A recent study found that measuring circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is a reliable way to predict later treatment response and survival prospects in men when metastatic prostate cancer is first diagnosed. The test may help providers to decide which patients should receive standard treatment vs who...
Accelerated Approval for Bladder Cancer Drug to Be Withdrawn After Negative Trial
On October 18, Gilead Sciences announced its plans to voluntarily withdraw the U.S. accelerated approval for sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy) for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have previously received a platinum-containing...
Cancer Diagnoses May Be Linked to Lasting Financial Challenges
Researchers have found that financial fallout can follow patients with cancer and their families as financial bankruptcy, lower credit scores, and other types of financial challenges in the years following a cancer diagnosis, according to two new studies presented by Gomez-Mayorga et al and
Rogaratinib/Atezolizumab in Cisplatin-Ineligible FGFR mRNA-Overexpressing Urothelial Cancer
In the phase Ib FORT-2 trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Sweis et al found that the combination of the pan-FGFR inhibitor rogaratinib and atezolizumab was active in cisplatin-ineligible patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer overexpressing FGFR mRNA.
Study Details
The study ...
ACS Program May Reduce Postsurgical Mortality, Improve Care Among Older Patients
Implementing the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Geriatric Surgery Verification program may reduce rates of postsurgical mortality and increase the proportion of patients with documentation standards such as advanced care directives, according to two new studies presented by Horattas et al and
Regorafenib in Refractory Advanced Gastric Cancer
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Pavlakis et al, the phase III INTEGRATE IIa study showed improved overall survival with regorafenib plus best supportive care vs placebo vs best supportive care in patients with refractory advanced gastric/esophagogastric junction cancer.
Study...
FDA Approves Novel Combination for Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved zolbetuximab-clzb (Vyloy), a claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-directed cytolytic antibody, with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal ...
What Is the Impact of a Colon or Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis on Younger Adults vs Older Adults?
Younger adults with colon cancer tend to be diagnosed at a later stage and have more aggressive types of tumors. Additionally, young patients living with colorectal cancer have long-term, adverse consequences on their lives, which are different from the impact the disease has on older adults,...
Do Social Support Measures Improve Uptake of Cancer Screening?
Although improving cancer screening participation in the United States is central to the country’s national goals for reducing disability and death, currently, participation is lagging behind the Healthy People 2030 targets set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A study by the...
Skin Cancer Risk After Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Thyroid Cancer
In a study reported in a research letter in JAMA Network Open, Rezaei et al found that risk of melanoma and other nonkeratinocyte skin cancers was elevated in patients who had received radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer.
Study Details
The study involved data from 17 Surveillance,...
STS Launches Two New Thoracic Surgery Risk Calculators
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) announced the introduction of two new risk calculators to inform physician-patient decision-making in thoracic surgery.
Engineered using contemporary data from the STS General Thoracic Surgery Database, the interactive tools may provide surgeons with...
Large Proportion of Postmenopausal Hormone Receptor–Positive Breast Cancers May Be Linked to Excess Body Fat
Investigators have found that about 40% of postmenopausal hormone receptor–positive breast cancer cases may be linked to excess body fat, according to a recent study published by Cubelos-Fernández et al in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Background
Using the widely used...
Large Proportion of Childhood Cancer Survivors May Experience Significant Fear of Cancer Recurrence
Investigators have found that one-third of adult survivors of childhood cancers may experience a severe fear of cancer recurrence that impacts their daily lives, according to a recent study published by Pizzo et al in JAMA Network Open.
Background
Although the number of survivors of childhood...
New Data From SWOG S1826 Trial May Confirm Benefit of Nivolumab Plus AVD in Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma
Researchers have found that the combination of nivolumab plus doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD) may reduce the risk of cancer progression and mortality in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma compared with standard treatment, according to a recent study published by Herrera et al in The New ...
Association of TERT Expression and Survival in Pulmonary Carcinoids
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Werr et al, high telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) expression has been found to be associated with poorer survival in patients with pulmonary carcinoids.
As stated by the investigators: “The clinical course of pulmonary carcinoids ranges...
