Exposure to Agent Orange in U.S. veterans was associated with an increased odds of developing acral melanoma compared with controls with and without cutaneous melanoma, according to findings published in JAMA Dermatology. The study authors suggested that there is a need for continued investigation ...
Colorectal metastases isolated to the liver no longer portend a universally fatal outcome. In 2024, the TransMet study1demonstrated that liver transplantation in select patients could be life-saving—thus changing the treatment paradigm—but so can surgical resection when appropriately applied....
“Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.” – Ovid The 2025 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition delivered multiple practice-changing datasets surrounding T-cell–redirecting therapies in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma....
When patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) progress, as is common with such an aggressive malignancy, brain metastasis is a known possibility. As such, guidelines have recommended prophylactic cranial irradiation for patients with SCLC who respond well to first-line therapy to decrease the...
The first prospective, randomized phase III trial of a noncovalent Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor exclusively in treatment-naive patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)—BRUIN CLL-313—demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically...
A response-adapted approach to treatment decision-making for patients with resectable cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma demonstrated that with the use of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab, many patients could avoid surgery and/or radiotherapy. Findings from the De-Squamate study were published in the...
In a phase III trial (Canadian Cancer Trials Group BR.31) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Goss et al found that adjuvant durvalumab did not improve disease-free survival vs placebo in patients with completely resected early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Study Details In...
A global meta-analysis combined detailed patient data from six major clinical trials to compare two types of immunotherapies for advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): dual immunotherapy (a combination of CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors) and single immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Einsele et al, an updated analysis of the phase III CARTITUDE-4 trial has shown that a single infusion of ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), a B-cell maturation antigen–directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, prolonged overall survival vs...
In a phase II study (NORSE) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Loriot et al found that both erdafitinib monotherapy and the combination of erdafitinib and cetrelimab were active as first-line treatment in cisplatin-ineligible patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma with FGFR...
A scoping review of cachexia, sarcopenia, and malnutrition in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy revealed that women who lost at least 10% muscle mass during treatment had a six times higher mortality rate, regardless of their weight at the start of...
In a study (DIRECT) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Krupka et al found that phased variant (PV) ctDNA provided “sensitive and clinically meaningful response assessment” after first-line treatment of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). As stated by the investigators, “Tracking tumor-specific ...
In a prespecified interim analysis of a phase III trial (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Clinical Trial Consortium trial) reported in The Lancet, Frank et al found that intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) was noninferior to standard intensity-modulated photon radiation therapy...
A deep learning model demonstrated the ability to predict breast cancer recurrence risk and possible benefit from the addition of chemotherapy based on histopathologic images rather than genomic testing in patients with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, according to findings...
In a phase III trial (GORTEC 2018-01, NIVOPOST-OP) reported in The Lancet, Bourhis et al found that the addition of adjuvant nivolumab to cisplatin and radiotherapy improved disease-free survival in patients with high-risk, resected, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck...
Tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) resulting from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can be safely and effectively treated with stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) prior to surgery, according to findings from a phase II trial presented at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Society of...
Researchers have published valuable information about a rare but serious complication of cancer immunotherapy, providing the first large-scale description of its risk factors and clinical course and underscoring the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. The findings were published by Leaf et ...
Intravesical cretostimogene grenadenorepvec (CG0070) monotherapy demonstrated strong high-grade recurrence-free survival rates in patients with high-risk, papillary-only, bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer, according to data presented at the 26th Annual...
A perioperative regimen of the antibody-drug conjugate enfortumab vedotin-ejfv plus the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab significantly improved event-free survival, overall survival, and pathologic complete response rates compared to radical cystectomy alone in patients with muscle-invasive bladder...
A single administration of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) 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...
ASCO’s mission to conquer cancer through research, education, and promotion of the highest quality patient care requires curiosity, open-mindedness, and an evidence-based approach to emerging technologies. ASCO is committed to helping the oncology community understand, develop, apply, and monitor...
Two-year event-free survival rates were above 75% for children, adolescent, and young adult patients with B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL) who had negative measurable residual disease (MRD) by next-generation sequencing prior to hematopoietic cell transplantation and who received a...
Clinicians have traditionally prioritized high-level human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matching to minimize graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). New data from the ACCESS study, sponsored by the National Marrow Donor Program, indicate that the use of...
Two randomized phase III trials presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2025 bolster support for the use of antibody–drug conjugates—in particular, trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP2)-targeted agents—as first-line treatments for patients with triple-negative...
The addition of lutetium-177–labeled PSMA-617 (vipivotide tetraxetan; LuPSMA-617), a targeted radionuclide therapy, to standard-of-care androgen-deprivation therapy and an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor appeared to significantly improve radiographic progression–free survival in patients with...
Health-related quality-of-life analyses for proton radiation therapy and photon radiation therapy in patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer showed similar impacts on quality of life with both treatments, according to findings from the phase III RadComp consortium trial. Shannon M. MacDonald, MD, ...
