Sumanta K. Pal, MD, of City of Hope, and A. Oliver Sartor, MD, of Tulane University School of Medicine, discuss the implications of findings on black and white patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer treated with abiraterone acetate and prednisone (Abstract LBA5009).
Aviva C. Krauss, MD, of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, discusses findings on an FDA analysis of immune-related adverse events and response to pembrolizumab in multiple myeloma (Abstract 8008).
Sumanta K. Pal, MD, of the City of Hope, and Neeraj Agarwal, MD, of the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, discuss the ongoing phase III Talapro-2 study of talazoparib with background enzalutamide in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with DNA damage–repair deficiencies...
Apostolia-Maria Tsimberidou, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses findings on clinical outcomes, including long-term survival, according to the pathway targeted and treatment period (Abstract LBA2553).
Lee S. Schwartzberg, MD, of West Cancer Center, reports on the progress of the ACCC Immuno-Oncology Institute to speed adoption of immunotherapeutics in community practices.
Danh Pham, MD, of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, discusses his findings using a registry on the low rates of screening with low-dose computed tomography, despite its potential to prevent thousands of lung cancer deaths each year (Abstract 6504).
Jeremy S. Abramson, MD, of the Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses study findings on lisocabtagene maraleucel in relapsed or refractory aggressive NHL (Abstract 7505).
Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discuss phase II findings on ibrutinib plus venetoclax in first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (Abstract 7502).
Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Nathan Hale Fowler, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discuss phase III study findings on lenalidomide plus rituximab vs chemotherapy plus rituximab, followed by rituximab maintenance, in patients with ...
Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD, PhD, of the Mitchell Hamline School of Law, discusses implications of the federal “Right to Try” law, recently enacted.
Toni K. Choueiri, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Laurence Albiges, MD, PhD, of Gustave Roussy, discuss two treatment studies: one testing pegilodecakin with nivolumab or pembrolizumab and the other evaluating an oral CXCR4 inhibitor in combination with axitinib (Abstracts 4509 & 4510).
Toni K. Choueiri, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Laurence Albiges, MD, PhD, of Gustave Roussy, discuss the implications of this study’s potentially practice-changing finding that nephrectomy is no longer the standard of care for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (Abstract...
Peter Schmid, MD, PhD, of Queen Mary University of London, discusses phase II study findings on AZD5363 plus paclitaxel vs placebo plus paclitaxel as first-line therapy for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (Abstract 1007).
Ryan D. Nipp, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital, discusses study findings on electronic symptom monitoring vs usual care to assess whether the intervention, tested in hospitalized patients with advanced cancer, can improve symptom burden and reduce the risk of readmission (Abstract 10005).
Rita Elias Assi, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the impact of next-generation sequencing on treatment selection in acute myeloid leukemia (Abstract 103).
Joseph A. Sparano, MD, of Montefiore Medical Center, discusses phase III study results on chemoendocrine treatment vs endocrine treatment alone in hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative, node-negative breast cancer and an intermediate prognosis 21-gene recurrence score (Abstract LBA1).
Arnaud Méjean, MD, PhD, of the Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, discusses his study’s potentially practice-changing finding that nephrectomy is no longer the standard of care for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (Abstract LBA3).
Gilberto Lopes, MD, MBA, of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami, discusses phase III findings on pembrolizumab vs platinum-based chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced/metastatic non–small cell lung cancer with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥ to 1%...
Gianni Bisogno, MD, of the University Hospital of Padova, discusses study findings on maintenance low-dose chemotherapy in patients with high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma (Abstract LBA2).
The randomized phase III Carmena trial showed that many people with advanced kidney cancer can avoid nephrectomy without compromising survival. The median overall survival for people who received the targeted therapy sunitinib (Sutent) alone was 18.4 months, compared with 13.9 months for those who...
The federally funded, phase III TAILORx clinical trial showed that most women with hormone receptor (HR)–positive, HER2-negative, axillary node–negative early-stage breast cancer and a mid-range score on a 21-tumor gene expression assay (Oncotype DX® Breast Recurrence Score) do not...
A new chemotherapy strategy seems to improve cure rates for children with rhabdomyosarcoma who are at high risk for cancer recurrence. In a randomized phase III clinical trial, adding 6 months of low-dose maintenance chemotherapy after initial treatment increased the 5-year overall survival rate...
A large, randomized phase III trial shows that the immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is a more effective initial treatment than chemotherapy (the current standard of care) for the majority of patients with the most common type of lung cancer. People with advanced non–small cell lung...
Manisha H. Shah, MD, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, summarizes a session she chaired on progress in tailored treatments for medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancers as well as salivary gland cancer.
Allen S. Lichter, MD, ASCO’s former Chief Executive Officer, talks with Nancy E. Davidson, MD, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the 2018 recipient of the Visionary Leader Award, named for Dr. Lichter.
