Short-course, higher-dose vaginal brachytherapy for endometrial cancer may demonstrate comparable efficacy to more frequent, lower-dose sessions, according to a recent study published by Suneja et al in JCO Oncology Advances. Background Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer type of the...
Each year in the United States, approximately 90,000 adolescents and young adults (AYAs), defined as those between the ages of 15 and 39, are diagnosed with cancer, and about 9,300 die of the disease.1 Worldwide, the number of new cases of cancer in this age population tops 1,300,200—an increase of ...
The BRAF inhibitor encorafenib plus the monoclonal antibody cetuximab combined with mFOLFOX (modified folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) significantly improved overall response in BRAF V600E–mutant metastatic colorectal cancer, according to data presented at the 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal ...
An immunotherapy combination for advanced, highly mutated colorectal cancer has significantly delayed disease progression vs single-agent therapy, according to data presented at the 2025 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.1 The phase III CheckMate 8HW trial compared the PD-1 inhibitor...
In JCO Oncology Advances, Schenkel et al published the results of an ASCO survey measuring professional well-being, satisfaction, and the effect of both on career plans among oncologists in the United States. The analysis revealed a higher rate of burnout compared with that observed a decade ago....
Experiencing pain may increase the risk that cancer survivors will use cigarettes and cannabis, according to a recent study published by Powers et al in Cancer. Background Pain and the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, alcohol, and cannabis commonly occur together in the general population. Cancer...
A record-breaking number of abstracts were submitted for the 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, and nearly 8,000 were accepted. The ASCO Post strives to provide in-depth coverage of those with the greatest impact. Here, we offer snapshots of others of...
The recently approved menin inhibitor revumenib is poised to improve the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), specifically for disease with a KMT2A rearrangement. Promising results for other novel menin inhibitors now in development—with their unique safety and activity profiles—suggest the...
Patients with stage III or IV clear cell renal cell carcinoma may have achieved a successful anticancer immune response following initiation of a novel personalized cancer vaccine, according to a recent study published by Braun et al in Nature. Background The standard treatment for stage III or IV...
Researchers have found that inhibiting the S6K2 gene could be an effective strategy for managing treatment-resistant melanoma, according to a recent study published by Lipchick et al in Science Translational Medicine. Background Cases of melanoma—the deadliest type of skin cancer—are currently...
A retrospective study provides new evidence that thyroid cancer continues to be overdiagnosed and that aggressive screening and treatment of thyroid cancer has not led to higher survival rates. The research was published by Chen et al in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. “Many studies have...
First-line treatment with the Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor zanubrutinib plus the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody obinutuzumab and the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax appeared to be safe and active in previously untreated patients with TP53-mutated mantle cell lymphoma, based on the results of the...
High-risk patients with clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance have very similar characteristics and outcomes as patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), which can be informative with regard to prognosis, management, and clinical trial eligibility, said Zhuoer (Zoey) Xie, MD, ...
The risk of developing more serious long-term urinary and bowel health issues may be higher in men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer who experience side effects early in treatment, according to a recent study published by Nikitas et al in The Lancet Oncology. The findings highlighted ...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Mascarenhas et al, follow-up of a cohort of pediatric patients with TRK fusion sarcomas and related mesenchymal tumors treated with larotrectinib showed that discontinuation of treatment—with resumption for progressive disease—was associated with...
Researchers have provided novel insights into the effects of radiation on the immune cells surrounding breast cancer tumors, according to a recent study published by Yoneyama et al in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics. The findings revealed that the relationship...
A novel bicistronic CD19/CD22-directed CAR T-cell therapy (B019) has demonstrated high remission rates, durable responses, and a favorable safety profile among children with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), including those with isolated or combined extramedullary...
Late relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may represent a new lymphoma arising from a common precursor cell that is essentially chemotherapy-naive. Treatment with curative intent using a second-line regimen like R-CHOP (rituximab cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone, and...
In an interim analysis of a phase III noninferiority trial (COLLISION) reported in The Lancet Oncology, van der Lei et al found that thermal ablation was noninferior to surgical resection in terms of overall survival in patients with small resectable colorectal liver metastases. Study Details In...
In a Singaporean phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Chong et al found that the addition of bevacizumab to pembrolizumab improved objective response rate in patients with platinum-resistant recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Study Details In the open-label trial, 48...
Two pivotal phase III trials presented at the 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition mark a significant shift toward chemotherapy-free approaches in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), offering potentially more effective and tolerable treatment options for both...
Researchers have uncovered new heredity genes that may contribute to an increased risk of developing high-grade serous ovarian cancer, according to a recent study published by Subramanian et al in npj Genomic Medicine. Background High-grade serous ovarian cancer is one of the most prevalent and...
A phase III trial has shown adding the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab to anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy that patients receive ahead of surgery may improve breast cancer cure rates. CheckMate-7FL involved 510 patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer,...
In a phase Ib-II study (MORPHEUS-Liver) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Finn et al found that the addition of tiragolumab, an anti-TIGIT monoclonal antibody, to atezolizumab/bevacizumab improved objective response rate in patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic hepatocellular...
