August 25, 2021 (View All Issues)
Tackling the Challenge of Pancreatic Cancer: New Approaches
Pancreatic cancer remains an incorrigible foe, but recent advances in genomic profiling and targeted drug development are slowly improving the outlook for patients, according to Eileen M. O’Reilly, MD, Winthrop Rockefeller Endowed Chair in Medical Oncology and Section Head,...
RATIONALE 208: ‘Durable Clinical Activity’ Reported With Tislelizumab in Advanced Liver Cancer
With the investigational checkpoint inhibitor tislelizumab, durable responses were achieved by some patients with previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, regardless of the number of prior lines of therapy, in the phase II RATIONALE 208 trial. These findings were presented during the...
FDA Approves Pembrolizumab in Combination for High-Risk, Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
On July 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer in combination with chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment, and then continued as a single agent as adjuvant treatment after surgery.
The FDA also...
Avelumab Under Study as Adjunct to Neoadjuvant Therapy for Rectal Cancer
In the treatment of newly diagnosed locally advanced rectal cancer, two phase II studies evaluating the addition of the PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab to chemoradiotherapy showed promising rates of pathologic complete response, major pathologic response, and tumor downstaging. The study investigators...
Eric Deutsch, MD, PhD, Comments on the Averectal and AVANA Trials in Rectal Cancer
Eric Deutsch, MD, PhD, Professor and Chair of Radiation Oncology at Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France, commended the speakers for conducting trials whose results he found “very interesting.”
The Averectal trial involved a short course of radiation with modified FOLFOX-6 (oxaliplatin, fluorouracil...
More Widespread Biomarker Testing for NSCLC in Oncology Practices and More Testing in Black Patients: An Urgent Priority
Even though next-generation sequencing is recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for biomarker testing for patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the uptake among community oncology practices is suboptimal, and the uptake is even lower among Black patients with...
Axicabtagene Ciloleucel Improves Multiple Clinical Endpoints in Relapsed Follicular Lymphoma
For the treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, updated data from the ZUMA-5 trial, as compared with the findings of the external control cohort of SCHOLAR-5, showed substantial improvement in all key clinical endpoints with axicabtagene ciloleucel, ZUMA-5 investigators reported in ...
Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer and the Incidental Findings That May Improve Future Health
Every interaction with patients is an opportunity to change the course of their lives. In the context of screening for disease, every encounter is an opportunity to detect the precursors or early changes that signal early pathophysiology. Smoking status and age are the factors that currently...
Historic, Present, and Future Perspectives on Breast Cancer in Egypt
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women around the world, making it a significant public health problem.1 The disease affects both men and women, although it is rare in men, accounting for just 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses in the United States and less than 0.1% of...
Winette van der Graaf, MD, PhD, Named EORTC President-Elect 2021–2024
The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) has announced that Winette van der Graaf, MD, PhD, will be EORTC President-Elect 2021–2024. Bertrand Tombal, MD, PhD, will remain EORTC President until March 11, 2022, when the EORTC celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Dr. van ...
Northwell Health, New York, Appoints Regional Director of Urology
Jay T. Bishoff, MD, has been named Director of Urology for Northwell Health’s Central New York Region, with oversight of urology sites in Nassau County and parts of eastern Queens. He also is Professor of Urology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
Based at...
Vanderbilt University Appoints Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, Professor of Radiation Oncology
Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, Executive Director, Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, and Ingram Professor of Cancer Research, was recently promoted to Professor of Radiation Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC). “Grateful to those who paved the way,” said Dr. Winkfield on Twitter, noting ...
Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, Honored With the 2021 Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award
GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer (GO2 Foundation) presented Heather Wakelee, MD, FASCO, with the 2021 Bonnie J. Addario Lectureship Award at the Physicians’ Education Resource 22nd Annual International Lung Cancer Congress on July 30 in Huntington Beach, California. Dr. Wakelee is Professor of...
Isatuximab-irfc in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
On March 31, 2021, the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody isatuximab-irfc was approved for use in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior lines of therapy.1
Supporting Efficacy Data
...
New Guideline Provides Clarity on Timing, Treatment of Axilla in Early-Stage Breast Cancer
ASCO and Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) have collaborated to release a new clinical practice guideline on the management of the axilla in early-stage breast cancer.1
“A lot has changed in the past several years with regard to de-escalating the amount of treatment women are offered in the...
