Although redlining was outlawed more than 50 years ago, individuals who currently live in historically redlined areas may be less likely to be screened for breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer than individuals who live in areas not associated with redlining practices, according to...
A novel, automated liquid biopsy test—the Liquid Biopsy for Breast Cancer Methylation assay—may be effective at predicting early disease progression and potential survival outcomes in patients with metastatic breast cancer after as little as 1 month of treatment, according to a study published by...
Researchers have shared novel insights into the evolution of multiple myeloma from precursor disease, which may help physicians better identify patients whose disease is likely to progress as well as develop new interventions, according to a recent study published by Dang et al in Cancer Cell. How...
Researchers have found that when the small molecule kinase inhibitor alectinib was taken in combination with a fuller breakfast or lunch, it resulted in significantly higher drug concentrations than when taken with a low-fat breakfast in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according...
In a study reported in JAMA Network Open, Aslakson et al found that perioperative surgeon/palliative care team co-management did not improve health-related quality of life vs surgeon team management alone in patients undergoing curative-intent surgery for upper gastrointestinal cancers. Study...
Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black breast cancer survivors may experience higher rates of mortality after being diagnosed with a second primary cancer than breast cancer survivors of other ethnic and racial groups, according to a new study published by Deng et al in the Journal of the National Cancer...
Researchers have found that preoperative stereotactic radiosurgery is associated with low rates of tumor recurrence, adverse radiation effects, and meningeal disease in patients with metastatic brain tumors, according to a novel study published by Prabhu et al in JAMA Oncology. Background As...
In a case-control study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Reulen et al found that an increased risk of primary bone cancer was associated with increasing radiation dose to bone tissue and increasing alkylating agent dose among survivors of childhood cancer. As noted by the...
In the phase I/II BRUIN trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Michael Wang, MD, and colleagues found that the noncovalent (reversible) Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor pirtobrutinib produced durable responses in patients with mantle cell lymphoma who were previously treated...
The rates of survival and disease recurrence improved significantly when a personalized mRNA vaccine tailored to the patients’ tumor genetics was coupled with immunotherapy in those who had undergone surgery for high-risk melanoma, according to novel findings presented by Khattak et al at the 2023...
For some precancerous cells, traveling from the bone marrow to the skin can trigger genetic transformations that can result in leukemia, according to a novel study published by Griffin et al in Nature. The new findings may have shed light on what researchers have termed the “genetic travelogue” of...
Clifford A. Hudis, MD, ASCO Chief Executive Officer, talks about extending the reach and impact of ASCO by partnering with patients who play a key role in advancing science through clinical trial participation. With near-record numbers of registered attendees, the 2023 Annual Meeting fostered new...
In a single-institution retrospective cohort study reported in JAMA Network Open, Lin et al identified factors associated with nonadherence to lung cancer screening recommendations among patients undergoing screening—and found that negative findings on two successive screenings were associated with ...
The use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) did not significantly reduce positive margins after breast-conserving surgery, according to data presented during a press briefing at the 2023 American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting.1 Although MRI has been shown to detect...
In a new study reported by Farooq et al in Blood Advances, patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma during pregnancy had a progression-free survival rate of 24% and an overall survival rate of 83%. Background Receiving a lymphoma diagnosis during pregnancy may be uncommon but can occur for...
Investigators have found that patients who had depression and/or anxiety prior to their diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may have had shorter survival times than patients who didn’t have a mental health condition prior to their DLBCL diagnosis, according to a new study published...
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has launched a new set of large, precision medicine–based clinical trials—known as the ComboMATCH initiative—that will examine the efficacy of novel drug combinations targeting specific tumor mutations in adult and pediatric patients with cancer. The new...
In the phase II VIRO-15 trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Holloway et al found that virotherapy with the modified oncolytic vaccinia virus olvimulogene nanivacirepvec plus platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab showed activity in patients with platinum-resistant or...
In a study reported in JAMA Network Open, Weinberg et al found that receipt of the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine in patients with non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer was associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias—as well as a lower risk of mortality—compared...
When my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer 25 years ago, her medical team suggested we undergo genetic testing for the BRCA gene mutation. I knew that being a BRCA carrier put me at greater risk for breast and ovarian cancers, but I had no idea it also increased my risk for pancreatic cancer....
On April 19, 2023, polatuzumab vedotin-piiq was approved for use with a rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP) for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)–not otherwise specified or those with high-grade B-cell lymphoma who have an International...
Guest Editor’s Note: Despite its high prevalence, cancer pain remains undertreated. Racial disparities present further challenges to assessing and managing pain. Music therapy, a nonpharmacologic intervention, has been documented to be effective in controlling cancer pain. In this article, Kevin T. ...
In a study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Ann H. Partridge, MD, MPH, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and colleagues found that temporary interruption of adjuvant endocrine therapy to attempt pregnancy was not associated with increased short-term risk of breast cancer events among ...
A new study presented at Digestive Disease Week 2023 has shown that just 4% of patients with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery developed obesity-associated cancer in a 10-year follow-up, compared with 8.9% among those who did not have a weight-loss procedure.1 These findings indicate that the ...
Cancer takes a significant psychological toll on affected individuals. Cancer survivors have a significantly elevated risk of developing a mental health disorder compared with the general population, yet their psychological symptoms are often underrecognized and undertreated. To help equip...
