November 10, 2021 (View All Issues)
Evidence for Efficacy of Sunitinib in Malignant Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma
Results from the phase II FIRSTMAPPP study support the potential use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib in two rare neuroendocrine malignancies—pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. Sunitinib significantly improved the primary endpoint of progression-free survival vs placebo, according to...
IMpower010: Adjuvant Atezolizumab Improves Disease-Free Survival and NSCLC Relapse in Patients Whose Tumors Express PD-L1
Adjuvant immunotherapy with atezolizumab after standard chemotherapy improved disease-free survival and time to locoregional and distant relapse compared with best supportive care in prespecified subgroups of patients with stage II to IIIA non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to an...
FDA Approves Pembrolizumab Combination for the First-Line Treatment of Cervical Cancer
On October 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in combination with chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab, for patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer whose tumors express PD-L1 (combined positive score [CPS] ≥ 1), as...
Fox Chase Cancer Center Welcomes Teresa Y. Lee, MD, PhD
Fox Chase Cancer Center recently announced the hiring of Teresa Y. Lee, MD, PhD, as Assistant Professor. Dr. Lee will focus on caring for patients with sarcoma and head and neck cancer.
Dr. Lee began her tenure at Fox Chase following her completion of a hematology/oncology fellowship at Thomas...
Hossein Borghaei, DO, MS, Honored With Lung Cancer Heroes Award
Hossein Borghaei, DO, MS, Chief of the Division of Thoracic Medical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, has been named one of three winners of the second annual Lung Cancer Heroes awards program. Dr. Borghaei, who is a co-leader of the Molecular Therapeutics Program at Fox Chase and an authority...
FDA Approves Brexucabtagene Autoleucel for Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Precursor ALL
On October 1, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus), a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, for adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
ZUMA-3
Efficacy was...
Early Experiences in the United States Helped Shape an International Oncology Career for Aleix Prat, MD, PhD
In this installment of the Living a Full Life series, guest editor Jame Abraham, MD, spoke with Aleix Prat, MD, PhD, Head of the Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona. Dr. Prat, a breast cancer researcher, is currently working to identify strategies to tailor treatment for...
AML Pioneer and ‘Gentle Soul,’ Elihu H. Estey, MD, Dies at 75
“A lot of times, younger bright physicians are afraid to say what they really think, out of fear of challenging the dogma. One of the things I do when mentoring is to ask why we are doing a particular therapy or intervention. I tell my mentees not to let the data interfere with your knowledge,”...
ASTRO Honors 2021 Gold Medalists and Others
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recognized the recipients of its 2021 Gold Medal awards and other honors at the 63rd ASTRO Annual Meeting, held October 24 to 27 in Chicago.
ASTRO Gold Medal
Colleen A.F. Lawton, MD, FASTRO, and Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO, received the...
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center–Jefferson Health Welcomes Marcia Brose, MD, PhD, FASCO
The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center–Jefferson Health (SKCC) has named Marcia Brose, MD, PhD, FASCO, as Vice Chair of Medical Oncology and SKCC Regional Chief of Cancer Services at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital in Northeast Philadelphia.
Dr. Brose’s areas of expertise include thyroid cancer, rare...
AACI Recognizes Robert A. Winn, MD, With Inaugural Cancer Health Equity Award
The Association of the American Cancer Institutes (AACI) Vice President/President-Elect Robert A. Winn, MD, Director of Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center, recently received the AACI Cancer Health Equity Award. Dr. Winn is the inaugural recipient of the award, which was presented ...
Cancer Researcher and Drug Developer, Joseph R. Bertino, MD, Dies at 91
Over the arc of his notable career, Joseph R. Bertino, MD, garnered many honors for his scientific contributions leading to curative treatments for leukemia and lymphoma, such as ASCO’s David A. Karnofsky Award. Yet his legacy was perhaps most prominently punctuated by the multitude of patients...
