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Showing 13251 - 13300Illumination and Innovation: Transforming Data Into Learning
"Illumination” is a provocative word, evoking as it does the banishment of the darkness of ignorance by the light of new knowledge. Today, we are benefiting from a steady stream of new knowledge about the molecular basis of cancer and the interaction between host and tumor immunology. The concept...
Despite Potential to Overwhelm, Surveys Still Essential Research Tool
The age of the Internet and worldwide connectivity has made it easier than ever to send out surveys to a wide audience quickly and easily. This ease of access can make surveys an affordable and readily available research tool for independent investigators, but it can also make surveys an...
Lenvatinib Receives Priority Review Designation for Advanced Thyroid Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Priority Review designation to the New Drug Application for lenvatinib mesylate as a treatment for progressive radioactive iodine–refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. Lenvatinib is an oral multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with a...
Expert Point of View: Bertrand Tombal, MD, PhD
The formal discussant of the study presented by James et al at the ESMO 2014 Congress was Bertrand Tombal, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Division of Urology and Associated Professor of Physiology at Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels. He praised the STAMPEDE trial as “wonderful, because it...
Radiotherapy Should Be Added to Hormone Therapy in Node-Positive Prostate Cancer
Node-positive prostate cancer has typically been excluded from clinical trials, leaving oncologists with little evidence to guide management for this group of patients. A study presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2014 Congress sheds light on this issue, providing the...
Long-Term Results of COU-AA-302 Confirm Abiraterone Benefit
Final results of the COU-AA-302 trial continue to support the survival benefit of abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) in men with chemotherapy-naive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, often referred to as the “predocetaxel space.” “The study met the overall survival endpoint and all...
Expert Point of View: Stefan Zimmermann, MD
Mesothelioma has been the focus of a graveyard of negative trials,” said Stefan Zimmermann, MD, Senior Oncologist at the Hematology/Oncology Clinic, HFR Fribourg– Cantonal Hospital, Fribourg, Switzerland, during the ESMO 2014 Congress. “The epidemiology of mesothelioma is complicated, with a long ...
Local Treatments Fail to Improve Survival in Mesothelioma
The prognosis for malignant pleural mesothelioma remains dim, despite attempts to intensify treatment in the phase II SAKK 17/04 trial and other studies. The results of SAKK 17/04, presented at the 2014 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Madrid, showed that the addition of...
Expert Point of View: Florian Scotté, MD, PhD
The study was well performed and was a good representative sample of patients with cachexia,” said formal discussant Florian Scotté, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist in the Department of Oncology at the Georges Pompidou European Hospital, Paris, regarding the study presented by Temel et al at the ESMO ...
Novel Oral Agent Treats Cachexia in Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
For the first time, studies show that a drug is effective in treating several domains of cancer-related cachexia. Oral anamorelin increased lean body mass, achieved weight gain, and improved quality of life in patients with cancer-related cachexia in two pivotal phase III studies presented together ...
Women Underrepresented in Oncology Leadership Positions, Greek Survey Shows
A growing number of oncologists in Greece are female, but women continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions, according to a survey reported at the ESMO 2014 Congress. “In Greece, and across Europe, women oncologists still find it hard to access leadership or academic positions,” said...
Expert Point of View: Ignacio Melero, MD, PhD
As discussant of the nivolumab paper presented by Weber et al at the ESMO Presidential Symposium, Ignacio Melero, MD, PhD, of the Universidad de Navarra in Spain, said “We are presented today with very exciting clinical data. The only disappointment is that the survival data are not mature.” Dr....
Nivolumab Yields ‘Impressive’ Duration of Response as Late-Line Melanoma Treatment
Nivolumab yielded an “impressive” duration of response when used as second- or third-line treatment for patients with advanced melanoma, according to Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, of the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, who presented preliminary results of a phase III trial at the European Society...
Expert Point of View: Christian Blank, MD, PhD
Oncologists are now “in the luxury position of having two highly potent agents to treat BRAF V600–mutated melanoma,” noted Christian Blank, MD, PhD, Group Leader of Immunology at The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, who discussed the two papers at the ESMO 2014 Presidential Symposium....
Encouraging Early Signals for Cediranib in Recurrent Cervical Cancer
Cediranib (a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1, -2, and -3) produced a modest improvement in progression-free survival and a robust improvement in response rates compared with placebo when added to chemotherapy in patients with recurrent...
BRCA Mutations Found in Many Breast Tumors Called ‘ER-Positive’
BRCA mutations may occur in nearly one-third of breast cancer patients who would have been described as having triple-negative cancer except that their tumors express low levels of estrogen receptor, so the tumors are described as ER–low positive, according to researchers from The University of...
What Is the Real Risk of Breast Cancer Associated With Atypical Hyperplasia?
Women with atypical hyperplasia have an absolute risk of about 1% per year for developing breast cancer—a level of risk that has been underappreciated. Not enough is being done to protect these women, according to Lynn C. Hartmann, MD, Professor of Oncology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,...