Devraj Basu, MD, PhD, FACS, of the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, an expert in human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancer, commented on this study: “This abstract shows lack of awareness of multiple types of HPV-associated cancer and a reduced awareness of...
Awareness of the link between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and HPV-associated cervical cancers has declined over time, and awareness of other HPV-associated cancers, such as oral, penile, and anal, remains low, according to a cross-sectional study of the U.S. population presented at the 2023...
Immunotherapy regimens involving the PD-L1 monoclonal antibody atezolizumab have demonstrated promising results in patients with early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-positive breast cancer, according to a pair of studies presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)...
Findings from a phase III, randomized trial highlight the benefit derived from perioperative immunotherapy in patients with early-stage resectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to data presented during the ASCO Plenary Series: April 2023 Session.1 Interim analysis of the Neotorch...
The addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab led to improved overall survival and progression-free survival in women with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer in the final protocol-specified overall survival analysis of the KEYNOTE-826 trial presented at ...
Prior authorization of medical procedures, services, and medications has been a standard requirement of health-care providers for decades. Rising health-care costs, specifically the escalating prices of cancer drug therapies, have led to a new focus by payers, providers, and policymakers on prior...
In the phase II MAINTAIN trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Kevin Kalinsky, MD, MS, and colleagues found that a switch in endocrine therapy plus continued CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment with ribociclib was associated with improved progression-free survival in patients with hormone...
In a Korean cohort study reported in JAMA Network Open, An et al found that men with prescriptions for 5α-reductase inhibitors prior to diagnosis of urothelial bladder cancer had better outcomes than those with no prior prescriptions. Study Details The study analyzed patient claims data from the...
Patients who continue smoking after a cancer diagnosis may have almost a twofold risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or death as a result of cardiovascular disease compared with nonsmokers, according to a new study published by Lee et al in the European Heart Journal. Background According...
Results of a new survey from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) have shed light on the widespread impact of the current carboplatin and cisplatin shortages. In a separate statement, the NCCN called on the whole oncology community to work together on solutions. Background Carboplatin...
This has been a year of firsts and seconds for Monica M. Bertagnolli, MD, FACS, FASCO. This past October, Dr. Bertagnolli became the 16th Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the first woman and the first clinical trials cooperative group chair to hold that position. Then, 2 months...
Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Hematology, Sylvester Cancer Center, University of Miami, said the COMMANDS trial delivered promising results for the treatment of lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). “Without question, the COMMANDS study met its...
In the global phase III COMMANDS trial of patients with low-risk transfusion-dependent myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), with or without ring sideroblasts, treatment with luspatercept essentially doubled the likelihood of achieving transfusion independence and an increase in hemoglobin level,...
In a study reported in JAMA Network Open, Samilia Obeng-Gyasi, MD, MPH, and colleagues found that allostatic load—defined as “a cumulative measure of physiologic damage secondary to cognitive-emotional responses and perceptions to socioenvironmental stressors (ie, low socioeconomic status)”—was...
Black and Hispanic cancer survivors with subsequent primary malignancies may have a higher risk of mortality compared with White patients, according to new findings presented by Sung et al at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 12093). The new research demonstrated that Black patients with...
Investigators have found that many U.S. cancer survivors with transportation barriers to care also reported struggling financially and experiencing additional barriers to timely care, according to new findings presented by Jiang et al at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 6534). Study Methods...
Tycel J. Phillips, MD, of City of Hope National Medical Center, and Emanuele Zucca, MD, of the Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland and the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group, discuss findings from the largest prospective study of patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma....
Results from the largest prospective study of patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) showed that radiation therapy may be omitted in patients who have a complete metabolic response after chemoimmunotherapy. The IELSG37 international study found that these patients may be spared...
Patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may be able to stop receiving immunotherapy at 2 years as long as their cancer hasn’t progressed, according to new findings presented by Sun et al at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 9101) and simultaneously published in JAMA Oncology. ...
Investigators have found that race and ethnicity may affect the 21-gene recurrence score in patients with early-stage, estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer, according to new findings presented by Gill et al at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 511). Background The 21-gene recurrence...
Researchers have found that exercise may be effective at strengthening the immune system in patients with multiple myeloma, providing them with a nonpharmaceutical method of managing the disease, according to new findings presented by Joseph et al at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 8060)....
Three clinical trials demonstrated positive results from the targeted therapy erdafitinib for patients with multiple tumor types harboring FGFR alterations. The data were presented at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting. Erdafitinib is an oral medication that blocks the activity of FGFR signaling...
Arlene O. Siefker-Radtke, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses phase III findings showing that for patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma and FGFR alteration who already had been treated with a PD-(L)1 inhibitor, erdafitinib significantly improved...
Ciltacabtagene autoleucel, a B-cell maturation antigen–targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, significantly slows or stops progression of multiple myeloma when compared with standard-of-care treatments among patients with lenalidomide-refractory disease. Results from the...
According to the findings of the international phase II DESTINY-PanTumor02 study presented by Funda Meric-Bernstam, MD, and colleagues at the 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting, fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) is an effective treatment option for people with difficult-to-treat, HER2-expressing solid...