On August 14, 2023, the bispecific B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CD3 T-cell engager elranatamab-bcmm was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior lines of...
Gentry King, MD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Washington, and Assistant Professor in the Clinical Research Division of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, offered his thoughts on the findings of NuTide:121. “Only recently, with TOPAZ-1...
As a first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancer, an experimental formulation of gemcitabine, NUC-1031, given with cisplatin failed to improve outcomes over standard gemcitabine/cisplatin in the global phase III NuTide:121 trial.1 “NuTide:121 has not advanced the field in biliary tract...
Justin F. Gainor, MD, Director of the Center for Thoracic Cancers Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, was invited to discuss IMpower151 and ILLUMINATE at the 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer. IMpower151 vs IMpower150 Dr. Gainor examined why IMpower151 was negative for both...
In advanced non–small cell lung cancer harboring mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors following disease progression with tyrosine kinase inhibitors has been unclear. Several studies reported at the International Association for the Study ...
Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, has been in the field of oncology for more than 2 decades, he and says this is both one of the most exhilarating and challenging times in cancer care. “What excites me the most are the innovations in treatment that are literally transforming the lives of our patients and...
First-line treatment with osimertinib plus platinum-based chemotherapy achieved a statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival improvement compared with osimertinib alone in patients with advanced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non–small cell lung...
A recent study published by Yong et al in Value in Health may help clarify the intricate interplay between the quality-of-life and survival preferences of patients with advanced cancer. Limited access to palliative care services may contribute to suffering, particularly among patients with cancer...
At the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer, the benefit of two KRAS G12C inhibitors in advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was upheld by the 2-year follow-up analysis of adagrasib in the KRYSTAL-11 and the early-phase CodeBreaK 101...
Although the development of new therapies for multiple myeloma has significantly improved response rates and outcomes for patients with the blood cancer, most patients eventually relapse, including those who initially achieved remission. A phase I study is investigating whether a dendritic cell...
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) has released a follow-up survey on the ongoing chemotherapy shortages, refreshing findings they originally shared in June 2023. According to their results, 72% of the cancer centers surveyed continue to experience a shortage of carboplatin, and 59% ...
Residing in more walkable neighborhoods could protect against the risk of overall obesity-related cancers in female patients, according to a recent study published by India-Aldana et al in Environmental Health Perspectives. Background Obesity has previously been linked to an increased risk of...
In August 2014, just a few weeks after my 15th birthday, my body began sending me a lot of worrisome signals that life as I knew it would soon be over. The year before, I had developed a hematoma in my right femur, which was resolved with surgery. But now the pain I was experiencing in that leg was ...
In this installment of The ASCO Post’s Living a Full Life series, guest editor Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, spoke with Seema A. Khan, MD, MPH, Professor of Breast Cancer Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine. Along with her surgical and academic pursuits, Dr. Khan is an active...
The National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) recognizes the enduring legacies of exceptional U.S. patent holders on an annual basis. On October 26, 2023, three female inductees will be recognized for their extraordinary contributions to cancer care and clinical research. Biochemist Jennifer...
Breast milk from women with breast cancer who were diagnosed during pregnancy or postpartum contains circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), according to researchers at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) in Barcelona. The investigators noted that ctDNA can be detected through liquid biopsy in...
A majority of older adults may disagree with the idea of using life expectancy as part of cancer screening guidelines, according to a new University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging. Background The response goes against a trend in guidelines aimed at helping health-care providers decide...
Shirish M. Gadgeel, MD, of the Henry Ford Cancer Institute, discusses a 5-year follow-up study of patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy. According to Dr. Gadgeel, the findings continue to support the use of pembrolizumab...
Patients with multiple myeloma who also have diabetes may experience worse overall survival outcomes compared with patients who don’t have diabetes, according to a recent study published by Shah et al in Blood Advances. The new findings demonstrated that the differences in survival may be dependent ...
Liquid biopsy may help determine which patients with oligometastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with metastases may be most likely to benefit from targeted, high-dose radiation therapy rather than drug-based therapy, according to findings simultaneously published by Semenkovich et al in npj ...
Using previously taken diagnostic computed tomography (CT) scans in place of CT simulation scans to plan simple palliative radiation treatments may substantially reduce the time spent waiting for urgent treatment, improving the patient experience, a new study suggests. Patients who may benefit from ...
People who engage in sexual activity or vaginal dilation after chemoradiation for cervical cancer are at lower risk for long-term side effects, according to a new study from researchers in Austria. Findings of the EMBRACE study were presented by Kirchheiner et al at the 2023 American Society for...
Recent developments in surgery and therapeutics are changing the perioperative approach to non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These advances were discussed at the 2023 Debates and Didactics in Hematology and Oncology conference, sponsored by Emory University, by Jennifer W. Carlisle, MD, Assistant ...
Fewer and higher doses of radiation may be effective at treating patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, according to new findings presented by Bentzen et al at the 2023 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting (Abstract LBA 02). Background Head and neck squamous...
Two liquid biopsy tests designed to detect the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the blood may accurately identify patients at high risk of cervical cancer recurrence following the completion of chemoradiation, according to new findings presented by Han et al at the 2023 American Society for Radiation...