“It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” —Muhammad Ali Long-term survival in early-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) was first made possible by the introduction of the mantle and inverted Y fields of radiotherapy in the 1960s. The addition of...
The antibody-drug conjugate fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-low (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 1+ or IHC 2+/in situ...
According to one of the first biomarker-driven randomized study in people with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer, taking 160 mg of aspirin daily after treatment ends may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in patients with cancers that harbor a PI3K mutation. These mutations are common to many types ...
Late in 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule adopting changes for Medicare payments under the PFS. CMS also released the 2025 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule, which sets hospital outpatient...
Patients with smoldering multiple myeloma derived a significant progression-free survival benefit, along with other positive outcomes, from 3 years of subcutaneous use of the monoclonal antibody daratumumab as compared with active monitoring in the phase III AQUILA study.1 These findings were...
Results of a phase III study suggest that the addition of the immunotherapy agent blinatumomab—a bispecific T-cell engager targeting CD19—to standard chemotherapy may help to prevent relapse in more children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), the most common pediatric cancer,...
The investigational next-generation oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) imlunestrant improved progression-free survival both as monotherapy in patients with ESR1 mutations and in combination with the CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib regardless of ESR1 mutational status in patients with...
A study evaluating ChatGPT’s ability to accurately respond to patient inquiries regarding colon cancer by comparing its responses with assessments from expert clinical oncologists found that questions about symptoms, prevention, and screening for the cancer were highly accurate. However, responses...
Investigators may have established a dose-dependent model of alcohol consumption on the risks of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a recent study published by Wu et al in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology. The quantitative...
On January 17, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk (Datroway), a TROP-2–directed antibody and topoisomerase inhibitor conjugate, for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative (IHC 0, IHC1+, or...
On January 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the KRAS G12C inhibitor sotorasib (Lumakras) with the monoclonal antibody panitumumab (Vectibix) for adult patients with KRAS G12C–mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have received prior ...
The findings in the American Cancer Society’s annual report, Cancer Statistics, 2025, show a mixed trend in cancer incidence and mortality rates. While cancer mortality declined by 34% from 1991 to 2022 in the United States—largely due to smoking reductions, earlier detection, and improved...
Investigators may have uncovered an association between manufactured per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) levels in drinking water and the incidence of certain digestive, endocrine, lung, oral, and pharyngeal cancers, according to a novel study published by Li et al in the Journal of Exposure ...
The Tomosynthesis Mammographic Imaging Screening Trial (TMIST) has reached its enrollment goal of 108,508 women, as announced by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN). The study will now proceed with the completion of regularly scheduled mammograms and follow-up on all participants...
As reported in JAMA Oncology by Daw et al, findings in a cohort of the phase II CheckMate 744 trial indicated good outcomes with a response-adapted, transplantation-free treatment approach in children and adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with low-risk relapsed classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)....
Omitting axillary surgery may be an option for some patients with early-stage breast cancer, according to a study reported by Reimer et al in The New England Journal of Medicine. Previous studies, such as the SOUND trial, have indicated that avoiding an axillary procedure in patients with small...
A new study examining the use of high-cost drugs among patients with colorectal cancer and non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) found those insured through Medicare Advantage received less expensive cancer drugs compared to others on traditional Medicare. The findings were published by Bradley et al...
Adjuvant tamoxifen was associated with a reduced risk of 15-year ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence as well as invasive ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence in patients with “good-risk” ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who omitted radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery, according to a...
In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Heinzerling et al found that primary lung tumor stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) followed by concurrent mediastinal chemoradiotherapy (with or without adjuvant immunotherapy) was associated with activity in patients with locally advanced...
Researchers have discovered of a new type of stem cell in the brain that could lead to the development of more effective treatments in adult patients with glioblastoma, according to a recent study published by Wang et al in Nature. The finding could help explain how adult brain cells take advantage ...
For women with high-risk, BRCA-positive breast cancer, 1 year of adjuvant treatment with the PARP inhibitor olaparib following primary treatment continued to improve overall survival compared with placebo, according to the third interim analysis of the phase III OlympiA trial presented at the 2024...
Regular physical activity prior to a cancer diagnosis may be linked to a lower risk of disease progression and mortality, according to a recent study published by Mabena et al in British Journal of Sports Medicine. The findings revealed that even relatively low levels of physical activity may be...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Scambia et al, the final overall survival results of the phase III SOLO3 trial showed similar outcomes with olaparib vs non–platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with platinum-sensitive BRCA-mutated relapsed ovarian cancer. In the initial report...
In a phase I/II trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Torka et al found that the addition of nivolumab to standard doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (N-AVD) was “highly effective” as front-line treatment for patients aged ≥ 60 with classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Study Details In...
Addition of the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib to the current standard of care for first-line maintenance therapy after induction chemotherapy achieved statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in progression-free survival in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive,...
In a single-institution phase II trial (CAPFISH-3) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Aronson et al found that men with prostate cancer on active surveillance had a significantly reduced Ki67 index on a high omega-3, low omega-6 fatty acid diet with fish oil capsules vs no dietary...