March 10, 2023 (View All Issues)
TRITON3 Trial: Rucaparib Extends Progression-Free Survival in Selected Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
The poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor rucaparib prolonged imaging-based progression-free survival vs physician’s choice of therapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer whose tumors harbored BRCA or ATM alterations. These results of the phase III TRITON3 study ...
Understanding the Link Between Prognostic Perception and Patient-Oncologist Prognostic Discordance in the Advanced Cancer Setting
Studies have shown that although patients with advanced cancer want their oncologists to give them an honest assessment of their prognosis, most patients still perceive their illness as curable.1 And that lack of understanding of their prognosis can lead to reduced use of hospice care and increased ...
Working Together to Close the Global Care Gap
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored that public health is the product of one global, integrated ecosystem.
Although it is tempting to focus on specific aspects of local health-care systems, or the political or physical environment, health and health care in other countries also impacts the...
Extended Follow-up Supports First-Line Use of Nivolumab Plus Cabozantinib in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
The 3-year follow-up of the phase III CheckMate 9ER trial demonstrates superior outcomes with the combination of nivolumab plus cabozantinib vs the former standard-of-care sunitinib as first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.1 These benefits were achieved with the...
Phase III Trials Confirm Benefit of First-Line Anti–PD-1 Inhibition Plus Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer
Two phase III trials evaluating the addition of drugs targeting PD-1 to chemotherapy—RATIONALE 305 and CheckMate 649—confirmed the benefit of this approach as first-line therapy for advanced gastric, gastroesophageal junction, or esophageal adenocarcinoma, in findings presented at the 2023 ASCO GI...
Novel Immunotherapy Combination Shows Activity in Microsatellite-Stable Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
In heavily pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have microsatellite-stable tumors, the novel combination of the monoclonal antibodies botensilimab and balstilimab showed clinical activity, producing durable responses and an estimated 63% overall survival rate at 12 months,...
Abstracts of Interest on Novel Therapies for Gastrointestinal Cancers
As in the years before the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium—its 20th such gathering—played to a full ballroom. It featured a stellar lineup of experts in the field as well as high-quality, impactful research in esophageal, gastric, hepatocellular, pancreatic, biliary tract, and ...
Studies Focusing on Age- and Race-Related Disparities in Multiple Myeloma and Sickle Cell Disease
Research that addresses the compounding effects of age and race/ethnicity on access to quality health care and patient-centered outcomes such as physical function, frailty, and survival continues to be an emerging area of inquiry in hematology. Accordingly, novel research employing qualitative and...
Elacestrant for ER-Positive, HER2-Negative, ESR1-Mutated Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer
On January 27, 2023, elacestrant was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for postmenopausal women or adult men with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine ...
‘Best of SABCS’: Top 7 Picks From the 2022 Meeting by Jame Abraham, MD, FACP
Among the high-quality abstract presentations at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), a few always stand out as particularly meritorious. Each year, The ASCOPost asks our Associate Editor, breast cancer specialist Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, to give us his picks. Dr. Abraham is Chairman...
Sacituzumab Govitecan-hziy in HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer
On February 3, 2023, sacituzumab govitecan-hziy was approved for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 0, IHC 1+, or IHC 2+/in situ hybridization–negative) breast cancer who have received endocrine-based therapy and at...
Highlights of the 2022 Annual Conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology
The 2022 Annual Conference of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 28–30, 2022. The meeting was held in conjunction with the SIOG 2022 Public Policy Meeting: Global Policy to Action on Cancer in the Aging Population at UN Headquarters...
Neighborhood Social Vulnerability and Its Influence on the Availability of Clinical Trials in Multiple Myeloma
Clinical trials set the treatment standards for cancer care. However, for select populations, such as those who are older, Black, or facing socioeconomic challenges, access to clinical trials and health care generally remains limited. Barriers to clinical trial participation are numerous and...
Pilot Program Shows Diversity-Focused Clinical Trial Tools Are Useful at Cancer Research Sites
Cancer research sites demonstrated the utility of new resources designed to increase the diversity of participants in cancer clinical trials, although challenges remain, according to two studies published recently in JCO Oncology Practice.1,2
The studies examine the results from a collaborative...
Oncologists Applaud State of the Union’s Focus on Ending Cancer as We Know It
Julie R. Gralow, MD, FACP, FASCO, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of ASCO and the Association for Clinical Oncology, issued the following statement after President Joseph Biden’s State of the Union address on February 7.
“ASCO applauds President Biden’s focus on ‘ending cancer...
First ASCO Guideline for Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy in Advanced Gastroesophageal Cancer Now Available
An ASCO expert panel has developed a comprehensive guideline for immunotherapy and targeted therapy in patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancer.1 The guideline is based on the many recent advances in immunotherapy and targeted therapy. “The role of immunotherapy has changed practice in the...
