Although improvements in the early detection and treatment of cancer have reduced cancer-related mortality rates and increased the number of cancer survivors in the United States to over 18 million, not all patients with the disease are benefiting from these advances. A recent study investigated...
Researchers have found that brigatinib may be effective in treating patients with NF2-related schwannomatosis, according to a recent study published by Plotkin et al in The New England Journal of Medicine. The findings revealed a potential new treatment option for the genetic syndrome. Background...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Nizar M. Tannir, MD, FACP, and colleagues, the phase III PIVOT-09 trial has shown no objective response or overall survival benefit with bempegaldesleukin plus nivolumab vs tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment with sunitinib or cabozantinib in ...
Investigators uncovered crucial insights into the cancer screening behaviors of a population of Muslim individuals residing in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area that could help illuminate the influence of cultural and religious beliefs on health practices, according to a recent study published...
A serum fusion-gene machine-learning model may offer early diagnostic accuracy and could help improve the 5-year survival rate in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Yu et al in The American Journal of Pathology. Background Hepatocellular carcinoma is...
A novel “armored” chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell appears to be feasible for retreatment of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who fail to respond to standard CAR T-cell therapy, according to preliminary results of a phase I trial presented at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting.1 The unique...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Benjamin J. Solomon, MBBS, PhD, and colleagues, analysis of 5-year outcomes in the phase III CROWN trial showed that median progression-free survival had not been reached in previously untreated patients receiving lorlatinib vs a median of 9.1...
In a European phase Ib/II study (OPTIMIZE-1) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Jean-Luc Van Laethem, MD, and colleagues found that the combination of the CD40 agonist antibody mitazalimab with mFOLFIRINOX (modified fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) showed activity in previously...
In a Japanese phase III trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Inui et al found that the addition of olanzapine to triple antiemetic therapy did not improve the prevention of carboplatin-induced vomiting in patients with thoracic cancers who had received no prior chemotherapy; however, ...
On June 14, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved blinatumomab (Blincyto) for adult and pediatric patients aged 1 month and older with CD19-positive, Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the consolidation phase of...
A novel artificial intelligence (AI) tool may accurately detect six different types of cancers on whole-body positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans and automatically quantify tumor burden to assess patient risk, treatment response, and survival, according to new findings...
As reported in The Lancet by Simron Singh, MD, MPH, FRCPC, and colleagues, primary results of the international, multicenter, randomized phase III NETTER-2 study have shown significantly improved progression-free survival with the addition of the radioligand lutetium-177 dotatate (Lu-177 dotatate)...
Measuring ethylene oxide levels using mobile optical instruments in Louisiana’s southeastern corridor may help to improve cancer risk assessments, according to a recent study published by Robinson et al in Environmental Science & Technology. Background Louisiana’s southeastern corridor is...
On June 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to repotrectinib (Augtyro) for adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with solid tumors that have a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusion, are locally advanced or metastatic or...
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a rare and aggressive hematologic malignancy affecting young children predominately under the age of 4. The disease is caused by mutations that increase RAS signaling output. While about 50% of patients with JMML are cured after undergoing hematopoietic...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Aerts et al, the phase II/III DENIM trial showed no overall survival benefit with a treatment comprising dendritic cells loaded with allogeneic tumor cell lysate (called MesoPher) plus best supportive care vs best supportive care alone as maintenance therapy in ...
Craig Jordan, CMG, OBE, PhD, DSc, FMedSci, a pioneering scientist whose innovative work in breast cancer research has saved countless lives and will continue to impact the field for generations to come, died on June 9, according to a news release from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer...
A novel positive psychology approach may help improve stress, fatigue, physical function, and quality of life in patients with hematologic malignancies who undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, according to a new study published by Amonoo et al in JNCCN–Journal of the National...
Many patients with cancer encounter significant barriers to the receipt of care, according to a recent study published by Chen et al in JAMA Network Open. Background When attempting to access cancer care, patients often must go through several different levels of communication both before their...
Investigators have found that U.S. veterans who underwent lung cancer screening prior to diagnosis were potentially more likely to be diagnosed with earlier-stage disease and have a higher cure rate compared with those who did not undergo screening, according to a recent study published by Edwards...
As reported at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 7500) and in The New England Journal of Medicine by Thierry Facon, MD, and colleagues, interim analysis of the phase III IMROZ trial showed significantly improved progression-free survival with the addition of isatuximab to bortezomib,...
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Bostany et al found that the cumulative incidence of cardiac dysfunction reached 15.3% at 15 years from the start of cardiotoxic treatments in breast cancer survivors. Study Details The study involved patients at the Next Steps Breast Cancer...
In a study reported in JAMA Internal Medicine, Bandi et al found that only 18% of eligible individuals in the United States were considered up to date—defined as undergoing screening within the past year—for recommended annual lung cancer screening in 2022. As stated by the investigators, “The U.S. ...
The novel therapy INB-200 in combination with concomitant temozolomide may improve survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme, according to preliminary findings from a phase I clinical trial presented by Lobbous et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 2042). “For far too long, there...
An integrated palliative care rotation for hematology-oncology fellows may improve their palliative care knowledge and skill confidence, according to findings presented by Bauman et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 9007). “Despite national guidelines advocating that patients with...
