November 25, 2023 (View All Issues)
Two Studies Show Improved Survival With Novel Front-Line Combinations in Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma
Two phase III trials presented at a Presidential Symposium during the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023 showed an overall survival benefit for patients with advanced urothelial cancer. The results from both studies were hailed as practice-changing.
The...
AACR Annual Cancer Progress Report Highlights Scientific Advances Against Cancer, Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
The remarkable progress in medical research—primarily supported by federal investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)—over the past 3 decades, coupled with advances in prevention and early detection, has led to a 33% reduction in cancer...
Value of Some Established Treatment Practices in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
The introduction of imatinib mesylate, the first BCR::ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, as a treatment of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) changed the course of the disease from invariably fatal (without allogeneic stem cell transplantation [SCT]) to indolent,...
TROPION-Breast01 and DESTINY-Breast04: Antibody-Drug Conjugates of Benefit in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer
The TROP-2–directed antibody-drug conjugate datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) significantly improved progression-free survival over standard chemotherapy in the TROPION-Breast01 trial involving patients with previously treated, hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative, unresectable and/or...
In Recurrent Cervical Cancer, Tisotumab Vedotin-tftv Improves Overall Survival in Phase III Trial
In the global randomized open-label phase III innovaTV 301/ENGOT-cx12/GOG-3057 trial, treatment with the antibody-drug conjugate tisotumab vedotin-tftv resulted in a statistically significant 30% reduction in the risk of death in patients previously treated for recurrent or metastatic cervical...
DUO-E Trial: Durvalumab-Based Treatment With or Without Olaparib Boosts Progression-Free Survival in Endometrial Cancer
In the phase III DUO-E trial, a first-line treatment regimen that includes chemotherapy plus the checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab followed by maintenance durvalumab, with or without the PARP inhibitor olaparib, significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with advanced or recurrent...
Adjuvant Everolimus Improves Recurrence-Free Survival in Very High–Risk Renal Cell Carcinoma
A secondary analysis from the phase III SWOG S0931 EVEREST trial found that adjuvant everolimus given to patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma at very high risk of recurrence after nephrectomy produced a statistically significant improvement in recurrence-free survival compared with placebo ...
Perioperative Durvalumab Improves Surgical Outcomes in Resectable NSCLC: Phase III AEGEAN Trial
The addition of durvalumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy led to higher rates of R0 resections and posed no apparent impediments to successful surgery for resectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to findings from the randomized phase III AEGEAN trial presented at the International...
Combination of Ceralasertib and Durvalumab Shows Activity in Phase II Trial of Advanced NSCLC
The combination of the ATR inhibitor ceralasertib and the immune checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab has demonstrated notable survival rates and clinical benefits among patients who have advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with RAS mutations, according to data presented at the International...
Short-Course Radiotherapy May Reduce Resource Burden of Head and Neck Cancer Treatment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Resource-sparing hypofractionated radiation therapy could offer an invaluable alternative for treating head and neck cancer, especially for patients in low- and middle-income countries, according to data presented during the Plenary Session at the 2023 American Society for Radiation Oncology...
Survivors of Childhood Cancer: Study Shows Heart-Related Ailments Linked to Radiotherapy Dose
Research on the advances in radiation modeling presented by Rebecca M. Howell, PhD, at the 2023 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting may provide insights into the late cardiac effects of survivors of childhood cancer in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS).1 Dr....
Hypofractionation Shows Comparable Results to Conventional Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy, With Added Benefits
In a major development in the treatment of breast cancer, short-course, or hypofractionated, radiation therapy has demonstrated comparable outcomes to conventional postmastectomy radiation therapy while reducing treatment breaks and financial toxicity, according to data presented at the 2023...
Studies Explore Efficacy of Venetoclax in t(11;14)-Positive Myeloma
In the global randomized phase III CANOVA study, venetoclax plus dexamethasone (VenDex) demonstrated numerically longer progression-free survival compared with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (PomDex) in patients with t(11;14)-positive relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, though the difference...
PROpel Trial: Olaparib Plus Abiraterone in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Unselected for HRR Mutation Status
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Fred Saad, MD, of the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, and colleagues, the final prespecified overall survival analysis of the phase III PROpel trial has shown no significant benefit with the addition of first-line olaparib to abiraterone in...