Susan G. Komen Announces $1.5 Million in Grants for Metastatic Breast Cancer Research
Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, recently announced the award of $1.5 million for three new research projects that examine unique areas focused on metastatic breast cancer. The grants are part of the Susan G. Komen Metastatic Breast Cancer Collaborative Research...
Addition of Ramucirumab or Merestinib to First-Line Chemotherapy in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer
In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Juan W. Valle, MD, and colleagues found that no progression-free survival benefit was achieved with the addition of either the VEGFR2 inhibitor ramucirumab or the MEK inhibitor merestinib to first-line cisplatin/gemcitabine chemotherapy in...
Does a Longer Interval Before Surgery Among Patients With Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer Lead to Worse Survival?
In an Italian retrospective cohort study reported in JAMA Surgery, Deidda et al found that a longer vs shorter delay to surgery among patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with minor or no pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was associated with significantly poorer overall...
Effect of Geriatric Assessment–Driven Intervention on Incidence of Severe Chemotherapy-Related Toxicity in Older Patients With Cancer
In a single-center study reported in JAMA Oncology, Daneng Li, MD, and colleagues found that a geriatric assessment–driven intervention (GAIN) was associated with a reduced incidence of grade ≥ 3 adverse events and a higher frequency of completion of advance directives vs standard of care among...
The Worst Part of Having Cancer Was the Guilt
When I was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer in 1992, at age 38, I remember thinking, “I wish I had breast cancer.” Breast cancer elicits such sympathy from people. A diagnosis of small cell lung cancer mainly gets you stern looks of disapproval and disappointment. There is so much stigma...
WHO Director-General Grants Posthumous Award to Henrietta Lacks
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, MD, honored the late Henrietta Lacks with a WHO Director-General’s award, recognizing her world-changing legacy. Ms. Lacks, a Black American woman, died of cervical cancer 70 years ago, on October 4, 1951.
While she...
Patients With Hematologic Malignancies: How Robust Is Their Immunity to SARS–CoV-2?
A large study from the United Kingdom has taken a deep dive into SARS–CoV-2 in the setting of cancer, yielding both concerning and encouraging findings about natural and vaccine-induced immunity. The study was presented at the Presidential Symposium during the European Society for Medical Oncology...
Patient-Reported Outcomes in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Predicting Treatment Response and Survival Outcomes
According to data presented during the 2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium,1 1-month changes in patient-reported outcomes may predict treatment response and survival outcomes in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers.
The results of a prospective study of 159 patients with metastatic...
Medication Nonadherence Among Cancer Survivors: Are Indirect Health-Care Costs to Blame?
Approximately 1 in 10 long-term survivors of cancer fails to take medications as prescribed due to financial hardship, according to research presented at the 2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium.1 However, indirect health-care costs—not drug copays—may be responsible, the study investigators suggested.
...
Is Precision Oncology an Unsustainable Promise?
Despite the promise of precision oncology, the cost-effectiveness of targeted treatments remains open to debate. According to Aakash Desai, MD, MPH, there is an urgent need for drug-pricing reform, given the average expenditure of Medicare Part D.
An analysis of the Medicare database presented...
Out-of-Pocket Costs on the Rise for the Four Most Common Cancers, Study Finds
Rising cost-sharing requirements from private insurance have exacerbated the financial burden for patients with cancer, according to research presented at the 2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium.1
Analysis of claims data on the four most prevalent cancers in the United States—female breast,...
Mary Pasquinelli, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Receives 2021 National Leadership Award From the Prevent Cancer Foundation
Mary Pasquinelli, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, was the recipient of this year’s James L. Mulshine, MD, National Leadership Award presented during the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Quantitative Imaging Workshop held virtually earlier in November. Dr. Pasquinelli is a nurse practitioner in the Division of...
Many Patients With Solid Tumors Mount an Adequate Response to SARS–CoV-2 Vaccine, Dutch Study Reports
Individuals with solid tumors had an appropriate, protective immune response to vaccination against SARS–CoV-2, at least with the mRNA-1273 vaccine, and side effects were no more common than in the general population, according to a large Dutch study.1 The study was reported during the European...