Addition of Thoracic Radiotherapy to First-Line Treatment of EGFR-Mutated Metastatic NSCLC
In a Chinese phase III trial (Northern Radiation Oncology Group of China-002) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Sun et al found that the addition of thoracic radiotherapy to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment improved progression-free survival in first-line treatment of...
Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through a Challenging Policy Landscape
Among most members of the health-care and oncology workforces, the lofty goals of the organizational framework of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) seem to be clear and indisputable: to promote the fair treatment and full participation of all people, particularly groups who have historically...
Tumor Treating Fields Therapy Receives FDA Approval in Metastatic NSCLC
Yesterday, Novocure announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Optune Lua® for concurrent use with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or docetaxel for the treatment of adults with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have experienced disease progression on or after a...
Addition of Ramucirumab to Osimertinib in TKI-Naive EGFR-Mutant Metastatic NSCLC
In an interim analysis of the phase II RAMOSE trial, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Le et al found that the addition of ramucirumab to osimertinib significantly prolonged progression-free survival as initial treatment in patients with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-naive...
Standard vs Extended Lymphadenectomy in Radical Cystectomy for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Lerner et al, the phase III SWOG S1011 trial showed no disease-free survival benefit for extended vs standard lymphadenectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy.
Study Details
In the trial, 592...
Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Trials May Be Becoming Less Diverse, Despite National Efforts
Many patients with head and neck cancer may lack equal opportunity to access experimental treatments in clinical trials or receive treatments that were shown to be effective in similar patients, according to a recent study published by Zuckerman and Edwards in Head & Neck.
Background
Millions ...
AEGEAN Update Confirms Benefit of Perioperative Durvalumab in Resectable NSCLC
The second planned interim analysis of the global phase III AEGEAN trial—reported by John V. Heymach, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and colleagues at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer...
Cancer Clinical Trials May Continue to Be Inaccessible for Many Patients
Millions of U.S. patients with cancer may face barriers to accessing some of the most advanced treatments being tested in clinical trials for their disease, according to a recent study published by Kirkwood et al in JCO Oncology Practice.
Background
“We need to support bringing clinical trials to ...
Patients With Multiple Sclerosis May Have an Increased Risk of Certain Types of Cancer
Some cancer types may be slightly more prevalent among patients with multiple sclerosis compared with those without the condition, according to a recent study published by Pierret et al in Neurology.
Background
In multiple sclerosis, the body’s immune system attacks myelin, the fatty white...
Capmatinib in MET Exon 14–Mutated NSCLC
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Wolf et al, the final results of the phase II GEOMETRY mono-1 trial support the activity of the kinase inhibitor capmatinib in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET exon 14–skipping mutation (METex14).
Study Details
The multicohort trial ...
Association of Excess Body Weight and Risk of Second Primary Cancers Among Survivors of First Primary Cancers
In a study reported in JAMA Network Open, Bodelon et al found that survivors of first primary cancers with overweight or obesity were at increased risk for second primary cancers, particularly obesity-related cancers.
Study Details
The study focused on data from the Cancer Prevention Study II...
Trial Updates in Stage III Melanoma Solidify the Neoadjuvant Use of Immunotherapy as the Current Standard of Care
Neoadjuvant therapy for patients with resectable stage III melanoma has recently emerged as a better approach than resection plus adjuvant therapy. At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024, updates of pivotal neoadjuvant studies demonstrated the long-standing benefit of...
Updated Findings in Prostate Cancer Screening With Systemic Biopsy vs MRI-Targeted Biopsy
Updated results of a Swedish screening study (GOTEBORG-2), reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Hugosson et al, indicate that omitting biopsy among individuals with negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results eliminated a high proportion of diagnoses of clinically insignificant...
Radiation-Associated Secondary Cancers in Breast Cancer Harboring TP53 Germline Pathogenic Variants
In a study published as a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Cederquist et al found that patients with breast cancer who received adjuvant radiation therapy and harbored likely pathogenic TP53 germline variants were at increased risk of developing secondary in-field sarcoma during follow-up.
Study...
