Sunil S. Badve, MD, FRCPath, discusses research on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the patient with breast cancer, based in part on his presentation at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, October 2024. Dr. Badve is Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Vice Chair,...
Charles E. Geyer, Jr, MD, FACP, discusses the management of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer in 2024, based in part on his presentation at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, October 2024. Dr. Geyer is Professor of Medicine and Interim Division Chief of Malignant Hematology and Medical...
Quitting smoking within 6 months of receiving a cancer diagnosis could add an average of 2 years to a patient’s life, according to a recent study published by Cinciripini et al in JAMA Oncology. The findings demonstrated a broad survival benefit of using evidence-based smoking cessation to help...
An international team of oncology experts gathered in Accra, Ghana, for a series of meetings to update cancer treatment recommendations in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa. Background The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines offer color-coded tiers ...
Just weeks or even days or hours away from death, the majority of conscious terminally ill patients often experience growth and meaning in their lives and the absence of fear through end-of-life dreams and visions, according to research by Christopher W. Kerr, MD, PhD. Dr. Kerr is Chief Executive...
In a phase II trial (EWALL-INO) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Chevallier et al found that inotuzumab ozogamicin combined with low-dose chemotherapy was active in the first-line treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed CD22-positive Philadelphia chromosome–negative B-cell...
In a phase IIa study (DisTinGuish) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Klempner et al found that use of the DKK1-neutralizing antibody DKN-01 in combination with tislelizumab and chemotherapy showed activity in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal ...
In a single-institution study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Weitz et al found that the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib was active as a novel treatment in patients with peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis with GNAS mutation. As stated by the investigators: “Mucinous neoplasms of the...
Frederick Howard, MD, discusses the role of targeted therapy and endocrine therapy in the patient with breast cancer, based in part on his presentation at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, October 2024. Dr. Howard is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the section of Hematology/Oncology at the...
In an analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Roloff et al found that use of brexucabtagene autoleucel as standard therapy in adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) was associated with a high rate of measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Galsky et al, extended follow-up of the phase III CheckMate 274 trial supported the efficacy of adjuvant nivolumab in patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma at high risk of recurrence after radical resection. Study Details In the...
Because colonoscopies and more established stool-based tests are more effective at detecting early cancers and precancerous polyps compared with emerging blood-based tests, their long-term impact is projected to be substantially greater than that of blood-based tests, according to a recent study...
Researchers have trained and validated an artificial intelligence (AI) model based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to develop a consistent method of estimating prostate cancer lesion size, according to a recent study published by Yang et al in Radiology. The findings could aid physicians...
The novel trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2)-directed antibody-drug conjugate datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) vs docetaxel conferred a numerical improvement in overall survival in previously treated patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to the phase III,...
A new lung cancer screening initiative may help to overcome barriers to care among low-income, uninsured, and minority patients residing in Central Texas, according to a recent study published by Pignone et al in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The findings represented a critical step...
Using computational tools, researchers have developed a novel method to assess which patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer may benefit from immunotherapy, according to a recent study published by Arulraj et al in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)....
Aumolertinib, a third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown efficacy as maintenance therapy for patients with unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations, according to data presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer...
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...
In interim analyses of a Chinese phase III trial (COMPASSION-16) reported in The Lancet, Wu et al found that the addition of cadonilimab, a bispecific antibody targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4, to platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab significantly improved progression-free and overall...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to the BCR::ABL1 kinase inhibitor asciminib (Scemblix) for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph-positive CML) in chronic phase. The FDA approval was granted on...
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%...
In an analysis by the Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group (EBCTCG) reported in The Lancet, Hills et al found that risk of distant recurrence declined over time among women with early breast cancer enrolled in clinical trials between 1990 and 2009. Study Details The pooled analysis...
In an analysis reported in The Lancet Oncology, D’Alessio et al found that major pathologic response and complete pathologic response to neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy was associated with improved relapse-free survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Study Details The...
Patients with newly diagnosed hormone receptor–negative, HER2-positive breast cancer were more likely to receive timely, guideline-concordant treatment and experience longer survival in states participating in Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, according to a recent study published...
A newly described stage of lymph node–like structures, known as tertiary lymphoid structures, identified in hepatic tumors following presurgical immunotherapy may be vital to successfully treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Shu et al in Nature...
