A Year of Global Progress Against Cancer—and Persistent Challenges
Despite data from the latest edition of The Cancer Atlas showing that nearly half of cancer mortality worldwide is attributed to modifiable risk factors, cancer incidence and mortality rates continue to soar.1 Globally, approximately 19 million new cases of cancer, excluding nonmelanoma skin...
Inherited Variants in 16 Genes May Double the Risk of Multiple Primary Cancers
Individuals carrying a rare pathogenic variant in one of 16 cancer-associated genes were 1.9 times more likely to develop a single cancer and 2.6 times more likely to develop multiple primary cancers, according to the results of a genetic association study published in JAMA Oncology.
These...
Could a Nasal Spray Help Protect Patients With Cancer Against COVID-19 Infection?
Use of a daily interferon-α nasal spray could significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection among adult patients with cancer, according to the results of a multicenter, randomized trial published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
The results suggest that the nasal spray could be a potential...
Can a Common Anti-inflammatory Drug Help to Control Progression of Clonal Hematopoiesis?
Taking low-dose colchicine daily may slow the progression of a common acquired gene mutation found in the blood of older adults that can lead to certain blood cancers and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a subanalysis of the LoDoCo2 trial published by Mohammadnia et al in JACC ...
Study Finds Personalized Risk Messages Had No Effect in Raising Colorectal Cancer Screening Participation
A randomized controlled trial investigating the effect of providing personalized risk information to patients and their providers about the patient’s risk for advanced colorectal neoplasia has found no difference in screening uptake with either the personalized risk messages or provider...
New Report on Breast Reconstruction Preferences Among African American Women
For African American patients undergoing mastectomy, the risk of complications and the postoperative appearance of the breast are among the important drivers of preferences about breast reconstruction, according to a new report published by Shammas et al in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
...
AI Shear Wave Elastography Model for Diagnosing Breast Cancer in BI-RADS 3 or 4 Masses
In a study (INSPiRED 006) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cai et al found that an artificial intelligence–guided shear wave elastography (AI-SWE) model provided accuracy similar to expert reading of B-mode ultrasound in the diagnosis of breast cancer in women with Breast Imaging...
Model to Identify Patients With Clinical High-Risk Early Breast Cancer Who May Avoid Escalated Adjuvant Therapy
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Bidard et al developed a model that may identify a subgroup of patients with clinical high-risk estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer who might derive no additional distant recurrence benefit from escalation of adjuvant...
Lifileucel Demonstrates Feasibility and Disease Stability in Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
A single administration of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy with lifileucel led to disease stability in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, even among patients whose disease had progressed or did not respond to multiple prior...
How the AI-Powered ASCO® Guidelines Assistant Is Improving Clinical Decision-Making
This past May, ASCO announced its collaboration with Google Cloud to launch the ASCO® Guidelines Assistant, a new interactive tool that allows clinicians to quickly access ASCO’s evidence-based clinical guidelines to facilitate critical clinical decision-making. Developed with Google Cloud’s Vertex ...
Study Shows That After Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Risk of a Second Cancer is Low
For individuals diagnosed with early breast cancer, the long-term risk of developing a second primary cancer is low—around 2% to 3% greater than the general population)—according to findings published by McGale et al in The BMJ.
The researchers say this information can help reassure many breast...
Addition of Sintilimab to Total Neoadjuvant Treatment in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
In a Chinese single-center phase II trial (SPRING-01) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Tian et al found that the addition of the PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab to chemotherapy following short-course radiotherapy as part of total neoadjuvant treatment significantly improved the pathologic complete...
IDO1 Inhibition Mitigates Diet-Induced Risk of Cancer-Associated VTE in Preclinical Models
Patients with cancer who have a diet high in tryptophan, or protein-rich foods, have an increased risk for developing cancer-associated venous thromboembolism, according to preclinical findings published in Blood Advances.
This increased risk could potentially be mitigated by treatment with an...