African Men May Have Higher Risk of Developing Prostate Cancer Earlier
Researchers have identified genetic risk factors that may contribute to prostate cancer in a diverse group of African men, according to a recent study published by Janivara et al in Nature Genetics. The findings could uncover new treatment options in this patient population.
Background
Certain...
Higher Dosage of Radioembolization With Y-90 Therapy May Improve Survival Rates and Facilitate Curative Treatment in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Researchers found that a higher dosage of radioembolization treatment using yttrium (Y)-90 microspheres than previously recommended may benefit patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Chen et al in Liver Cancer. The findings could be practice-changing.
...
New Directions in ALL, CML, and CLL Treatment
The Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) 2024 Annual Meeting showcased several groundbreaking studies in the field of hematologic oncology, including key findings in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
The ASCO ...
FDA Approves Inavolisib Combination in PIK3CA-Mutated, HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the PI3K inhibitor inavolisib (Itovebi) with the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib and fulvestrant for adults with endocrine-resistant, PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, as...
Sintilimab/Bevacizumab in Relapsed or Persistent Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma
In a Chinese phase II trial (INOVA) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Peng et al found that the combination of sintilimab and bevacizumab showed activity in patients with relapsed or persistent ovarian clear cell carcinoma.
Study Details
In the multicenter trial, 37 evaluable patients with...
Global Disparities May Exist in Availability, Timeliness of New Cancer Drugs
Despite considerable progress in the discovery and development of new cancer drugs between 1990 and 2022, there may be disparities in both the availability and timeliness of these treatment options globally, particularly among lower-income countries, according to a recent study published by Li et...
Two Universities to Develop Incisionless Prostate Cancer Surgery Using MRI and Robotics
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University and Vanderbilt University have received a $3.7 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to pioneer a novel approach to prostate cancer surgery that combines advanced robotics and low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology.
Overview...
ASHP Offers New Guidance for Managing IV Fluid Shortages
The American Society for Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the University of Utah announced updated recommendations for managing intravenous fluid shortages and conserving supply after Hurricane Helene forced the closure of a critical manufacturing plant in North Carolina.
One-Dose HPV Vaccination Approach May Help to Eliminate Cervical Cancer
Canadian vaccination programs may switch to a one-dose, gender-neutral human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination approach to eliminate cervical cancer, according to a recent study published by Drolet et al in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Background
HPV is known to cause cervical cancer...
Bridging the Gap in Cancer Clinical Trial Funding
In a Journal of Clinical Oncology editorial, Yara Abdou, MD, and Norman E. Sharpless, MD, responded to a recent study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle that found enrollment in industry-sponsored cancer clinical trials doubled between 2008 and 2022, whereas federally supported trial ...
Stereotactic vs Hypofractionated Radiotherapy for Inoperable Stage I NSCLC
As reported in JAMA Oncology by Swaminath et al, the Canadian phase III LUSTRE trial has shown no significant benefit in local tumor control with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) vs hypofractionated conventional radiotherapy (CRT) in patients with inoperable stage I non–small cell lung cancer...
Exercise Linked to Fewer Falls in Older Adults With Cancer
A recent study suggests that for people older than age 65 who have cancer, physical activity may be key to reducing the chances of a dangerous fall. People with lung cancer, colorectal cancer, or prostate cancer, in particular, had a lower risk of falling when they talked with their doctor...
Novel Cell Therapy May Offer Benefit in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory T-Cell ALL
A novel cell therapy targeting CD7 on leukemia cells may provide an effective treatment option for patients with refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to a recent study published by Oh et al in Nature Medicine. The findings highlighted the effectiveness of a new chimeric...
Transperineal vs Transrectal Prostate Biopsy for Suspicion of Prostate Cancer
In the PREVENT trial, reported as a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Hu et al found that transperineal prostate biopsy resulted in less risk of infection than transrectal biopsy in patients with suspicion of prostate cancer, with no difference between methods observed in detecting high-grade...
