Effective and safe treatments are needed for medulloblastoma—the most common type of cancerous brain tumor in children—especially for patients whose cancer has spread to the spinal cord. A recent phase I clinical trial has generated promising results for a new blocking antibody therapy that targets ...
In a single-institution retrospective cohort study reported in JAMA Oncology, Han et al found that patients with autoimmune diseases had similar outcomes with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy for solid tumors as those without autoimmune diseases, with occurrence vs no occurrence of...
In the Korean phase II Neo-PATH trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Ahn et al found that neoadjuvant treatment with atezolizumab, pertuzumab/trastuzumab, and docetaxel produced a pathologic complete response in 61% of patients with HER2-positive stage II/III breast cancer treated with the regimen....
Invited discussant Susan Slovin, MD, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, pointed out there are no relevant serum biomarkers for disease progression and the challenges of interpreting response in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. “We should have more definitive...
Lutetium-177–labeled PSMA-617 (LuPSMA; lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan) achieved longer progression-free survival with fewer toxicities compared with cabazitaxel in patients with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer whose disease...
On July 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, adjuvanted, for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by SARS–CoV-2 in individuals aged 18 years and older. “Authorizing an additional COVID-19 vaccine expands the...
A study that surveyed cancer screening data included in medical journals worldwide from January 2020 into December 2021 showed significant decreases in the number of screenings for breast, colorectal, and cervical cancers during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings of the study,...
On July 13, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint Mitchel Berger, MD; Carol Brown, MD; and Elizabeth M. Jaffee, MD, to the President’s Cancer Panel. The three are distinguished members of the scientific, research, and public health communities appointed by the President to advise him...
In a pooled analysis of patients with follicular lymphoma treated in National Clinical Trials Network trials reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Rutherford et al found evidence that bone marrow biopsies can be avoided in response assessment. The investigators stated, “Bone marrow biopsies ...
“BCMA-targeting bispecific antibodies work, showing impressive single-agent activity in heavily pretreated multiple myeloma. This class of agents is likely to become an important component of future antimyeloma therapies, but we must learn how to optimally use them,” said Madhav V. Dhodapkar,...
In patients with multiple myeloma exposed or refractory to three standard therapies, treatment with the bispecific antibody teclistamab produced strong and durable responses in the phase I/II MajesTEC-1 study.1 The results of weekly subcutaneous dosing of teclistamab in 165 patients were presented...
Experts’ discussions and recommendations addressing the interface between cancer and heart disease were published by Supriya Mohile, MD, MS, and colleagues in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, summarizing sessions from a virtual bench-to-bedside conference hosted by the American...
A phase II clinical trial of poziotinib for patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 mutations found the drug had significant antitumor activity and the efficacy was highly dependent on the location of the exon 20 loop insertion, which may ...
Diagnosing melanoma clinically and under the microscope can be complicated by the presence of melanocytic nevi, otherwise known as birthmarks or moles that are noncancerous. The development of melanoma is a multistep process, where melanocytes mutate and proliferate. Properly identifying melanoma...
In an analysis of long-term follow-up of the UKALL2003 trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Anthony V. Moorman, PhD, and colleagues found that whereas initial risk of relapse in children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia differed according to risk factors, risk...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Robin Kate Kelley, MD, and colleagues, the phase III COSMIC-312 trial has shown improved progression-free survival with cabozantinib plus atezolizumab vs sorafenib in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma; interim analysis of overall survival showed...
CLN-081, a novel agent targeted to non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations—ie, the addition of nucleotide base pairs in exon 20 of the EGFR gene, a known oncogenic driver event—holds promise, according to the results of...
A team of researchers in Australia and New Zealand reported that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be able to detect prostate cancer more accurately than the newer, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning technique. The...
Researchers who treated a group of patients with bladder cancer with the immunotherapy atezolizumab after they had undergone surgery have found that patients whose blood contained circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) responded very well to the treatment. The study was presented at the European Association ...
In a single-institution Belgian study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Laenens et al found that major adverse cardiovascular events were “more common than currently appreciated” among patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatment. Study Details The study included ...
After nearly 5 years as Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), interrupted by 7 months as Acting Commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Norman E. “Ned” Sharpless, MD, left his position on April 29 to concentrate on his family and contemplate his next career choice....
Part 1 of this two-part report described the beginnings of radiation oncology in the United States, including many of the field’s early pioneers and the rise of associated professional societies. In part 2, we will consider the advances in technology and biology that are the foundation of modern...
On June 8, 2022, CancerLinQLLC, a wholly owned nonprofit subsidiary of ASCO, and HealthVerity, Inc., announced a collaboration that will create the nation’s premier real-world oncology data ecosystem to advance cancer care and research for government and public health agencies. The collaboration...
A rapid update to the ASCO guideline on systemic therapy for melanoma adds a new recommendation for the treatment of patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.1 The update follows the January 2022 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of tebentafusp-tebn for patients with previously...
Rapid developments over the past decade in the treatment of patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer may lead to better outcomes and improved quality of life for patients with brain metastases, according to findings incorporated into a new ASCO guideline update.1 “The difference this...
A radiologist by training, I knew the minute I saw the results from my chest x-ray that I had multiple myeloma. In 2015, I was semiretired and had just taken up the game of golf. After making a big swing at the ball, I instantly felt pain in my ribs and thought I had either pulled an intercostal...