Novel Agents May Address Endocrine Therapy Resistance
Progress has recently been swift in the development of new drugs to improve the response to hormone therapy in breast cancer, according to Hope S. Rugo, MD, Professor of Medicine and Director of Breast Oncology and Clinical Trials Education at the University of California, San Francisco, Helen...
Partnering With Community Centers to Advance Oncology Care
Last fall, Richard R. Barakat, MD, FACS, the Ronald O. Perelman Chair in Gynecologic Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, was named to the new position of Deputy Physician-in-Chief for the Memorial Sloan Kettering Regional Care Network and Cancer Alliance, a new initiative meant to...
Linking Biology and Therapy in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Recent discoveries in biology, therapy, and (most importantly) the interplay between these two have led to groundbreaking advances in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These advances underline the impact of the “translational” approach to cancer management in general. Standard of Care...
More on Chemotherapy Costs
I took exception to a number of the comments made by Rena Conti, PhD, in The ASCO Post (“Health-Care Reform Is Changing the Oncology Landscape,” October 15, 2014, page 1). I realize that The ASCO Post is not a peer-reviewed and indexed publication, but as an ASCO member, I also recognize that the...
The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Awarded to John O’Keefe, PhD, and Jointly to May-Britt Moser, PhD, and Edvard I. Moser, PhD
The 2014 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded with one half to John O’Keefe, PhD, of University College London, and the second half jointly awarded to May-Britt Moser, PhD, and Edvard I. Moser, PhD, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, for their...
Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Two Anti-HER2 Agents Optimal for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
For women with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer, combining two anti-HER2 agents with chemotherapy is the most effective treatment modality in the neoadjuvant setting, according to a meta-analysis published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The...
Impressive Survival Data for Women With HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Increase First-Line Use of Pertuzumab/Trastuzumab
"Impressive,” “outstanding,” and “unprecedented” are among the terms used to describe the 56.5-month overall survival for women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer receiving first-line treatment with pertuzumab (Perjeta) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) and docetaxel in the...
Ramucirumab in Combination With Paclitaxel in Advanced Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma
In the Clinic provides overviews of novel oncology agents, addressing indications, mechanisms, administration recommendations, safety profiles, and other essential information needed for the appropriate clinical use of these drugs. On November 5, 2014, ramucirumab (Cyramza) was approved for use...
The Power of Laughter
The following essay by Julie Vose, MD, MBA, FASCO, is adapted from The Big Casino: America’s Best Cancer Doctors Share Their Most Powerful Stories (May 2014), coedited by Stan Winokur, MD, and Vincent Coppola. The book is available on Amazon.com and thebigcasino.org. When I met Cindy, she was...
New James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, Opening in December 2014
In December 2014, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute will open the doors of a new 1.1 million square foot, 21-floor freestanding cancer hospital—making Columbus, Ohio, home to the third largest cancer hospital in the United ...
A Candidly Humorous Approach to the Cancer Journey
BOOKMARK Title: Shrinkage: Manhood, Marriage, and the Tumor That Tried to Kill MeAuthor: Bryan BishopPublisher: Thomas Dunne BooksPublication date: April 29, 2014Price: $25.99; hardcover, 336 pages At 30 years old, Bryan Bishop was having the time of his life. Known to millions of radio fans as...
A Father and Son’s Journey Through Medicine
BOOKMARK Title: The Good Doctor: A Father, a Son, and the Evolution of Medical EthicsAuthor: Barron H. Lerner, MDPublisher: Beacon PressPublication date: May 13, 2014Price: $25.95; hardcover, 240 pages One morning in 1996, an infectious disease specialist was making rounds when he and his team...
Martine Extermann, MD, PhD, Honored at the International Society of Geriatric Oncology’s Annual Meeting in Portugal
Martine Extermann, MD, PhD, Senior Member of the Senior Adult Oncology and Health Outcomes & Behavior Programs at Moffitt Cancer Center, was the recipient of the 2014 Paul Calabresi Award. Named after the first president of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), the award...
Acupuncture Treatment for Cancer Pain and Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting and manipulating filiform needles into specific points of the body to achieve a therapeutic effect. According to traditional Chinese medicine, disruptions in the flow of “vital energy” (qi) throughout the body are the...
Why Physician-Scientists Are Indispensable to Cancer Research
This is an exciting time for cancer research. We are beginning to see breakthroughs for patients with advanced melanoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, lung cancer, and many other forms of cancer. Even so, cancer is projected to increase by about 45% and to become the leading cause of death in America ...
Institute of Medicine Elects 70 New Members, 10 Foreign Associates
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has announced the names of 70 new members and 10 foreign associates during its 44th Annual Meeting held in October. Election to the IOM is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated...
Fast Facts About Metastatic Breast Cancer
According to the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (mbcn.org): An estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer, and approximately 40,000 people (39,620 women and 410 men) will die from the disease this year. Between 6% and 10% of new breast cancer cases are...
Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance Report Finds Research for the Disease Is Underfunded, Details Gaps in Patient Services
In October, the newly formed Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBCA) released its report, Changing the Landscape for People Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer, which details some disturbing findings. Following a yearlong analysis of 224 clinical trials, 2,281 funded research projects in...
ASCO Endorses CAP/IASLC/AMP Guidelines for Molecular Testing of Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Personalized medicine is an established treatment concept for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and molecular characterization of tumors is crucial for choice of (first-line) therapy. As of right now, we have U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for two...
Kinase-Activating Alterations Identified in Most Cases of Philadelphia Chromosome–Like Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia May Be Targetable With Available Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors
In a study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Kathryn G. Roberts, PhD, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and colleagues performed detailed genomic analysis of patients with Philadelphia chromosome–like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and identified kinase-activating...
The RAINBOW Trial: Dawn of a New Era in Upper Gastrointestinal Malignancies
As reviewed in this issue of The ASCO Post (page 155), the RAINBOW trial is an international phase III study demonstrating improved overall survival with ramucirumab (Cyramza) plus paclitaxel as second-line therapy for patients with advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma over...
BRAF/MEK Inhibition in BRAF-Mutant Advanced Melanoma
Preliminary evidence of efficacy for BRAF inhibitors as monotherapy in advanced melanoma first emerged in 2009.1 Phase II and III trials rapidly ensued for vemurafenib (Zelboraf) and dabrafenib (Tafinlar), leading to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 2011. As a result of melanoma...
Expert Panel Explores Cost, Value, and Patient-Centered Care in Cancer Treatment
In assessing a cancer treatment, cost and value are two key factors. So how, the moderator asked, do they enter into your everyday decisions? Tanisha Carino, PhD, Executive Vice President of Avalere Health, was speaking to a clinical oncologist, a patient advocate, a pharma executive, and a health...
X-Ray of Metastatic Carcinoma of the Lungs, Washington, DC, 1924
One hundred years ago, primary lung cancer was considered a rarity, with only a few hundred cases acknowledged in the world literature. Until the middle of the 1920s, medical textbooks by noted authors continued to label the disease “rare,” although metastatic lung disease was recognized and...
Old Woman With Eye Tumor, circa 1878
This is a rare photograph of an older patient with a primary ocular tumor. These tumors are uncommon in old age so most photographs of retinoblastoma or rhabdomyosarcoma featured children. As a rule, there was no attempt to surgically remove these tumors and the children were only given supportive...
Expert Panels Offer Five Proposals to Address Challenges in Regulating, Implementing Next-Generation Sequencing
At the third annual Blueprint for Drug/Diagnostic Co-Development forum, cohosted by Friends of Cancer Research in Washington, DC, and the Alexandria Center for Life Science in New York, two panels tackled considerations in simultaneous development of drugs and companion diagnostics. Friends of...
Dartmouth Study Finds Lung Cancer Screening With Low-Dose CT Could Be Cost-Effective
Dartmouth researchers say lung cancer computed tomographic (CT) screening in the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) meets a commonly accepted standard for cost-effectiveness as reported recently in The New England Journal of Medicine.1 The screening test uses annual low-dose CT scans to spot lung ...
Dying in America: Ensuring High-Quality Care at the End of Life
In September, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released its report Dying in America: Improving Quality and Honoring Individual Preferences Near the End of Life. The report argues that the U.S. health-care system subjects patients to too many—and often futile—interventions near the end of life, often ...
Addressing Patients’ Sexual Dysfunction Throughout Survivorship
Studies show that all cancers and related treatments have the potential to affect sexuality and sexual function. Surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, bone marrow transplantation, and radiation therapy can physically impact sexual health in myriad ways, including vaginal dryness, dyspareunia,...
Pancreatic Cancer in 2014
Adenocarcinoma of the pancreas is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in men and women in the United States. This year, about 46,000 people in this country will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and more than 39,000 will die of the disease. The ASCO Post recently spoke with Margaret A....
Fixed-Combination Netupitant/Palonosetron for Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
In the Clinic provides overviews of novel oncology agents, addressing indications, mechanisms, administration recommendations, safety profiles, and other essential information needed for the appropriate clinical use of these drugs. On October 10, 2014, oral fixed-combination netupitant and...
Study Sheds Light on Factors That May Contribute to Pancreatic Cancer
New research that provides a better understanding of pancreatic cancer may help identify individuals at increased risk. The findings were recently published early online in Cancer.1 Pancreatic cancer is usually detected at a very late stage and has a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. Strategies ...
Top 10 Myths About FDA’s Office of Hematology and Oncology Products
INSIDE THE BLACK BOX is an occasional column providing insight into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its policies and procedures. In this installment, FDA oncologists Gideon Blumenthal, MD, and Tatiana Prowell, MD, discuss 10 common myths about FDA’s Office of Hematology and Oncology ...
