October 25, 2021 (View All Issues)
MONALEESA-2: Overall Survival Benefit With First-Line Ribociclib Plus Letrozole
Ribociclib plus hormonal therapy in the first-line setting boosted overall survival by more than 1 year, vs hormone therapy alone, in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, according to the latest findings from the MONALEESA-2 trial, reported at...
BTK Inhibition in CLL: An Embarrassment of Riches
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder defined by a specific phenotype and the presence of more than 5,000 clonal B cells in the peripheral blood.1 In the absence of this number of circulating cells, its soft-tissue/bone-marrow counterpart is semantically...
National Cancer Act and Lung Cancer Screening: An Example of Intended Impact
The National Cancer Act of 1971 established a national priority to address the widely shared dread of a cancer diagnosis. The goal of the National Cancer Act was to strengthen the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to more effectively carry out the national effort against cancer.
After the Act...
Did Change in PSA-Based Screening Recommendation Hinder Prostate Cancer–Specific Survival?
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening recommendations made by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) in 2012 may have led to worse outcomes for insured patients with prostate cancer, according to data presented at the 2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium.1 Findings from the retrospective...
Study Finds Medicaid Expansion May Be Associated With Decrease in Early Lung Cancer Mortality
Medicare expansion under the Affordable Care Act may have improved outcomes for patients with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States, according to data presented at the 2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium.1
The National Cancer Database analysis of nearly 12,000 patients...
PARP Rechallenge Slows Ovarian Cancer Progression in Platinum-Sensitive Disease
Rechallenge with the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib in patients with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer led to significant improvement in progression-free survival, in patients with either BRCA1/2-mutated or nonmutated (ie, wild-type) disease compared with placebo, according ...
Neoadjuvant dd-MVAC Improves Local Control and Progression-Free Survival in Patients With Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
The VESPER phase III trial answers some key questions regarding the optimal management of muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The study found that the neoadjuvant regimen of dose-dense methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (dd-MVAC) was superior to standard gemcitabine/cisplatin in...
Another Antibody-Drug Conjugate Enters the Metastatic Breast Cancer Landscape
In the global phase III TULIP trial in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, treatment with the antibody-drug conjugate vic-trastuzumab duocarmazine (SYD985) significantly improved progression-free survival in comparison with standard chemotherapy in previously treated patients, making this a new ...
St. Jude Names Shannon Dean, MD, as Chief Medical Information Officer
Shannon Dean, MD, has joined St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as Chief Medical Information Officer at a key time in the hospital’s efforts to enhance the patient experience. Dr. Dean will help oversee the launch of the hospital’s new electronic health record, which is scheduled to go live in ...
CheckMate 649: Long-Term Data Support Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy but Not Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Gastric Cancer
Longer follow-up data from the phase III CheckMate 649 trial support the use of nivolumab plus chemotherapy as a new standard first-line regimen in patients with advanced gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma. The findings were reported by Yelena Janjigian, ...
PEACE-1: Abiraterone Plus Androgen-Deprivation Therapy and Docetaxel Boosts Survival in Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer
The addition of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone on top of androgen-deprivation therapy plus docetaxel improved survival in patients with de novo metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer vs androgen-deprivation therapy plus docetaxel alone. These results were from the phase III PEACE-1...
STAMPEDE: In Nonmetastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer, Abiraterone Added to Androgen-Deprivation Therapy Improves Survival
The addition of 2 years of abiraterone acetate plus prednisolone (AAP) to androgen-deprivation therapy improves metastasis-free survival and overall survival compared with androgen-deprivation therapy alone in men with nonmetastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer, according to a primary...
Michael Diaz, MD, Named President and Managing Physician at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) recently appointed Michael Diaz, MD, to the position of President and Managing Physician, effective January 1, 2022. Dr. Diaz succeeds Lucio Gordan, MD, who has served in that position since 2018. Dr. Gordan will continue to practice as...
IASLC Names Kristin Richeimer, CAE, DES, Interim Chief Executive Officer
The Board of Directors of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) has announced the appointment of Kristin Richeimer, CAE, DES, to the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Ms. Richeimer joined the IASLC in 2010 as its first Director of Membership and...
IASLC Presents WCLC 2021 Lectureship Awards to International Array of Lung Cancer Researchers
The International association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), at its 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), presented awards to clinicians and researchers who made significant contributions to the treatment of patients with lung cancer. The awards represent many major categories of lung ...
Novel Urine-Based Test Evaluated in Prostate Cancer Detection and Risk Stratification
In a validation study with data presented at the American Urological Association’s 2021 Annual Meeting, clinician-researchers reported that a new test (miR Sentinel PCC4 Test) may be able to detect and risk-classify prostate cancer at the molecular level with predictive accuracy based on a single...
MSK Announces Appointment of Deb Schrag, MD, FASCO, MPH, as Chair of the Department of Medicine
Deb Schrag, MD, FASCO, MPH, has been named the new Chair of the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). Dr. Schrag has a deep familiarity with MSK, having previously spent 8 years at the institution as a physician and faculty member.
