Projects in the World
The new hospital at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, has been listed in KPMG’s recent second edition of Infrastructure 100: World Cities Edition, a report showcasing 100 of the most innovative and inspiring urban infrastructure projects from around the world. Rush is one of only 10...
Clinicians to Benefit from New JCO Initiatives
Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) has recently launched several new features for readers under the direction of Stephen A. Cannistra, MD, who began his tenure as Editor-in-Chief in June 2011. These initiatives include the creation of two new article types: Rapid Communications (RC) and...
ASCO University’s e-Seminars Offer a Stimulating Way to Stay on Top of Trends as Well as Meeting Highlights
Did you miss one of the symposia this year and need to quickly catch up on the highlights in small, digestible portions? No problem. ASCO University’s e-Seminar series now has you covered.
Or, is there a new journal article that everyone’s talking about, and you need guidance on how to interpret...
ASCO Responds to Supreme Court Ruling on Health-care Law
When the Supreme Court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on June 28, ASCO released a statement by ASCO President Sandra M. Swain, MD, Medical Director of the Washington Cancer Institute at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Critically Important Provisions
In the statement,...
ASCO’s Guideline on Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Melanoma
Direct your patients to www.cancer.net/whattoknow so they can learn about ASCO’s recent guideline on sentinel lymph node biopsy for melanoma, including what it means for patients and a list of questions to ask the doctor. In addition, patients can find more information about melanoma at...
Former Foundation Grantee Pays It Forward, Building a Legacy for the Next Generation
Hundreds of investigators, such as 2008 Young Investigator Award and 2010 Career Development Award recipient Richard Carvajal, MD, have received seed funding from ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation early in their careers—funding that supported their professional growth and helped lay the foundation...
Lapatinib Shows Value Similar to Trastuzumab in Neoadjuvant Regimens for Breast Cancer, but with Greater Toxicity
Lapatinib (Tykerb) proved valuable as a component of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for HER2-positive operable breast cancer in the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-41 trial presented at the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting by Andre Robidoux, MD, of the NSABP and the University of...
Trailblazer in Argentinean Oncology Remains Optimistic about War on Cancer
Eduardo Cazap, MD, PhD, is founder and first President of the Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM). In 2008, he was elected to a 2-year term as President of the International Union against Cancer (UICC). The ASCO Post recently spoke with Dr. Cazap about his roots in...
Improving Outcomes and Prediction in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
Risk stratification and outcomes can be improved for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), according to two studies presented at the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting.
RTOG 9804
Findings from the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 9804 trial suggested that even for DCIS patients whose prognosis ...
Patient Preference Studied in Treatment Selection for Renal Cell Carcinoma
More attention is being paid to the importance of patient preference as a factor in treatment selection. An innovative randomized, double-blind study in patients with metastatic kidney cancer demonstrates that quality of life and side effects drive patient preference.1 Results also suggest that...
FDG-PET Falls Short for Diagnosis of Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
The ability to make a diagnosis of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with FDG-PET varies widely among centers, and this imaging modality performed more poorly in community and academic centers than in published studies.1 A secondary analysis of the prospective American College of Surgeons Oncology ...
Antidepressant Drug Has ‘Clinically Meaningful’ Effect on Chemotherapy-induced Painful Neuropathy
The oral antidepressant duloxetine (Cymbalta) at 60 mg/d improved chemotherapy-induced painful neuropathy in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial.1 Overall, 59% of patients treated with duloxetine experienced some pain relief, 33% reported at least a 30% decrease in pain, ...
Taking Family History and Referral to Genetic Counseling Could Be Improved, Survey Finds
Obtaining a thorough family history of cancer should be a key component in evaluating patients and deciding whether to refer those at increased risk of either primary or second cancers for genetic counseling and testing. Many community oncology practices comply with this practice, but there is room ...
Older Chemotherapy Studies in Breast Cancer Coming of Age
Results of several long-running chemotherapy trials were reported at the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting breast cancer oral session, reported in brief here.
NSABP B-38
The final analysis of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-38 trial showed that the addition of gemcitabine ...
Supportive Care Experts Explore 30 Years of Progress in the Field
Thirty years ago, when the first supportive care meeting as a forerunner of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Symposium was held in New York, supportive care was largely ignored, with little discussion at major cancer meetings, which focused primarily on...
A Physician, Who Is Also a Cancer Patient, Talks about Medical Errors
In a whispered but resolute voice, Itzhak Brook, MD, MSc, led off his presentation at the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting1 by telling the audience his voice is weak because he doesn’t have vocal cords. He spoke with the aid of a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis. “I have practiced medicine for more than ...
New Assessment Tools in Development to Guide Care for Older Patients
More than 1,400 people from 62 countries attended the 2012 Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) International Symposium on Supportive Care in Cancer, held in New York last June. One of the featured sessions, which was jointly...
