July 15, 2012 (View All Issues)
Second-line Treatments Tested in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Results of two late-breaking phase III trials presented at 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting add to the evolving understanding of how best to treat non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The TAILOR trial suggested the benefit of chemotherapy over EGFR-targeted therapy as second-line treatment of patients with...
The Affordable Care Act Stands: Now What?
On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law—a hotly contested bill that enacted sweeping changes to the U.S. health-care system. The debate over the Affordable Care Act continued all the way to the Supreme Court, spearheaded by the case Florida...
Three Experts Weigh In on the Health-care Reform Legislation
In light of the Supreme Court ruling, The ASCO Post asked three nationally regarded experts about how the Affordable Care Act will affect the practice of oncology.
Ezekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, Professor and Vice Provost for Global Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania: This is an overwhelmingly...
Reflections from the Old World
A few years ago, I was a key witness for a patent dispute at a trial in Delaware. Acting for the complainant, I was briefed that the opening gambit of the opposition lawyer would be to discredit my CV and, therefore, the value of my testimony. “So you are a full Professor at the University of...
Lung Cancer Death Rates Increase among White Women in Some States
A new study comparing lung cancer death rates among women by year of birth shows dramatic differences in trends between states, likely reflecting the success or failure of tobacco control efforts. The study, published early online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology,1 finds that while lung cancer...
Landscape for Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma Is Expanding
Metastatic melanoma was long considered untreatable and incurable. The FDA approval of ipilimumab (Yervoy) and vemurafenib (Zelboraf) ushered in a new era for this disease, and now additional treatment options are in late stages of clinical development. Dabrafenib, a novel oral BRAF inhibitor, and...
First-line Afatinib Superior to Standard Chemotherapy in Advanced EGFR-mutated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
First-line therapy with the investigational oral agent afatinib improved progression-free survival compared with standard chemotherapy (pemetrexed (Alimta)/cisplatin) in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring an EGFR mutation. Afatinib improved progression-free survival ...
2013 Certifying Examination in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
The American Board of Pediatrics has announced that the upcoming 2013 Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Certifying Examination will be held on April 16, 2013. Registration and other information is provided below.
Examination Date: April 16, 2013
Registration for first-time applicants: August 1, 2012, ...
ASCO Studies Point to Risks Associated with Treating Childhood Cancers
Risks associated with being a young cancer survivor were emphasized by two studies highlighted in press briefings at the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting.
Investigators from the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) reported that adolescents and young adults treated for high-risk B-precursor acute...
Bevacizumab beyond Progression Prolongs Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
In a study highlighted at a press briefing during the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting, German investigators reported that prolonging treatment with bevacizumab (Avastin) beyond disease progression extends overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.1 Patients received bevacizumab plus...
SIDEBAR: Other Colorectal Cancer News from ASCO
Additional noteworthy gastrointestinal cancer studies presented during oral abstract sessions at the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting included the following trials in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Perifosine/Capecitabine Fails in Phase III Trial
Adding perifosine, an oral alkylphospholipid inhibitor that ...
Increased Adjuvant Therapy Use and Improved Survival in Dutch Elderly Patients with Stage III Colon Cancer: A Direct Correlation?
A survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy has been reported for select elderly patients with stage III colon cancer, but many elderly patients are not candidates for or are not given adjuvant therapy due to comorbidities and fear of toxicity. In a recent Annals of Oncology article, van...
New Study on Communicating Bad News, from the Patient’s Perspective
There is limited evidence in the literature about how oncologists should discuss bad or serious news with their patients. A recent study sought to understand what patients with cancer value when their doctors communicate news of recurrence.1 The ASCO Post spoke with the study’s lead author, Anthony ...
Richard Goldberg, MD, Gives First Moertel Lecture
Richard Goldberg, MD, Physician-in-Chief of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, presented the first Charles G. Moertel Lecture of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology during the plenary session of the group’s recent...
PACE Trial Update: Ponatinib Produces High Response Rates in CML
The third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor ponatinib showed robust efficacy in the 10-month follow-up of the phase II PACE trial (Ponatinib Ph+ALL and CML Evaluation), which is evaluating ponatinib in treatment-refractory chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)1 At the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting, Jorge E. ...
Updated Findings Further Define Role of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in CML
With three available tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), attention has turned from the ability to achieve a sustained response to the possibility of “curing” patients. Updates of pivotal trials presented at ASCO may help define the role of the tyrosine...
Prognostic Value of Integrated Cytogenetic and Mutational Risk Classification in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Jay P. Patel, BS, and colleagues from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York recently performed mutational analysis of 18 genes in a subgroup of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who had been randomized to receive cytarabine plus high-dose or standard-dose...