Public Awareness of HPV, HPV Vaccine, and the Association of HPV With Cancer
In a U.S. state-level study reported as a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Garg et al found that awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV), HPV vaccination, and the association between HPV infection and development of cancers was “overwhelmingly low.”
As stated by the investigators, “Each year, an...
FDA Approves BTK Inhibitor for ITP
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved rilzabrutinib (Wayrilz), a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, for adults with persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who have had an insufficient response to a previous treatment. The approval was based on the pivotal LUNA ...
Misconceptions Regarding Skin Cancer Risk in the United States
Investigators may have uncovered associations between the reported number of sunburns and sociodemographic characteristics as well as the prevalence of protective skin behaviors adopted by U.S. adults, according to a recent study published by Etzel et al in the American Journal of Lifestyle...
Advanced Refractory Melanoma: Addition of Tilsotolimod to Ipilimumab
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Adi Diab, MD, and colleagues, the phase III ILLUMINATE trial showed adding the Toll-like receptor-9 agonist tilsotolimod to ipilimumab in patients with advanced refractory melanoma produced no benefit.
Study Details
Four hundred and eighty-one...
Novel Strategy May Enhance Sensitivity, Accuracy of Monitoring Cancer in Blood Samples
A whole-genome sequencing–based, error-corrected method for detecting cancer from blood samples could be more sensitive and accurate in monitoring disease status posttreatment among patients with cancer compared with prior methods, according to a recent study published by Cheng et al in Nature...
Immunotherapy, Radiosurgery Combination and Risk of Radiation Necrosis in Patients With Cancer Who Have Brain Metastases
Patients with melanoma and lung cancer who have brain metastases may experience severe inflammatory reactions after receipt of immunotherapy drugs combined with radiation therapy, according to a recent study published by Vaios et al in JAMA Network Open.
Study Methods and Results
In this study,...
Can ctDNA Monitoring Help to Predict Melanoma Recurrence?
A new study showed that approximately 80% of patients with stage III melanoma who had detectable levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) before they started treatment to suppress their tumors went on to experience recurrence. Researchers also found that the disease returned more than four times...
AACR 2025: Pretrained AI Models Could Help Accurately Diagnose Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers in Resource-Limited Settings
Artificial intelligence (AI) models pretrained on vast data sets may outperform standard baseline models in identifying nonmelanoma skin cancers from digital images of tissue samples, according to new findings presented by Song et al at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)...
Survival Trends in Melanoma Brain Metastases: Update of Melanoma Graded Prognostic Assessment
In a study reported in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Sperduto and colleagues analyzed trends in survival associated with newly diagnosed melanoma brain metastases and updated the Melanoma Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA).
Study Details
The study involved retrospective data from...
Use of Niraparib in Patients With Advanced Melanoma
Researchers may have uncovered early indications of the clinical benefit of niraparib in patients with advanced melanoma whose tumors have specific genetic changes impacting DNA repair, according to a recent study published by Kim et al in JCO Precision Oncology.
Background
The U.S. Food and Drug...
Dual Immunotherapy May Improve Progression-Free Survival in Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The combination of avelumab and cetuximab may improve progression-free survival in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma compared with avelumab alone, according to recent findings presented by Zandberg et al at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 6002) and simultaneously...
Inherited Genetic Differences May Predict Resistance to Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma
Researchers may have uncovered genetic differences that may help predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors among patients with metastatic melanoma, according to a recent study published by Monson et al in Nature Medicine.
Background
The investigation revolved around mitochondrial haplogroups ...
Adjuvant Cemiplimab in High-Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
In a phase III trial (C-POST) reported at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting and in The New England Journal of Medicine, Rischin et al compared disease-free survival outcomes of adjuvant cemiplimab vs placebo in patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Study Details
In the trial, 415...
