ASCO has released a new guideline on the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer in resource-constrained settings, where maximal setting–recommended treatments are not available.1 The guideline, designed for clinicians, policymakers, and patients, provides stratified recommendations...
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...
Adjuvant use of the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab achieved a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in disease-free survival in patients with high-risk muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma vs observation after surgical resection, according to an interim analysis of the phase ...
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 practice of medicine is an art, not a trade….” —Sir William Osler Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) accounts for approximately 5% to 7% of all lymphomas; the median age of patients with MCL is between 60 and 70 years. This lymphoma is generally considered incurable. Median survival in retrospective...
The combination of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor cabozantinib (multiple targets, including MET, AXL, VEGFR2, RET, and FLT ) plus the monoclonal antibody atezolizumab achieved statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival compared with second-line novel hormonal therapy in...
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...
Marcin R. Dzienis, MBBS, of Australia’s Gold Coast University Hospital, discusses the final analysis of KEYNOTE-B10, a phase IV study in which patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) received a first-line combination regimen of pembrolizumab plus...
Latest analysis of the results from the phase III DUO-E trial showed durvalumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy followed by durvalumab plus olaparib demonstrated an improvement in multiple key secondary efficacy endpoints, particularly in patients with mismatch repair–proficient (pMMR) advanced or ...
The artificial intelligence (AI)-based chatbot ChatGPT version 3.4 may correctly answer a majority of the common genetic counseling questions related to gynecologic oncology, according to new findings presented by Patel et al at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s (SGO) 2024 Annual Meeting on...
Researchers have identified two genetic markers that may illuminate the association between red and/or processed meat consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a novel study published by Stern et al in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Background Previous studies...
On March 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi), a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small...
On March 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the humanized immunoglobulin G4 anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody tislelizumab-jsgr (Tevimbra) as monotherapy for adults with unresectable or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after prior systemic chemotherapy that did not...
The combination of the nectin-4–directed antibody-drug conjugate enfortumab vedotin-ejfv plus the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab achieved favorable rates of progression-free survival, overall survival, and objective responses compared with chemotherapy among key subgroups of patients with previously...
Investigators may have identified a decrease in newly diagnosed breast cancer cases during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study published by Fefferman et al in Cancer Medicine. The findings highlight that breast cancer was not immune to pandemic-related stressors and ...
The American Cancer Society (ACS) and Flatiron Health announced the recipients of the 2023 Real-World Data Impact Awards, which will support clinically relevant research regarding the treatment of and outcomes for patients with cancer. 2023 marks the fourth year of the joint grant-making program,...
Targeting two brain tumor–associated proteins with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy may reduce solid tumor growth in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, according to results from a phase I trial published by Bagley et al in Nature Medicine. The findings suggest that the new...
Female patients with ovarian germ cell tumors may have worse prognoses compared with male patients with testicular germ cell tumors, according to a recent study published by Sköld et al in the Journal of Internal Medicine. Background Both ovarian and testicular germ cell tumors predominantly...
A novel tool may help predict the risk of complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and guide the pretransplant process, according to new Scientific Statement published by Hayek et al in Circulation. The findings may also illuminate the contemporary prevalence of...
Adding specialized mental health support to the treatment plan of patients with cancer may improve their quality of life, lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in family caregivers, and boost cost savings to the health-care system, according to a recent study published by Steel et al in The...
A new matching adjusted indirect comparison of the efficacy of zanubrutinib vs acalabrutinib in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) based on data from the phase III ALPINE and ASCEND trials was presented by Shadman et al at the 28th Annual International Congress on Hematologic ...
Investigators may have identified a heightened risk of various types of cancers among patients with persistent and worsening metabolic syndrome, according to a recent study published by Deng et al in Cancer. Background Metabolic syndrome encompasses conditions such as high blood pressure, elevated...
Patients with a higher body mass index (BMI) may have a greater risk of overall and specific complications following autologous breast reconstruction, according to a recent study published by Barnes et al in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Background Autologous breast reconstruction—an...