Gut Microbiome and Cancer
In recent years, the gut microbiome has garnered considerable attention as a scientific field, with far-reaching potential for clinical good. The trillions of microorganisms that inhabit the digestive tract form an incredibly complex community, which participates in countless interactions with its...
High Prevalence of Previously Undiagnosed Emphysema Among Individuals Undergoing Low-Dose CT Screening for Lung Cancer
In a prospective cohort study reported in Clinical Imaging, David Steiger, MD, of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York, and colleagues in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Program (I-ELCAP) identified emphysema in ...
Beth Karlan, MD, Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions to Gynecologic Oncology
The International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) has honored Beth Karlan, MD, with its lifetime achievement award. The annual award is presented to individuals who have performed outstanding service and accomplishments that span their career in gynecologic oncology and who have contributed...
Belumosudil for Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease
On July 16, 2021, belumosudil, an inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 2, was approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with chronic graft-vs-host disease after the failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy.1
Supporting Efficacy Data
Sacituzumab Govitecan-hziy for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer
On April 13, 2021, sacituzumab govitecan-hziy was granted accelerated approval to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who had received platinum-containing chemotherapy and either a PD-1 or a PD-L1 inhibitor.1
Supporting Efficacy Data
Approval was based on findings ...
Marcus Bosenberg, MD, PhD, Named Inaugural Director of Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology
The Yale Center for Immuno-Oncology has announced the appointment of Marcus Bosenberg, MD, PhD, as its inaugural Director. Dr. Bosenberg is Professor of Dermatology, Pathology, and Immunobiology; Co-Leader of the Genomics, Genetics, and Epigenetics Program in Yale Cancer Center; contact principal...
Sacituzumab Govitecan-hziy for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
On April 7, 2021, sacituzumab govitecan-hziy was granted regular approval for treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.1
Sacituzumab...
Neuroendocrine Tumor Specialist Pamela Kunz, MD, Looks to Promote Equity in the Workforce
In this installment of the Living a Full Life series, guest editor Jame Abraham, MD, spoke with Pamela Kunz, MD, Director, Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center. Dr. Kunz is an international leader in the clinical care of patients with neuroendocrine...
Global Estimates of New Cancers Attributable to Alcohol Use in 2020
In a population-based study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Rumgay et al provided estimates of the global incidence of new cancers attributable to alcohol consumption, including the estimate that 4.1% of all new cases in 2020 were related to alcohol use.
Study Details
In the study,...
Cancer vs Non–Cancer-Related Deaths Among Older Patients Selected for Surgical Treatment
In a Canadian population-based cohort study reported in JAMA Surgery, Chesney et al found that the 5-year rate of cancer-related deaths exceeded that of non–cancer-related deaths among patients aged 70 or older undergoing surgery for cancer.
Study Details
The study used data from ICES...
I’m a Two-Time Breast Cancer Survivor, and the Experience Has Been Life-Altering
Even before my breast cancer diagnosis in early 2002, the year was shaping up to be life-altering for me and my family. We had moved from Seattle to Houston for a new career opportunity for my husband and were just settling into our new home when I felt a pea-sized nodule in my left breast during a ...
Leland Chung, PhD, Distinguished Mentor and Urologic Oncology Research Scientist, Dies at 80
Talk to anyone who knew Leland Chung, PhD, and you’ll hear the same descriptions of the famed scientist: warm, humble, gracious, brilliant, innovative. Dr. Chung, who served as Director of the Urologic Oncology Research Program at Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles for 12 years and was Professor in ...
ASCO Joins Statement Supporting Mandatory Health Employer COVID-19 Vaccination
With COVID-19 case counts rising amid the spread of the Delta variant, ASCO has joined more than 50 health-care professional societies and organizations that represent millions of workers throughout health and long-term care in calling for all health-care employers to require their employees to be...
ASCO and MASCC/ISOO Publish Joint Guideline on Prevention, Treatment of Salivary Gland Hypofunction and Xerostomia
A new joint ASCO guideline offers clinicians updated evidence-based recommendations for the prevention and treatment of salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia caused by nonsurgical cancer therapies.1
The guidance was developed together by ASCO and the Multinational Association of Supportive...
