The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) published new results from its latest survey on cancer drug shortages in the United States. This follows data published 1 year ago and 6 months ago illustrating how up to 93% of centers surveyed were experiencing shortages of the crucial...
Acupuncture may be effective at reducing the hormonal side effects of endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer, according to a recent study published by Lu et al in Cancer. Background Although endocrine therapy—which is capable of blocking the hormone signaling that drive some types of...
Initiating surveillance soon after recognizing a pediatric patient has a genetic predisposition for cancer may improve the identification of early-stage asymptomatic tumors, according to a recent study published by Blake et al in JAMA Oncology. The findings may inform clinical practice following...
Leaders from two New York bioscience and health-care institutions came together at Carnegie Hall to acknowledge the signing of an update to their affiliation agreement initiated in 2015. The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL)-Northwell Health agreement ensures continued collaboration and support...
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) announced that following a nationwide search, Vivek S. Kavadi, MD, MBA, FASTRO, will become Chief Executive Officer of the Society, effective November 1, 2024. Dr. Kavadi will succeed Laura Thevenot, who had already announced her intent to retire...
Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who undergo frequent immunoglobulin G testing may be less likely to experience severe infections than those who don’t undergo frequent testing, according to a recent study published by Soumerai et al in Blood Advances....
Administering chemotherapy prior to and following surgery may extend survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma compared with postoperative administration alone, according to a recent study published by Cecchini et al in JAMA Oncology. The findings may be encouraging for the 15% to...
On June 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to the KRAS G12C inhibitor adagrasib (Krazati) plus cetuximab for adults with KRAS G12C–mutated locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have received prior...
Air pollution may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, mortality, and health disparities in patients with cancer, according to a recent study published by Zhu et al in JACC: CardioOncology. Background Although modern therapies may help extend the lives of patients with cancer, cancer...
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...
On June 18, the first patient was randomized into the PRISM-MEL-301 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT06112314), which is assessing the efficacy and safety of brenetafusp (also known as IMC-F106C; PRAME-A02) in combination with nivolumab in the first-line setting of advanced or metastatic...
Researchers have found that administering the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib after surgery may improve disease-free survival in a subset of patients with PIK3CA-mutated stage III colorectal cancer, according to a study published by Nowak et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The findings...
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) detailed best practices for using radiation therapy as a stand-alone curative treatment or in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy to treat patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma,...
Findings from a Spanish study on the effectiveness of vaccines against COVID-19 infection among patients with cancer recommend administering additional doses of the vaccine to this at-risk population. These data were published by Neto et al in Nature Communications. Patients with cancer are at an...
Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, a head and neck surgical oncologist, has been named the Executive Director of the University of North Carolina (UNC) Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and UNC System Chief of Oncology Services, effective October 1, announced the Dean of the UNC School of Medicine...
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...
Lutetium (Lu)-177–PSMA-617 radioligand therapy may offer a statistically significant and clinically meaningful radiographic progression-free survival benefit in patients with taxane-naive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, according to findings presented by Herrmann et al at the 2024...
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP)-targeted radioligand therapy may be safe and effective in patients with progressive metastatic tumors, particularly advanced sarcomas, according to new findings presented by Lanzafame et al at the 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)...
Researchers have found that fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) may offer more accurate staging in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer than fluorine (F)-18–labeled fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT, according to new findings ...
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...
On June 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by single-agent pembrolizumab for adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma; on June 14, the agency approved durvalumab...
A novel chelator may significantly reduce off-target toxicity in prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radiopharmaceutical therapy, according to new findings presented by Ho et al at the 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting (Abstract 242340). Background...
A combination of alpha- and beta-radionuclide therapy may be feasible, tolerable, and effective in colorectal cancer, according to preclinical findings presented by Rinne et al at the 2024 Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Annual Meeting (Abstract 241498). The new approach...
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...
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...
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...
Researchers uncovered potential mechanisms driving drug resistance in patients with melanoma and leptomeningeal disease, according to a recent study published by Alhaddad et al in Cell Reports Medicine. Background Leptomeningeal disease is a rare and often lethal complication experienced by about...
On June 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted traditional approval to selpercatinib (Retevmo) for adult and pediatric patients aged 2 years and older with advanced or metastatic RET fusion–positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and whose disease is radioactive...
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...
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...
Claudio Cerchione, MD, PhD, of Italy’s Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, discusses preliminary findings from a prospective trial suggesting that by adding whole-body MRI to fludeoxyglucose-18 (FDG) PET/CT scans, clinicians may detect bone lesions earlier and more...
Andrew Srisuwananukorn, MD, of The Ohio State University, and Alexander T. Pearson, MD, PhD, of the University of Chicago, discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the clinic, its potential benefits in diagnosis and treatment, resources available to help physicians learn more about AI,...
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...
Following an extensive national search, Diane M. Simeone, MD, has been appointed Director of Moores Cancer Center at the University of California (UC) San Diego Health. Dr. Simeone brings institutional, national, and international leadership experience both to oncologic patient care and scientific...
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...
The PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab may offer benefit in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma, according to recent findings presented by Mowery et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 11504). Background Soft-tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer affecting muscles, fat, and other connective...
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 ...
Researchers have found that about 6% of patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and KRAS, EGFR, or ALK gene mutations may also have HER2 alterations, according to recent findings presented by Dahake et al at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 8534). Background Lung adenocarcinoma is...
Andrea Cercek, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses expanded data on the durability of complete response to dostarlimab-gxly, a PD-1 single-agent therapy administered to patients with locally advanced mismatch repair–deficient rectal cancer. The drug yielded recurrence-free...
Intensity-modulated proton therapy may achieve similar clinical outcomes and offer significant benefits compared with traditional intensity-modulated radiation therapy in patients with oropharyngeal cancer, according to preliminary data from a multi-institutional phase III trial presented by Frank...
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...
Researchers examined whether the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab given neoadjuvantly may improve outcomes in certain patients with stage II or III mismatch repair–deficient/microsatellite instability–high colorectal cancer. Interim findings from the phase II NEOPRISM-CRC clinical trial were presented...
The National Foundation for Cancer Research (NFCR) announced that the blue-ribbon selection committee, composed of world-renowned research leaders and visionaries, has awarded the 2024 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research to Dennis J. Slamon, MD, PhD, of UCLA Health, for his...
Researchers have shown the effectiveness of more scalable ways of delivering palliative care in patients with advanced lung cancer, according to new findings published by Temel et al in JAMA and simultaneously presented at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 12000). Background More intensive...
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...
Exposure to increased neighborhood violence may change the glucocorticoid receptor for the stress hormone cortisol and influence the aggressiveness of lung cancer, according to new findings presented by Heath et al at the Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting & Exposition 2024. Study Methods and...