Pamela Kunz, MD, Named 2021 Woman Oncologist of the Year
Women Leaders in Oncology has named Pamela Kunz, MD, the 2021 Woman Oncologist of the Year. Dr. Kunz is Associate Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology), Director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center, Chief of GI Medical Oncology, and Vice...
KRAS G12C Inhibitor Adagrasib Shows Activity in Colorectal Cancer
Adagrasib, a covalent inhibitor of KRAS G12C, combined with cetuximab, showed activity in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in the phase I/II KRYSTAL-1 trial, as presented during a Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2021 by Jared Weiss, MD,...
FOCUS4-C Trial: Hint of Activity Reported With Adavosertib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
The novel WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib, given after induction chemotherapy, yielded a 65% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared with active monitoring in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and TP53/RAS mutations, according to the randomized phase II FOCUS4-C trial....
FDA Approves Atezolizumab as Adjuvant Treatment for NSCLC
On October 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with stage II to IIIA non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on ≥ 1% of tumor cells, as...
SECOMBIT Trial Evaluates Optimal Treatment Sequencing in BRAF-Mutated Melanoma
Patients with untreated, metastatic BRAF-mutated melanoma may benefit from receiving immunotherapy first, moving to targeted therapy in the second line, data from the updated overall survival analysis of the randomized, phase II SECOMBIT trial suggest.1 The study aimed to define the optimal...
BrighTNess: Neoadjuvant Carboplatin Improves Event-Free Survival in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
In patients with early resectable triple-negative breast cancer, not only did the addition of carboplatin to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy improve pathologic complete response rates, it also improved 4-year event-free survival, regardless of BRCA status, according to the latest analysis of the...
FDA Approves Abemaciclib in Combination With Endocrine Therapy for Early Breast Cancer
On October 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved abemaciclib (Verzenio) in combination with endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor) for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive early breast cancer...
Lung Cancer Research Foundation Names 2021 Recipients of Grant on Disparities in Lung Cancer
The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) has announced the recipients of the 2021 LCRF Research Grant on Disparities in Lung Cancer, awarding $300,000 in research grants for projects focused on disparities in lung cancer. This funding mechanism will provide $150,000 over a period of 2 years...
David Morse Livingston, MD, Scientist and Esteemed Mentor, Dies at 80
David Morse Livingston, MD, formerly the Charles A. Dana Chair in Human Cancer Genetics at Dana-Farber and the Emil Frei III Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, died unexpectedly on October 17, 2021. He was Deputy Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC) ...
Living in Survival Mode
About 10 years ago, on a flight to Detroit, while returning from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, I had a conversation with Lori Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO, radiation oncologist at the University of Michigan, who went on to become ASCO President for the 2020–2021 term. I recall inviting her...
Showcasing 50 Years of Advances in Cancer Research and Treatment
The AACR Cancer Progress Report 2021, published on October 13, celebrates the gains made in cancer research since President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act into law on December 23, 1971, especially against such life-threatening cancers as metastatic melanoma and lung cancer.1 The...
Second Surprise Billing Rule Covers Dispute Resolution Processes, Good Faith Estimates for the Uninsured
On September 30, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Labor, and the Department of the Treasury (“the Departments”), along with the Office of Personnel Management, released an interim final rule with comment period, entitled “Requirements Related to...
ASCO Quality Improvement Programs Helped to Enhance the Delivery of Cancer Care in Medically Underserved Communities, Article Reports
Oncology practices that participated in a quality improvement project that included ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) and ASCO Quality Training Program (QTP) were able to make improvements in the care provided to underserved populations in their communities, according to a recent...
ASCO Joins Effort to Improve COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Among High-Risk Adults, Including People With Cancer
ASCO has partnered with the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) for a new initiative to improve COVID-19 vaccination rates among high-risk adults. The partnership is the result of a 5-year cooperative agreement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded CMSS, a coalition ...
