The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the appointment of an Acting Deputy Office Director and an Associate Director of Clinical Science in its Office of Hematology and Oncology Products (OHOP). Acting Deputy Office Director Amy E. McKee, MD, was recently announced as the...
Late in 2015, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the label for pembrolizumab (Keytruda), a humanized antibody, to include the initial treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Previously, pembrolizumab had received accelerated approval in patients with...
Commenting on both the CheckMate 025 and METEOR studies, Sumanta K. Pal, MD, Co-Director of the Kidney Cancer Program at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, said, “Cabozantinib (Cometriq) will probably be approved for advanced renal cell carcinoma. There is debate about...
Formal discussant of this trial William Y. Kim, MD, of the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, commented on the fact that the IMvigor study had a substantial number of patients compared with other phase II trials in bladder cancer. “This trial was not ...
Atezolizumab achieved excellent results in a cohort of patients with platinum-resistant urothelial cancer enrolled in a large phase II trial known as IMvigor 210.1 Overall response rates were greatly improved over those with historical controls, and responses were durable. Although expression of...
Commenting on both of these studies, Christian K. Kollmannsberger, MD, of the British Columbia Cancer Center, Vancouver, Canada, said: “These studies suggest a more personalized approach to testicular cancer. Clearly, we need to do better than traditional risk factors used to guide therapy for...
Although patients with poor-risk metastatic testicular germ cell tumors continue to have less favorable outcomes, the bar has been raised by contemporary treatment. There is still room for improvement in managing metastatic testicular germ cell tumors, especially in poor-risk patients, but if...
In 1956, the American College of Surgeons encouraged the development of hospital-based registries, but for the most part, these efforts were clumsy, inaccessible card files of data. Today, advanced microcomputer technology has increased the ability to not only collect and cull cancer data but also...
A 70-year-old female patient underwent a cardiac procedure to repair her mitral valve, and at the same time, she also underwent a coronary artery bypass grafting. She had an uneventful course for the first four postoperative days. On the sixth postoperative day, she started complaining of abdominal ...
Options for second-line therapy of advanced/metastatic renal cell carcinoma are expanding. Updates from the CheckMate 025 and METEOR trials presented at the 2016 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium solidify the value of both nivolumab (Opdivo, an immune checkpoint inhibitor) and cabozantinib...
In a study reported in JAMA Oncology, Acuna et al found a nearly threefold increased risk of cancer mortality in solid-organ transplant recipients compared with the general population in Ontario, Canada. Study Details The population-based cohort study included data from 11,061 patients who...
In a retrospective analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Nead et al found that use of androgen-deprivation therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer was associated with an increased risk of subsequent Alzheimer’s disease. Study Details In the study, a text-processing...
During hysterectomies for noncancerous conditions, removing both fallopian tubes while keeping the ovaries may help protect against ovarian cancer and preserve hormonal levels, but few women receive this surgical option, according to a new study by Yale School of Medicine researchers. Published by ...
Oncology researchers have discovered that an abnormal fused gene that drives pediatric brain tumors poses a triple threat, operating simultaneously through three distinct biologic mechanisms—the first such example in cancer biology. The study was published by Bandopadhayay et al in Nature...
Dr. Robert Rifkin, Medical Director of Biosimilars at US Oncology Research, moderates a roundtable discussion on Global Perspectives on the Integration of Biosimilars into Oncology Practice, held in conjunction with the 2015 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida....
Despite improvements in survival for adolescents and young adults diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, the gains have not been shared uniformly across this patient population. A large population-based study by Keegan et al investigating the impact of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, influence of...
Women who eat more high-fiber foods during adolescence and young adulthood—especially fruits and vegetables—may have significantly lower breast cancer risk than those who eat less dietary fiber when young, according to a new large-scale study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan...
Vice President Joe Biden's “moonshot” initiative to defeat cancer earned support for a tax increase to fund cancer research among half of respondents (50%) in a new national public opinion survey commissioned by Research!America. Thirty-eight percent disagree and an additional 12% are...