Avelumab Plus Cetuximab in Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
In a phase II trial (Alliance A091802) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Zandberg et al investigated the survival benefit of adding cetuximab to avelumab in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
Study Details
In the U.S. multicenter trial, 57 evaluable patients were...
Four-Drug Induction Regimen Under Study in Advanced Melanoma With BRAF Mutation
In a phase II trial (EBIN) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Robert et al investigated the survival benefit of adding induction encorafenib/binimetinib to nivolumab/ipilimumab in patients with advanced melanoma with BRAF V600E or BRAF V600K mutation.
Study Details
In the open-label trial, 271...
Role of Mitochondrial Pathways in Melanoma Progression, Treatment Resistance
The most aggressive melanomas may hyperactivate two key processes in mitochondria, according to a novel study, and blocking these pathways with currently available drugs may eliminate melanoma cells, explained investigators. These findings were published by Kim et al in the journal Cancer.
...
Intratumoral BO-112 With Pembrolizumab in Anti–PD-1–Resistant Melanoma
In a Spanish-French phase II trial (SPOTLIGHT-203) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Márquez-Rodas et al investigated the combination of the intratumoral agent BO-112 and pembrolizumab for activity in patients with advanced anti–PD-1–resistant melanoma. BO-112 is a synthetic,...
RP1 Plus Nivolumab in Anti–PD-1–Resistant Advanced Melanoma
When combined with nivolumab, RP1 (vusolimogene oderparepvec), a genetically engineered herpes simplex virus type 1–based oncolytic immunotherapy, induced deep and durable systemic responses in patients with advanced melanoma who have failed to respond to prior anti–PD-1 therapy, according to...
Four-Year Outcomes Highlight Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Nivolumab and Relatlimab in Advanced Resectable Melanoma
A neoadjuvant and adjuvant regimen of anti–PD-1 therapy with nivolumab and anti–LAG-3 therapy with relatlimab led to a 4-year event-free survival rate of 80% in patients with advanced, resectable melanoma, according to long-term findings from a phase II study published in the Journal of Clinical...
Extended Follow-up for Neoadjuvant and Adjuvant Relatlimab Plus Nivolumab in Resectable Melanoma
In an extended follow-up of a phase II trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Burton et al examined outcomes with neoadjuvant and adjuvant relatlimab-rmbw plus nivolumab in patients with resectable melanoma. Relatlimab targets LAG3, while nivolumab targets PD-1.
Study Details
In the...
Pembrolizumab and De-escalation of Treatment in Resectable Cutaneous Squamous Cell Cancer
In an Australian phase II trial (De-Squamate) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Ladwa et al found that the use of pembrolizumab produced a high rate of clinical or pathologic complete response in patients with resectable cutaneous squamous cell cancer (cSCC), suggesting the potential to ...
Use of Cemiplimab as Adjuvant Therapy for High-Risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The randomized phase III C-POST trial attempted to learn whether the standard-of-care treatment in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma—cemiplimab-rwlc, which blocks the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway—could reduce recurrence after definitive local therapy for patients who had high-risk features....
Treatment-Resistant Melanoma: Novel Checkpoint Inhibitor Combination
New research published by Phadke et al in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer found that adding a third immune-targeting drug to existing therapies may help to shrink tumors in laboratory models of treatment-resistant melanoma.
Although immunotherapeutics have improved survival for many...
Nivolumab Plus RP1 Shows Durable Responses in Advanced Melanoma After PD-1 Inhibitor Resistance
Nivolumab in combination with RP1 (vusolimogene oderparepvec), a herpes simplex virus type 1–based oncolytic immunotherapy, showed activity in patients with advanced melanoma who experienced disease progression on standard anti‒PD-1‒based immunotherapy, according to findings from the phase I/II...
Cancer-Induced Nerve Injury Identified as Driver of PD-1 Resistance Across Tumor Types
Researchers have uncovered that cancer cells degrade protective nerve coverings, causing cancer-induced nerve injury that can lead to chronic inflammation and resistance to anti–PD-1 immunotherapy, according to findings published in Nature.