An ASCO guideline update offers new recommendations on systemic treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on promising findings from several recent randomized controlled trials as well as the approval of new first- and second-line immunotherapy combinations.1 “This guideline...
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 Cunningham, MD, MLA, FACS, Clinical Reviewer on the Gastrointestinal Cancers Team,...
Despite urgings from my primary care physician to get a colonoscopy screening after I turned 50, I resisted. As a health-care provider, and someone who is tuned into changes in my body, I thought I would instinctively know if I had a serious illness. I was wrong. Even after finally relenting to at...
When Jamie H. Von Roenn, MD, FASCO, graduated from high school in 1970 and enrolled at the University of Illinois in Champaign, she was determined to seek a career in special education, because she wanted to “help people through difficult situations.” Although Dr. Von Roenn ultimately decided to...
Facing mortality can be a paralyzing experience for some people, but for others, it may ignite a passion to accelerate life. One such person is Kathy Giusti, cofounder of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF), where she served as Chief Executive Officer and President for nearly 20 years....
Several years ago, a visit to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, so fascinated and inspired Mace L. Rothenberg, MD, FASCO, about the history of flight, he wondered why there was not a similar museum showcasing the past and present achievements in science and medicine. The result...
The highly anticipated ENGOT-en9/LEAP-001 trial in endometrial cancer has missed both its primary endpoints. At the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2024 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, the study investigators reported no significant benefit in progression-free survival or overall survival...
Results of the phase III NADINA trial support a new standard of care for the treatment of resectable macroscopic stage III melanoma. Treatment with preoperative ipilimumab plus nivolumab followed by total lymph node dissection, with adjuvant therapy guided by depth of response, led to a highly...
A little more than 12 months ago, the first major cardio-oncology guidelines were published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1 The extensive document embodied the immense progress of this subspecialty over its short existence. In reaching this milestone, it is worth considering what...
“Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), once a rare entity, now comprises 20% to 30% of newly diagnosed breast cancers detected on mammography and is appreciated to be a widely heterogeneous disease,” said E. Shelley Hwang, MD, MPH, the Mary and Deryl Hart Distinguished Professor at Duke University, who ...
Osimertinib significantly improved progression-free survival compared with placebo in patients with unresectable stage III EGFR-mutated non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following definitive chemoradiotherapy. These findings of the phase III LAURA trial suggest that osimertinib may become a new...
On June 6, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved imetelstat (Rytelo), an oligonucleotide telomerase inhibitor, for adults with low- to intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with transfusion-dependent anemia requiring four or more red blood cell units over 8 weeks...
Researchers have examined whether adding chemoradiation to adjuvant systemic therapy may improve survival outcomes in patients with resected periampullary pancreatic adenocarcinoma, according to recent findings presented by Abrams et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 4005). Study Methods ...
The risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer may be increased in some women who experience early menopause, according to new findings presented by Welt et al at the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting & Exposition 2024. Primary ovarian insufficiency is a condition that occurs when a woman’s...
As reported in JAMA by Wendy Y. Chen, MD, MPH, and colleagues, interim analysis of the phase III Alliance A011502 trial has shown no invasive disease–free survival benefit with adjuvant aspirin vs placebo in patients with high-risk nonmetastatic breast cancer. The trial was suspended early due to...
High blood insulin levels may contribute to worse outcomes in Black women with triple-negative breast cancer compared with White women with the disease, according to new findings presented by Engel et al at the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting & Exposition 2024. Background Triple-negative...
A novel ultrasensitive liquid biopsy may be predictive of breast cancer recurrence up to years prior to relapse in high-risk patients with early breast cancer, according to recent findings presented by Garcia-Murillas et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 1010). Background Circulating...
A novel “armored” type of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy called huCART19-IL18 may prove to be effective in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who do not respond to standard CAR T-cell therapy, according to recent findings from a phase I clinical trial presented by Svoboda et al at...
In a Korean study reported in JAMA Network Open, Song et al identified risk factors for interval breast cancer vs screen-detected breast cancer and described mortality outcomes for women in the two categories. Study Details The retrospective cohort study used data from the Korean National Health...
Telemedicine visits for cancer care are not only more convenient and possibly easier to schedule than in-person appointments—they may also be better for the planet. These findings were presented by Andrew Hantel, MD, and colleagues at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 1522) and simultaneously...
Neoadjuvant immunotherapy given for stage III melanoma—followed by adjuvant therapy only if there is not a deep response to treatment—may produce better outcomes for patients than the current standard of care, which is adjuvant immunotherapy alone. These results from the NADINA trial were presented ...
Osimertinib improved progression-free survival in patients with unresectable stage III EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has been treated with chemoradiotherapy—and may be a new standard of care for this population, according to research presented by Suresh Ramalingam, MD, FACP,...
Results from an interim analysis of the phase III ADRIATIC study demonstrated that consolidation therapy after chemoradiotherapy with durvalumab extends survival in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) compared to the current standard-of-care treatment of chemoradiotherapy...
Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) delayed cancer growth in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-low or -ultralow metastatic breast cancer that progressed following endocrine therapy, according to findings from the phase III DESTINY-Breast06 trial. The research was presented by...
For patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma that can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy administered before and after surgery improved survival compared to chemoradiotherapy before surgery. The research was presented by Hoeppner et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract...