March 10, 2019 (View All Issues)
Pembrolizumab/Axitinib Combination Improves Outcomes vs Sunitinib in Kidney Cancer
The checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab plus the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor axitinib significantly improved overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rates vs sunitinib as first-line therapy for clear cell metastatic renal cell...
Mutations in DNA Damage Repair Predict Benefit With Platinum Agents in Pancreatic Cancer
Patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who have homologous repair damage response mutations may derive considerable benefit from treatment with platinum agents, according to an analysis of patients in the Know Your Tumor Program presented by Michael Pishvaian, MD, PhD, of Georgetown University,...
10 Patient-Centered Principles for More Conservative Cancer Diagnosis
Although diagnostic errors date back to antiquity, in recent years, they have begun to receive attention as an important patient safety issue. This culminated in the National Academy of Medicine’s 2015 landmark report, which concluded that most people in the United States would experience ...
Radioligand Therapy Achieves Responses in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
In a prospective, single-center, single-arm phase II trial reported at the 2019 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, a novel approach using a tumor-specific radioligand therapy that binds to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) (lutetium-177 PSMA-617 -[LuPSMA]) achieved responses in a majority of...
ARAMIS Trial Reports Darolutamide Improves Outcomes in High-Risk Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer
Darolutamide—an investigational androgen receptor inhibitor—significantly improved metastasis-free survival in men with high-risk nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer vs placebo in the large phase III ARAMIS trial.1 Men treated with darolutamide had a median metastasis-free survival...
Study Shows Limited Antitumor Activity of Pembrolizumab in Neuroendocrine Tumors
Neuroendocrine tumors appear resistant to single-agent immunotherapy, according to the results of the KEYNOTE-028 trial of pembrolizumab. “Pembrolizumab monotherapy showed limited antitumor activity but a manageable safety profile in patients with previously treated, advanced neuroendocrine...
More Data Show Small Benefit From Extended Endocrine Therapy
Two studies presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium validated a small benefit of extending adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy beyond thestandard 5 years for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer. In a meta-analysis of 24,912 patients from 12...
Perlmutter Cancer Center Receives Anonymous $75 Million Gift to Create Center for Blood Cancers
NYU Langone Health’s Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center recently announced a philanthropic gift to establish a Center for Blood Cancers. The center will house a new program for multiple myeloma care and research, along with NYU Langone Health’s other blood cancer programs. It will also...
Long-Term Study Finds Axillary Radiotherapy Safe and Effective After Positive Sentinel Node Biopsy
Following identification of a positive sentinel lymph node, surgical axillary lymph node dissection and axillary radiation therapy provide comparable locoregional control and survival, according to a 10-year follow-up of the large European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer AMAROS...
Neoadjuvant Palbociclib Plus Letrozole Reduces Ki67 Levels
In the neoadjuvant setting, adding palbociclib to letrozole significantly enhanced the suppression of malignant cell proliferation, as measured by Ki67 levels, in patients with primary estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer but did not increase the clinical response rate over 14 weeks,...
Otis W. Brawley, MD, Joins Faculty of Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
Otis W. Brawley, MD, an authority on cancer screening and prevention who served as Chief Medical and Scientific Officer for the American Cancer Society and Director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, has been named a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns...
Innovative Research to Improve the Supportive Care Needs of Cancer Survivors
First launched in 2014, the Palliative Care in Oncology Symposium introduced a nascent interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of both the physical and psychological symptoms of cancer to improve disease outcome and quality of life for patients. Today, it has evolved into a leading forum for...
National Consensus Project Releases 4th Edition of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Quality Palliative Care
As reported by Betty R. Ferrell, PhD, MA, FAAN, FPCN, of the Division of Nursing Research and Education, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California, and colleagues in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, the National Consensus Project (NCP) of the National Coalition for Hospice and...
Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Scientists Receive 2019 Innovation Award
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation named nine scientists with novel approaches to fighting cancer the 2019 recipients of the Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award. Five early career scientists will receive initial grants of $400,000 over 2 years. Another 4 awardees who demonstrated...
National Consensus Project Clinical Practice Guidelines: Improving Education on the Tenets of Palliative Care
The provision of palliative care (primary or specialty) is paramount to providing excellent quality care to all patients with cancer. Palliative care is associated with improving the quality of life, mood, and survival in patients with cancer. In fact, ASCO guidelines recommend that patients with...