In exploring the role of perineural invasion and...
Basal Cell Carcinoma: Early Research on a Novel Topical Fluorescent Imaging Technique
A topical fluorescent molecular contrast agent, PARPi-FL (a poly[adenosine diphosphate ribose] polymerase 1 [PARP1] inhibitor–targeted fluorescent contrast agent) detected basal cell carcinoma through intact skin in as little as 5 minutes in ex vivo human tissues, according to new preclinical...
Understanding Accelerated Aging in Survivors of Childhood Cancers
Each year in the United States, nearly 16,000 children and adolescents between the ages of birth and 19 are diagnosed with cancer.1 And although survival rates have greatly improved for many types of childhood cancers, with more than 8 in 10 children and adolescents surviving at least 5 years after ...
Conversion of Unresectable Into Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: Chemoradiotherapy vs Chemotherapy
In a German phase III trial (CONKO-007) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Fietkau et al found that although adding chemoradiotherapy (CRT) to chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone following induction therapy did not improve overall R0 resection rate in all patients with initially...
Do Breast and Gynecologic Cancers Contribute to Job Resignation in Working Women?
In a matched-cohort study reported in JAMA Network Open, Iwakura et al found that women with breast or gynecologic cancer had a higher risk of job resignation compared with their unaffected counterparts, especially among those who were older, had lower income, or had a history of depression.
“These ...
Geriatric Assessment–Guided Approach to Treatment Intensity in Older Adults With AML
Based on the results of a single-center phase II trial published by Bhatt et al in the American Journal of Hematology, pretreatment geriatric assessment in older adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) appeared to be feasible, to identify several functional impairments, to help guide the selection ...
Gastrointestinal Tumor Microbes May Predict Prognosis and Therapeutic Response
Microbes inside cancerous tumors can influence the spread of disease and the effectiveness of treatment, and those roles make them appealing targets for new therapies. Tumor microbiota–based tools could also help identify high-risk patients and those most susceptible to metastases, and possibly be...
Government Housing Assistance Linked to Reduced Medical Financial Hardship Among Cancer Survivors
Cancer survivors receiving government-subsidized rent were found to have a lower risk of experiencing financial hardships around medical expenses compared with those not receiving housing assistance, according to the results of a cross-sectional study published as a research letter in JAMA Network...
How to Adapt to the Era of AI and the Changing Interactions With Patients: Lessons From a Low-Resource Setting
After 2 decades of practicing medicine across multiple disciplines and health systems, I’ve witnessed the dramatic transformation of patient-physician interactions, and none more dramatic than what I’m seeing in this era of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on cancer care. Early in my...
Subspecialization in Oncology Is Increasing—But Unevenly Distributed Across the Country
Remarkable advances in treatments for cancer over the past 2 decades are enabling increased personalized care for patients with the disease. However, the growing complexity of treatment methods, including targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and advanced oral therapy, make it challenging for medical...
Identifying CNS Tumors With Multianalyte Cerebrospinal Fluid Test
A novel, multianalyte test has been developed to identify central nervous system cancers from small samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In findings published in Cancer Discovery, the study authors reported that the test, called CSF-BAM, achieved a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 100%.
...
Adding Dendritic Cell Vaccination to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy
Patients with intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma who received a vaccine of dendritic cells in addition to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and preconditioning cyclophosphamide experienced longer progression-free survival than those who received cyclophosphamide and TACE alone. The...
Real-World Incidence and Management of Infusion-Related Reactions to Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
In a retrospective analysis published in JCO Oncology Practice, Smolders et al investigated the incidence and clinical course of infusion-related reactions among patients treated with at least one monoclonal antibody in routine practice. The study evaluated real-world data to compare observed...