After a Decade of Decline in Smoking Rates, Progress Has Stalled
Approximately 20% of all Americans smoke, and 443,000 of them will die each year as a result. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and the greatest behavioral determinant of morbidity and mortality (6%–10% of U.S. health-care costs). Nearly 30% of all cancer...
Gene Profiling–guided Therapy May Improve Survival in Patients with Carcinoma of Unknown Primary
Molecular gene-expression profiling is an emerging technique to determine tissue of origin in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary, although the value of predictions from such profiling in improving treatment outcomes is unclear. In a prospective trial using tumor profiling results to direct...
FDA Approves Cetuximab plus FOLFIRI/Therascreen in Colorectal Cancer
The FDA has granted approval to cetuximab (Erbitux) for use in combination with FOLFIRI (irinotecan, fluorouracil, leucovorin) for first-line treatment of patients with KRAS mutation–negative (wild-type), EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer as determined by FDA-approved tests for this use. ...
Proton Therapy System Granted 510(k) Clearance
Mevion Medical Systems, Inc, announced that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its Mevion S250 Proton Therapy System. According to Mevion, the new system delivers precise, noninvasive treatment comparable to that available with larger, more complex proton therapy systems but with higher...
Regorafenib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals announced that the FDA has granted priority review designation to Bayer HealthCare’s New Drug Application (NDA) filed end of April 2012 for the oral multikinase inhibitor regorafenib, for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose...
System for Breast Cancer Surgeries Gets Positive Vote
Dune Medical Devices announced that an FDA Advisory Panel voted 10 to 1 in favor of Dune’s MarginProbe System for use in breast cancer surgery, as an adjunct to current standard methods of intraoperative surgical margin assessment. Dune submitted a Premarket Application (PMA) in April 2011 based on ...
Blood Test to Improve Prostate Cancer Detection
Beckman Coulter, Inc, recently announced Premarket Approval from the FDA for the Prostate Health Index, a simple, noninvasive blood test that is 2.5 times more specific in detecting prostate cancer than prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in patients with PSA values in the 4 to 10 ng/mL range and has...
ASCO Launches Oncology Practice Census
How many oncologists are in private practice and how many are employed by hospitals and academic medical centers in the United States? No one knows the answer for sure, but ASCO is undertaking an ambitious national effort to determine where oncologists are practicing these days.
Online Survey
ASCO Bookstore Revamped
ASCO has redesigned its online bookstore. Now visitors can enjoy a streamlined environment powered by Amazon, allowing them to search in just about any way they want to: newest to oldest, most popular, by disease type, by professional interest, and the list goes on.
The new bookstore platform,...
Prostate Cancer Screening: What Patients Need to Know
Direct your patients to www.cancer.net/expertsoncancernews so they can learn about ASCO’s new Provisional Clinical Opinion on PSA testing to screen for prostate cancer, including what it means for patients. In addition, patients can find more information about prostate cancer at...
YIA and CDA: Abbreviations of Great Importance to Continued Progress in Cancer Research
Behind the scenes researchers—who are well acquainted with the human cost of cancer and see the vast scientific and clinical opportunities for conquering it—are working to unlock the secrets of cancer in its many forms. Some are well established in their careers and have been conducting studies for ...
Sarcoma Foundation of America Teams with Conquer Cancer Foundation to Fund Potentially Life-saving Research
When Matthew Alsante signed on to serve as Executive Director of the Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) 6 years ago, he had a visceral understanding of the importance of the organization’s work. Mr. Alsante had lost his father to lung cancer in 1999.
“Right up until the last day of his life, if...
Cancer Care in Rwanda: A Model of Creative Partnerships
While disparities in cancer care remain problematic in wealthy industrial nations like the United States, the challenges faced in poorer regions of the world are, by comparison, inestimable. Nationally regarded health-care expert Lawrence N. Shulman, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, is part of...
Mitotane-containing Regimens Explored for a Rare Tumor
Response rates and progression-free survival rates were significantly better among patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma receiving mitotane (Lysodren) plus EDP (etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) than in patients receiving mitotane with streptozocin (Zanosar), according to results of...
New Study Examines Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality
According to the first national study looking at racial disparity in breast cancer mortality rates at the city level in the United States, societal factors—especially poverty and residential segregation—are resulting in the unnecessary deaths of five black women every day—more than 1,700 deaths a...
Alterations in PTEN Insufficient to Predict Sensitivity to Drugs Targeting PI3K/mTOR Pathway
PTEN acts as a tumor-suppressor gene through the action of its phosphatase protein product, which participates in regulation of the cell cycle to prevent too-rapid cell growth and division. Loss of PTEN function has been shown to increase PI3K/mTOR signaling, and preclinical data suggest that PTEN...
