ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved dacomitinib tablets (Vizimpro) for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R substitution...
Primary treatment of most solid tumors includes surgical excision or radiation therapy, both of which require precise anatomic localization of the tumor as well as surrounding tissue and organs. If the targeting is too broad, unnecessary morbidity may occur to nearby structures, along with the...
ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted regular approval to duvelisib (Copiktra) for adults with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) after at least two prior therapies. Duvelisib also received accelerated...
THE NATIONAL Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has awarded a $4.7 million grant to the Cleveland Clinic to study the prevention of cancer-associated thrombosis. The 5-year grant supports the creation of a new risk assessment tool to better predict patients with cancer who have a higher probability...
THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has chosen Pasi A. Jänne, MD, PhD, to receive the ESMO Translational Research Award for his research contributions in lung cancer. Dr. Jänne is Director of the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology and Director of the Belfer Center for Applied Cancer...
THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has recognized Tony S. Mok, MD, FRCPC, FASCO, with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions in lung cancer. Dr. Mok, who is a Li Shu Fan Medical Foundation Endowed Professor and Chairman of the Department of Clinical Oncology at the ...
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) recently released the results of its first national public awareness report about risks, actions, and attitudes toward prostate cancer in the PCF 3P Report 2018: Public Perception of Prostate Cancer. Each year, even though more than three million men in...
The phase III ECHELON-2 clinical trial has met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) with brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) in combination with CHP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone) vs CHOP (cyclophosphamide,...
In a study published by Preston et al in European Urology, researchers demonstrated that a baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level obtained from black men between 40 and 60 years old may predict the future development of prostate cancer for years after testing. The study builds on ...
Researchers have shown that autologous fecal microbiota transplantation may be a safe and effective way to help replenish beneficial gut bacteria in patients with cancer who require intense antibiotics during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Their findings were published by Taur...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental application for recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV) 9-valent vaccine (Gardasil 9), expanding the approved use of the vaccine to include women and men aged 27 through 45 years. Gardasil 9 prevents certain cancers and...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to rucaparib (Rubraca) monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with BRCA1/2-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received at least one prior androgen...
With a focus on the pathology aspects of diagnosing lymphoma, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) are collaborating to develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline for the workup of...
Analysis of male- and female-derived tumor samples revealed differences in prognostic biomarkers, genes that drive cancer, and in regulation of key pathways that may predict responses to treatment, according to results published in two studies in Cancer Research, one by Li et al and the other...
A therapeutic vaccine may boost antibodies and T cells, helping them infiltrate human papillomavirus (HPV)-related head and neck cancer tumors. Researchers from the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania tested the immunotherapy approach in two groups of patients with...
Be sure to check out these newly updated ASCO Answers fact sheets: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Lung Cancer Melanoma Multiple Myeloma Pancreatic Cancer Prostate Cancer Thrombocytopenia When Cancer Spreads to the Bone These one-page (front and back) introductions include a topic overview; an...
As of August 2018, more than 100 teams from oncology practices around the United States and the world have participated in ASCO’s Quality Training Program (QTP). The QTP offers education and training for physician-led oncology teams. The program prepares teams of oncology providers to design,...
How do patients really feel when they are in your care? What does it feel like to cure a cancer? How are the children of oncologists affected when grief is a parent’s occupational hazard? These are the personal topics explored in the candid and inspirational mini-podcast series, Your Stories:...
Cancer.Net is ASCO’s patient information website, hosting a wealth of information and resources for people diagnosed with cancer and their families and caregivers. With information on over 120 types of cancer, visitors to the site can find medical information, tips for treatment management,...
ASCO warns that some of the practices used by pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) companies could hinder patient access to timely, high-quality cancer care. While PBM practices may be intended to help control costs in cancer care, in a new position statement, ASCO describes a range of practices that...
In the world of modern medicine, with its constant stream of new information, it can be hard to keep up—especially when you already have a packed schedule. With so much new information to learn and absorb, and the need to prioritize your time, how do you know what you don’t know? Without...
Advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma have led to longer progression-free survival, but the majority of patients will still relapse despite newer treatments. A number of new drugs and combinations are under study in the hope of improving outcomes. “Multiple myeloma is a complex disease...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently permitted marketing of the ClonoSEQ assay, a next-generation sequencing–based test for minimal residual disease in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or multiple myeloma. “At the FDA, we’re continuing to...
Patients treated with more invasive surgical techniques for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are more likely to become chronic opioid users than patients treated with minimally invasive surgery, highlighting the need for additional research into how pain management after surgery ...
An analysis of the NRG Oncology clinical trial NRG-GY003 suggests that adding ipilimumab (Yervoy), a monoclonal antibody that targets the protein receptor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), to a regimen with the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo) could improve response ...
Germline mutations in the breast cancer–susceptibility genes 1 and 2 (BRCA1/2) increase the risk for cancer due to an inability to repair DNA double-strand breaks, and about 5% of patients with unselected breast cancer carry a germline BRCA mutation.1 These DNA repair–deficient tumors are...