Gabriel N. Hortobagyi, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the 8th edition of the TNM staging system, which includes prognostic stage groups based on clinical and pathologic factors combined with grade and hormone and HER2 status.
Geoffrey R. Oxnard, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses genome-wide sequencing for early-stage lung cancer detection from plasma cell–free DNA (Abstract LBA8501).
Robert J. Kreitman, MD, of the National Cancer Institute, discusses findings on moxetumomab pasudotox in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory hairy cell leukemia (Abstract 7004).
Robert M. Jotte, MD, PhD, of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, discusses phase III study findings on atezolizumab plus carboplatin plus paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel vs carboplatin plus nab-paclitaxel, as first-line therapy in advanced squamous non–small cell lung cancer (Abstract LBA9000).
Meletios A. Dimopoulos, MD, of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, discusses phase III findings on ibrutinib/rituximab vs placebo/rituximab in Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (Abstract 8003).
Supriya G. Mohile, MD, of the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses study findings on ways to improve communication with older cancer patients using geriatric assessment (Abstract LBA10003).
Martee L. Hensley, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses phase III study findings on adjuvant gemcitabine plus docetaxel followed by doxorubicin vs observation for uterus-limited, high-grade leiomyosarcoma (Abstract 5005).
In a phase III clinical trial, the investigational PI3K inhibitor taselisib combined with standard hormone therapy fulvestrant (Faslodex) halted the growth of advanced breast cancer growth by 2 months longer than hormone therapy alone. In addition, the novel combination decreased the chance of...
An initial report from the large, ongoing Circulating Cell-Free Genome Atlas (CCGA) study provides preliminary evidence that a blood test may be able to detect early-stage lung cancer. This is one of the first studies to explore blood tests analyzing free-floating or cell-free DNA as a tool for the ...
Initial findings from a randomized phase III clinical trial showed that patients with advanced squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) benefit more from initial treatment with the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-targeted immunotherapy atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and chemotherapy than...
A genomic study of more than 15,000 tumor samples showed that people who have tumors with high microsatellite instability (MSI-H)—a genomic marker associated with a large number of genetic mutations in the tumor—are more likely to have Lynch syndrome, a hereditary condition that...
Researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive, prospectively molecularly profiled patients with advanced cancer who participated in a large, personalized medicine trial. They found that using molecular tests of tumors to select targeted therapy resulted in slower cancer growth and...
Jed A. Katzel, MD, of Kaiser Permanente, discusses his team’s findings on the disparities in head and neck cancer treatment for women and the possible missed opportunities to take a more aggressive and beneficial approach (Abstract LBA6002).
Susan Halabi, PhD, of Duke University Medical Center, discusses an analysis that showed an increase in overall survival in African American men vs Caucasian men, all of whom had metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with docetaxel/prednisone or a regimen containing those agents...
Daniel J. George, MD, of Duke University, discusses findings from a multicenter study of black and white patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer treated with abiraterone acetate and prednisone (Abstract LBA5009).
An analysis of pooled data from 9 randomized phase III trials of more than 8,000 men with advanced prostate cancer who received chemotherapy shows chances of survival are as good for black men as white men. The median survival was the same in black men and white men overall (21 months), but black...
In a prospective clinical trial of 100 men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, the response to the hormone treatment abiraterone (Yonsa, Zytiga) was greater and longer-lasting in black men than in white men. Black men were more likely to have a decline in prostate-specific antigen ...
An analysis of cancer registry data from a California hospital system showed that women with head and neck cancer were less likely to receive intensive chemotherapy (35% vs 46%) and radiation (60% vs 70%) compared to men. Controlling for factors such as age and serious medical conditions, a...
A federally funded randomized study demonstrated that the use of geriatric assessment in routine care of older adults with advanced cancer significantly improved doctor-patient communication about age-related concerns as well as patient satisfaction with the communication. The study was featured in ...
An analysis of health claims data from two demographically similar regions on either side of the U.S./Canada border shows that a common treatment for advanced colorectal cancer costs twice as much in Western Washington State than in British Columbia—$12,345 vs $6,195 monthly per patient....
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, released the following statement today: For patients with serious or immediately life-threatening diseases, the FDA remains committed to enhancing access to promising investigational medicines for those unable to access...
An updated American Cancer Society guideline now says colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 45 for people at average risk, based in part on data showing rates of colorectal cancer are increasing in young and middle-aged populations. The updated recommendations were published by Wolf et al ...
On May 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted for filing the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for cabozantinib (Cabometyx) tablets as a treatment for patients with previously treated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The filing has been assigned a Prescription Drug...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted a new drug application (NDA) and granted Priority Review for larotrectinib in the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring a neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusion. ...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted, with Priority Review, a new drug application (NDA) for gilteritinib for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a mutation in the FLT3 gene, as detected by an FDA-approved test....