On February 6, 2024, Julie R. Gralow, MD, FACP, FASCO, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), testified before the full House Committee on Ways and Means on the crisis of ongoing cancer drug shortages. More than 15 cancer drugs continue...
ASCO in partnership with the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) has released a new guideline addressing recommendations in germline testing in patients with breast cancer.1 The guideline provides oncologists with a framework for how to approach germline testing and recommendations for who should be ...
Patricia LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc), an internationally recognized expert in drug development and early-phase clinical investigation of novel cancer therapies, was recently appointed the Amy and Joseph Perella Professor of Medicine (medical oncology). The appointment is for a term of 10 years,...
The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) is marking its 50th anniversary with a name change to illustrate the dynamic future of cancer care for its members. The largest advocacy and resource organization for multidisciplinary oncology professionals will now be known as the Association of...
Once again, geriatric oncology will take the forefront at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). On April 23, 2024, the Division of Advanced Practice Providers and the Geriatric Medicine Service at MSK will host the 3rd annual Geriatric Oncology Symposium for Advanced Practice Providers. The target...
Except for my right thigh being bigger than my left thigh, there was no hint that I was harboring advanced alveolar soft-part sarcoma when I was diagnosed with the cancer in 2019. I initially chocked up the discrepancy in my legs to the vigorous workouts I had received during my cheerleading days,...
Positive results with the use of belantamab mafodotin-blmf in the phase III DREAMM-7 study were presented during the ASCO Plenary Series: February 2024.1 In relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, DREAMM-7 evaluated the use of the regimen belantamab mafodotin, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (BVd)...
When Pat Garcia-Gonzalez’ stepson, Max, was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in 1988 at the age of 14, the Internet was still in its infancy and decades away from the networking resource it has become today. Told that Max would need an allogeneic stem cell transplant to survive, the...
Formal discussant of the BRCAAway trial, Kim N. Chi, MD, of the British Columbia Cancer–Vancouver Center, University of British Columbia, Canada, said this study supports the use of PARP inhibitors in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and homologous recombination–repair...
First-line treatment with the PARP inhibitor olaparib plus the androgen biosynthesis inhibitor abiraterone acetate and the steroid prednisone improved progression-free survival and response rates compared with either treatment alone (ie, olaparib or abiraterone plus prednisone) in patients with...
“Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’” —Marcus Aurelius To complement The ASCO Post’s extensive coverage of the 2023 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, here are two important abstracts selected from the meeting proceedings focusing on induction and...
Long-term follow-up of the phase III KEYNOTE-590 trial confirms the benefit of the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in advanced esophageal cancer. As compared with chemotherapy alone, after a median of follow-up of almost 59 months, patients treated with the chemoimmunotherapy...
Michael Crump, MD, of the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, expressed some concerns about the study presented by Shadman et al in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). “These data should be interpreted with caution. The patient...
he latest findings for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in colorectal cancer were discussed at the 2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers Symposium by Aparna R. Parikh, MD, a gastrointestinal oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard...
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has become an established biomarker of measurable or molecular residual disease (MRD) after curative-intent surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. The research focus is now on linking ctDNA to long-term outcomes and using it to guide treatment decisions—which was...
For perspective on CheckMate 8HW, The ASCO Post interviewed Alan P. Venook, MD, FASCO, the Madden Family Distinguished Professor of Medical Oncology and Translational Research at the University of California San Francisco and the Shorenstein Associate Director for Program Development at the Helen...
In the phase III CheckMate 8HW trial, previously untreated patients with microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair–deficient (dMMR) nonresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer derived significant benefit from an immunotherapy doublet, with nivolumab plus ipilimumab reducing the...
Invited discussant of KEYNOTE-564, Pedro Barata, MD, MSc, FACP, of the University Hospital Seidman Cancer Center, Cleveland, said the reasons for the disparate results in these two adjuvant trials of checkpoint inhibitors were likely the result of many factors. “Factors such as histology, different ...
In the third prespecified interim analysis of the phase III KEYNOTE-564 trial,1 adjuvant treatment with the PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab significantly improved overall survival compared with placebo in patients with intermediate- or high-risk clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, a...