The presence of precision medicine navigators may increase the likelihood that patients with prostate cancer, especially Black patients, will receive genomic testing that may help predict the severity of their disease and guide treatment, according to findings presented by Allen et al at the 2023...
In a first-of-its-kind study, patients with breast cancer who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction immediately following a mastectomy reported that getting fewer, higher doses of radiation was just as effective as standard radiation, did not increase side effects, and saved them time and...
Older adults diagnosed with kidney tumors that are not suitable for surgery may benefit from targeted, high-dose radiation, a new study from Australian and Dutch researchers suggests. A multi-institutional phase II study—TransTasman Radiation Oncology Group (TROG) FASTRACK II—found 100% local...
People with intermediate-risk, localized prostate cancer may be treated as effectively using fewer and higher doses of radiation therapy delivered over five treatment sessions as they can with lower doses delivered over several weeks, a new phase III randomized trial suggested. The findings, which...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Nakamura et al, findings in a cohort of the phase II SGNTUC-019 basket study showed that tucatinib plus trastuzumab was active in previously treated patients with HER2-positive metastatic biliary tract cancer who had not received prior...
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lavery et al found that long-term cancer survivors who engaged in postdiagnosis exercise consistent with national guidelines had reduced all-cause mortality, with reductions seen in both cancer and noncancer mortality. Key Findings The study...
On September 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted de novo marketing authorization for the Invitae Common Hereditary Cancers Panel, an in vitro diagnostic test that may help detect hundreds of genetic variants associated with an elevated risk of developing certain cancers. The...
Ticiana A. Leal, MD, of Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, discusses phase III findings from the LUNAR study of tumor treating fields (electric fields that disrupt cellular processes and lead to cell death) combined with the standard of care in patients with metastatic non–small cell...
Researchers have found that low-grade intestinal inflammation may be a side effect of radiotherapy, according to a recent study published by Devarakonda et al in eBioMedicine. Background Radiotherapy is often necessary to cure cancer or slow down cancer development. Although today’s radiotherapies...
Neoadjuvant immunotherapy may be effective prior to surgery in multiple types of cancers, according to a recent study published by Topalian et al in Cancer Cell. Background Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockades have been a rapidly growing area of research and are currently being tested across...
Fifty-two years ago, President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act of 1971 into law, which established the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in its current form. At the time, the budget was $1.6 billion. Today, it is $7.8 billion, $4.5 billion less than the amount needed to keep up with...
In an Australian phase III trial (TARGET-TP) reported in JAMA Oncology, Alexander et al found that ambulatory thromboprophylaxis reduced the risk of thromboembolic events in patients starting systemic therapy for lung or gastrointestinal cancer who were at elevated risk of thrombosis. Study ...
Gender inequalities and discrimination may adversely impact women’s rights and opportunities to avoid cancer risk factors and impede their ability to seek and obtain timely diagnoses and quality cancer care, according to The Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer published by Ginsburg et al...
Researchers have uncovered elevated rates of hyperglycemia among patients who have breast cancer receiving treatment with alpelisib, according to a recent study published by Shen et al in Cancer. Background Alpelisib is designed to target the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) protein, which is...
Researchers have singled out mutations in 11 genes associated with aggressive types of prostate cancer, according to a novel study published by Darst et al in JAMA Oncology. The new findings may lead to improvements in diagnosis and treatment. Background Currently, oncologists use genetic tests to...
The risk of developing hematologic malignancies may decrease following bariatric surgery in patients with overweight or obesity, according to a recent study published by Sjöholm et al in The Lancet Healthy Longevity. Background Previous studies have shown that overweight and obesity may be risk...
On September 26, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved bosutinib (Bosulif) for pediatric patients aged 1 year and older with chronic-phase, Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) that is newly diagnosed or resistant or intolerant to prior therapy. The FDA ...
The majority of information related to gynecologic cancers on the social media platform TikTok may be misleading or inaccurate, according to a recent study published by Morton et al in Gynecologic Oncology. Background “The intent of this study was to understand the needs of patients that may go...
Investigators have revealed that oral health may be associated with survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, according to a novel study published by Tasoulas et al in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Background While survival has improved during the past decades ...
This is Part 1 of Ovarian Function Suppression in Breast Cancer, a three-part video roundtable series. Scroll down to watch the other videos from this Roundtable. In this video, Drs. Jame Abraham, Erin Roesch, and Azka Ali discuss the management of stage I breast cancer. The patient is a...
In patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations, the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors following disease progression with tyrosine kinase inhibitors has been unclear. Several studies reported at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer 2023 ...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Aronson et al, the final survival analysis of the Dutch-Belgian phase III OVHIPEC-1 trial showed that the addition of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to interval cytoreductive surgery was associated with maintained progression-free and overall ...
In a phase II trial (MC1631) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Robert W. Mutter, MD, and colleagues found that the 24-month complication rate associated with hypofractionated proton postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) was not noninferior to standard fractionated PMRT in patients undergoing mastectomy ...
Regular and intense aerobic exercise may be effective at reducing the risk of colorectal cancer in patients with Lynch syndrome by improving the immune system's ability to detect and remove potentially harmful cells, according to a novel study published by Deng et al in Clinical Cancer Research....
Investigators have discovered that significantly higher levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phenols may be present in patients with breast, ovarian, skin, and endometrial cancers, according to a recent study published by Cathey et al in...