Mifamurtide Plus Chemotherapy for Nonmetastatic High-Grade Osteosarcoma
In a pooled analysis of the Italian Sarcoma Group (ISG/OS-2) and Spanish Sarcoma Group (GEIS-33) trials reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Palmerini et al found evidence of activity with the addition of mifamurtide to chemotherapy in patients with nonmetastatic high-grade osteosarcoma...
Analysis Shows No Major Racial Differences in Somatic Mutations of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
A landmark study of the tumor mutational landscape of African American women with triple-negative breast cancer revealed that the mutational profile was largely similar with that of Asian and non-Hispanic White women, except for the presence of TP53 mutations in almost all African American...
Survey Finds Discordance Between Treatment Preferences and Clinical Care for Advanced Cancer
Patients with advanced cancer reported in survey responses that their treatment often focused on optimizing longevity over maintaining comfort and quality of life, despite their goals that prioritized the opposite, according to study results published in Cancer.
Additionally, the findings...
Lu-177 Dotatate in Progressive Metastatic Pheochromocytomas and Paragangliomas
In an interim analysis of a National Institutes of Health phase II study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lin et al found that lutetium Lu-177 dotatate (Lu-177 dotatate) was active in progressive metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs).
As stated by the investigators,...
Disparities in U.S. County–Level Cervical Cancer Screening Coverage Lead to Differences in Outcomes
In a study reported as a research letter in JAMA Network Open, Amboree identified U.S. counties with low or high cervical cancer screening coverage and associated risks of cervical cancer incidence and mortality.
As stated by the investigators, “Recent research shows that cervical cancer incidence ...
Association of Germline Pathogenic/Likely Pathogenic Mutations and Subsequent Neoplasms in Childhood Cancer Survivors
In an analysis from the Children’s Oncology Group ALTE03N1 Study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Zhou et al found a fourfold increased risk of subsequent neoplasms (SNs) among childhood cancer survivors with germline pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) mutations.
Study Details
The...
Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy vs Chemotherapy in Advanced Gastric Cancers: Final Survival Analysis From KEYNOTE-585
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Shitara et al, the final overall survival analysis from the phase III KEYNOTE-585 study showed a numeric—but statistically nonsignificant—benefit with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy vs chemotherapy in perioperative therapy for patients with...
What We Wish We Knew During Fellowship
July marks a significant transition for many professionals, particularly those beginning structured training programs on July 1. This article is designed to support new and current hematology-oncology fellows and trainees in making the most of their training experience. Although not all suggestions ...
ASCO Thanks Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FSCT, FASCO, for His Vision and Leadership of TAPUR
ASCO extends its thanks and appreciation to Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FSCT, FASCO, for his decade of leadership and dedication as the inaugural Principal Investigator of the groundbreaking Targeted Agent and Profiling Utilization Registry (TAPUR) Study.
The ASCO-sponsored TAPUR study is a...
Can Baseline Kidney Function Predict Chronic Kidney Disease After Cisplatin Treatment?
A population-based prognostic study published in JAMA Oncology found cisplatin treatment to be associated with a predictable decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate. According to Grant et al, their findings place patients with lower baseline kidney function at the highest risk for...
BWEL Weight-Loss Trial Reports Success for Patients With Breast Cancer at 1-Year Mark
Patients with stage II or III breast cancer who participated in a remote weight-loss intervention program lost an average of 4.7% of their baseline body weight after 1 year, whereas those in the education-only control group gained an average 1% of their baseline weight, according to a recent report ...
Two ACS Studies Show Colorectal Cancer Screening and Early Diagnosis Have Soared in Adults Aged 45 to 49 Years
It has been widely reported that colorectal cancer incidence has been increasing among younger adults under age 50 since the mid-1990s, with a consistent annual increase of 2% among adults aged 20 to 39. This increase prompted the American Cancer Society (ACS), in 2018, and the United States...
Which First-Line Systemic Therapy Balances Survival and Quality of Life in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma?
