Guest Editor’s Note: Oncology guidelines recommend prehabilitation exercises to minimize postoperative complications. However, the COVID-19 pandemic imposed severe restrictions on patient access to in-person exercise programs offered by hospitals and clinics. In this article, Dr. Krupali Desai...
In the phase III TULIP trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Turner et al found that the third-generation HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab duocarmazine (T-Duo) improved progression-free survival vs physician's choice (PC) of treatment in patients with previously...
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) introduced expanded NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) to account for the advanced understanding of hereditary cancer risk in breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. The new guidelines followed the recent...
Investigators have uncovered a potential link between the availability and use of tanning beds and the rising rates of melanoma in New England, according to a recent study published by Wei et al in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. The findings may provide critical insights to inform public ...
Researchers may have uncovered the immune basis for the development of myocarditis in patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors, according to a recent study published by Blum et al in Nature. The findings revealed changes in specific types of immune and stromal cells in the heart...
Researchers may have developed ultrasensitive, nanoscale sensors that distinguished a key change in the chemistry of the breath of patients with lung cancer, according to a recent study published by Cheng et al in ACS Sensors. Background Individuals breathe out many gases, such as water vapor and...
A phase II study by Riess et al investigating the IO102-IO103 vaccine plus pembrolizumab as first-line treatment in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed “promising” overall response rates and 6-month progression-free survival, with an acceptable safety profile. The study...
As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Lund et al, a Danish prospective cohort study showed no increased risk of ischemic cardiotoxicity with use vs no use of aromatase inhibitor treatment in postmenopausal patients with early-stage breast cancer. Study Details The study included identification of...
The studies summarized below were reported online over the past month in The ASCO Post, generating a high number of visitors. For comprehensive news of these studies and more, visit ASCOPost.com. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Phase III KEYNOTE-522 The phase III KEYNOTE-522 trial has...
The University of Arizona Health Sciences announced it has received a $3.3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health to continue testing a novel imaging method for breast cancer detection that could provide an alternative to mammography. According...
In a recent issue of The New York Times, Barron Lerner discussed Betty Ford’s breast cancer diagnosis in 1974.1 He described the state of the art of breast cancer treatment at the time and how her diagnosis accelerated the uptake of screening across the country. But her cancer was not...
Researchers have provided new insights into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its resistance to venetoclax, according to a recent study published by Sango et al in Nature. Although AML is a rare disease, approximately 20,800 U.S. patients will be diagnosed in 2024, according to the American Cancer...
Researchers have identified genes that breast cancer cells may use to survive in the bloodstream after escaping the low-oxygen regions of a tumor, according to a novel study published by Godet et al in Nature Communications. Each of the genes may serve as a potential therapeutic target to prevent...
I’m 50, just a year older than my father was when he died of colorectal cancer. I was 14 when my dad died, so to me, cancer has always been synonymous with death. From a young age, my brothers and I had a goal: to make sure we packed in enough life before age 50. It never occurred to us that death ...
“Inequities are a major obstacle in delivering safe, timely, respectful, and affordable cancer care globally,” commented moderator John Varallo, MD, MPH, FACOG, of the Global Surgery Foundation, at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Congress (WCC) 2024 in Geneva.1...
In a phase II trial (IMbrave151) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Macarulla et al found that atezolizumab/bevacizumab plus chemotherapy produced a “modest” improvement in progression-free survival vs atezolizumab/placebo plus chemotherapy in first-line treatment of patients with...
The alternative use of the monoclonal antibody cetuximab during the shortage of cisplatin in the treatment of head and neck cancer resulted in a 16% total cost increase, leading to a 144-fold increase in costs at the administrative level, impacting payer costs and patient cost-sharing amounts....
In a phase II trial (SERENA-2) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Oliveira et al found that the next-generation oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) camizestrant improved progression-free survival vs fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative...
ASCO has announced the participants and mentors selected for its new International Clinical Research Scholars (ICR) program. Eighteen scholars were selected by the ASCO Latin America Regional Council to take part in this 1-year program that pairs clinical research training with mentorship...
According to an ASCO-sponsored study of burnout and career satisfaction among U.S. oncologists, 44.7% of surveyed oncologists reported feeling symptoms of burnout. ASCO offers information, practical advice, and member perspectives on how to prevent and manage burnout and prioritize wellness in your ...
On May 16, 2024, tarlatamab-dlle (Imdelltra) was granted accelerated approval for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.1 Tarlatamab is a bispecific delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3)-directed CD3 T-cell engager. Supporting Efficacy...
William Gradishar, MD, discusses advances in endocrine therapeutic options for patients with estrogen receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, in follow-up to his presentation at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, October 2024. Dr. Gradishar is the Betsy Bramsen Professor of Breast...
In a study reported in a research letter in JAMA Surgery, Sakowitz et al found that R0 resection was more commonly achieved in patients with stage I to III thymic tumors who received surgery at high-volume centers (HVCs) for thymectomy in the United States. Study Details and Results The study...
In an English study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Allen et al found that patients with breast cancer harboring BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic variants were at high risk of second primary cancers. Study Details and Results The study involved follow-up of 25,811 females and 480 males...
Researchers from the Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the David Geffen School of Medicine, and the Fielding School of Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) were awarded a $2.5 million grant from the independent charitable organization Bristol Myers Squibb...