ASCO Rapid Recommendation Update Cautions Against Triplet Therapy for Metastatic Clear Cell RCC
An ASCO Rapid Recommendation Update advises oncologists to avoid the use of triple combination therapy for the management of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC).1 The new guidance, which updates recommendations from the original 2022 guideline, reflects findings from a phase III,...
The Progress of Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care Takes Center Stage at Workshop
ASCO and the National Cancer Policy Forum cohosted a workshop on October 5–6, 2023, to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) consensus report, Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care: Charting a New Course for a System in Crisis.1
The National Cancer Policy Forum is a...
First-Line Dabrafenib Plus Trametinib vs Standard Chemotherapy for Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma With BRAF V600 Mutations
As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Eric Bouffet, MD, of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, and colleagues, a phase II trial has shown a significant improvement in objective response rate and other efficacy outcomes with first-line dabrafenib plus trametinib vs standard...
ASTRUM-004: Serplulimab Plus Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment of Advanced Squamous Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
A novel treatment approach to squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may improve the prognosis for patients with previously limited treatment options, according to data presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer.1 Findings from ...
Small Study Identifies Safe, Effective Radiation Dose to Add to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Durvalumab
Low-dose radiotherapy in combination with the monoclonal antibody durvalumab and chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy was well tolerated in patients with potentially resectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to a small study conducted in China and presented at the...
Optimizing Treatment Selection for Newly Diagnosed and Secondary AML: Focus on Cytogenetic and Molecular Data
Greater understanding of biological disease factors in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has led to more effective and personalized treatment options. At the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Annual Congress: Hematologic Malignancies,1 Rebecca Olin, MD, MSCE, of UCSF Helen Diller Family...
Updates in Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes/Neoplasms
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders that are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, resulting in cytopenias, and they carry a risk of progression to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In 2022, the fifth edition of the World...
Cardiac Imaging and Biomarkers for Patients Receiving Cancer Treatment: What Oncologists Need to Know
For many years, researchers around the world have been exploring the connections between cancer treatments and the heart—better known as cardio-oncology. However, many oncologists may be less familiar with this emerging field and what they might need to know in terms of heart health to keep their...
First-Line Selpercatinib vs Chemotherapy With or Without Pembrolizumab in RET Fusion–Positive NSCLC
An interim analysis of the phase III LIBRETTO-431 trial has shown significantly improved progression-free survival with first-line selpercatinib vs platinum-based chemotherapy with or without pembrolizumab in patients with RET fusion–positive advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The...
Small Breast Cancer: Omission of Axillary Surgery vs Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
In a noninferiority phase III trial (SOUND) reported in JAMA Oncology, Gentilini et al found that no axillary surgery was noninferior to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in terms of distant disease–free survival among patients with small breast cancer and negative findings on preoperative...
Addition of First-Line Pembrolizumab to Chemotherapy in HER2-Negative Advanced Gastric Cancer
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Sun Young Rha, MD, and colleagues, the phase III KEYNOTE-859 trial has shown that the addition of first-line pembrolizumab to chemotherapy was associated with a statistically significant improvement in overall survival in patients with HER2-negative advanced...
From a Small Town in the Rust Belt, Dennis J. Slamon, MD, PhD, Plays a Big Role in Changing the Face of Breast Cancer Treatment
In this installment of The ASCO Post’s Living a Full Life series, guest editor Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, spoke with Dennis J. Slamon, MD, PhD, one of the principals in the discovery and development of trastuzumab—the first monoclonal antibody used against an oncogene that altered our entire approach...
A Cancer Diagnosis at 19 Taught Me That It Takes Constant Vigilance to Stay Mentally Healthy
A lot of my experience with cancer is hazy to me. I was taking narcotics for pain around the clock when I was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma in 2013, so there are some missing memories during those early days.
I was 19 and a freshman in college when my symptoms started. I have always been active...
Society for Integrative Oncology Celebrates 20 Years of Excellence
Guest Editor’s Note: The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) held its 20th international conference in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The conference focused on the theme “Integrative Oncology as Standard of Care: The Time Is Now.” The mood was festive, and the weather cooperated with warm temperatures, ...
Bosutinib in Pediatric Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
On September 26, 2023, bosutinib (Bosulif) was approved for pediatric patients aged 1 year and older with chronic-phase Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) that is newly diagnosed or resistant or intolerant to prior therapy.1 New capsule dosage form strengths of 50 mg...
National Academy of Medicine Elects New Members
The National Academy of Medicine recently announced the election of 100 members during its annual meeting, including 10 international members. Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated major...