Sexual Health and Quality of Life With Simple vs Radical Hysterectomy in Low-Risk, Early-Stage Cervical Cancer
In an analysis from the phase III SHAPE trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Ferguson et al found that simple hysterectomy was associated with a reduced risk of sexual dysfunction vs radical hysterectomy in patients with low-risk, early-stage cervical cancer. The trial showed...
Common Breast Cancer Treatments May Speed Aging Process
Researchers have found that common breast cancer treatments—including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery—may accelerate the biological aging process among breast cancer survivors, according to a new study published by Carroll et al in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The findings...
ACA’s Dependent Coverage Expansion May Have Benefited Young Adult Patients Diagnosed With Cancer
Investigators have uncovered that during the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) first decade, the survival rates of Dependent Coverage Expansion–eligible young adult patients with cancer may have improved, according to a recent study published by Roth et al in Cancer.
The federal...
Addition of Liver Transplantation to Chemotherapy for Permanently Unresectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
In the European TransMet trial, reported in The Lancet, Adam et al found that liver transplantation plus chemotherapy improved overall survival vs chemotherapy alone in patients with permanently unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases.
Study Details
In the open-label trial, 94 patients...
Two U.S. Scientists Named Recipients of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded jointly to two U.S. scientists: Victor Ambros, PhD, and Gary Ruvkun, PhD, for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. The recipients were named in a news release issued by The Nobel Assembly...
Certain KRAS Gene Mutations Linked to Improved Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer
A common mutation in the KRAS gene seems to be associated with improved overall survival in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma compared with other variants, in part because the mutation appears to lead to less invasiveness and weaker biological activity, according to a recent study published in
Radiopharmaceutical Therapy May Offer Benefit in Patients With Refractory Meningioma
A radiopharmaceutical therapy has demonstrated early efficacy in patients with difficult-to-treat meningioma, according to new findings presented by Merrell et al at the 2024 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting (Abstract 2) and simultaneously published in the
AI Language Models May Generate Effective Physician's Letters
An artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm may be effective at writing physician’s letters, according to a recent study published by Heilmeyer et al in JMIR Medical Informatics.
Background
According to recent surveys, physicians may spend almost 3 hours per day on documentation activities.
“The...
ChatGPT May Demonstrate Human-Level Assessment of Brain Tumor MRI Reports
In the field of radiology, where a correct diagnosis is critical to ensure proper patient care, large language models such as ChatGPT may improve accuracy or offer a second opinion in assessing brain tumor magnetic response imaging (MRI) reports, according to a recent study published by Mitsuyama...
Spiritual Themes, Distrust May Factor Into Black Patients’ Reluctance to Participate in Cancer Clinical Trials
Spiritual beliefs and a historically based distrust of clinical research may influence Black patients’ decisions about whether to participate in cancer trials, according to new findings presented by Gomez et al at the 2024 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting (Abstract...
Novel Radioconjugate or Conventional Care Prior to Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Relapsed/Refractory AML
As reported in Journal of Clinical Oncology by Gyurkocza et al, the phase III SIERRA trial has shown higher rates of durable complete remissions with the anti-CD45 radioconjugate iodine-131–apamistamab vs conventional care followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) in...
Atezolizumab Plus Platinum Doublet and Maintenance Niraparib for Late-Relapsing Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by González-Martín et al, a phase III trial (ENGOT-OV41/GEICO 69-O/ANITA) has shown no progression-free survival benefit with the addition of atezolizumab to a carboplatin doublet and maintenance niraparib in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer...
FDA Approves Perioperative Nivolumab for Resectable NSCLC
On October 3, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved nivolumab (Opdivo) with platinum-doublet chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by single-agent nivolumab after surgery as adjuvant treatment, for adults with resectable (tumors ≥ 4 cm and/or node-positive) non–small cell...
Autologous vs Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Younger Patients With Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma: 7-Year Follow-up
In an analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Tournilhac et al identified 7-year outcomes of the phase III AATT trial evaluating autologous vs allogeneic transplantation in younger patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
Study Details
In the trial, 103 patients (aged 18–60) from...
