The outcomes from the phase III ENGOT-OV43/GOG-3036/KEYLYNK-001 trial in advanced BRCA-nonmutated ovarian cancer indicate a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit for the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab and chemotherapy, followed by pembrolizumab plus maintenance with the PARP...
Guest Editor’s Note: Several epidemiologic studies have shown an inverse association between healthy dietary patterns and the risk of chronic diseases including cancer. Patients are often interested in exploring different dietary interventions throughout the cancer continuum. However, concrete...
Waiting more than 42 days postdiagnosis to undergo surgery could increase the risk of cancer-related mortality among patients with certain breast cancer subtypes, according to a recent study published by Salewon et al in Breast Cancer Research. Background Hormone receptor–positive and HER2-negative ...
Waist circumference may be a more effective risk marker for the development of obesity-related cancers than body mass index (BMI) in male but not female patients, according to new findings presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) 2025. Background Body size and excess...
This is Part 2 of PI3K Inhibition Strategies for HR-Positive/HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer, a three-part video roundtable series. Scroll down to watch the other videos from this roundtable. In this video, Drs. Adam Brufsky, Heather McArthur, and Seth Wander discuss how to approach the...
This is Part 1 of PI3K Inhibition Strategies for HR-Positive/HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer, a three-part video roundtable series. Scroll down to watch the other videos from this roundtable. In this video, Drs. Adam Brufsky, Heather McArthur, and Seth Wander discuss the first-line...
A simple urine test could accurately detect clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) recurrence at an early stage, potentially sparing patients from undergoing invasive scans and enabling quicker access to treatment, according to new findings presented by Dabestani et al at the European Association of ...
Today’s oncologists are blessed with an abundance of therapies for HER2-positive early breast cancer, but this comes with the challenge of selecting among them. At the 2025 Miami Breast Cancer Conference, Sara A. Hurvitz, MD, FACP, offered insight on common clinical scenarios. Dr. Hurvitz is...
As a Native American and former president of the Seneca Nation of Indians, I am keenly aware of the disparities in cancer care we face in accessing screening and treatment, which results in worse survival rates compared with those of racial and ethnic populations.1 Native American and Alaska Native ...
Janet L. Abrahm, MD, FACP, FAAHPM, FASCO, has spent more than half of her oncology career as a palliative care physician. After receiving her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), in 1973, Dr. Abrahm completed her internship and residency at Massachusetts General...
This is Part 2 of EGFR-Mutant NSCLC: Treatment Considerations for Early-Stage Disease, a three-part video roundtable series. Scroll down to watch the other videos from this roundtable. In this video, Drs. Stephen Liu, Tina Cascone, and Susan Scott discuss the treatment of resectable EGFR-mutant...
The dire warnings about the lethal consequences of unchecked antimicrobial resistance are getting louder and becoming more urgent. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has called antimicrobial resistance “one of the most important health security threats of our time,” with at least 2.8...
Prostate carcinoma is the most common type of cancer among men in the United States, accounting for more than 299,000 estimated new cases and approximately 35,000 new deaths in 2024.1 A new ASCO guideline based on findings from a systematic review indicates that in metastatic cases of prostate...
The risk of death from cardiovascular causes may be higher among patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer compared with the general population, according to new findings presented by Ayaz et al at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Annual Scientific Session 2025. Background Cardiovascular...
Neoadjuvant therapy that combines chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and the investigational PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab led to a significantly higher pathologic complete response rate in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, according to data presented at the 2025 ASCO...
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has evolved from an experimental biomarker to an increasingly actionable tool, informing treatment decisions throughout colorectal cancer care. Whether guiding adjuvant therapy intensification or de-escalation, refining organ-preservation strategies in rectal cancer,...
Adding intraperitoneal (IP) paclitaxel to standard intravenous (IV) paclitaxel plus S-1 (oral fluoropyrimidine derivative) significantly extended overall survival for patients with gastric cancer peritoneal metastases, according to data presented at the 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers...
Investigators may have uncovered associations between the reported number of sunburns and sociodemographic characteristics as well as the prevalence of protective skin behaviors adopted by U.S. adults, according to a recent study published by Etzel et al in the American Journal of Lifestyle...
With right-sizing treatment an aim of many treatment approaches in breast cancer today, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), as well as its overtreatment, has become a potential target of change. Which patients, however, might safely forgo the current recommendations and be safely followed with active...
Investigators studied race-associated molecular differences in the pancreatic tumors of Black and White patients to determine whether such differences were associated with response to immunotherapy. The findings were published recently by Mandal et al in Cancer Research Communications and reinforce ...
This is Part 3 of Evolving Paradigms in the Treatment of HR-Positive/HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer, a three-part video roundtable series. Scroll down to watch the other videos from this roundtable. In this video, Drs. Sara Tolaney, Ian Krop, and Mark Pegram discuss second-line therapy...
This is Part 2 of Evolving Paradigms in the Treatment of HR-Positive/HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer, a three-part video roundtable series. Scroll down to watch the other videos from this roundtable. In this video, Drs. Sara Tolaney, Ian Krop, and Mark Pegram discuss how to manage a...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) youth e-cigarette prevention campaign, known as The Real Cost, may have successfully reduced e-cigarette use among youth, according to a recent study published by MacMonegle et al in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Background The Real Cost...
Newborns with congenital heart defects may have a higher risk of developing childhood cancer compared to children born without a heart abnormality. Further, congenital heart defects in newborns may also signal an elevated cancer risk for their mothers. These findings were published recently by Huh...