The addition of lutetium-177–labeled PSMA-617 (vipivotide tetraxetan; LuPSMA-617), a targeted radionuclide therapy, to standard-of-care androgen-deprivation therapy and an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor appeared to significantly improve radiographic progression–free survival in patients with...
On November 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) or the subcutaneous formulation pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph (Keytruda Qlex) in combination with enfortumab vedotin-ejfv (Padcev) as neoadjuvant treatment followed by adjuvant treatment...
In a U.S. cohort study reported as a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Zheng et al found that increasing use of dexrazoxane in newly diagnosed children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) receiving front-line anthracycline treatment has been accompanied by a reduction in intensive care unit...
Regular pharmaceutical opioid use was found to be associated with an elevated risk for cancers previously associated with opium consumption, but not for other cancers, according to findings from a large-scale study led by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) that was published in...
In an interim analysis of an Australian single-center phase I/II trial (AlphaBet) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Kostos et al found that the combination of lutetium Lu-177–labeled PSMA–I&T (LuPSMA-I&T) and the bone-seeking alpha-emitter radium Ra-223 dichloride (Ra-223) was active in...
In the phase II TUXEDO-3 trial—reported in two articles in The Lancet Oncology—Fuereder et al and Bartsch et al found that the topoisomerase-1 HER3-targeting antibody-drug conjugate patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) was active in cohorts of patients with active brain metastases from advanced...
ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) have released their first joint guideline on managing extravasation, an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication of intravenous antineoplastic therapy.1 Extravasation occurs when an agent with tissue-damaging properties leaks from the...
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...
In the global phase III SUNMO trial, the combination of a bispecific antibody and an antibody-drug conjugate was compared with rituximab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who were ineligible for autologous...
In a Dutch phase II trial (PUMP-2) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Franssen et al found that use of hepatic arterial infusion pump (HAIP) chemotherapy with floxuridine, with or without concomitant gemcitabine, plus cisplatin showed good activity and improved overall survival in...
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recognized the recipients of the 2025 Gold Medal awards and other high-profile honors during its recent Annual Meeting. ASTRO also recognized the recipients of its 2025 research grants and fellowships, including awards cosponsored by patient,...
Osimertinib in combination with local consolidative therapy of radiation and/or surgery led to a significant extension of progression-free survival for patients with EGFR-mutant metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to findings from the phase II NorthStar trial presented at the...
Here are brief reports on three oncology approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2025: • Estrogen Receptor Antagonist in Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer: The FDA has approved imlunestrant (Inluriyo), an estrogen receptor antagonist, for adults with estrogen...
In a randomized phase II trial, Christiane Querfeld, MD, PhD, and colleagues investigated the effects of a PD-L1–blocking strategy for targeting both the innate and adaptive immune systems in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). At the 2025 Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO) Annual Meeting,1 Dr....
In a systematic review and reconstructed individual-patient meta-analysis reported in The Lancet Oncology, Di Federico et al found that dual CTLA-4 and PD-L1 or PD-1 blockade did not result in improved long-term survival overall vs single PD-L1 or PD-1 blockade in patients with advanced non–small...
In a phase II/III study (ENRICH) reported in The Lancet, Lewis et al found that the chemotherapy-free combination of ibrutinib plus rituximab prolonged progression-free survival vs standard immunochemotherapy in patients aged 60 years or older with previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma. Study...
At 10 years, the cumulative incidence of radiation-induced second malignancies in patients receiving definitive radiation therapy for human papillomavirus (HPV)–associated oropharyngeal cancers was 1.74%, according to findings culled from the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Institute database. These...
When seeking a surgeon for treatment, providing emotional support and helping patients manage expectations are among the top areas of communication valued by patients, according to a recent systematic review. The research was presented at the 2025 American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Wieduwilt et al, findings in a cohort of the phase II Alliance study A041703 indicate that the chemotherapy-free regimen of inotuzumab ozogamicin followed by blinatumomab was highly active in patients aged ≥ 60 years with newly diagnosed B-cell...
Chemoradiation with a pulsed low-dose–rate technique led to lower-than-usual rates of severe esophagitis without compromising efficacy in patients with esophageal and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to findings from a single-arm phase I study presented as a poster during the American...
A recent study has found that mutations in blood-forming cells may explain the increased risk for leukemia and other blood disorders among first responders exposed to the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) disaster site and its toxic dust. The study also points to a novel strategy for use against...
In a Brazilian phase II trial (HERCULES; LACOG 0218) reported in JAMA Oncology, Maluf et al found that pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy showed activity in patients with advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma. The investigators explained, “Advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma is...
The phase Ib DeLLphi-303 trial has reported overall survival data for a novel maintenance regimen in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer following first-line chemoimmunotherapy. Patients treated with the bispecific T-cell engager tarlatamab-dlle plus a PD-L1 inhibitor had a median overall...
In a phase III trial (TrilynX) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Bourhis et al found that the addition of xevinapant (an inhibitor of apoptosis proteins inhibitor) to platinum-based chemoradiotherapy did not improve event-free survival in patients with unresected locally advanced...