Strategies for Recovering Neurocognitive Function After Cranial Radiation Therapy
A substantial number of patients with brain metastases who experience cognitive side effects after radiation therapy may fully regain cognitive function, according to recent findings presented by Cherng et al at the 2024 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting (Abstract 150). ...
Conversations on Cancer: Exploring Religious Literacy and Spirituality in Cancer Care
OCE Insights is an occasional department developed for The ASCO Post by members of the Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this installment, the OCE’s Steven Clark Cunningham, MD, MLA, FACS, Clinical Reviewer on the Gastrointestinal Cancers...
Duration of Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy in Patients Planning Breast Reconstruction
An accelerated course of postmastectomy radiation therapy may not increase complications in patients with breast cancer undergoing breast reconstruction, according to recent findings presented by Poppe et al at the 2024 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting (Abstract 1) and ...
Adjuvant Nivolumab vs Placebo in Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma at High Risk of Recurrence After Nephrectomy
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Motzer et al, part B of the phase III CheckMate 914 trial showed no disease-free survival benefit with the adjuvant use of nivolumab vs placebo in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma at high risk of recurrence after nephrectomy. These...
Standard Chemoradiation May Be Superior to Deintensification Approaches in Patients With HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Cancer
Deintensified treatment involving a lower radiation dose and immunotherapy in place of chemotherapy may not perform as well as a more rigorous chemoradiation treatment approach in patients with early-stage human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer, according to new findings...
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy and Proton-Beam Therapy May Offer Equally High Quality of Life and Tumor Control in Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer
Two types of contemporary radiation therapy—proton-beam therapy or intensity-modulated radiation therapy—may provide comparable rates of tumor control with no differences in patient-reported quality of life among patients with low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, according to new findings...
Addition of Nivolumab to Tivozanib Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Treatment in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
As reported in The Lancet by Choueiri et al, the phase III TiNivo-2 trial has shown that immune checkpoint inhibitor rechallenge with nivolumab plus tivozanib did not improve progression-free survival vs tivozanib alone in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma following immune checkpoint...
ACS Report: Despite Overall Decreases in Breast Cancer Mortality, Incidence Rising in Key Groups
The American Cancer Society (ACS) today released Breast Cancer Statistics, 2024, the organization’s biennial update on breast cancer occurrence and trends in the United States. The new report finds breast cancer mortality rates overall have dropped by 44% since 1989, averting approximately 517,900...
Radiotherapy vs Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Nichols et al, final results of the phase II ORATOR trial indicate some differences in toxicity and quality of life between radiotherapy and transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, with both approaches yielding similar...
LuPSMA vs Change of Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitor in Taxane-Naive Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
As reported in The Lancet by Morris et al, the phase III PSMAfore trial has shown improved progression-free survival with lutetium-177–labeled PSMA-617 (LuPSMA) vs change in androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI) in taxane-naive patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer...
Immunotherapy/Chemoradiotherapy for Patients With Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
Findings of a multi-institutional phase III trial indicated that people with limited-stage small cell lung cancer may benefit from the addition of immunotherapy to chemoradiotherapy, but not if both treatments are given simultaneously, new research finds. The results suggest that the timing of when ...
KEYNOTE-671: Overall Survival With Perioperative Pembrolizumab in Resectable NSCLC
As reported in The Lancet by Spicer et al, overall survival results of the phase III KEYNOTE-671 trial indicate benefit of the addition of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab to chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab in patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
At the first...
Neo-CheckRay: Adding Durvalumab to Neoadjuvant Regimen Improves Pathologic Complete Response Rate in High-Risk Breast Cancer
Adding the immune checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab, with or without the monoclonal antibody oleclumab, to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) significantly improved pathologic complete response rates in patients with high-risk hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast ...
EMBER: Imlunestrant in Estrogen Receptor–Positive, HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer
In the the phase IA/B dose-escalation and -expansion EMBER study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Jhaveri et al, the next-generation oral selective estrogen receptor degrader imlunestrant (alone and in combination with other targeted therapies) demonstrated a manageable safety...
Cancer and Cancer-Related Therapy May Increase Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Older Cancer Survivors
Investigators have uncovered a higher risk for strokes, heart attacks, and hospital admissions for heart failure in older cancer survivors, according to a recent study published by Muhandiramge et al in Cancer.
