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Showing 19601 - 19650Expert Point of View: Lipika Goyal, MD
Commenting on the BILCAP study, Lipika Goyal, MD, an oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, said: “These results are very intriguing. There is no current standard of care for adjuvant therapy of biliary tract cancer. Our high-risk patients [ie, patients with node-positive disease,...
Adjuvant Capecitabine for Biliary Tract Cancer Yields Significant Improvement in Overall Survival
There is no standard adjuvant therapy for patients with resectable biliary tract cancer, but that may be about to change based on results of the phase III BILCAP trial.1 Adjuvant capecitabine significantly improved overall survival in the BILCAP trial, and this is the first study to show a benefit...
Daniel W. Kulp, PhD, Joins The Wistar Institute in the Vaccine Center
The Wistar Institute has announced the appointment of Daniel W. Kulp, PhD, as Associate Professor in the Vaccine Center and the Translational Tumor Immunology Program. Dr. Kulp’s research centers on how best to rationally engineer protective immune responses against emerging and harmful infectious ...
My Year of Living Wonderfully: 12 Months as ASCO President
EACH YEAR, the ASCO President chooses a theme for his or her term, which is not a trivial pursuit. Trying to think up something novel and catchy, yet not schmaltzy, is quite a challenge. However, in my year as Chair of the Scientific Program Committee for the 2010 ASCO Annual Meeting, then during...
Lung Cancer: Hope From Science
The following essay by Paul A. Bunn, Jr, MD, is adapted from The Big Casino: America’s Best Cancer Doctors Share Their Most Powerful Stories, which was coedited by Stan Winokur, MD, and Vincent Coppola and published in May 2014. The book is available on Amazon.com and thebigcasino.org. I grew up in ...
‘It Is What It Is’
Mark looked at me shyly through his oversized Elvis Costello–style glasses. Was he feeling embarrassed by his own reply or just waiting for my reaction? He was sitting between his mom and dad, wearing a t-shirt with a huge Minion print. His braces showed when he smiled, something he does often in...
ERRATUM: Father-Son Confusion
In the April 25 issue of The ASCO Post, we reported on a study of atezolizumab -(Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin) in metastatic kidney cancer, which had been presented at the 2017 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. Unfortunately, we misattributed that presentation to Prof. Trevor Powles of Barts ...
New Spanish-Language Videos and Brochures From ASTRO Provide Overview of Radiation Therapy
Spanish-speaking patients with cancer have new tools to help them understand treatment options for their disease. The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a series of Spanish-language patient videos on radiation therapy for cancer, including breast, prostate, lung, brain,...
Are Oncologists Discussing Exercise With Patients?
It is well documented that physical activity benefits patients with cancer, both during and after treatment. Exercise helps patients combat both the physical and psychological impacts of cancer treatment, giving them a sense of well-being, control, stress reduction, and empowerment. However,...
First Extensive Immune Profiling of Sarcomas Shows Possible Susceptibility to Immunotherapy
Sarcomas come in dozens of subtypes. Clinical trial results have been mixed when treating these diverse tumors with immunotherapy, a targeted therapeutic strategy that has success in other cancers. However, a study published by Pollack et al in the journal Cancer suggests how both existing and ...
Economic Impact of Chronic Conditions on Cancer Survivors
There is a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions among cancer survivors vs people without a history of cancer, and the presence of chronic conditions is associated with greater annual medical expenditures compared with the absence of such conditions in cancer survivors. These findings were ...
RECIL 2017: New Response Evaluation Criteria in Lymphoma Clinical Trials
New criteria for evaluating response in lymphoma clinical trials—RECIL 2017—have been developed by an International Working Group with the aim of harmonizing criteria with the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). The new criteria were reported by Younes et al in Annals ...
AUA 2017: Studies Highlight Shifts in Prostate Cancer Screening and Management
Active surveillance in men under 60, use of telemedicine in the management of prostate cancer, and physicians' personal prostate cancer screening preferences were all highlighted at the 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). Active Surveillance for Low-Risk...
Alcohol Consumption May Be Associated With Higher Risk of Breast Cancer in African American Women
Alcohol intake was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in a large study of African American women, indicating that they, like white women, may benefit from limiting their alcohol consumption, according to results of a study published by Williams et al in Cancer Epidemiology,...
AUA 2017: Phase III Study of Blue Light Cystoscopy With Optical Imaging Agent in Bladder Cancer
New phase III study results of blue light flexible cystoscopy (BLFC) with an optical imaging agent (Hexvix/Cysview) were presented by Daneshmand et al during a late-breaking plenary session at the 2017 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting (Abstract PPTLBA-02). Major Findings The...
MEK Inhibitor Selumetinib and Docetaxel in KRAS-Mutant Advanced NSCLC
A phase III trial (SELECT-1) has shown no improvement in progression-free survival with the addition of the MEK inhibitor selumetinib to docetaxel in the second-line treatment of patients with KRAS-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Trial results were reported by Jänne et al in...
Study on Women Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer
A study by Mariotto et al investigating the prevalence of women living with metastatic breast cancer in the United States estimates that there are 154,794 women living with the disease. In addition, the median and 5-year relative survival for women initially diagnosed with metastatic breast...