In the French phase III MAPS trial reported in The Lancet, Zalcman et al found that the addition of bevacizumab (Avastin) to standard cisplatin/pemetrexed (Alimta) treatment increased overall and progression-free survival in patients with newly diagnosed pleural mesothelioma. Vascular endothelial...
In a population-based study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Yabroff et al found that cancer and its treatment were associated with material financial hardship for 29% and psychological financial hardship for 32% of patients aged 18 to 64 years in the United States. Financial hardship...
Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with common epidermal growth factor (EGFR) mutations and brain metastases showed improved progression-free survival and response from the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor afatinib (Gilotrif) compared to standard platinum doublet chemotherapy....
Care for mothers with terminal cancer could be improved to help resolve their psychological distress and to help surviving family members cope, a study by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have found. Based on the study findings published by Park et al in the journal BMJ...
In an analysis of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Henderson et al found that childhood survivors of sarcoma and leukemia with no history of chest radiotherapy were at an increased risk of breast cancer. Increased Risk The study included data from...
As reported in The Lancet by Liu et al, a study in UK women that attempted to adjust for the effect of health and lifestyle factors found that self-reported unhappiness was not associated with an increased risk of mortality from cancer or other conditions. Study Details The study involved data...
Ayalew Tefferi, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, on abstract 634, “Imetelstat, a Telomerase Inhibitor, Therapy for Myelofibrosis: A Pilot Study.”
Ayalew Tefferi, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, on abstract 403, “A Compendium of Cytogenetic Abnormalities in Myelofibrosis: Molecular and Phenotypic Correlates in 826 Patients;” abstract 406, “Integration of Mutations and Karyotype Towards a Genetics-Based Prognostic Scoring System (GPSS) for Primary...
Laurie Sehn, MD, of the BC Cancer Agency, on abstract 289, “Nivolumab in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma: Preliminary Safety, Efficacy, and Biomarker Results of a Phase I Study,” presented by Philippe Armand, MD, PhD.
Laurie Sehn, MD, of the BC Cancer Agency, on abstract 625, “Sustained Remission With the Combination Biologic Doublet of Lenalidomide Plus Rituximab as Initial Treatment for Mantle Cell Lymphoma: A Multicenter Phase II Study Report,” presented by Jia Ruan, MD, PhD.
Laurie Sehn, MD, of the BC Cancer Agency, on abstract 629, “Brentuximab Vedotin Monotherapy in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients With Undetectable CD30: Preliminary Results From a Phase II Study.”
Laurie Sehn, MD, of the BC Cancer Agency, on abstract 393, “R-CHOP With or Without Radiotherapy in Nonbulky Limited-Stage Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Preliminary Results of the Prospective Randomized Phase III 02-03 Trial From the Lysa/Goelams Group,” presented by Thierry Lamy, MD, PhD.
Matthew Lunning, DO, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, on abstract 801, “Ublituximab, a Novel Glycoengineered Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibody, in Combination with TGR-1202, a Next-Generation Once Daily PI3kδ Inhibitor, Demonstrates Activity in Heavily Pretreated and High-Risk Chronic...
Sagar Lonial, MD, of Winship Cancer Institute, offers his thoughts on abstract 79, “Carfilzomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone vs Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone in Patients With Relapsed Multiple Myeloma: Interim Results From ASPIRE, a Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter Phase III Study,”...
Keith McCrae, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic, offers his thoughts on abstract 232, “Long-Term Complications After Splenectomy in Adult Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia With a Minimum Follow-up of 10 Years: First Results From a Single-Center Case-Control Study in 140 Patients With Primary ITP,”...
Keith McCrae, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic, offers his thoughts on abstract 229, “Caplacizumab, Anti-Vwf Nanobody Potentially Changing the Treatment Paradigm in Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Results of the TITAN Trial,” presented by Flora Peyvandi, MD.
Bertrand Coiffier, MD, PhD, of Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, offers his thoughts on abstract 146, “Rituximab Maintenance vs Wait and Watch After Four Courses of R-DHAP Followed By Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Previously Untreated Young Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma: First Interim...