Information Service Provides Innovative Resource for Patients and Providers
Jennifer Levin Carter, MD, MPH is Founder and President of N-of-One. A board-certified internist and entrepreneur, she has more than 20 years of experience evaluating existing and emerging markets, new medical technologies, and early-stage companies in the health-care field. Formerly, Dr. Carter...
Study Reports ‘Strong and Consistent Relation’ between Exposure to Diesel Exhaust and Risk of Dying of Lung Cancer
A nested case-control study of 198 lung cancer deaths among a cohort of 12,315 mine workers “showed a strong and consistent relation between quantitative exposure to diesel exhaust and increased risk of dying of lung cancer,” researchers reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.1...
Response Rate Is Significantly Improved with Nab- vs Solvent-based Paclitaxel plus Carboplatin in Advanced NSCLC
Final results of a phase III trial found nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab)-paclitaxel (Abraxane) plus carboplatin as first-line therapy in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resulted in a significantly improved overall response rate vs conventional solvent-based paclitaxel...
Data Liquidity Coalition Takes Shape
A coalition to promote and implement data sharing in cancer by facilitating data ‘liquidity,’ first proposed in February at an Institute of Medicine (IOM) workshop, is taking shape with the formation of a steering committee and action plans that include a demonstration project.
For several years,...
Symposium Focuses on Policy Issues in Personalized Cancer Care
“What is the biggest barrier to progress in personalized medicine?” asked moderator Anna Barker, PhD, leading a panel discussion at a recent meeting convened by the Washington-based advocacy group, the Personalized Medicine Coalition, with the American Association for Cancer Research and Feinstein...
Pertuzumab: New Drug for HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
In the Clinic provides overviews of novel oncology agents, addressing indications, mechanisms, administration recommendations, safety profiles, and other essential information needed for the appropriate clinical use of these drugs.
Indication
In June 2012, pertuzumab (Perjeta) was approved for...
Living with the Aftermath of Breast Cancer
My battle with breast cancer began 10 years ago, but the aftereffects of the disease and the treatment will be with me for the rest of my life. As a professional woman who has had several diverse careers, including one as a corporate controller and another as an art teacher, I’m driven to want to...
Astragalus
The use of dietary supplements by cancer patients has risen significantly over the past 2 decades despite insufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness. Finding reliable sources of information about dietary supplements can be daunting. Patients typically rely on family, friends, and the...
Genomics vs Site of Cancer Origin as Basis for Treatment of Cancer Is ‘False Dichotomy’
In the News focuses on media reports that your patients may have questions about at their next visit. This continuing column will provide summaries of articles in the popular press that may prompt such questions, as well as comments from colleagues in the field.
Despite recent news reports...
Children with Favorable-risk Disease and Complete Response to Chemotherapy Have High Survival Rates without Radiotherapy
Among children with favorable-risk Hodgkin lymphoma, those who achieved a complete response after two cycles of chemotherapy and received no radiotherapy had high rates of survival similar to those who had a less complete response to chemotherapy and received radiotherapy, according to a study in...
Bevacizumab/Temozolomide Combination Safe and Active against Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors
The combination of bevacizumab (Avastin) and temozolomide can be safely administered together in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors, and “the combination regimen appears promising for patients with pancreatic [neuroendocrine tumors],” according to results of a phase II study reported in...
‘Strong Persistent Benefit’ from Radiochemotherapy after Curative Gastric Cancer Resection
An update, with more than a 10-year median follow-up, from Intergroup 0116 (INT-0116), a randomized phase III trial of postoperative chemotherapy in patients at moderate risk of locoregional failure following curative gastric cancer resection, “demonstrates strong persistent benefit from adjuvant...
Adjuvant Chemotherapy May Improve Survival for Patients with Periampullary Disease
The European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer (ESPAC)-3 periampullary cancer trial found that adjuvant chemotherapy following surgical resection of periampullary adenocarcinoma “was not associated with a significant survival benefit in the primary analysis; however, multivariate analysis adjusting ...
Regorafenib Has ‘Notable Anticancer Activity’ after Patients Develop Resistance to Imatinib and Sunitinib
The orally administered investigational multikinase inhibitor regorafenib demonstrated “notable anticancer activity” in a phase II trial among patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who developed resistance to imatinib (Gleevec) and sunitinib (Sutent). Researchers reported in...
Most Hospitals Do Not Meet Benchmark for Examining Lymph Nodes following Esophagectomy
“Fewer than one-third of patients and fewer than 1 in 10 hospitals met the benchmark of examining at least 15 lymph nodes” following esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer, according to a retrospective observational study reported in the Archives of Surgery. That benchmark was set by the ...
Conquer Cancer Foundation Honors Oncology Professionals for
High-quality Research in Breast Cancer
The Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO recently announced the recipients of its 2012 Breast Cancer Symposium Merit Awards, which recognize leading oncology professionals for their work in the area of breast cancer research. This year, the Foundation honors 16 individuals for their research in the...