Advances in Haploidentical Transplantation and Cellular Therapies
With advances in the field, the number of haploidentical stem cell transplants being performed (ie, using human leukocyte antigen [HLA] half-matched donor stem cells) has been increasing. In recognition of evolving strategies to improve outcomes, a group of transplant physicians started the...
Cancer Drug Development Award Given to Geoffrey Shapiro, PhD, MD
The Targeted Anticancer Therapies (TAT) 2019 Honorary Award for cancer drug development has been given to Geoffrey Shapiro, PhD, MD, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and institute physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), for his leadership in developmental...
The Pancreatic Cancer Collective Awards $7 Million to Teams of Researchers in Pancreatic Cancer
The Pancreatic Cancer Collective—the strategic partner of the Lustgarten Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)—has awarded a total of $7 million in first-round New Therapies Challenge grants to 7 teams of top cancer researchers to explore new pancreatic cancer treatments. Each team will receive...
Researcher Supported by ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation Earns Spot in Clinical Cancer Advances 2019 for Lung Cancer Study
The work of nine researchers who have previously received funding from Conquer Cancer is featured in ASCO’s Clinical Cancer Advances 2019. Visit CONQUER.ORG/CCA for more details.
Immunotherapy
At New York University Perlmutter Cancer Center in New York City, Leena Gandhi, MD, PhD, led a large...
More Than 50 Groups Sign Letter Urging HHS to Reject Proposed Changes to Medicare Part D
ASCO, along with over 50 other organizations, signed a letter from the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the agency to reject proposed changes to Medicare Part D that could harm patient access to essential therapies, including...
Who I Am and What I Will Do
I am a radiation oncologist from Zambia, where we only have one cancer center offering radiotherapy—and I will beat cancer. This bold statement often evokes a look of surprise. However, if the conversation is allowed to go on, I’ll say cancer is beatable even where resources are thin.
I am...
QOPI Round 1 Now Open for Data Abstraction
As of January 9, ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Round 1 of reporting is open for data abstraction. Round 1 will close on June 3, and final reports will be available approximately 2 weeks after the round closes. To get started, go to the registration portal and log in.
A...
ASCO University Course Focuses on Fertility Preservation
Cancer can affect fertility in both men and women from adolescence through adulthood. Fertility preservation is often not addressed early enough during cancer treatment, but it should be a standard component of comprehensive care for prepubertal and reproductive-age patients.
ASCO University...
Free Practice Resource: Cancer.Net Patient Referral Cards From ASCO
Patients and caregivers are always looking for trusted online information on topics related to cancer. Display these free referral cards in your practice to encourage your patients to visit ASCO’s patient information website, Cancer.Net. There, patients may find authoritative, oncologist-approved ...
Eliminating the Taboo of Cancer
All homes and all families have or have had their own cancer experiences. Speaking about it dissolves the taboo and allows for earlier diagnosis, less discrimination, increased awareness, and higher commitment by authorities. It also helps those struggling with the disease feel like part of a...
Conquer Cancer Podcast Series Goes Unscripted With Doctors, Patients, and Caregivers
In “A Lifesaving Intuition”, this month’s featured Your Stories podcast, a two-time cancer survivor shares lessons with her daughter about beating the odds, trusting science, and trusting your gut.
Developed by ASCO’s Conquer Cancer Foundation, the Your Stories podcast series shares unscripted...
Michael Cabana, MD, MA, MPH, and Lori Pbert, PhD, Join USPSTF
THE U.S. PREVENTIVE Services Task Force (Task Force) announced the addition of two new members: Michael Cabana, MD, MA, MPH, and Lori Pbert, PhD. Both were appointed to serve 4-year terms, which began in January 2019.
Dr. Cabana is Professor of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics and a ...
Robin Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, Elected President of Michiana Hematology Oncology
MICHIANA HEMATOLOGY Oncology has announced that Robin Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, has been elected President by its shareholders. In her new role as President, Dr. Zon will oversee and maintain leadership of the practice.
Dr. Zon is a member of ASCO and was awarded Fellow status; with ASCO, she served ...
