October 10, 2021 (View All Issues)
FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Tisotumab Vedotin-tftv for Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer
On September 20, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to tisotumab vedotin-tftv (Tivdak), a tissue factor–directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate, for adult patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer who experienced disease progression on ...
Ruxolitinib Granted FDA Approval for Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease
On September 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi), a JAK inhibitor, for the treatment of chronic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) after failure of one or two lines of systemic therapy in adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older.
REACH3
Efficacy was...
The Evolution of Liquid Biopsy in Cancer Care
Innovations in the development of liquid biopsy platforms over the past decade have led to a growing number of regulatory approvals for blood-based tests that are transforming precision cancer care for patients with advanced disease. In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the ...
President Biden Appoints Members to National Cancer Advisory Board
President Biden announced the appointment of seven distinguished clinicians and researchers to the National Cancer Advisory Board, which plays an important role in guiding the Director of the National Cancer Institute in setting the course for the national cancer research program. President Biden...
Zanubrutinib for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia
On August 31, 2021, the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor zanubrutinib was approved for treatment of adults with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.1
Supporting Efficacy Data
Approval was based on findings in patients receiving zanubrutinib in the phase III open-label ASPEN trial...
Resurgence of COVID-19 Infection in a Large Highly Vaccinated U.S. Health System Workforce
In a letter to the editor in The New England Journal of Medicine, Jocelyn Keehner, MD, of the University of California San Diego Health (UCSDH), and colleagues describe a marked resurgence of COVID-19 infections among fully vaccinated workers in the UCSDH workforce in July 2021.1 The resurgence...
Adding Value to Clinical Decision-Making in Nonmetastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Several recent investigations have led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of novel antiandrogens to treat nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Yet, this work has not addressed the treatment of nonmetastatic hormone-sensitive biochemically recurrent prostate...
FDA Approves Cabozantinib for Patients With Previously Treated Radioactive Iodine–Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
On September 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cabozantinib (Cabometyx) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer that has progressed following prior vascular endothelial growth...
Donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Center Soar; Inspiration4 SpaceX Journey Exceeds $200 Million Goal
On September 15, 2021, SpaceX launched the Inspiration4 mission, sending four civilians on a 3-day trip orbiting the earth. The passengers were the first to travel on an all-civilian space journey in an effort to further scientific and aerospace research while at the same time raise funds for...
How ASCO Is Expanding Its Commitment to Diversity and Equity in Cancer Care
Ensuring equitable cancer care for every patient, everywhere has been embedded into ASCO’s mission statement since the Society’s inception nearly 60 years ago. Nevertheless, events of the past year, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionally impacted minority...
FDA Authorizes Booster Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Certain Populations
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to allow for the use of a single booster dose to be administered at least 6 months after completion of the primary series in individuals aged 65 years and older;...
Emily K. Bergsland, MD: Specializing in Neuroendocrine Tumors, With a Broad Focus on Collaborative Research
Gastrointestinal oncologist Emily K. Bergsland, MD, was born and spent her formative years in La Crosse, Wisconsin, situated on the banks of the Mississippi River. “No one in my family was in the medical field; however, both my parents valued higher education. In fact, when I was in high school, my ...
Glancing Back and Looking Forward in the Fight Against Cancer
“I vividly remember watching television with my older sister, Suzy, and marveling at President Nixon’s signing of the National Cancer Act in December 1971, and thinking ‘for me, this was like a man going to the moon,’” writes Nancy G. Brinker in the foreword to the recently published Centers of the ...
A Guide to End-of-Life Care by a Veteran in Hospice
Given that death is a certain outcome in life, we seek the best way out as possible. What is a good death? According to Jeff Spiess, MD, author of the book Dying With Ease: A Compassionate Guide to Making Wiser End-of-Life Decisions, a good death is one in which pain and suffering are minimized and ...
Overcoming the Stigma of Small Cell Lung Cancer
Since my small cell lung cancer diagnosis in 2010, I’ve had to overcome not just the distress of having a life-threatening disease, but the stigma attached to it as well. I admit that I was a smoker. I was attracted to smoking when I was 16 and saw how “cool” people looked smoking in television and ...
Enhanced Surveillance and Risk-Reducing Intervention Options for Individuals With PALB2 Variants
PALB2 germline pathogenic variants are associated with a substantially increased risk for breast cancer and a smaller increased risk for pancreatic and ovarian cancers, warranting enhanced surveillance and the option of risk-reducing interventions, according to a global team of cancer genetic...