A landmark case report suggested a potential breakthrough in the treatment of an aggressive type of prostate cancer, according to a recent study published by Lap et al in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The antibody-drug conjugate fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) was approved by the U.S....
Attendees at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 heard the results of many positive clinical trials that will advance the field of cancer treatment. However, a few late-stage trials of promising adjuvant therapies unexpectedly reported negative results. The ASCO Post...
In a study reported in a research letter in JAMA Network Open, Bercow et al found reduced use of primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) and increased use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval cytoreductive surgery (ICS) in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer during...
The addition of the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab to standard neoadjuvant gemcitabine/cisplatin chemotherapy has demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in survival compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cisplatin-eligible patients with muscle-invasive bladder...
The annual Global Cardio-Oncology Summit (GCOS) was held September 22 to 24 in Minneapolis, with 430 health-care professionals attending from 20 countries. The Summit brings together health-care professionals from diverse disciplines including members of the International Cardio-Oncology...
At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024, the Eyes to the Future Presidential Symposium showcased innovative approaches in personalized medicine, immunotherapy resistance, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven pathology analysis. These presentations, focusing on the...
The use of measurable (or minimal) residual disease (MRD) status to guide treatment in multiple myeloma has become a topic of intense interest. Phase III studies presented at the Plenary Session of the 2024 International Myeloma Society Annual Meeting moved MRD status ever closer to validation in...
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center recently announced the selection of Jennifer Bickel, MD, as the institution’s inaugural Vice President and Chief Wellness Officer (CWO). She will assume this role on January 6, 2025. Working closely with the Shibu Varghese, MA, Senior Vice...
Presurgical treatment with the novel drug vidutolimod and the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab may improve tumor control in patients with stage III cutaneous melanoma, according to a recent study published by Davar et al in Cancer Cell. The findings provided insights that could help advance...
Researchers have discovered a novel strategy to detect cancer cells with a liquid biopsy designed to be simpler, quicker, and more informational compared with current methods, according to a recent study published by Walker et al in Small. Background Current methods for detecting cancer cells may...
In a Canadian population–based cohort study reported in JAMA Oncology, Ye et al found that patients with cancer were at increased risk of fracture compared with individuals without cancer. In addition, a Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) provided accurate prediction of this increased risk. As...
In a phase II trial (VALENTINE-PTCL01) reported in The Lancet Oncology, Zinzani et al found that valemetostat—a novel dual inhibitor of EZH1 and EZH2—was active in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Study Details In the trial, 133 patients with relapsed or...
Sunil S. Badve, MD, FRCPath, discusses research on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the patient with breast cancer, based in part on his presentation at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, October 2024. Dr. Badve is Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Vice Chair,...
Charles E. Geyer, Jr, MD, FACP, discusses the management of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer in 2024, based in part on his presentation at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, October 2024. Dr. Geyer is Professor of Medicine and Interim Division Chief of Malignant Hematology and Medical...
Quitting smoking within 6 months of receiving a cancer diagnosis could add an average of 2 years to a patient’s life, according to a recent study published by Cinciripini et al in JAMA Oncology. The findings demonstrated a broad survival benefit of using evidence-based smoking cessation to help...
An international team of oncology experts gathered in Accra, Ghana, for a series of meetings to update cancer treatment recommendations in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Harmonized Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa. Background The NCCN Harmonized Guidelines offer color-coded tiers ...
Just weeks or even days or hours away from death, the majority of conscious terminally ill patients often experience growth and meaning in their lives and the absence of fear through end-of-life dreams and visions, according to research by Christopher W. Kerr, MD, PhD. Dr. Kerr is Chief Executive...
In a phase II trial (EWALL-INO) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Chevallier et al found that inotuzumab ozogamicin combined with low-dose chemotherapy was active in the first-line treatment of older patients with newly diagnosed CD22-positive Philadelphia chromosome–negative B-cell...
In a phase IIa study (DisTinGuish) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Klempner et al found that use of the DKK1-neutralizing antibody DKN-01 in combination with tislelizumab and chemotherapy showed activity in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal ...
In a single-institution study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Weitz et al found that the CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib was active as a novel treatment in patients with peritoneal mucinous carcinomatosis with GNAS mutation. As stated by the investigators: “Mucinous neoplasms of the...
Frederick Howard, MD, discusses the role of targeted therapy and endocrine therapy in the patient with breast cancer, based in part on his presentation at the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Symposium, October 2024. Dr. Howard is Assistant Professor of Medicine in the section of Hematology/Oncology at the...
In an analysis reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Roloff et al found that use of brexucabtagene autoleucel as standard therapy in adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) was associated with a high rate of measurable residual disease (MRD)-negative...
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Galsky et al, extended follow-up of the phase III CheckMate 274 trial supported the efficacy of adjuvant nivolumab in patients with muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma at high risk of recurrence after radical resection. Study Details In the...
Because colonoscopies and more established stool-based tests are more effective at detecting early cancers and precancerous polyps compared with emerging blood-based tests, their long-term impact is projected to be substantially greater than that of blood-based tests, according to a recent study...
Researchers have trained and validated an artificial intelligence (AI) model based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to develop a consistent method of estimating prostate cancer lesion size, according to a recent study published by Yang et al in Radiology. The findings could aid physicians...