Background
Although advances in cancer treatment have led to decreased mortality rates ...
Pharmaceutical Industry Sponsors and Clinical Cancer Research in the United States
Investigators have identified a substantial increase in the proportion of U.S. patients with cancer participating in clinical trials sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry over the past decade compared with those supported by the federal government, according to findings recently presented by...
Updated Findings With Belzutifan in von Hippel-Lindau Disease–Associated CNS Hemangioblastomas
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Iliopoulos et al, updated findings from the phase II LITESPARK-004 trial support the efficacy of belzutifan in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease–associated CNS hemangioblastomas.
Study Details
In the study, 50 patients with CNS hemangioblastomas...
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...
Quality Improvements in Lung Cancer Surgery and Tumor Pathology May Extend Survival Postsurgery
Advancing surgical and pathologic techniques may improve overall survival rates in high-risk patients with lung cancer, according to new findings presented by Akinbobola et al at the 2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium (Abstract 278).
Background
“Over the past 15 years, a quality improvement...
Conversations Between Physicians and Older Patients About Physical Activity May Reduce Falls During Cancer Treatment
Communication between health-care providers and older patients with cancer regarding the significance of physical activity may help reduce the risk of falls during cancer therapy, according to new findings presented by Lu and Zheng at the 2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium (Abstract 224).
Background
...
Cisplatin Shortage Led to Treatment Alternatives for Head and Neck Cancer, Significantly Increasing Cost
The alternative use of the monoclonal antibody cetuximab during the shortage of cisplatin in the treatment of head and neck cancer resulted in a 16% total cost increase, leading to a 144-fold increase in costs at the administrative level, impacting payer costs and patient cost-sharing amounts,...
FDA Approves Selpercatinib for RET Fusion–Positive Medullary Thyroid Cancer
On September 27, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted traditional approval to selpercatinib (Retevmo) for adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older with advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid cancer with a RET mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test, who require...
Community-Academic Partnership May Successfully Reduce Radon-Related Lung Cancer Risk in Native Population
A community and academic partnership may provide effective education about the risks of radon, testing for radon, mitigating radon in homes with high levels of the chemical, and reducing the risk of developing lung cancer among Native community members residing in Wisconsin, according to new...
Datopotamab Deruxtecan vs Docetaxel in Previously Treated Advanced or Metastatic NSCLC
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Ahn et al, the phase III TROPION-Lung01 trial showed significantly improved progression-free survival—but not overall survival—with the TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) vs docetaxel in patients with...
CABINET Trial Supports Multitargeted Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor for Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors
As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Chan et al, the multicenter phase III CABINET trial has shown significantly improved progression-free survival with the multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib vs a placebo in previously treated patients with progressive, advanced...
Olanzapine May Reduce Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Improve Quality of Life Among Patients With Cancer
Researchers have found that olanzapine may be more effective in controlling severe nausea and improving the quality of life in patients with cancer who are undergoing treatment with chemotherapy, according to new findings presented by Peppone et al at the 2024 ASCO Quality Care Symposium (Abstract...
Overall Survival Results With Pembrolizumab and Chemoradiotherapy in Newly Diagnosed, High-Risk, Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer
As reported in The Lancet by Lorusso et al, overall survival results from the phase III ENGOT-cx11/GOG-3047/KEYNOTE-A18 trial indicated a significant benefit of pembrolizumab vs placebo with concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by pembrolizumab vs placebo in patients with newly diagnosed,...
Quality-of-Life Outcomes: Whole-Breast Irradiation vs Accelerated Partial-Breast Irradiation Following Breast-Conserving Surgery
A study by Ganz et al assessed quality-of-life outcomes following whole- or partial-breast radiation in patients with breast cancer who underwent lumpectomy. The researchers published their findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Study Methods and Results
In the NRG Oncology...