Ensartinib Shows Superior Efficacy to Crizotinib in Advanced ALK-Positive NSCLC: eXalt3 Trial
As reported in JAMA Oncology by Leora Horn, MD, MSc, FRCPC, and colleagues, the phase III eXalt3 trial has shown significantly prolonged progression-free survival with ensartinib vs crizotinib in patients with advanced, recurrent, or metastatic anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non–small...
HPV Vaccination and Projected Oropharyngeal Cancer Incidence Through the Year 2045
In a population-based age-period-cohort study reported in JAMA Oncology, Zhang et al estimated that current human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates will have a limited impact on overall oropharyngeal cancer incidence through 2045, due to a high risk of oropharyngeal cancer in unvaccinated...
Rates of Newly Diagnosed Cancer Among U.S. Patients During the First Full Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic
In a study of Quest Diagnostics data reported as a research letter in JAMA Network Open, Kaufman et al found significant decreases in monthly new cancer diagnoses during the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period.
As stated by the investigators, “We...
Franco M. Muggia, MD, Internationally Regarded Chemotherapy Pioneer, Dies at 85
Today’s life-saving chemotherapeutics originated from the vision and indefatigable work of pioneers in the field whose unwavering vision challenged the status quo. One such pioneer was Franco M. Muggia, MD,
who, in a career lasting more than 50 years, had a hand in the development of some of the ...
DESTINY Breast03 Trial Supports Second-Line Use of T-DXd in Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
The antibody-drug conjugate fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) may become a new option as a second-line treatment of patients with HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer, based on results from the global phase III DESTINY-Breast03 trial. These findings were presented by Javier...
IMpower010: Benefits Observed With Atezolizumab Regardless of Stage, Type of Prior Treatment
In an exploratory analysis of the pivotal phase III IMpower010 trial in stage II–IIIA non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), continued treatment with the monoclonal antibody atezolizumab after surgery and chemotherapy improved disease-free survival regardless of the type of surgery or chemotherapy...
Oncology Care Remains Under Strain in the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic
The resurging COVID-19 pandemic has reawakened challenges for patients and physicians—ones we all hoped were over—and presented stressful situations for patients and providers. Hospitals in some states, particularly those with lower vaccination rates, have faced levels of urgent illness that have...
Phase III Trial Supports Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy for 7 Years in Early-Stage Breast Cancer
For patients with early-stage hormone receptor–positive breast cancer, extending the duration of letrozole after tamoxifen—for up to 8 years of total endocrine therapy—significantly improved invasive disease–free survival over the standard 5 or so years, according to the final analysis of the...
Study Shows Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy Improves Survival in Advanced Cervical Cancer
The addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy prolonged survival in recurrent, persistent, or metastatic cervical cancer, according to the results of the first interim analysis of the KEYNOTE-826 trial, presented at a Presidential Symposium during the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)...
Adjuvant Pembrolizumab Shows Efficacy in High-Risk Stage II Melanoma in Adults and Children Older Than 12
Adjuvant pembrolizumab reduced the risk of recurrence in adults and children older than age 12 with high-risk stage II (AJCC 8th edition, stage IIB/IIC) melanoma vs placebo, according to a late-breaking interim analysis of the phase III KEYNOTE-716 trial, presented during the European Society for...
AACR Announces 2021 Distinguished Lectureship on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has announced Graham A. Colditz, MD, DrPH, MPH, as the recipient of the 2021 AACR Distinguished Lectureship on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities. Dr. Colditz presented his award lecture, “Making Progress, Together: An Inclusive, Broad-Based ...
Roswell Park and University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Centers Awarded Nearly $9M for Ovarian Cancer Research
For years, scientists at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center have devoted themselves to research to better understand ovarian cancer. Now, teams of researchers from these two leading centers are combining efforts after together ...
MSK Announces New Senior Vice President, Chief Nurse Executive, and Chair of Nursing
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) has appointed Tracy Gosselin, PhD, RN, AOCN, NEA-BC, FAAN, as Senior Vice President, Chief Nurse Executive, and Chair of Nursing, effective November 2021. Dr. Gosselin currently serves as Chief Nursing & Patient Care Services Officer at Duke...
Michael Boyer, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, Honored With Adi F. Gazdar IASLC Merit Award
The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) has named Michael Boyer, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, as the 2021 recipient of the Adi F. Gazdar IASLC Merit Award. The announcement was made during the IASLC 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer.
In 2019, the IASLC Board of Directors...