Researchers have created a “digital twin” model constructed from the clinical and molecular profiles of patients with cancer that accurately predicted how a patient is likely to respond to a specific chemotherapy. The approach optimizes the treatment choice for patients using available clinical...
In a phase I clinical trial (SURF301) investigating the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) oral inhibitor TYRA-300 in patients with advanced bladder cancer, the drug showed early antitumor activity and produced lower rates of significant adverse events compared with pan-FGFR inhibitors....
Researchers have demonstrated that anti–PD-L1 immunotherapy combined with mutation-directed targeted therapy may improve overall survival in patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Cabanillas et al in JAMA Oncology. Background Anaplastic thyroid...
As reported in The Lancet by McCormack et al, the phase III INTERLACE trial has shown improved progression-free and overall survival with the addition of induction chemotherapy to standard chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Study Details In the open-label trial,...
The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and Caris Life Sciences announced a new multiyear research collaboration that will begin with the interrogation of the TAILORx trial. Background Breast cancer remains the most common cancer type in the United States, with approximately 310,720 new cases per...
Researchers may have uncovered how urothelial carcinoma originates and progresses, according to a novel study published by Nguyen et al in Nature. The findings provided insights into the biology of urothelial carcinoma and may point to new therapeutic strategies for this difficult-to-treat cancer...
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) announced the election of 90 regular members and 10 international members during its annual meeting. Background Established originally as the Institute of Medicine in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences, NAM addresses critical issues in health, science,...
As reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by van As et al, the phase III PACE-B trial has shown noninferiority of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) vs conventionally fractionated radiotherapy in biochemical or clinical failure in patients with low- to intermediate-risk localized...
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Phillips et al found that carriers of BRCA1—but not BRCA2—germline mutations who used hormonal contraception were at increased risk for developing breast cancer. Study Details The investigators used pooled data from four prospective cohort...
I have many of the risk factors for melanoma. I’m fair-skinned, blue-eyed, and have a family history of melanoma, as well as other skin cancers, so I’ve always been diligent about practicing sun safety and maintaining annual full-body skin exams to catch any suspicious moles or lesions that could...
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 neoadjuvant I-SPY2.2 trial, a treatment strategy including the antibody-drug conjugate datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd), partnered with the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab, yielded a high pathologic complete response rate, especially in immune-positive and “all-negative” subtypes.1...
In a Dutch study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Westerveld et al identified long-term risks of subsequent neoplasms in 5-year survivors of childhood neuroblastoma. Study Details The study included data from 563 survivors in the Dutch Childhood Cancer Survivor Study–LATER cohort...
A 3-week moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy regimen has been found to be noninferior to the 5-week fractionation when irradiating nodal areas in patients with breast cancer, according to data presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024.1 The 5-year results of...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Provencio et al, analysis of a Spanish phase II trial (NADIM) showed good long-term outcomes with preoperative chemotherapy and perioperative nivolumab in patients with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Study Details In the multicenter trial, 46...
The University of Arizona Health Sciences announced that it has received a $3.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health to continue testing a novel imaging method for breast cancer detection that could provide an alternative to the mammogram....
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may help patients with rectal cancer avoid invasive surgery and its potentially lifelong side effects, according to a recent study published by Williams et al in Radiology. Background “After undergoing chemotherapy and radiation for rectal cancer, patients are...
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 Team, ...
Although significant progress has been made against cancer, especially in the United States, which has seen the overall death rate from cancer fall by 33% over the past 3 decades, translating into averting an estimated 3.8 million deaths from the disease,1 progress worldwide has not been as...
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 ...
In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.”1 The warning came decades after the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, which is the highest risk group, and also includes...
On September 23, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Seniors’ Access to Critical Medications Act of 2024 (H.R. 5526), which would make permanent a waiver put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed Medicare patients to receive medications dispensed by in-office pharmacies...
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 ...
In an analysis of two clinical trials reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Weber et al identified “cure rates” with adjuvant nivolumab, ipilimumab, and placebo in patients with resected stage III/IV melanoma. Study Details The analysis used mixture cure models (MCMs) to estimate cure rates ...
In the Canadian phase II OPAR trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Kim et al found no difference in adverse cosmesis with partial breast irradiation (PBI) in five daily fractions of 30 Gy vs 27.5 Gy given over 1 week in patients with early breast cancer. The aim of the trial was to...