She joins MSK from the...
Phase II Trial Finds Atezolizumab of Benefit in Patients With Lung Cancer and Brain Metastases
Patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain metastasis derived significant benefit from treatment with the monoclonal antibody atezolizumab plus chemotherapy, according to the multicenter phase II Atezo-Brain trial.1 The study was presented at the International Association for the...
POSEIDON Trial: Dual Checkpoint Blockade Plus Chemotherapy Improves Survival in First-Line Metastatic NSCLC
The combination of dual checkpoint inhibition plus chemotherapy could be the new standard of care in first-line metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to data presented during the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2021 World Conference on Lung Cancer.1 ...
Pretreatment Levels of Circulating Tumor DNA May Predict Long-Term Survival in NSCLC
Pretreatment circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) appear to be a more accurate predictor of long-term survival than classic survival surrogates, according to research presented during the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer...
Financial Toxicity Associated With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Both in U.S. Adult Patients
In a study of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data reported in JACC: CardioOncology, Javier Valero-Elizondo, MD, MPH, of Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, and colleagues, found that U.S. adult patients aged 18 to < 65 years with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease...
Tisotumab Vedotin-tftv in Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer
On September 20, 2021, tisotumab vedotin-tftv, a tissue factor-directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate, was granted accelerated approval for the treatment of adults with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer who have had disease progression on or after chemotherapy.1
Supporting...
Financial Impact of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer Care: Overlapping Toxicities
The leading causes of mortality in the United States are cardiovascular disease (23%) and cancer (21%), accounting for more than 40% of total deaths reported.1,2 The increasing rise in health-care expenditures over the past several decades has driven the need for metrics to further evaluate the...
Urge Congress to Avoid Shutdown, Increase Funding for Cancer Research in Fiscal Year 2022
ASCO is calling on Congress to continue its bipartisan support of federally funded research. Robust, sustained, and predictable funding growth for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) baseline budgets is critical in advancing our nation’s work toward...
Cabozantinib for Previously Treated Advanced Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
On September 17, 2021, cabozantinib was approved for adult and pediatric patients aged ≥ 12 years with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer progressing after VEGFR-targeted therapy and who are ineligible or refractory to radioactive iodine.1 Cabozantinib inhibits the...
Cancer on the Global Stage: Incidence and Cancer-Related Mortality in Bhutan
Located in the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is a landlocked, lower–middle-income country bordered by China and India. With a population of more than 850,000 people, Bhutan is predominately made up of three ethnic groups—the largest group is the Bhutia (also called Ngalop), followed by the Nepalese ...
Caroline Chung, MD, Named MD Anderson’s First Chief Data Officer
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center recently appointed Caroline Chung, MD, Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Diagnostic Radiology, the new Vice President and Chief Data Officer (CDO).
As the institution’s first-ever CDO, Dr. Chung will be responsible for shaping MD...
Noninferior Progression-Free Survival and Reduced Cardiovascular Toxicity With Acalabrutinib vs Ibrutinib in Previously Treated CLL
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by John C. Byrd, MD, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, and colleagues, the phase III ELEVATE-RR trial has shown noninferior progression-free survival with the more-selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor...
JCO OP Special Series: Disparities in Cancer Care for Hispanic-Latinx People
JCO Oncology Practice is now accepting manuscripts for a special issue on disparities in cancer care for Hispanic-Latinx people.
Submit your manuscript today at https://www.editorialmanager.com/op-ascopubs/default.aspx
Guest Editors Miguel Villalona-Calero, MD; Gilberto Lopes, MD, MBA; Narjust...
Advance Care Planning Is Crucial Component of Cancer Care
ASCO’s Coverage and Reimbursement Steering Group presented a poster on utilization of advance care planning (ACP) services at the ASCO Quality Care Symposium. The poster examined whether Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes for ACP services are regularly utilized by hematology and oncology...
Ruxolitinib for Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease After Failure of Systemic Therapy
On September 22, 2021, ruxolitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2 was granted approval for treatment of chronic graft-vs-host disease after failure of one or two lines of systemic therapy in adult and pediatric patients aged ≥ 12 years.1
Supporting Efficacy Data
Approval was...
Cleveland Clinic Launches Center for Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, cases of colorectal cancer in patients younger than age 50 have grown by more than 50% since the 1990s. Cleveland Clinic has addressed this trend with the establishment of a center focused on the diagnosis, care, and research of young-onset colorectal...
An Atypical Road to a Career in Medicine and Leading a Cancer Center for Robert A. Winn, MD
In this installment of the Living a Full Life series, guest editor Jame Abraham, MD, spoke with Robert A. Winn, MD, Director of VCU Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, Virginia. In 2020, he became the first Black physician to lead a National Cancer Institute–designated cancer center. Among other...
Mobocertinib for Previously Treated Advanced NSCLC With EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations
On September 15, 2021, the kinase inhibitor mobocertinib was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults with locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test,...