Moffitt Cancer Center and the global research community have lost a great leader, scientist, and collaborator. Robert J. Gillies, PhD, died on June 7 after an extended illness. He was 69 years old. His recruitment in 2008 elevated Moffitt’s scientific stature, and his vision and work over the past...
Based on the final results of ECOG-ACRIN E2211, invited discussant Marianne E. Pavel, MD, of Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany, concluded: “Capecitabine/temozolomide is a preferred regimen…, but temozolomide can still be an option in patients who do not tolerate...
“If we have data, let’s look at it. If all we have are opinions, let’s go with mine.” —James Barksdale In this issue of The ASCO Post, Daniel Vorobiof, MD, and Irad Deutsch, principles at Belong.Life, a patient-oriented website whose self-described mission is to improve patient quality of life and ...
In 2021, more than 1.9 million people in the United States were estimated to be diagnosed with cancer, and that number continues to increase yearly. Medical research is critical in prolonging survival and improving the quantity and quality of life of patients. Cancer research is one of the most...
A prominent oncologist with an international reputation for cancer research will lead the new Wesley Center for Immunotherapy at University Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center as well as the Division of Hematology. Koen van Besien, MD, PhD, comes to UH Seidman Cancer Center from New...
The invited discussant of the DYNAMIC study was Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, who said the study “has really moved the needle for circulating tumor DNA [ctDNA] analysis and guiding therapy.” Dr. Park is Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville. Speaking more broadly about the use of...
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) recently hired Chris Neumann as its new Vice President of Learning and Education, and Kirsta Suggs as its first Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). ASTRO is the world’s largest radiation oncology society, with nearly 10,000 members ...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the launch of the “Next Legends” Youth E-cigarette Prevention Campaign as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect youth from the dangers of tobacco use. The campaign will educate American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, ages ...
The use of postoperative circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in stage II colon cancer spared many patients the need for adjuvant chemotherapy without compromising recurrence-free survival, according to the phase II DYNAMIC study.1 “The strategy of using ctDNA results to inform treatment almost halved...
OneOncology, headquartered in Nashville, recently appointed Thomas Stricker, MD, as Medical Director for Precision Medicine. Dr. Stricker will work with partner practices to create workflows that reduce physicians’ burden of genomic test ordering and interpretation, allowing more time for...
Francesca M. Gany, MD, MS, Chief of the Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, was awarded a 2022 Excellence in Health Care Award by the United Hospital Fund. The award was established in 2019 to honor extraordinary personal...
The American Society of Hematology (ASH) recently announced its recognition and appreciation of Pride Month by highlighting the latest addition to the LGBTQIA+ [(lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual/agender/ally] section of ASH’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ...
Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, is the new Chair of Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. Previously, he served as Consultant in Oncology, Professor of Oncology and Professor of Pharmacology at Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota. Dr. Adjei also oversaw ...
“Everybody knows that pestilences have a way of recurring in the world; yet somehow, we find it hard to believe in ones that crash down on our heads from a blue sky. There have been as many plagues as wars in history; yet always plagues and wars take people equally by surprise.” —Albert Camus, The...
Invited discussant of the rEECur trial, Katherine Janeway, MD, of Harvard Medical School, said that her comments pertained to Ewing sarcoma as well as to all rare cancers, “which comprise about 25% of all cancers diagnosed.” “Ewing sarcoma is quite rare, arising in the bone in about 75% of...
High-dose ifosfamide extended event-free and overall survival in patients with recurrent or primary refractory Ewing sarcoma compared with other commonly used chemotherapy regimens, according to the results of a randomized trial reported at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting by lead author Martin...
Hispanic and Black men are dying from human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated throat cancer at a higher rate than White men, and most new cases being diagnosed in non-Hispanic White men are late-stage disease, according to a new study published by Villalona et al in the Annals of Cancer ...
In a retrospective cohort study reported in JAMA Oncology, Ricciuti et al found that patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with higher tumor mutational burden (TMB) had better outcomes with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment vs those with lower TMB across thresholds of PD-L1...
A new treatment option has doubled overall survival for a difficult-to-treat subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to data presented during the Presidential Symposium at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2022 Congress in Vienna.1 Findings from the phase III...
Christina Wu, MD, a gastrointestinal oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, emphasized the importance of the IMPROVE study in a Highlights of the Day Session at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting. She said the results are not only clinically relevant but practice-changing, and they are in line with...
In patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer, FOLFIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan) plus panitumumab can be given intermittently rather than continuously, without compromising outcomes, according to the results of the IMPROVE study presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual...
Lori Wilson, MD, FACS, Chief of Surgical Oncology, Associate Dean of Faculty Development and Diversity, and former Program Director of the General Surgical Residency at Howard University Hospital, is the first woman to hold the position of Division Chief as well as the first tenured Professor of...
A new article published by Adams et al in JAMA Network Open details the potential benefits of using technology to increase patient participation in cancer clinical trials. In a survey of nearly 1,200 patients with cancer and survivors, more than 80% said they would be willing to use remote...
In an analysis from the retrospective OnCovid registry study reported in The Lancet Oncology, David J. Pinato, PhD, and colleagues detailed outcomes of the SARS–CoV-2 omicron variant outbreak among European patients with cancer. Study Details The analysis included 3,473 patients with cancer from...