A network meta-analysis reported in JAMA Oncology found that among first-line systemic therapy options, immunotherapy-based combinations—particularly atezolizumab plus bevacizumab—offered the most favorable therapeutic balance between survival benefit and quality-of-life preservation in...
Factors Influencing Symptom Burden in Pediatric Patients With Cancer: Insights From Routine Screening
As pediatric cancer survival rates continue to improve, attention has shifted to quality of life and symptom management. While a majority of patients experience problematic symptoms during treatment, these symptoms usually go undocumented and untreated. In a secondary analysis of a cluster...
Adding Everolimus to Chemotherapy Reduces Risk for Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
The addition of everolimus to standard carboplatin chemotherapy led to a 52% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared with carboplatin alone in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer, according to the results of a randomized phase II trial published in Breast...
Unmet Social Needs Distort Trust in Cancer Information, Study Shows
Researchers have found that unmet social needs was associated with less trust in cancer information received from doctors and the health-care system, according to study findings led by the American Cancer Society and published in Psycho-Oncology.
“Public trust in health authorities is so...
Standard vs Histology-Tailored Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in High-Grade Myxoid Liposarcoma
In an expanded cohort of a European trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Alessandro Gronchi, MD, and colleagues found that histology-tailored neoadjuvant chemotherapy with trabectedin was noninferior in terms of disease-free survival to standard neoadjuvant anthracycline/ifosfamide...
Immunotherapy Outcomes in Patients With Primary Cardiac Soft-Tissue Sarcomas
In a U.S. multicenter retrospective analysis reported in JACC: CardioOncology, Amin H. Nassar, MD, and colleagues found that immune checkpoint inhibition resulted in mostly moderate activity in patients with primary cardiac soft-tissue sarcomas.
Study Details
The study included 24 patients with ...
Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy May Improve Long-Term Survival in Patients With Resectable Soft-Tissue Sarcoma
Patients with soft-tissue sarcoma treated with neoadjuvant immunotherapy had very little residual tumor at the time of surgery and promising long-term survival, according to phase II trial results published by Roland et al in Nature Cancer.
Background
About 13,000 new cases of soft-tissue...
Nab-sirolimus in Advanced Malignant Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Tumors: AMPECT Trial Final Analysis
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Wagner et al, final analysis of the phase II AMPECT trial has shown a median duration of response of more than 3 years in patients with advanced malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumors treated with nab-sirolimus.
T-Cell Therapy in Advanced Synovial Sarcoma and Myxoid Round Cell Liposarcoma
In a phase II trial (SPEARHEAD-1) reported in The Lancet, D’Angelo et al found that the T-cell therapy afamitresgene autoleucel showed activity in patients with previously treated HLA-A*02 and MAGE-A4–expressing advanced synovial sarcoma or myxoid round cell liposarcoma.
As related by the...
Doublet for Previously Treated Patients With Advanced Leiomyosarcoma
In a phase Ib study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Van Tine et al established the recommended phase II dose of oral unesbulin in combination with dacarbazine for patients with locally recurrent, unresectable or metastatic, relapsed or refractory leiomyosarcoma.
Unesbulin is a small...
Can Pembrolizumab Improve Outcomes in Soft-Tissue Sarcoma?
The PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab may offer benefit in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma, according to recent findings presented by Mowery et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 11504).
Background
Soft-tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer affecting muscles, fat, and other connective...
Can FAP-Targeted Radioligand Therapy Benefit Patients With Advanced Sarcomas?
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted radioligand therapy may be safe and effective in patients with progressive metastatic tumors, particularly advanced sarcomas, according to new findings presented by Lanzafame et al at the 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)...
Previously Untreated Intermediate-Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma: Addition of Temsirolimus to Chemotherapy in Young Patients
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Gupta et al, the phase III Children’s Oncology Group ARST1431 trial showed no event-free survival benefit with the addition of temsirolimus to chemotherapy in previously untreated children, adolescents, or young adults with intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma.
...
FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to T-Cell Therapy for Unresectable or Metastatic Synovial Sarcoma
On August 2, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to afamitresgene autoleucel (Tecelra), a melanoma-associated antigen A4 (MAGE-A4)-directed genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy, for adults with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma who have ...
Survival Outcomes With Addition of Trabectedin to Docetaxel in Leiomyosarcoma
As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Pautier et al, the French Sarcoma Group phase III LMS04 trial showed that the addition of trabectedin to doxorubicin significantly improved progression-free and overall survival in the first-line treatment of unresectable or metastatic uterine...
Impact of Whole-Lung Irradiation in Newly Diagnosed Rhabdomyosarcoma With Lung Metastases
In a retrospective analysis from the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Luo et al found that whole-lung irradiation (WLI) was associated with significantly better event-free survival vs no WLI in patients with newly...
Addition of Lenvatinib to Ifosfamide/Etoposide in Children and Young Adults With Relapsed Osteosarcoma
In a phase II study (OLIE) reported in JAMA Oncology, Gaspar et al found that the addition of lenvatinib to ifosfamide/etoposide did not significantly improve progression-free survival in children or young adults with relapsed or refractory osteosarcoma.
Study Details
In the global open-label...
Addition of Pembrolizumab to Radiation Therapy and Surgery in Stage III Soft-Tissue Sarcoma of the Extremity
In a phase II trial (SU2C-SARC032) reported in The Lancet, Mowery et al found that the addition of perioperative pembrolizumab to preoperative radiation therapy and surgery improved disease-free survival in patients with stage III soft-tissue sarcoma of the extremity.
Study Details
In the...
Larotrectinib in Newly Diagnosed Infantile Fibrosarcoma and Other Pediatric NTRK Fusion–Positive Solid Tumors
In a Children’s Oncology Group study (ADVL1823) reported in Journal of Clinical Oncology, Laetsch et al found that larotrectinib was highly active in patients with newly diagnosed infantile fibrosarcoma and other pediatric NTRK fusion–positive solid tumors.
Study Details
The U.S. multicenter...
Discontinuation and Resumption of Larotrectinib in Pediatric Patients With TRK Fusion Sarcomas and Related Mesenchymal Tumors
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Mascarenhas et al, follow-up of a cohort of pediatric patients with TRK fusion sarcomas and related mesenchymal tumors treated with larotrectinib showed that discontinuation of treatment—with resumption for progressive disease—was associated with...
Botensilimab Plus Balstilimab in Relapsed or Refractory Metastatic Sarcomas
In a phase Ib study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Wilky et al found that the combination of botensilimab (Fc-enhanced anti–CTLA-4 antibody) and balstilimab (anti–PD-1 antibody) yielded activity in patients with relapsed or refractory metastatic sarcomas.
Study Details
In the...
High-Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma: Long-Term Outcomes With Maintenance Chemotherapy
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Gianni Bisogno, MD, PhD, and colleagues, long-term follow-up of the European Paediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma Study Group RMS2005 trial showed significant survival advantages with the use of maintenance chemotherapy in pediatric patients with...
Rescue Therapy for Newly Diagnosed High-Grade Osteosarcoma
In a Japanese trial (JCOG0905) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hiraga et al found no disease-free survival benefit with the addition of a higher dose of ifosfamide to methotrexate, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (MAP) in patients with newly diagnosed high-grade osteosarcoma with poor...
AACR 2025: AI-Driven Analysis of Digital Pathology Images May Improve Sarcoma Subtyping Among Pediatric Patients
A novel artificial intelligence (AI)-based model could accurately classify sarcomas among pediatric patients using digital pathology images alone, according to new findings presented by Thiesen et al at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting (Abstract 2423/8).
...
Spatial Transcriptomics Identifies Novel Subtypes Associated With Disease Prognosis in Leiomyosarcoma
Patients with leiomyosarcoma experience a high risk of recurrence and have limited treatment options. No biomarkers or targetable mutations currently improve diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment. Spatial transcriptomics, which are rarely used in sarcomas, may provide insights into leiomyosarcoma...