Sagar Lonial, MD, of Winship Cancer Institute, offers his thoughts on abstract 302, “Final Results for the 1703 Phase Ib/II Study of Elotuzumab in Combination With Lenalidomide and Dexamethasone in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma,” presented by Paul G. Richardson, MD; abstract...
Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA, FASCO, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, offers her thoughts on abstract 289, “Nivolumab in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma: Preliminary Safety, Efficacy, and Biomarker Results of a Phase I Study,” presented by Philippe Armand, MD, PhD.
Bertrand Coiffier, MD, PhD, of Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, offers his thoughts on abstract 393, “R-CHOP With or Without Radiotherapy in Nonbulky Limited-Stage Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Preliminary Results of the Prospective Randomized Phase III 02-03 Trial from the Lysa/Goelams Group,”...
Keith McCrae, MD, of the Cleveland Clinic, offers his thoughts on abstract 4848, “Implementation of a Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia Management Program Reduces the Cost of Diagnostic Testing and Pharmacologic Treatment in an Academic Medical Center,” presented by Caroline Dupre Vaughn, RN.
Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA, FASCO, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, offers her thoughts on abstract 801, “Ublituximab, a Novel Glycoengineered Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibody, in Combination With TGR-1202, a Next-Generation Once-Daily PI3kδ Inhibitor, Demonstrates Activity in Heavily...
2014 ASH President Linda J. Burns, MD, of the University of Minnesota, offers her thoughts on abstract 53, “ACE-536 Increases Hemoglobin and Decreases Transfusion Burden and Serum Ferritin in Adults With Beta-Thalassemia: Preliminary Results From a Phase II Study,” presented by Antonio G. Piga, MD.
Hagop Kantarjian, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, offers his thoughts on abstract 380, “T Cells Engineered with a Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-Targeting CD19 (CTL019) Have Long Term Persistence and Induce Durable Remissions in Children With Relapsed, Refractory ALL,”...
Hagop Kantarjian, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, offers his thoughts on abstract 794, “Inotuzumab Ozogamicin in Combination With Low-Intensity Chemotherapy (Mini-Hyper-CVD) as Front-Line Therapy for Older Patients (≥ 60 years) With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,” presented ...
Alan F. List, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center, offers his thoughts on abstract 3251, “An Open-Label, Phase II, Dose-Finding Study of Sotatercept (ACE-011) in Patients With Low or Intermediate-1–Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes or Nonproliferative Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia and Anemia Requiring...
Hagop Kantarjian, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, offers his thoughts on abstract 379, “BLAST: A Confirmatory, Single-Arm, Phase II Study of Blinatumomab, a Bispecific T-Cell Engager (BiTE) Antibody Construct, in Patients With Minimal Residual Disease B-Precursor Acute...
Richard M. Stone, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, offers his thoughts on abstract LBA-5, “A Randomized Phase II Study of Azacitidine Combined With Lenalidomide or With Vorinostat vs Azacitidine Monotherapy in Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: North...
Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA, FASCO, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, offers her thoughts on abstract 673, “The AETHERA Trial: Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Study of Brentuximab Vedotin in the Treatment of Patients at Risk of Progression Following...
Hagop Kantarjian, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, offers his thoughts on abstract 797, “First Results of the Multicenter Total Therapy Gimema LAL 1509 Protocol for De Novo Adult Philadelphia Chromosome–Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients,” presented by Sabina...
Alan F. List, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center, offers his thoughts on abstract 409, “Efficacy and Safety of Lenalidomide vs Placebo in RBC Transfusion–Dependent Patients With IPSS Low-/Intermediate-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes Without Del(5q) and Unresponsive or Refractory to...
Alan F. List, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center, offers his thoughts on abstract 163, “Overall Survival and Subgroup Analysis From a Randomized Phase III Study of Intravenous Rigosertib vs Best Supportive Care in Patients With Higher-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome After Failure of Hypomethylating...