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Announces New Early-Career Physician Research Program in Cancer Science
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) recently announced a $25 million gift from Louis V. Gerstner, Jr, to create the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr Physician Scholars Program. Designed to support the innovative research of physician-scientists who are early in their career at MSK, the program will...
Extended Open Enrollment, Special Enrollment Periods Finalized for Some Insurance Exchanges, Increasing Access to Cancer Care
On September 17, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule that could increase access to cancer care through an extended open enrollment period and monthly special enrollment periods for federally facilitated health insurance exchanges and state-based exchanges...
Urbanization in Bangladesh: The Prevalence of Breast Cancer Brings Unique Challenges
The number of deaths related to breast cancer are increasing at an alarming pace worldwide. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) 2020 report, approximately 2,088,849 new cases and 627,000 deaths related to breast cancer occurred in 2018.1 More than 55% of these deaths occurred in low-...
MD Anderson and BostonGene Announce Strategic Alliance to Advance Personalized Cancer Diagnostics and Treatments
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and BostonGene Corporation recently announced a strategic alliance to advance the development and clinical integration of multiplatform biomarker signatures.
Expands Upon Existing Collaborations
The alliance brings together BostonGene’s innovative ...
FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Mobocertinib for Patients With Metastatic NSCLC and EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Mutations
On September 15, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to mobocertinib (Exkivity) for adults with locally advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations (as detected by an FDA-approved test) whose disease has...
Cardio-oncology
The ASCO Post is pleased to reproduce installments of the Art of Oncology as published previously in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. These articles focus on the experience of suffering from cancer or of caring for people diagnosed with cancer, and they include narratives, topical essays,...
FDA Expands Cetuximab Label for Encorafenib Combination in BRAF V600E Mutation–Positive Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval of a new indication for the EGFR inhibitor cetuximab (Erbitux) in combination with encorafenib (Braftovi) for the treatment of adults with metastatic colorectal cancer and a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test,...
Acupuncture vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Cognitive Function in Cancer Survivors With Insomnia
Guest Editor’s Note: Cancer-related cognitive difficulties, experienced by many cancer survivors, include perceived or objective deficits in memory, attention, and concentration, which can negatively impact quality of life. Given the important role that healthful sleep plays in cognitive processes, ...
MSK Launches New Center to Expand Commitment to Meeting the Unique Needs of Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer
Although overall cancer cases are declining, they are on the rise in older adolescents and young adults (AYAs). Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) recently announced the establishment of the Lisa and Scott Stuart Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers (the Stuart Center), expanding ...
Zanubrutinib for Relapsed or Refractory Marginal Zone Lymphoma
On September 14, 2021, the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor zanubrutinib was granted accelerated approval for adults with relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who have had at least one prior anti-CD20–based regimen.1
Supporting Efficacy Data
Approval was based on findings in the ...
MD Anderson and Siemens Healthineers Collaborate to Enable Consistent Clinical Implementation of Quantitative MRI
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Siemens Healthineers recently announced the collaborative development of a global education program focused on enabling the implementation of consistent, high-quality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in radiation oncology. The program will...
Clayton Dunklin Pruett, Business Professional, ASCO Member, Dies at Age 86
The delivery of high-quality cancer care relies on a vast network of dedicated experts, some of whom work assiduously behind the scenes, building and modernizing the very architecture on which the cancer community operates. One such person was Clayton Dunklin Pruett, an engineer by training, who...
Having Stage IV Lung Cancer Has Refocused My Life
The first indication I had stage IV lung cancer was a persistent cough during the beginning of the cold-and-flu season in the fall of 2013. I was 35 years old, never smoked, and in otherwise excellent health, so I ignored the cough for several months until I noticed my breathing had also become...
Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET for Detection of Pelvic Nodal Metastasis in Intermediate- to High-Risk Prostate Cancer
In a collaborative phase III trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Thomas A. Hope, MD, and colleagues found that gallium-68 prostate-specific membrane antigen–11 positron-emission tomography (Ga-68 PSMA-11 PET) had 40% sensitivity and 95% specificity in the detection of pelvic nodal metastases prior to...
Risk of Pancreatic Cancer Associated With Germline ATM Pathogenic Variants
In a multicenter cohort study reported in JAMA Oncology, Hsu et al found that among pancreatic cancer kindreds, individuals with germline ATM pathogenic variants had a sixfold increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer vs noncarriers of pathogenic variants.
Study Details
The study involved...
International Survey on Access to Cancer Medicines Considered Essential by Oncologists
An international cross-sectional survey reported in The Lancet Oncology by Fundytus et al found that access to cancer medicines considered essential by oncologists is lacking across the spectrum of low- and lower middle–income to high-income countries.
As stated by the investigators, “The World...
Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, to Step Down as Director of the National Institutes of Health
On October 5, Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, announced his decision to end his tenure as Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by the end of the year. Dr. Collins is the longest-serving presidentially appointed NIH Director, having served three U.S. presidents over more than 12 years.
...