Neoadjuvant Osimertinib in the Perioperative Setting for Resectable, EGFR-Mutated NSCLC
“Neoadjuvant treatment with osimertinib, with or without chemotherapy, should be considered when planning treatment for patients with resectable, EGFR-mutated, stage II to IIIB non–small cell lung cancer [NSCLC],” according to Jamie E. Chaft, MD, FASCO, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and ...
Can Autoimmune Diseases Increase the Risk of Digestive System Cancer?
In a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, Reizner et al highlighted bias-minimized insights into the associations between autoimmune diseases, such as celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes, and the risk of...
Are Postmastectomy Implant-Based Breast Reconstructions Associated With Lymphomas of the Breast?
The results of a cohort study published in JAMA Network Open revealed an epidemiologic association between postmastectomy implant-based breast reconstruction for any breast tumor and both B- and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the breast. According to Kinslow et al, this includes diffuse large...
John C. Byrd, MD, FASCO, Named UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Director
John C. Byrd, MD, FASCO, an internationally lauded researcher and clinical specialist in hematologic malignancies, has been appointed Director of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, effective November 2025.
In his role as Director, Dr. Byrd will be responsible for all aspects of the University of...
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Receives $2 Billion Commitment From Phil and Penny Knight
Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike, and Penny Knight announced today a record-breaking $2 billion gift to the Oregon Health & Science University’s (OHSU) Knight Cancer Institute to transform the future of cancer care and set a new standard globally.
It is the largest single donation ever made to...
Dendrimer-Based SN38 Nanoparticle Shows Favorable Safety and Activity in Advanced Solid Tumors
In an early-phase study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Liu et al evaluated the safety and preliminary efficacy of DEP-SN38, a polylysine-based dendrimer-nanoparticle delivery platform for the topoisomerase 1 inhibitor SN38, in patients with advanced solid tumors. SN38 is the active...
Patient Awareness of Pharmacogenomic Testing Remains Low, ACS CAN Survey Reports
Less than half of responding patients with cancer were previously familiar with pharmacogenomic testing and its possible benefits, according to the results of a survey conducted by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). Of the patients who did know about pharmacogenomic...
PSMA PET/CT and Salvage Radiotherapy in Recurrent Prostate Cancer
Use of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT before undergoing salvage radiotherapy was associated with an improved overall survival and biochemical recurrence–free survival compared those who did not receive PSMA PET/CT scanning in male patients with biochemically recurrent prostate...
Rare Secondary Cancer After CAR T-Cell Therapy Successfully Treated, Case Report Shows
In a case presentation published in The New England Journal of Medicine, targeted treatment was successful for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma developed after CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma.
Using advanced genomic, phenotypic, and functional profiling...
Endocrine Therapy With Aromatase Inhibitor for Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer
In a patient-level meta-analysis reported in The Lancet, Braybrooke et al of the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group found that adding subsequent years of aromatase inhibitor treatment (AIT) for women with early estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer who had already received 5...
Can a Mitochondrial Antioxidant Drive Metastasis?
Mounting evidence suggests that the mitochondria may be a driving force behind cancer. A new report points to the mitochondrial metabolite glutathione, highlighting its central role in helping breast cancer cells break away from the primary tumor, travel through the body, and take root in other...
Effect of Hippocampal Avoidance in Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation in SCLC
In a phase II/III trial (NRG-CC003) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Gondi et al found that hippocampal avoidance (HA) in prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) did not improve delayed recall failure but was associated with benefits in...
Underlying Mechanisms of Chemoresistance in AML
Researchers have discovered that an isoform of the transcription factor RUNX1 orchestrates chemoresistance in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to findings published in Blood Cancer Discovery. They identified that the long-isoform RUNX1C's connection to BTG2 may enable cellular...
