A new ASCO guideline provides recommendations on managing cancer during pregnancy, addressing a range of topics from the selection and timing of diagnostic testing and therapeutic interventions to delivery planning and ethical and legal considerations.1 The guideline aims to inform evidence-based...
For many patients with cancer, hair loss can be one of the most distressing side effects of their therapy. Increasingly, patients have been taking oral supplements of biotin, which are marketed to consumers for their potential to improve hair regrowth and brittle nails. However, there is little...
Christine M. Lovly, MD, PhD, FASCO, an expert on lung cancer with almost 2 decades of experience in clinical care, translational research, and academic leadership, will spearhead the new national thoracic oncology program at City of Hope in Duarte, California. In her new role, effective January 1, ...
Researchers have identified a melanoma cancer cluster in 15 counties in Pennsylvania near or containing cultivated croplands, according to findings published in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics. The research highlights that sunlight and areas of higher herbicide use may contribute to these...
Clinical trials remain out of reach for many Americans, with only 7% of patients with cancer participating in clinical trials, according to a new report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) State of Cancer Care in America series. Experts agree that access to trials is a key...
Although 2023 made headlines as the hottest year in human history,1 drawing the world closer to breaching the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels (and preferably to...
There is a perception among many scientists that scientific fraud is a rare occurrence, resulting from the actions of a few isolated bad actors. However, an extensive investigation by Reese A.K. Richardson, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Science of Science and Innovation, Kellogg School ...
In a study reported in JCO Oncology Practice, Kirkwood et al identified recent changes in and characteristics of the hematologist/medical oncologist (oncologist) workforce in the United States, with the data revealing gaps in coverage according to age and other patient demographics. Study Details ...
In a nationwide study published in JCO Oncology Practice, Wolswinkel et al evaluated the long-term oncologic safety of fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) compared with hysterectomy in women with early-stage cervical cancer. The study—one of the largest of its kind—addresses a critical question for...
In a prospective cohort study published in JCO Oncology Practice, Ssebyala et al examined long-term health-care utilization and adherence to follow-up care among young adult survivors of breast cancer. Their findings reveal high rates of mammography adherence but persistent gaps in other areas of...
In a recent study published in JCO Oncology Practice, Steffensen et al examined the process of shared decision-making (SDM) in which clinicians and patients collaborate to make health-care decisions according to the patients’ values, preferences, and medical needs. Although many seriously ill...
On April 22, 2025, an ASCO Expert Panel voted to approve ASCO’s global guideline on geriatric assessment of patients with cancer older than age 65 who are being treated in resource-limited settings or countries.1 Guideline recommendations were informed by the ADAPTE methodology and formal consensus ...
The aging population, now the largest group of patients with cancer and cancer survivors, requires a rigorous and focused approach to clinical trial reporting, a need highlighted by the recent author guidelines from the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO; Table 1).1 The guidelines are an important...
Each year, nearly 90,000 adolescents and young adults (AYAs; aged 15–39) are diagnosed with cancer, and approximately 9,300 die of the disease.1 And although the 5-year survival rate among these young patients is approaching 80%, it lags behind that of the pediatric population, whose 5-year...
As the global population ages, oncology faces an urgent challenge: ensuring that health-care professionals are adequately trained to address the unique complexities of cancer care for older adults. Despite the increasing prevalence of cancer in this demographic, geriatric oncology education remains ...
ASCO and the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) have released updated standards for its Oncology Medical Home (OMH) certification program, which were initially codified and published in 2021.1 The 2021 systematic literature review focused on the topics of OMH model of care, clinical pathways, and...
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...
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...
For patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, chemotherapy can sometimes cause severe, even life-threatening side effects in those who carry certain genetic variants that may impact how their bodies process the drugs used to treat their disease. Testing for variants in two genes before starting...
I’ve been a physician for several decades, seeing patients and functioning as a medical teacher; clinical, translational, and bench researcher; and administrator. Adapting to medical practice in three nations and several U.S. states has been quite challenging at different times, but I really think...
The management of metastatic (CRPC) has rapidly accelerated in the past decade, giving oncologists a wider range of tools to work with and patients new opportunities for improving survival and maintaining quality of life. These significant advancements have prompted ASCO to release a guideline...
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...
For more than 25 years, my goal as a community oncologist has been to ensure that all patients have access to the highest-quality cancer care. This is the future I stood for when I became ASCO’s 61st President and what I know our more than 50,000 members stand for. And I believe we will get there...
Cancer and its treatments often contribute to burdensome symptoms that negatively impact patients’ quality of life and treatment outcomes, including fatigue, anxiety, and depression.1 Many patients experience multiple symptoms concurrently2 that can disrupt their treatments and lead to unplanned...
I’ve learned a lot about medicine over the years, but one thing I wasn’t taught was how to guide someone through the existential weight of dying. My education centered on diagnosing, curing, or at least managing disease—not on the delicate art of helping people and their loved ones cope with what...
Immune checkpoint inhibitors may be ineffective among patients hospitalized with cancer, according to a recent study published by Riaz et al in JCO Oncology Practice. Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed treatment for many cancer types but are often restricted for inpatient use...