Two Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Associated with Risk for Paclitaxel-related Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is the most common severe toxicity in patients receiving paclitaxel, and mutations in genes affecting drug metabolism, distribution, and elimination are likely to modulate risk for such neurotoxicity. In a recent study, Daniel Hertz, PharmD, and colleagues from the University...
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Predict Severe Toxicity of Adjuvant Therapy in Colorectal Cancer
Oxaliplatin/fluoropyrimidine–based adjuvant therapy is of benefit in patients with resected stage II/III colon cancer, but the ability to predict risk of toxicity could improve care by permitting individualization of treatment. Ana Custodio, MD, and colleagues from GEMCAD (Grupo Español...
NK Cell Signature Associated with Favorable Prognosis in Breast Cancer
Tumor cell recognition by natural killer (NK) cells is mediated by the interaction of activating and inhibitory NK cell receptors with ligands expressed on the tumor cells. NK cells also express adhesion molecules that facilitate formation of the immune synapse with tumor targets. Maria Libera...
p53 Mutation in Advanced Solid Tumors Linked to Aggressive Course
Mutations in the tumor-suppressor protein p53, among the most common mutations in cancers, affect apoptosis, genomic stability, and angiogenesis. To determine the effect of p53 mutation on clinical characteristics and disease and treatment outcomes, Rabih Said, MD, MPH, and colleagues from The...
Cabozantinib Prolongs Progression-free Survival in Advanced Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Cabozantinib prolonged progression-free survival in patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer with documented disease progression in the phase III EXAM trial. Based on these results, Exelixis submitted a New Drug Application to the FDA in May 2012. The...
Soy Phytoestrogens and Breast Cancer: An Enduring Dilemma
The impact of soy consumption on breast cancer diagnosis and outcome has remained of concern to clinicians and researchers for the past 20 years. Although studied extensively in epidemiologic studies as well as lab and animal research, no medical consensus on soy’s effects has emerged. Many studies ...
Early Access to Palliative/Supportive Care vs Usual Care Improves Pain Management
Many cancer patients remain undertreated for pain despite availability of guidelines and educational efforts to improve pain treatment. In a recent Annals of Oncology article, Bandieri and colleagues from the Italian Epidemiologia Clinico-Assistenziale del Dolore in Ospedale (ECAD-O) group report a ...
My Breast Cancer Had Been Coming for Years
I’ve never had a normal mammogram screening. There was always something suspicious the test picked up: macrocalcifications in one breast 1 year and a cyst in the other breast the next year. Over a period of 3 years, I had six tissue biopsies, all benign for cancer. So when I flunked another...
Identification of Novel Mechanism for Suppression of Antitumor Immunity
The efficacy of cancer immunotherapy has been limited, likely reflecting in large part the incomplete understanding of the complex interactions between tumors and the immune microenvironment. A study presented at the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting helps clarify some of these interactions.
Changes in...
Pazopanib: New Drug for Advanced Soft-tissue Sarcoma
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 April 2012, pazopanib (Votrient) was approved for...
Jesus San Miguel Receives José Carreras Award
Jesús San Miguel, MD, Professor of Medicine (Hematology), Head of the Hematology Department at the University Hospital of Salamanca, and Director of the Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca, Spain, was awarded the José Carreras Lecture at the 17th Congress of the European Hematology...
2012 Oncology Meetings
July
Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference
July 17-20 • Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
For more information:
unmc.edu/panpacificlymphoma
13th International Lung Cancer Congress
July 19-22 • Huntington Beach, California
For more information:
http://cancerlearning.onclive.com
5th Latin American Lung Cancer...
MEK Inhibitor Reduces Progression of BRAF-mutated Melanoma and Might also Benefit Others
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.
The MEK inhibitor trametinib...
Pretreatment Tumor Hypoxia Predicts Biochemical Failure after Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer
Hypoxia often occurs early in solid tumor development as a result of imbalances between oxygen supply and consumption and may lead to genetic and molecular signaling that influences the biology and clinical behavior of tumors and response to treatment. Milosevic and colleagues from Princess...
Screening Should Begin Early for Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Survivors of childhood cancer, particularly those treated for childhood Hodgkin lymphoma or Wilms tumor with abdominal radiation, procarbazine (Matulane), and platinum chemotherapy, are at an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal subsequent malignant neoplasms, according to a retrospective...
Adjuvant Chemotherapy May Confer Survival Benefit in Patients Older than 75 with Stage III Disease
Because few people over 75 participate in clinical trials, it is unknown whether adjuvant chemotherapy could benefit this population. Faced with this gap in clinical trial evidence, researchers reviewed data from 5,489 patients ≥ 75 years with stage III colon cancer. The review suggests that...
