On April 1, danicopan (Voydeya) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as add-on therapy to ravulizumab-cwvz or eculizumab for the treatment of extravascular hemolysis (EVH) in adults with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). VOYDEYA is a first-in-class, oral, Factor D...
Akhil G. Pachimatla, MD, of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses study findings showing that, in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), image-based adiposity measures show stronger correlations with gene-expression changes in these tumors than body mass index measures. Dr. ...
Kerollos N. Wanis, MD, PhD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses a study in which he evaluated the risk of future ipsilateral and contralateral breast cancer events in a large cohort of patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who chose breast conservation (Abstract 12).
A study published by Brieghel et al in Blood Advances showed that among patients in Denmark who had slow-growing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with no symptoms and a low risk for ever needing treatment, those who stopped seeing their doctors for specialized follow-up had fewer hospital visits, ...
A Medicare policy requiring shared decision-making between primary care physicians and patients regarding whether to proceed with lung cancer screening may require further examination, according to a recent study published by Kale et al in the Annals of Family Medicine. The findings indicated that...
Researchers examined whether the artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbot ChatGPT can help provide answers to patients with cancer regarding radiation oncology treatment, according to a recent study published by Yalamanchili et al in JAMA Network Open. Background Over 60% (n = 500,000) of...
New findings authored by Joseph M. Unger, PhD, and colleagues in the Journal of Clinical Oncology using Commission on Cancer data showed that when all types of cancer research studies are considered, at least one in five people with cancer in the United States—or 21.9%—participate in some form of...
High levels of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) within the tumors of patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer may be associated with a lower risk of cancer recurrence and greater rate of survival, even without chemotherapy, according to a recent study published by Leon-Ferre et...
Microwave ablation may offer comparable progression-free survival rates and fewer complications in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma compared with surgical resection, according to a recent study published by Zhao et al in Radiology. Background Papillary thyroid carcinoma—the most common...
Heather McArthur, MD, MPH, of UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses phase III findings from the KEYNOTE-756 trial, which shows that adding pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy increases pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in patients with early-stage, high-risk, estrogen...
Investigators have found that combining a prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density test may help diagnose clinically significant prostate cancer and avoid unnecessary biopsies, according to a recent systematic review and meta-analysis published...
The risk of certain types of cancer may be higher in patients currently or previously diagnosed with tuberculosis, according to new findings to be presented by Kim et al at the upcoming 2024 European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) annual congress. Background...
Natália Polidorio, MD, PhD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses findings on the impact of race on pathologic complete response in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who received neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy vs chemotherapy alone. Such targeted research may...
There is much debate about the necessity of treating women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with surgery or radiotherapy.1,2 It is disconcerting to many that patients with DCIS are treated in the same way as are women with early-stage invasive breast cancer. Many patients with DCIS have...
Researchers surveyed oncologists for their perspectives on how artificial intelligence (AI) may be responsibly integrated into some aspects of cancer care as well as how to protect patients from the hidden biases of AI, according to a recent study published by Hantel et al in JAMA Network Open....
Hospitals accredited by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) may demonstrate lower mortality and complication rates in patients undergoing proctectomy compared with nonaccredited hospitals, according to a recent study published by Harbaugh...
Prolonged use of selected progestogen agents may be associated with an increased risk of developing intracranial meningioma, according to a recent study published by Roland et al in the BMJ. Background Progestogens are similar to the natural hormone progesterone, which are widely used in menopausal ...
Investigators have assessed medical malpractice trends related to active surveillance as a treatment strategy across different types of cancers, according to a recent study published by Chang et al in the Annals of Surgery. Background Active surveillance is a less invasive approach that reserves...
A genetic variant located on the IKZF1 gene may be responsible for disparities in the risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) among Hispanic and Latino children, according to a recent study published by de Smith et al in Cell Genomics. The findings offer insights into the causes of the disease...
Researchers have found that venetoclax in combination with azacitidine may be effective at treating patients with multiple myeloma, according to a recent study published by Flanagan et al in Haematologica. Background Despite recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma, the disease remains ...
Matthew A. Powell, MD, of the Washington University School of Medicine, discusses phase III findings from the RUBY trial, which shows dostarlimab-gxly plus chemotherapy improves overall survival in patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, regardless of mismatch repair status. ...
The composition of the gut microbiome may reveal distinct signatures associated with race, ethnicity, and age of onset in patients with colorectal cancer, according to a recent study published by Hein et al in the Journal of Immunotherapy and Precision Oncology. The findings provide insights into...
Researchers have found that a specific subtype of Fusobacterium nucleatum may be capable of growing within colorectal cancer, driving cancer progression, and leading to poorer outcomes following colorectal cancer treatment, according to a recent study published by Zepeda-Rivera et al in Nature. The ...
Anne Knisely, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses study findings showing that patients with ovarian cancer who undergo second-look laparoscopy and are found to have measurable residual disease (MRD) as well as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) after front-line therapy...
Statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall survival results from Part 1 and progression-free survival results from Part 2 of the RUBY/ENGOT-EN6/GOG3031/NSGO phase III trial in adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer were presented in a late-breaking...