Neighborhood Environment May Be Linked to Prostate Cancer Risk in Men With West African Genetic Ancestry
West African genetic ancestry may be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer among men residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods but not among those residing in more affluent neighborhoods, according to a recent study published by Pichardo et al in JAMA Network Open. The findings...
Atezolizumab, Venetoclax, and Obinutuzumab in Richter Transformation Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
In a phase II trial (MOLTO) reported in the The Lancet Oncology, Tedeschi et al found that the combination of the PD-L1 blocker atezolizumab, the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax, and the anti-CD20 antibody obinutuzumab was active in Richter transformation diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL-RT).
Study...
Adjuvant Pembrolizumab Following Surgery May Improve Cancer-Free Survival in Patients With High-Risk Urothelial Carcinoma
Treatment with the immunotherapy agent pembrolizumab may nearly double the length that patients with high-risk, muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma are cancer free following surgical removal of the bladder, according to a recent study published by Apolo et al in The New England Journal of...
Black Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer May Be Less Likely to Receive Immunotherapy Compared With White Patients
Black patients with triple-negative breast cancer may receive immunotherapy at lower rates than White patients, according to new findings presented by Freeman et al at the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic...
World Cancer Research Day 2024: Pioneering Innovations for Global Health Equity
World Cancer Day is marked every year on September 24 and seeks to raise awareness of the importance of cancer research as a key driver of advances in prevention and therapeutic strategies that increase survival and reduce the global cancer burden.
This year, World Cancer Research Day focuses on...
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...
Sexual Health Symptoms May Be Linked to Poor Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Black Women With Breast Cancer
Symptoms related to sexual health may be associated with decreased adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy among Black women with early-stage breast cancer, according to new findings presented by Anderson et al at the 2024 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on the Science of ...
ACA May Increase Access to Colorectal Cancer Care Among Underserved Groups
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has increased guideline-concordant care for colorectal cancer among non-White patients, those from rural areas, and those from the most deprived neighborhoods in Pennsylvania, according to new findings presented by Kudaravalli et al at the 2024 American Association for ...
Addition of Lu-177–PSMA-617 to Docetaxel in Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer
In an Australian phase II trial (UpFrontPSMA) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Azad et al found that sequential lutetium (Lu)-177–prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSM)-617 (Lu-177–PSMA-617) and docetaxel was superior to docetaxel alone in achieving undetectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA)...
Detecting Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Use of Zr-89 Girentuximab PET-CT Imaging
In a phase III trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Shuch et al found that zirconium Zr-89–labeled girentuximab (Zr-89 girentuximab) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging was accurate in detecting clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in patients with renal masses....
High-Dose Vitamin D3 Does Not Provide Benefit for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Results from the multicenter double-blind randomized phase III SOLARIS trial (Alliance A021703) showed that the addition of high-dose vitamin D3 to standard treatment did not improve progression-free survival vs standard-dose vitamin D3 in patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. The...
Two Recent Studies Provide Evidence That Breastfeeding After Breast Cancer May Be Safe
Women who breastfeed after treatment for breast cancer—including those with germline BRCA-mutated disease—may not be at increased risk of cancer recurrence or new breast cancers, according to two recent international studies presented by Blondeaux et al (Abstract 1815O) and Peccatori et al (
Retifanlimab Plus Chemotherapy May Extend Progression-Free Survival in Patients With Squamous Cell Anal Carcinoma
Retifanlimab plus platinum-based chemotherapy may benefit patients with squamous cell anal carcinoma, according to new findings presented by Rao et al at a presidential symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 (Abstract LBA2).
Background
The incidence of...
5-Year Analysis of Phase III HIMALAYA Confirms Survival Benefit of STRIDE in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
An updated overall survival analysis of the phase III HIMALAYA study, now at 5 years, has confirmed the robust benefit for the STRIDE regimen of durvalumab plus tremelimumab in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.1 At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 (Abstract...
NIAGARA Trial: Perioperative Durvalumab Reduced Risk of Recurrence or Death vs Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Alone in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Positive results from the phase III NIAGARA trial showed perioperative treatment with the PD-L1 blocker durvalumab in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the primary endpoint of event-free survival and the key...
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Today In Oncology22
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