February 25, 2016 (View All Issues)
Anti–PD-1/PD-L1 Antibodies Make Strong Showing in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Although the results may not yet be as impressive as those seen in melanoma, lung, and kidney cancers, monoclonal antibodies targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) are producing responses, with some durability, in gastrointestinal cancers, according to studies presented at the 2016...
Surveillance for Recurrence and Second Cancers: Guidelines and Caveats
Striking the right balance between under- and oversurveillance of cancer survivors is challenging, and oncology providers are best served by knowing and following guidelines—though they can change often.
Cancer recurrence and second cancers are two of the major threats to the health of cancer...
Cost in the Context of Value for Cancer Medicines
Bringing new cancer therapies through the discovery and development process entails considerable risk and many years of study. It also requires substantial investment and incentives from the public and private sectors to fuel future investment and discovery. A system that rewards advances in cancer ...
Receipt of Adjuvant Therapy at High-Volume Center Improves Survival in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer
Patients with pancreatic cancer who received adjuvant chemotherapy at a high-volume center had superior median and 5-year overall survival than did patients who were treated in a community setting, according to the results of a study presented at the 2016 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.1
This...
Optimizing Outcomes in Pancreatic Cancer
Evidence has long supported a volume-outcome relationship for surgical resection of pancreatic cancer, yet surgery alone is not enough to prolong survival in patients with localized disease. James L. Abbruzzese, MD, of Duke University and Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, discussed his ...
Shorter Radiation Course May Benefit Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
As neoadjuvant treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer, a shorter course of radiation therapy followed by chemotherapy may be as good as, or better than, standard chemoradiotherapy, according to a study from the Polish Colorectal Study Group presented at the 2016 Gastrointestinal Cancers...
Radiotherapy for Rectal Cancer: Study Reports No Risk for Subsequent Pelvic Tumors
Second malignancies were not more common among patients who underwent radiotherapy for rectal cancer. In fact, radiotherapy appeared to offer some degree of protection against subsequent cancers, according to the findings of a study from the Netherlands reported at the 2016 Gastrointestinal Cancers ...
Carboplatin/Paclitaxel Tops Oxaliplatin/Capecitabine as Neoadjuvant Regimen for Esophageal Cancer
The United Kingdom’s phase II NEOSCOPE trial compared the toxicity and efficacy of two preoperative chemoradiation regimens—carboplatin/paclitaxel and oxaliplatin/capecitabine—and judged one to be the winner.
“CarPacRT passed the prespecified efficacy criteria for taking forward to phase III, but ...
Bridging the Medical Gap in Long-Term Cancer Survivorship Care
Although more people than ever before are surviving cancer—there are currently 14.5 million cancer survivors, and that number is expected to climb to 19 million by 20241—they often experience long-lasting physical, emotional, and financial concerns related to the disease. To address the unmet...
Three Industry Leaders Join the CancerLinQ Team
CancerLinQ LLC, a wholly owned nonprofit subsidiary of ASCO, has named three new members to its leadership team. David Dornstreich, Robert Merold, and Jennifer L. Wong recently joined CancerLinQ LLC and, in their various roles, will be utilizing their extensive strategic experience to fully realize ...
Detection of Thyroid Cancer Most Cost-Effective With Physical Examination, Not Ultrasound Screening
A study evaluating annual physical examination as a screening method to detect thyroid cancer in cancer survivors exposed to neck radiation has shown a substantial cost reduction compared with ultrasound screening, with no thyroid cancer–related mortality.1 According to the analysis, this method...
Clinic-Based Weight-Loss Intervention Successful in Cancer Survivors
A randomized clinical trial examining the effect of a 15-week healthy living program on weight loss in cancer survivors showed a 5.3% decrease in baseline body weight in those participating in the program.1
“Cancer survivors randomized to a 15-week clinic-based weight-loss intervention lost an...
Study Finds Abnormal Insulin and Glucose Dynamics in Childhood Survivors Treated With Abdominal Radiation
An ongoing pilot study, designed to assess dynamic indices of insulin and glucose homeostasis in childhood cancer survivors exposed to abdominal radiation, has found a variety of derangements in glucose and insulin homeostasis in this cohort.1 According to an analysis presented at the 2016 Cancer...
New Technology to Characterize Circulating Tumor Cells Suggests Better Treatment Decision-Making in Prostate Cancer
An early study showed that an experimental blood test (ie, “liquid biopsy”) that characterizes the phenotype and genomic characteristics of circulating tumor cells appears to have utility in personalizing treatment decisions for individual men with advanced prostate cancer.1 The assay—developed and ...
Active Holistic Surveillance May Prevent Unnecessary Biopsies in Low- and Low/Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
The use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has led to a dramatic rise in the number of men diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer. Active surveillance is recommended to manage patients with favorable-risk, low-grade prostate cancer, with the goal of avoiding overtreatment of these...
Genomic, Molecular Differences in Tumor Biology May Explain Inferior Survival in African Americans With Kidney Cancer
African Americans who develop metastatic renal cell carcinoma have had worse survival historically than whites. With the advent of targeted therapy, the hope is that the gap in survival would be narrowed. However, a new study has shown that survival for African Americans with metastatic renal cell...
Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer: Hint of Benefit That Needs Confirmation
Adjuvant sequential chemotherapy plus radiation therapy and adjuvant radiation therapy alone significantly improved local tumor control compared with adjuvant chemotherapy alone in locally advanced bladder cancer but the improvement in disease-free survival (3-year disease-free survival of 68% vs...
David J. McConkey, PhD, Named Director of Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute
David J. McConkey, PhD, has been appointed Director of the Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute.
The institute was established in 2014 with a $15 million gift from Baltimore-area commercial real estate developer Erwin L. Greenberg and his wife, Stephanie Cooper Greenberg, and a $30...
Urologist Steven Brandes, MD, Joins NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center
Urologist Steven Brandes, MD, has joined NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center as Chief of Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Urology, effective February 1. He was also named a Professor of Urology on the faculty of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
...
Evolving Tools for Clinical Decision-Making
Value in cancer care—and how to define it—is a hot topic. There is general agreement that it is some measure of benefit vs cost, but “should the focus be on providing value to patients at a population level or at an individual level?” asked Alan Balch, PhD, CEO of the Patient Advocate Foundation,...
Ofatumumab for Extended Treatment of Patients With Recurrent or Progressive Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
On January 19, 2016, ofatumumab (Arzerra) was approved for extended treatment of patients in complete or partial response after at least two lines of therapy for recurrent or progressive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).1,2 Ofatumumab was previously approved for treatment of untreated patients...
Management of Advanced Lung Cancer in the Elderly: A Reason to Rejoice or a Cause for Concern?
There is ample evidence to suggest that older adults with a good performance status (0 or 1) with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) should be treated with combination chemotherapy akin to younger patients.1,2 However, older adults comprise a heterogeneous group that has been...
$13.4 Million Awarded to Study Treatment for Low-Grade Ductal Carcinoma in Situ in a Prospective, Randomized Trial
A funding award of $13.4 million hopes to answer one of the biggest questions in the current management of breast cancer: Do women with the earliest form of the disease, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), need invasive surgery?
Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Duke...
Rolapitant Reduces Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting in Patients Receiving Moderately and Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy
In three phase III studies reported in The Lancet Oncology, the addition of the neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptor antagonist rolapitant to serotonin (5-HT3) receptor antagonist and dexamethasone treatment significantly improved complete response rates in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and ...
Candid Discussions on Living With and After Cancer at An Evening for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers
On January 14, 2016, the Cancer Survivorship Symposium opened with An Evening for Cancer Survivors and Caregivers, an event featuring networking, a panel discussion, and an open forum to share the challenges of living with or after a cancer diagnosis. The audience included Symposium attendees as...
Conquer Cancer Foundation Awards Grants to Drive International Cancer Care Advances
The Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO has awarded four 2016 International Innovation Grants to organizations developing projects with the potential to revolutionize cancer control in low- and middle-income countries. This year’s grants will support research in India, Nepal, Uganda, and the...
ASCO Official Participates in Vice President’s ‘Moonshot’ Launch
During Vice President Joe Biden’s formal launch of his “moonshot” to cure cancer on January 15, ASCO encouraged a comprehensive approach to accelerate the discovery of new cancer treatments, including issues related to enrollment in clinical trials, access to care, federal funding, and information...
ASCO Announces New Award Recognizing Extraordinary Contributions to Cancer Survivorship Care
ASCO has announced the creation of the Ellen L. Stovall Award and Lecture for Advancement of Cancer Survivorship Care, intended to recognize and promote the work of pioneers and leaders in the growing field of survivorship. The first award will be presented at the 2017 Cancer Survivorship...
New Cancer.Net Fact Sheets for Your Practice
Be sure to check out Cancer.Net’s new ASCO Answers fact sheets on immunotherapy and brain metastases. These one-page (front and back) introductions include an overview, illustrations, terms to know, and questions to ask the doctor. Find these and a library of titles at www.cancer.net/factsheets,...
Selected Abstracts From 2015 ASH Annual Meeting: Part 3
Here are several more abstracts selected from the proceedings of the 2015 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, focusing on newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, and amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. For other selected abstracts...
Failure of Updated Dietary Guidelines to Advise Limiting Red and Processed Meat Deemed a ‘Missed Opportunity’
“A missed opportunity” is how Susan Higginbotham, PhD, RD, Vice President for Research, American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), described the “failure” of updated dietary guidelines to recommend limiting consumption of red and processed meat. Doing so would have “the potential to save...
Four New U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Members Appointed
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has announced the addition of four new members: John W. Epling, Jr, MD, MSEd; Diane Medved Harper, MD, MPH, MS; C. Seth Landefeld, MD; and Carol M. Mangione, MD, MSPH. Like their fellow Task Force members, these experts in prevention and evidence-based...
Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, Named Deputy Director of Winship Cancer Institute
Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD, an internationally recognized lung cancer physician-investigator, has been named Deputy Director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. He will also serve as Assistant Dean for Cancer Research in the Emory School of Medicine.
In his role as Winship’s Deputy...
Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma Regardless of BRAF Mutation Status
On January 23, 2016, the indication for nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) in unresectable or metastatic melanoma was expanded through accelerated approval to include patients regardless of BRAF V600 mutation status.1 The combination was previously approved for treatment of patients with ...
Judy Keen, PhD, Announced as Director of Scientific Affairs at ASTRO
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recently welcomed Judy Keen, PhD, as its Director of Scientific Affairs, a position created to expand research participation and collaboration in the field of radiation oncology.
As the ASTRO lead on scientific affairs, Dr. Keen will develop and...
Emory and Winship Announce Sagar Lonial, MD, as Hematology and Medical Oncology Department Chair
Sagar Lonial, MD, an internationally renowned expert in the biology and treatment of patients with multiple myeloma, has been named Chair of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology within Emory University School of Medicine and Winship Cancer Institute. Dr. Lonial assumes this role...
A Surgeon’s Inspiring Journey to Death
Every so often, a memoir comes along in which the story speaks to universal themes. For that magic to occur, the author must step aside at times and let others tell their story, too. Moreover, the writing must be clear, vibrant, and above all else honest to the core. The recently published memoir...
Global Cancer: The Current Reality and the Future Need for Action
The estimated number of cancer cases worldwide in 2008 was 12.7 million, with 7.6 million deaths. By 2030, it is estimated that there will be 22 million newly diagnosed cancer cases and 12 million deaths, shocking to contemplate in dollars and human suffering. Although this impending disaster has...
Johannes W. Vieweg, MD, FACS, Named Founding Dean of Nova Southeastern University College of Allopathic Medicine
Nova Southeastern University (NSU), Fort Lauderdale, Florida, announced the appointment of Johannes W. Vieweg, MD, FACS, as Founding Dean of NSU’s College of Allopathic Medicine. The new college is aiming to welcome its first class of MD candidates in 2018, subject to achieving accreditation.
Dr....
Carmen Solórzano, MD, Named Chief of Surgical Oncology at Vanderbilt
Carmen Solórzano, MD, Professor of Surgery and Director of the Endocrine Surgery Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), has been named Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery in the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Solórzano joined the Vanderbilt faculty in 2010...
Jaclyn Biegel, PhD, Joins Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles as Director of Center for Personalized Medicine
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) has named Jaclyn Biegel, PhD, a leading academic expert on pediatric brain tumors, rhabdoid tumors, and cancer cytogenetics, as the Director of the Center for Personalized Medicine at CHLA.
Dr. Biegel, who formerly served as Director of the Cancer...
Oncology Drug Approvals: Year in Review
In 2015, the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products (OHOP) approved 16 new molecular entities. The most notable were drug approvals in disease areas such as non–small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, renal cancer, and diseases that are particularly difficult to...
Men Get Breast Cancer Too
Like many men, it never occurred to me that I could get breast cancer. But it turns out it is more common—and deadly—than I thought, with about 2,600 men diagnosed each year with invasive breast cancer and nearly 440 dying of the disease.1 In 2010, I became one of those men, and the diagnosis was...
Mary-Claire King, PhD, Awarded 2016 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research
The National Foundation for Cancer Research has announced that Mary-Claire King, PhD, Professor of Genome Sciences and Medicine (Medical Genetics) at the University of Washington, Seattle, has been awarded the 2016 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research.
The National Foundation for...
Mistletoe
Scientific names: Viscum album, Viscum coloratum
Common names: Helixor, Iscador, Iscador Qu, Lektinol, Cefalektin, Eurixor, ABNOBAviscum, Abnoba-viscum Quercus
Overview
Mistletoe is a semiparasitic plant that grows on many species of trees native to Europe and Western Asia. It has been...
Junior Investigators Win Awards for Pilot Projects
The results of the Fox Chase Cancer Center’s American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (IRG) Pilot Project Competition for Junior Investigators that was held in December 2015 have been announced. The competition was open to eligible junior faculty at Fox Chase Cancer Center or Temple...
Patients Diagnosed With Stage I to III Rectal Cancer at Younger Age Have Increased Risk for Positive Lymph Nodes
Patients diagnosed with stage I to III rectal cancer at a younger age are at increased risk of having positive lymph nodes, according to an analysis of data published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. “This finding merits further investigation and may ultimately impact treatment...
100% of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers Endorse the Promotion of the HPV Vaccination for Cancer Prevention
All National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers have united to support human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination (see below). A team of HPV experts drafted a consensus statement that advises widespread use of HPV vaccines to prevent cancer.
HPV causes cancer of the cervix, anus, and...
Increased Cancer Mortality Among Recipients of Solid-Organ Transplants
Solid-organ transplant recipients have a higher rate of cancer mortality than that expected in the general population, according to a Canadian study published in JAMA Oncology. Cancer mortality among transplant recipients “was significantly elevated compared with the Ontario population,” with a...
Quality Improvement Projects Aim at Reducing Errors in Prescribing IV and Oral Chemotherapy
Two quality improvement projects described in the Journal of Oncology Practice resulted in reduced errors in prescribing intravenous (IV) and oral chemotherapy.
A project at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston outpatient infusion centers first identified 15 different types of...