Maintenance Durvalumab: Increased Utilization May Improve Outcomes in NSCLC
Maintenance durvalumab, the standard-of-care treatment for patients with unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), remains significantly underutilized, according to data presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2021 World Conference on Lung...
Jyoti Patel, MD, Offers Thoughts on Maintenance Durvalumab Utilization
Study discussant Jyoti Patel, MD, Medical Director of Thoracic Oncology and Assistant Director for Clinical Research at the Lurie Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, called the research “important for many reasons.” Although the study analyzed data from both open and closed claims,...
FDA Grants Zanubrutinib Accelerated Approval in Relapsed or Refractory Marginal Zone Lymphoma
On September 15, zanubrutinib (Brukinsa), a small-molecule inhibitor of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma who have received at least...
The Wistar Institute Appoints Italo Tempera, PhD, as Associate Director for Cancer Research Career Enhancement
The Wistar Institute has announced the appointment of Italo Tempera, PhD, as Associate Director for Cancer Research Career Enhancement at the Institute’s Cancer Center. Dr. Tempera, who is also Associate Professor in the Gene Expression & Regulation Program, will lead the educational mission of ...
Benefits Seen With Lurbinectedin Plus Doxorubicin in Small Cell Lung Cancer—but Primary Endpoint Missed
As a second-line treatment for patients with small cell lung cancer, lurbinectedin plus doxorubicin failed to improve overall survival in the multicenter ATLANTIS trial but did provide other benefits, including better tolerability, researchers reported at the 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer,...
Neoadjuvant Atezolizumab Under Study in Mesothelioma
Neoadjuvant atezolizumab combined with pemetrexed and cisplatin, with maintenance atezolizumab, proved to be safe and feasible, offering a hint of benefit in patients with resectable pleural mesothelioma, in a small multicenter study presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung...
Tackling a Growing Need: Options After CAR T-Cell Therapy for Lymphoma
For aggressive B-cell lymphomas, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy saves lives, but relapse remains common, and a second-line standard of care is lacking. During the 2021 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference, Grzegorz (Greg) S. Nowakowski, MD, Professor of Medicine and Oncology, Lymphoma...
A Look at Tomorrow’s CAR T-Cell Therapy Today
Some of the most impressive data on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy have come from studies conducted in China. Attendees at the 2021 Pan Pacific Lymphoma Conference heard from one of the leading Chinese investigators, Peihua (Peggy) Lu, MD, of Lu Daopei Hospital, who described the...
Cabozantinib Prolongs Progression-Free Survival in Previously Treated Radioiodine-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Marcia S. Brose, MD, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, and colleagues, the phase III COSMIC-311 trial has shown that cabozantinib produced a numerically higher objective response rate and significantly prolonged progression-free survival vs...
Totally Implanted Ports Associated With Reduced Complication Rates vs Other Central Venous Access Devices Used in Anticancer Therapy
In a UK trial (CAVA) reported in The Lancet, Jonathan G. Moss, MBChB, FRCR, of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, and colleagues found that among central venous access devices, totally implanted ports (PORTs) were associated with significantly reduced rates ...
Reduction in Ipsilateral Recurrence Risk With Radiotherapy vs Observation After Lumpectomy for Good-Risk DCIS
In an analysis of long-term outcomes from the phase III NRG/RTOG 9804 trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Beryl McCormick, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and colleagues found that whole-breast irradiation vs observation was associated with a reduced risk of all and...
Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, Conquer Cancer, and ASCO Celebrate 20th Year of Collaboration
2021 marks the 20th year of collaboration between ASCO; Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation; and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF). BCRF’s pivotal support during the past 2 decades has been critical to both organizations’ shared achievements in funding breakthroughs in breast cancer...
Administration Outlines Plan to Address High Prescription Drug Costs
On September 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a report titled, “Comprehensive Plan for Addressing High Drug Prices: A Report in Response to the Executive Order on Competition in the American Economy.” The report comes following President Biden’s July 2021...
340B Needs Reforms, Not Cuts, to Improve Low-Income Americans’ Access to Care
In comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), ASCO expressed significant concerns that several provisions in the 2022 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule have the potential to undermine access to cancer care for Medicare beneficiaries. ASCO does,...
New Certification Pilot Focuses on Patient-Centered Cancer Care, Equips Practices With Evidence-Based Approach to Value-Based Care Delivery
The Association for Clinical Oncology (the Association) launched the ASCO Patient-Centered Cancer Care Certification, a new pilot that certifies outpatient oncology group practices and health systems that meet a single set of comprehensive, expert-backed standards for patient-centered care...