PhALLCON Study: Ponatinib Superior to Imatinib in Combination With Chemotherapy in Newly Diagnosed, Ph-Positive ALL
Ponatinib appears to be a more effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor than imatinib in newly diagnosed, Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when combined with reduced-intensity chemotherapy, according to data presented during the ASCO Plenary Series: February 2023...
Four Leading UPMC/Pitt Scientists Receive Funding for Research in Breast Cancer
Steffi Oesterreich, PhD, and Adrian V. Lee, PhD, breast cancer researchers at UMPC Hillman Cancer Center and Magee-Womens Research Institute, along with Wendie Berg, MD, PhD, Professor of Radiology at UMPC Magee-Womens Hospital, all of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, have received ...
Unique Challenges of Cancer Care in India
In this installment of The ASCO Post’s Global Oncology, guest editor Chandrakanth Are, MBBS, MBA, FRCS, FACS, spoke with Rajendra Toprani, MBBS, MS, MCh, Head of the Department of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology at HCG Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad, India. Dr. Toprani’s areas of interest include oral,...
Triplet and Quadruplet Regimens in Smoldering Multiple Myeloma
Combination regimens beyond lenalidomide/dexamethasone were shown to significantly delay—and potentially prevent altogether—progression from smoldering disease to active multiple myeloma, according to researchers who reported findings from two studies at the 2022 American Society of Hematology...
Ponatinib and Blinatumomab Combination Safe and Effective in Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Ph-Positive ALL
The combination of ponatinib and blinatumomab has led to rapid and durable remissions in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to data presented at the 2022 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and...
Tucatinib With Trastuzumab in Previously Treated RAS Wild-Type HER2-Positive Advanced Colorectal Cancer
On January 19, 2023, tucatinib was grated accelerated approval for use in combination with trastuzumab for RAS wild-type, HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer that progressed following fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy.1
Supporting Efficacy...
Mirvetuximab Soravtansine Active in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer With High FRα Expression
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Ursula A. Matulonis, MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and colleagues, the phase II SORAYA study has shown activity of mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting folate receptor α (FRα), in women with...
How Patient Navigation Programs Are Helping Drive Equitable Care for Patients With Cancer and Improve Outcomes
Although patient navigation is increasingly recognized as an important component in the delivery of patient-centered cancer care, the service is not universally available across all cancer programs in the United States, often because of the concerns of extra cost without tangible financial...
Vanessa B. Sheppard, PhD, Named American Cancer Society Researcher of the Year
In recognition of her cancer research, Vanessa B. Sheppard, PhD, Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement and Health Disparities Research at Massey Cancer Center, has received the 2022 Researcher of the Year Award from the American Cancer Society (ACS). Dr. Sheppard, who was awarded ...
Novel Herbal Oncology Program for Management of Cancer Symptoms at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center
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. In this installment, Jun J. Mao, MD, MSCE, Guest Editor of the Integrative Oncology series, and Yen ...
Addition of Avelumab to Carboplatin/Paclitaxel in First-Line Treatment of Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Sandro Pignata, MD, and colleagues, the Italian phase II MITO END-3 trial showed no progression-free survival benefit with the addition of first-line avelumab to carboplatin/paclitaxel in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. A trend toward...
Encorafenib, Binimetinib, and Cetuximab in Previously Untreated Patients With BRAF V600E–Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
In the phase II ANCHOR CRC trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Eric Van Cutsem, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that the combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab produced an objective response in nearly half of previously untreated patients with BRAF V600E–mutant...
Camrelizumab/Apatinib in Recurrent or Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
In a Chinese phase II trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Ding et al found that camrelizumab plus apatinib produced durable objective responses in most patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Study Details
The multicenter trial enrolled 58 patients between...
Brexucabtagene Autoleucel in Relapsed or Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma in Standard-of-Care Practice
In an analysis from the U.S. Lymphoma CAR T Consortium reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Wang et al found that standard-of-care treatment with brexucabtagene autoleucel in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma since its approval in this setting has been associated with response...
Cancer Mortality Decreased 33% in Newest Data Reported by the American Cancer Society
Overall cancer mortality rates have decreased 33% since 1991, and cervical cancer incidence decreased 65% from 2012 through 2019, according to the latest statistics reported by the American Cancer Society (ACS).1 Amid this good news, however, was a troubling 3% annual increase in prostate cancer...
I’m Doing My Part to Erase the Stigma Surrounding Lung Cancer
Ironically, I received a diagnosis of lung cancer when I was feeling my healthiest. In December 2015, when I was just 51 years old, a routine chest x-ray found a small shadow on the lower lobe of my right lung. Despite being a never-smoker, a regular exerciser, and a healthy eater, my primary care...
Miguel-Angel Perales, MD, Named 2023–2024 President of ASTCT
The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) has chosen Miguel-Angel Perales, MD, as President of the Society in 2023–2024. Dr. Perales first served on the Board of Directors in 2017 and has been a member of ASTCT since 2001. He is Chief of the Adult Bone Marrow...