Monika K. Krzyzanowska, MD, MPH, of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, summarized the Keynote Lecture, including the points that clinicians should carefully plan their quality improvement projects, understand the barriers to quality, and ensure their efforts are sustainable.
Lalan S. Wilfong, MD, of Texas Oncology, discusses reducing the use of a white blood cell growth factor treatment in advanced and incurable solid tumors for patients treated at a community oncology practice.
Jeremy Warner, MD, of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, discusses the ways in which patient navigators affect cancer care and how patients benefit.
Lauren P. Wallner, PhD, MPH, of the University of Michigan, discusses her findings from a population-based study, which showed that many patients believe they had no choice about whether or not to receive radioactive iodine, even though it often does not improve survival. There is a need, she says, ...
The C-C chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) is predominantly expressed in type 2 helper T (Th2) cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells.1 Under physiologic conditions and in response to its ligands, CCL17 (TARC) and CCL22 (MDC), CCR4 promotes T-cell migration to the skin.2 Of note, CCR4 is highly expressed in...
Angela M. Stover, PhD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discusses study findings on ways to alert clinicians when patients signal symptoms such as pain or diarrhea that may be cause for concern (Abstract 158).
Simron Singh, MD, MPH, of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, discusses initial results of his data on a new patient experience measurement strategy used at Cancer Care Ontario.
Jay B. Shah, MD, of Stanford University, discusses the role that surgeons can play as gatekeepers to the opioid epidemic, including the view that complex cancer operations can be performed with little to no opioid use (Abstract 269).
Aaron Lyss, MBA, of Tennessee Oncology, discusses ways that clinicians and patients can employ the most cost- and treatment-effective measures, clinical trials, and incident learning systems.
Lisa Newman, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCO, breast surgeon and researcher, has been appointed Chief of the Section of Breast Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine. In her new role, which began at the end of August, Dr. Newman will lead multidisciplinary...
Robert Taylor Ripley, MD, has recently joined the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Division of General Thoracic Surgery, at Baylor College of Medicine as Associate Professor of Surgery. He brings with him his expertise in mesothelioma, thoracic surgical oncology, and robotic thoracic...
Jeffrey Farma, MD, has been appointed Chief of the Division of General Surgery within the Department of Surgery at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Dr. Farma, a surgical oncologist, specializes in the treatment of colorectal cancer, melanoma, and sarcoma, as well as minimally invasive and robotic...
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has released its annual Cancer Progress Report,1 highlighting how federally funded research discoveries are fueling the development of new and even more effective ways to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat cancer. Key advances outlined in the...
Clinician and researcher Vamsidhar ‘Vamsi’ Velcheti, MD, recently joined the Perlmutter Cancer Center at New York University (NYU) Langone Health as Director of Thoracic Medical Oncology. He aims to improve clinical care, increase translational and clinical research, and promote interdisciplinary...
Fumiko Ladd Chino, MD, of Duke University, discusses results from a population study she conducted of the opioid epidemic over the past 10 years and why these medications for cancer pain should continue to be excluded from restrictive-prescribing laws (Abstract 230).
Douglas W. Blayney, MD, of Stanford University, and winner of the Joseph V. Simone Award for Excellence, summarizes his talk on the expense of cancer care and how we can reduce costs while maintaining safety and high value for people with cancer.
Neeraj K. Arora, PhD, of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), discusses his work at PCORI and the central role that patients play in improving care and outcomes. To learn more, visit https://www.pcori.org/.
Because neuroendocrine tumors are not one disease but a continuum of diseases, ranging from well-differentiated tumors to poorly differentiated and small cell tumors, treatment approaches can vary greatly. At the 2018 Debates and Didactics in Hematology and Oncology conference, held on Sea Island,...
The phase III PACIFIC trial showed significantly improved overall survival with durvalumab (Imfinzi) vs placebo after chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Scott J. Antonia, MD, of the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, reported these...
These days it can be hard for physicians. Many in the physician workforce wonder whatever happened to the ideals and expectations that drew them to this noble profession. The genuine passion to heal the sick and infirm and in turn improve the health of the entire society The ability to touch human ...
We have seen remarkable progress in the outcomes of patients with advanced-stage follicular lymphoma over the past 2 decades.1 Recent manuscripts and presentations describing long-term follow-up of randomized trials comparing various chemotherapy platforms (all combined with anti-CD20 antibodies)...
A phase I clinical trial investigating the use of bacterial Clostridium novyi-NT spores as an injectable monotherapy had manageable toxicities and showed early clinical efficacy in patients with treatment-refractory solid tumor malignancies, according to data presented at the CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR...
Having high levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)—a hormone that indicates the size of a woman’s ovarian reserve—before menopause may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, a study by Ge et al in the International Journal of Cancer found. In a major study,...
Thermal ablation is a safe, effective treatment for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with comparable results to traditional stereotactic radiotherapy, according to a study published by Uhlig et al in the journal Radiology. The results show that ablation may be an effective ...