Although national guidelines, including ASCO’s palliative care guideline,1 call for the early integration of palliative and oncology care for patients with advanced cancer, only 36% of those with a very poor prognosis and 18% of those with a poor prognosis receive palliative care services.2 The...
ASCO has updated its guidelines on the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients newly diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, underscoring key considerations in selecting patients for treatment and where to go from there.1 Since ASCO’s previous guidelines were published in 2016, there has been ...
Short-course, higher-dose vaginal brachytherapy for endometrial cancer may demonstrate comparable efficacy to more frequent, lower-dose sessions, according to a recent study published by Suneja et al in JCO Oncology Advances. Background Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer type of the...
In JCO Oncology Advances, Schenkel et al published the results of an ASCO survey measuring professional well-being, satisfaction, and the effect of both on career plans among oncologists in the United States. The analysis revealed a higher rate of burnout compared with that observed a decade ago....
A team of scientists from the United Kingdom and the United States has discovered that the activity of macrophages may prove to be useful in predicting whether or not a patient with melanoma will respond to immunotherapy. Their findings, published in JCO Oncology Advances, may help clinicians to...
Guest Editor’s Note: The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) held its 21st International Conference in Costa Mesa, California. The conference theme was “Full Circle Translational Integrative Oncology: From Bedside to Bench and Back.” The Southern California vibe fostered collegiality and...
Researchers have found that the cancer peer support program Stronger Together may provide critical social support to patients with cancer, particularly in low-resource settings in low- and middle-income countries, according to a recent study published by Le et al in JCO Global Oncology. Background...
Katherine Van Loon, MD, MPH, has been appointed as the next Editor-in-Chief of JCO Global Oncology (JCO GO). JCO GO is an online-only, open-access ASCO journal focusing on cancer research, care, and delivery in low-resource countries and settings. The journal aims to address the challenges faced...
ASCO’s 2022 State of the Oncology Workforce in America report presented a dismal picture of the representation of Hispanic/Latinx oncologists in the field. According to the report, despite initiatives aimed at increasing diversity in the nearly 13,400 oncology workforce, which includes about 36%...
Guest Editor’s Note: Advances in cancer treatments have led to an increase in survival rates, but the quality of life is often diminished during survivorship. Because modifiable personal behavior contributes to health-care outcomes, interventions that support healthy behaviors may improve health...
In the October 10, 2024, issue of The ASCO Post, we shared some unique insights from several recipients of the international development and education award (IDEA). As oncologists and cancer researchers from diverse low- and middle-income countries, their experiences at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting ...
Millions of Americans with cancer likely struggle to access some of the most advanced, state-of-the-art treatments being tested in clinical trials for their disease, according to a recent analysis from ASCO. The 2023 State of Cancer Care in America Snapshot and corresponding manuscript found 70% of ...
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...
The ASCO Annual Meeting brings together oncologists, researchers, and health-care professionals to share the latest advancements in cancer care. The 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (ASCO24) was particularly momentous for those of who received the international development and education award (IDEA). As...
Based on the first results of the single-center phase II NURE-Combo trial, which were reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) by Mercinelli et al, the combination of neoadjuvant nivolumab plus nab-paclitaxel followed by postsurgical adjuvant nivolumab appeared to be safe and active in...
It happened! We received the International Development and Education Award (IDEA) from Conquer Cancer®, the ASCO Foundation, and it was a journey of growth, global collaboration, leadership, mentorship, and more. We have much to share after this breakthrough in our careers. The ASCO Annual Meeting...
Researchers may have uncovered the germline mutational landscape of Chinese patients with ovarian cancer and identified an enriched RAD51D variant in these patients, according to a recent study published by Feng et al in JCO Global Oncology. The findings could serve as a critical reference for...
Some patients with a genetic predisposition for cancer may not qualify for genetic screenings under the current guidelines, according to a recent study published by Samadder et al in JCO Precision Oncology. Researchers are investigating how to advance personalized medicine and tailor prevention and ...
Patients with treatment-refractory tumors who received eligibility and testing waivers to participate in a large basket/umbrella oncology trial demonstrated similar rates of clinical benefit and adverse events compared with patients who participated in the trial without waivers, according to recent ...
Researchers have discovered a biomarker that could help identify which patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma may be at greater risk of cancer recurrence, according to a recent study published by Mehra et al in JCO Precision Oncology. Background Approximately 3% to 5% of all cancer diagnoses ...
Many Americans, including patients with cancer, use cannabis and cannabinoids. In response to this reality, ASCO has issued a guideline for clinicians, adults with cancer, caregivers, and researchers on their medical use.1 The recommendations cover all cancer types and address products ranging from ...
Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, was born and reared in Kerala, a tropical state in southwestern India. Situated on the Malabar Coast, Kerala was named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler. “Along with its natural beauty, Kerala is a true melting pot. Over centuries,...
On behalf of 2024 International Development and Education Award (IDEA) awardees, we received the decision of our acceptance in this outstanding training program offering mentorship and educational opportunities for early-career oncologists and cancer researchers with great interest. This will...
The field of oncology is experiencing a revolution driven by artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Artificial intelligence tools are already being used in medical imaging analysis, treatment planning, and even patient counseling. These advancements hold immense promise for earlier cancer...