FDA Approves Pembrolizumab for Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted regular approval to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or...
Racial Differences in Risk of Interval Colorectal Cancer
A population-based cohort study by Fedewa et al investigating whether the risk for interval colorectal cancer—defined as cancer that develops after a negative colonoscopy result but before the next recommended screening—varies by race or ethnicity has found that black patients face a...
AUA 2017: Studies Examine Bladder Cancer Risk and Mortality in E-Cigarette and Traditional Smokers
Data presented at the 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) showed harmful links between the use of e-cigarettes and bladder cancer risk, and associated the smoking of traditional cigarettes to a higher risk of mortality among patients with bladder cancer. Even ...
AUA 2017: Association of Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score Test With Prostate Cancer–Specific Death and Metastases in Early-Stage Disease
New results presented at the 2017 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting from a large, community-based, multicenter clinical validation study conducted at Kaiser Permanente confirmed that the Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score (GPS) test is a strong independent predictor of prostate...
AUA 2017: New Studies Demonstrate Impact of BRCA, DNA Repair Gene Mutations in Prostate Cancer
Data presented at the 2017 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) showed new findings related to the impact of certain genetic mutations on the risk and development of prostate cancer, in particular metastatic disease. Male BRCA Mutations An analysis by Mano et al...
Durvalumab With Olaparib or Cediranib in Women’s Cancers
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Lee et al, a phase I study has shown activity of the combination of the programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor durvalumab with either the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) or vascular endothelial growth...
Impact of Expert Pathologic Review on Lymphoma Diagnoses
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Laurent et al, expert review of lymphoma diagnoses in French patients resulted in a change in diagnosis in 19.4% of cases of noncutaneous disease. Study Details In the study, 42,145 samples from patients with newly diagnosed or suspected...
Brigatinib in Advanced Crizotinib-Refractory ALK-Positive NSCLC
As reported by Kim et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the phase II ALTA trial showed that the next-generation oral ALK inhibitor brigatinib produced a high response rate, including intracranial responses, in patients with advanced crizotinib-refractory non–small cell lung cancer...
ASCO 2017: Chance of Colon Cancer Recurrence Nearly Cut in Half in Patients Who Consume Nuts
An observational study of 826 patients with stage III colon cancer showed that those who consumed 2 ounces or more of nuts per week had a 42% lower chance of cancer recurrence and 57% lower chance of death than those who did not eat nuts. A secondary analysis revealed the benefit of nut consumption ...
ASCO 2017: HPV Vaccination May Reduce Oral HPV Infections but Is Still Underutilized
In one of the first large studies to explore the possible impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on oral HPV infections, researchers found it may confer a high degree of protection. The study of young adults in the United States showed that the prevalence of high-risk HPV infection was...
ASCO 2017: Gefitinib Treatment Can Delay Recurrence of Intermediate-Stage Lung Cancer
The targeted therapy gefitinib (Iressa) appears more effective in preventing recurrence after lung cancer surgery than the standard of care, chemotherapy. In a phase III clinical trial, patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive, stage II to IIIA non–small cell lung cancer ...
ASCO 2017: Healthy Lifestyle After Colon Cancer Diagnosis Helps Extend Survival
A study of 992 patients with stage III colon cancer found that those who reported a healthy lifestyle during and following adjuvant treatment had a 42% lower chance of death and a trend for lower chance of cancer recurrence than those who had less healthy lifestyles. The study will be presented by...
ASCO 2017: Increase in Early-Stage Cancer Diagnoses After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act
An analysis of nearly 273,000 patients showed that between 2013 and 2014 there was a 1% increase in the percentage of breast, lung, and colorectal cancers diagnosed at the earliest, most treatable stage. Considering the thousands of people diagnosed with these cancers annually, a 1% increase in...
ASCO 2017: Adjuvant Capecitabine May Extend Survival in Biliary Tract Cancer
A phase III randomized clinical trial in 447 patients with biliary tract cancers showed that treating the disease with capecitabine after surgery extends survival by a median of 15 months compared to surgery alone. The finding could provide the basis for a new standard of care in the disease. This ...
First-In-Human Clinical Trial Aims to Extend Remission for Children and Young Adults With Leukemia Treated With T-Cell Immunotherapy
After phase I results of Seattle Children's Pediatric Leukemia Adoptive Therapy (PLAT-02) trial, published by Gardner et al in Blood, showed T-cell immunotherapy to be effective in sending 93% of patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) into complete initial...
New Canadian Guideline Provides Advice to Physicians to Avoid Overprescribing of Opioids
Opioid overdoses are claiming the lives of thousands of Canadians. The impact of the opioid crisis continues to be devastating to individuals, families, and communities. Inappropriate prescribing of opioids has led to long-term dependence on this class of drugs. To help address problematic...
Surveillance and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Patients With Intermediate-Risk Adenomas
A UK retrospective study showed that colonoscopic surveillance was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer among patients with removal of intermediate-risk adenomas. The study was reported in The Lancet Oncology by Atkin et al. Study Details The study involved routine lower...