Although Evidence Is Clear That Lung Cancer Screening Saves Lives, Adoption Rates Remain Low
The findings of the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), reported in 2011, revealed that participants who received low-dose helical computed tomography (CT) scans had a 20% lower risk of dying of lung cancer than participants who received standard chest x-rays. Despite these results,...
ASH President Roy Silverstein, MD, Issues Comment on Maintenance of Certification Recommendations Draft
RECENTLY, THE American Society of Hematology (ASH) submitted feedback on draft recommendations for reforming Maintenance of Certification (MOC) to a commission appointed by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and other entities.
The “Vision Commission” released a report of its draft...
Addition of Elotuzumab to Pomalidomide and Dexamethasone in Previously Treated Patients With Multiple Myeloma
AS REPORTED in The New England Journal of Medicine by Meletios A. Dimopoulos, MD, of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and colleagues, the phase II ELOQUENT-3 trial has shown that the addition of elotuzumab to pomalidomide and dexamethasone significantly prolonged...
Reshaping the Treatment Landscape in Refractory Multiple Myeloma
THE TREATMENT approaches for multiple myeloma, both newly diagnosed and relapsed disease, continue to undergo major transformation as new agents and combinations are being introduced.1 This change has been driven by the introduction of novel drug classes such as monoclonal antibodies, as well as...
Cabozantinib for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Previously Treated With Sorafenib
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.
On January 14, 2019, cabozantinib was approved for the...
Health-Care Fraud Prosecutions Are on the Rise
Prosecuting health-care fraud is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and other federal government agencies.1,2 After all, the government earns a $6 return for every $1 that it spends on enforcement. In December 2018, the DOJ announced that it had obtained more than $2.5 billion...
Roy L. Silverstein, MD, Begins Term as 2019 ASH President
ROY L. SILVERSTEIN, MD, an expert in platelet and vascular cell biology, as well as clinical nonmalignant hematology and thrombosis, will serve as President of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) for a 1-year term through December 2019.
Dr. Silverstein is Chairman of the Department of...
A Peaceful Transformation: The Origin of the Frederick National Laboratory
JUST 2 MONTHS before Congress passed what to this day is America’s most sweeping anticancer legislation, President Richard Nixon came to Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland, to declare his administration’s historic commitment to the fight.
“I have come here today for the purpose of making an...
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
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. Gary Deng, MD, PhD, and Jyothirmai Gubili, MS, explore the use of omega-3 fatty acids, which have...
FDA Approves Trifluridine/Tipiracil for Recurrent, Metastatic Gastric and GEJ Adenocarcinoma
ON FEBRUARY 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved trifluridine/tipiracil tablets (Lonsurf)—a fixed combination of trifluridine, a nucleoside metabolic inhibitor, and tipiracil, a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor—for adult patients with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction...
Update on Newer Treatments in Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas
AS PART of The ASCO Post’s continued coverage of the 2018 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, here is an update on several different studies on new therapeutics in non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs), including follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma...
We Need Better Screening Methods for Detecting Breast Cancer
MY BREAST CANCER was probably a decade in the making, although I only became aware that there might be a problem in 2014, when I noticed some slight pain in my left breast. A routine mammogram and ultrasound found benign cysts in my dense breasts, which most likely explained the pain, I was told,...
Outcomes With Dose-Intense Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Early Breast Cancer
In a patient-level meta-analysis reported in The Lancet, the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group found that an increased dose intensity of adjuvant taxane and anthracycline chemotherapy in early breast cancer was associated with a decreased risk of recurrence and death from breast...
Factors Influencing Conversion to Mastectomy in Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
In a prospective cohort clinical trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Constance D. Lehman, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that multiple factors, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, played a role in conversion to mastectomy among women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who were...
Conservatively Managing Ovarian Tumors
In an interim analysis of a prospective cohort study (IOTA5) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Wouter Froyman, MD, and colleagues found that the risk of malignancy and acute complications is low when adnexal masses with benign ultrasound findings are managed conservatively.
In the study, patients ...
Humanitarian, Cancer Specialist Advocates for Universal Access to Care as a Basic Human Right
There is a plethora of educational books for patients with cancer and their families; advocates and patients themselves write most. Books in this genre often have a difficult time distilling the hard science of oncology into a lay-friendly narrative that keeps the reader engaged from cover to...