On March 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (Elahere) for adult patients with folate receptor–alpha (FRα)-positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who have received one to three prior systemic ...
Researchers have found that a low-dose radiotherapy boost in addition to whole-breast radiotherapy may prevent local recurrence in young patients with breast cancer, according to new findings presented by Bosma et al at the 2024 European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) (Abstract 4LBA) and...
Extensive removal of the lymph nodes may be safely avoided in patients with breast cancer that has metastasized to the axillary nodes if treatment is tailored to their response to therapies such as chemotherapy prior to surgery, according to new findings presented by van Hemert et al at the 2024...
A combined positron-emission tomography–magnetic resonance imaging (PET-MRI) scanning technique could improve the treatment of some patients with early-stage breast cancer, according to new findings presented by Di Micco et al at the 2024 European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) (Abstract 9) and...
About 8 years ago, I was just a few years into menopause when I noticed blood in my urine. It wasn’t accompanied by pain, frequent urination, or any other troubling symptoms, so initially I wasn’t too concerned. But when I started passing pieces of tissue, I became alarmed and made an appointment...
In 1996, at the age of 37, Kathy Giusti was diagnosed with the incurable blood cancer multiple myeloma and told she had about 3 years to live. In the mid-1990s, effective therapies for this second most common blood cancer were nearly nonexistent. Standard of care for myeloma consisted of oral...
Mary McCormack, PhD, MBBS, of University College London Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, discusses the global health issue of cervical cancer and a way forward. Phase III findings from the GCIG INTERLACE trial showed that induction chemotherapy with weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin before...
On March 21, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved safety labeling changes for fluorouracil injection products. This effort was a collaboration between the FDA’s Office of Generic Drugs and the Oncology Center of Excellence. Fluorouracil injection was initially approved in 1962. The...
The addition of atezolizumab to postsurgery chemotherapy may not benefit patients with triple-negative breast cancer, according to findings recently presented by McArthur et al at the 2024 European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC; Abstract 1LBA). Background Triple-negative breast cancer is often...
Taking part in an exercise program may improve pain, fatigue, and quality of life in patients with metastatic breast cancer, according to recent findings presented by Hiensch et al at the 2024 European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC; Abstract 1). Background “Although there’s been quite a lot of...
Investigators have found that second primary malignancies following chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy were reported in 4.3% of CAR T-cell therapy adverse event reports submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System, with T-cell malignancies...
A novel genetic test may predict how patients with triple-negative early-stage breast cancer will respond to immunotherapy, according to new findings presented by Wolf et al at the 2024 European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC) (Abstract 2LBA). The research may help patients who are unlikely to...
The addition of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to chemotherapy prior to and following surgery may lead to improved outcomes in patients with breast cancer regardless of their age or menopausal status, according to new findings presented by Cardoso et al at the 2024 European Breast Cancer...
The combination of the small molecule inhibitor of VEGFR fruquintinib and the chemotherapy paclitaxel presents a potential new second-line treatment of patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, according to data presented during the ASCO Plenary Series: February...
W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD, took the helm as the 17th Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), on December 18, 2023. A renowned kidney cancer expert and influential leader in cancer research and patient care, Dr. Rathmell was selected by...
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and lumbar puncture may not always be necessary for diagnosing and managing a serious neurologic complication associated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, according to a new study published by Mauget et al in Blood Advances. Findings further...
In a news release issued by ASCO earlier this month, the society reported that The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) was calling on President Biden to continue to prioritize access to high-quality, equitable cancer care in his State of the Union address. Specifically, the cancer care...
Combination immunotherapy with the anti–PD-L1 monoclonal antibody durvalumab and other novel agents seemed to outperform durvalumab alone in the neoadjuvant setting for early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center,...
The combination of avelumab and axitinib may be effective in patients with mismatch repair–proficient recurrent or persistent endometrial cancer, according to new findings presented by Lee et al at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s (SGO) 2024 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. Background...
Monitoring circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels with liquid biopsies could help physicians accurately assess treatment responses and predict future prognoses in patients with operable esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer receiving an immunotherapy doublet, according to a recent study...
Mansoor R. Mirza, MD, of Copenhagen University Hospital, discusses follow-up results from the RUBY trial, showing that, for patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, dostarlimab-gxly plus chemotherapy followed by dostarlimab-gxly plus niraparib improved progression-free...
Brian M. Slomovitz, MD, of Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, discusses additional phase III data from the innovaTV 301 trial, which showed that in patients with previously treated recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer, tisotumab vedotin-tftv was more efficacious than chemotherapy as...
On March 19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to the multitarget kinase inhibitor (Iclusig) with chemotherapy for adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PhALLCON Efficacy was evaluated in...
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) announced that its members have elected Lillian L. Siu, MD, FRCPC, FASCO, FAACR, as the 2024–2025 President-Elect of the AACR. Professional and Research Background Dr. Siu currently serves as Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto; as ...
Treatment with a short course of intensified hormonal therapy in combination with metastasis-directed stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may be safe and effective in patients with oligorecurrent and metastatic prostate cancer, according to a recent study published by Nikitas et al in...