Long-Term Follow-up of Intergroup Exemestane Study
A final efficacy analysis of the Intergroup Exemestane Study, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Morden et al, shows continued benefit of switching to adjuvant exemestane after 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen in patients with early breast cancer. Study Details In the trial, patients who...
First-in-Class T-Cell Stimulator Varlilumab in Advanced Solid Tumors
A phase I study reported by Burris et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has shown that the first-in-class agonist anti-CD27 antibody varlilumab is well tolerated and active in patients with advanced solid tumors. CD27 is a co-stimulatory molecule on T cells that induces intracellular signaling ...
Hypofractionated Radiotherapy vs Conventionally Fractionated Radiotherapy in Early-Stage Glottic Cancer
Radiotherapy alone is often used to treat early-stage glottic cancer. However, the optimal radiation treatment schedule remains unknown. Both hypofractionated radiotherapy and conventionally fractionated radiotherapy are recommended treatment options. In an attempt to compare differences in overall ...
Delaying Colonoscopy for 9 Months or More After Positive Fecal Screening Test May Increase Risk of Colorectal Cancer
The risk of colorectal cancer increased significantly when colonoscopy was delayed by more than 9 months following a positive fecal screening test, according to a large Kaiser Permanente study published by Rutter et al in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “With this study, we...
Hypofractionated Postmastectomy Radiation in Breast Cancer
In a phase II trial, Khan et al found that hypofractionated postmastectomy radiotherapy, completed in 15 treatment days, was safe and effective in women with stage II to IIIa breast cancer. The study was reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Study Details In the study, 67 women from 2...
Changes in HER2 Breast Cancer Testing According to 2007 and 2013 ASCO/CAP Guidelines
Hanna et al have reported that the 2013 update to the 2007 ASCO/College of American Pathologists (CAP) recommendations for HER2 testing in breast cancer did not result in changes in the overall HER2-positivity rate but was associated with a higher rate of equivocal results. Their findings were...
ASCO Remembers Robert L. Comis, MD, FASCO
ASCO and the oncology community are deeply saddened by the loss of Robert L. Comis, MD, FASCO, who passed away on May 10, 2017, at the age of 71. Dr. Comis was a powerful voice in support of clinical trials, cooperative group research, and patient advocacy throughout his career. “Bob helped...
Cost of Hospitalization for Cancer-Related Neutropenia or Fever
In a study of 2012 data, Tai et al, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimated that average costs per hospital stay for cancer-related neutropenia or fever were approximately $25,000, with a total cost of more than $2.7 billion. Their study was published in the Journal of Oncology ...
Adding Pertuzumab to Trastuzumab/Capecitabine in Pretreated HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
The phase III PHEREXA trial has shown no significant improvement in progression-free survival with the addition of pertuzumab (Perjeta) to trastuzumab (Herceptin)/capecitabine in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer with disease progression during or after trastuzumab-based...
FDA Approves Ribociclib/Letrozole Co‑Pack for Postmenopausal Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer
On May 8, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the copackaging of ribociclib (Kisqali) and letrozole (Femara) tablets for the treatment of hormone receptor–positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal ...
FDA Approves Pembrolizumab as First-Line Combination Therapy With Pemetrexed and Carboplatin for Metastatic Nonsquamous NSCLC
On May 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy, in combination with pemetrexed (Alimta) and carboplatin for the first-line treatment of metastatic nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer...
ONS 2017: Hospital-Wide Initiative to Standardize the Administration of Vinca Alkaloids Using a Mini-Bag, Side-Arm Technique
Many patients with cancer who receive vinca alkaloids such as vincristine have a treatment regimen including other chemotherapy drugs that are administered intrathecally. If vincristine is mistakenly administered into the spinal fluid, it is uniformly fatal, causing ascending paralysis, neurologic...
ASCO-NCI Collaboration Finds Widespread Benefits of Centralizing Coverage Analyses for Multisite Clinical Trials
ASCO has released findings from a collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) that explored centralizing the development of coverage analyses for multisite cancer clinical trials. In an ASCO special article published by Szczepanek et al in the Journal of Oncology Practice,...
ESTRO 2017: Study Suggests Role for Radiotherapy in Extending Survival in Patients With Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer
Radiotherapy at a high enough dose may increase survival in early-stage pancreatic cancer, according to research presented at the European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) 36 Conference (Abstract OC-0426). Previous research has suggested that radiotherapy may be of little help to...
ESTRO 2017: HDR Brachytherapy in Prostate Cancer Does Not Cause Higher Toxicity, Results in High Patient Satisfaction
Treating prostate cancer with a single, high dose of radiation delivered precisely to the site of the tumor results in good quality of life and fewer trips to the hospital, with adverse side effects that are no worse than if the radiation treatment had been given in several lower doses. These...
ESTRO 2017: ESTRO Announces GIRO, a Project to Save 1 Million Lives in Under 20 Years
Although radiation therapy is an essential part of modern cancer treatment, and is indicated for about half of all new cancer patients, facilities for its provision are sadly lacking in many countries worldwide. Indeed, 29 out of 52 African nations have no radiotherapy facilities whatsoever. At the ...