The ADAURA trial findings showed a significant benefit in disease-free survival with the EGFR inhibitor osimertinib, compared to placebo, making it the recommended standard of adjuvant treatment in patients with EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for up to 3 years after surgery. In a...
In previously untreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, use of the antibody-drug conjugate enfortumab vedotin-ejfv in combination with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab continues to demonstrate a significant survival benefit over chemotherapy, according to updated...
Researchers have uncovered a novel combination therapy leveraging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved KRAS inhibitor sotorasib and an experimental drug called FGTI-2734, which could improve the efficacy of precision medicine in patients with KRAS-mutated non–small cell lung cancer...
Taking more daily steps and engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity may both be associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease–related mortality among postmenopausal women with a history of cancer, according to preliminary findings presented by Hyde et al at the American Heart...
Over the past 20 years, the investment in research and development of cancer therapies has been unprecedented, and the pace of new drug development has been accelerating. To illustrate this trajectory, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 71 treatments for solid cancers in adults...
Investigators have found that the consumption of plant-based oils instead of butter may provide beneficial health effects and potentially reduce the risk of premature mortality, according to recent findings presented at the American Heart Association Epidemiology, Prevention, Lifestyle &...
Catharine Young, PhD, has spent the past decade of her career focused on cancer policy and advocacy. A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Dr. Young served as Senior Director of Science Policy at the Biden Cancer Initiative, which began in 2017 by then former Vice President Joe Biden. There she...
Researchers have uncovered several biomarkers that may predict how patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer will respond to the novel combination of ipatasertib and abiraterone, according to a recent study published by Bono et al in European Urology. Background Prostate cancer...
A large proportion of individuals may be unaware of the risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and cancer among men, according to a recent consumer survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research...
Investigators may have uncovered how radiotherapy affects survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme and low-grade glioma, according to a recent study published by Veviorskiy et al in Aging. The findings highlighted key biological differences between these cancer types. Background...
Skin cancers and lymphoma may be more prevalent among individuals with tattoos compared with those without tattoos, according to a recent study published by Clemmensen et al in BMC Public Health. Prior research has shown that tattoo ink does not just remain at the site of injection—instead, when...
It’s a fast-paced world, no two ways about it. People move on from one event to another. We have to move on either for our own sake or the sake of someone near and dear. In the medical field, patients come and go, surgeries are performed, treatments are given, and everybody moves on. Being kind to...
Researchers may have uncovered insights into the role of bacteria in the development of gastric cancer, according to a novel study published by Giddings et al in Helicobacter. The findings could pave the way for a more effective precancer treatment option. Background Gastric cancer is the fourth...
Among the high-quality abstract presentations at the 2024 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), a few always stand out as particularly meritorious. Each year, The ASCO Post asks our Deputy Editor, breast cancer specialist Jame Abraham, MD, FACP, to give us his picks. Dr. Abraham is Chairman...
Physical activity may help colorectal cancer survivors achieve long-term survival rates comparable to those of individuals in the general population, according to a recent study published by Brown et al in Cancer. Background Patients with colorectal cancer often face higher rates of premature...
ASCO issued the following statement on February 21, 2025: "Cancer research is the core of ASCO’s mission and cancer cannot be conquered without continued robust federal investment for biomedical research through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI)....
Although the cancer mortality rate among Black patients in the United States has dropped over the past 30 years, this patient population may continue to experience a disproportionately elevated cancer burden compared with other patient populations, according to a recent study published by Saka et...
Age discrimination, often referred to as ageism, is an increasingly pressing issue within society. Although it can impact individuals across all age groups, older adults are particularly vulnerable. According to the U.S. Census Bureau projections, by 2040, individuals aged 65 and older will...
Offering genetic testing to patients with multiple myeloma may help physicians to determine which patients have the most aggressive types of the disease and how to target their malignancy more effectively, according to a recent study published by Kaiser et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology....
Investigators may have uncovered racial and ethnic disparities in the receipt of same-day diagnostic services and biopsies following abnormal mammogram findings in spite of the similar availability of diagnostic technologies, according to a recent study published by Lawson et al in Radiology....
I’ve learned a lot about medicine over the years, but one thing I wasn’t taught was how to guide someone through the existential weight of dying. My education centered on diagnosing, curing, or at least managing disease—not on the delicate art of helping people and their loved ones cope with what...
The interference of gut bacteria could explain the ineffectiveness of immune checkpoint therapy in some patients with ovarian cancer, according to a recent study published by McGinty et al in Cancer Immunology Research. Background There are over 10,000 ovarian cancer–related deaths in the United...
Long-term yogurt intake may protect against the development of colorectal cancer through changes in the gut microbiome, according to a recent study published by Ugai et al in Gut Microbes. Background Yogurt—which contains live strains of bacteria—is thought to protect against many types of...
A novel blood test may aid physicians in the earlier detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and potentially improve survival rates for the disease, according to a recent study published by Montoya et al in Science Translational Medicine. Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the...
Although there’s no history of breast cancer in my family, when I was 10, my pediatrician introduced me to breast self-exams, so I would become familiar with my breasts and learn to spot any unusual changes as I got older. I remember her telling me this was an especially important exercise to do...
Although national guidelines, including ASCO’s palliative care guideline,1 call for the early integration of palliative and oncology care for patients with advanced cancer, only 36% of those with a very poor prognosis and 18% of those with a poor prognosis receive palliative care services.2 The...