Postmarketing Ocular Toxicity in U.S. Adults Treated With Daratumumab
In an analysis reported in a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Nguyen et al identified postmarketing cases of ocular toxicity in patients receiving daratumumab in the United States. Daratumumab is a CD38-directed monoclonal antibody that was initially approved in 2015 for the treatment of multiple...
Momelotinib for Symptomatic and Anemic Patients With Myelofibrosis
Once-daily treatment with the oral JAK1/2 and ACVR1/ALK2 inhibitor momelotinib significantly improved outcomes of patients treated for myelofibrosis. Ruben Mesa, MD, FACP, and colleagues presented results of the MOMENTUM phase III randomized study, which evaluated momelotinib vs danazol in...
Incidence of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
In a study presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract 2508) and simultaneously reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Naqash et al identified the incidence of major adverse cardiac events among patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer as captured in the serious...
Weekly Electronic Reporting of Symptoms Improved Outcomes in Patients With Advanced Cancer
People with advanced cancer who communicated their symptoms weekly using an electronic survey had about one-third better physical function and over a 15% better control of their symptoms compared to those who were evaluated less frequently via in-person clinical visits, according to findings from a ...
Sriram Yennu, MD, on Cancer-Related Fatigue: Is Open-Labeled Placebo an Effective Treatment?
Sriram Yennu, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the placebo response in patients with advanced cancer and cancer-related fatigue. His latest findings show that open-labeled placebo was efficacious in reducing cancer-related fatigue and improving quality of life in fatigued patients with advanced cancer at the end of 1 week. The improvement in fatigue was maintained for 4 weeks (Abstract 12006).
Adverse Events Seen With Abiraterone or Enzalutamide Among Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer
Men taking either of the two most common oral medications for advanced prostate cancer who had also undergone hormone therapy to treat their disease were at higher risk of serious metabolic or cardiovascular issues than patients who were receiving hormone therapy alone, according to findings...
Narsoplimab for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation–Associated Thrombotic Microangiopathy
In a pivotal phase II trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Samer K. Khaled, MD, and colleagues found that narsoplimab, an inhibitor of mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-2, showed efficacy in the treatment of adult patients with hematopoietic stem cell...
AI Model May Help Predict Adverse Events From New Drug Combinations
Preliminary data from an artificial intelligence (AI) model could potentially predict side effects resulting from new combination therapies, according to results presented by Küçükosmanoğlu et al at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2022 (Abstract 6312). “Clinicians ...
Concordance in Symptomatic Adverse Event Reporting by Children, Clinicians, and Caregivers
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, David R. Freyer, DO, MS, and colleagues found that clinicians consistently undergraded—and caregivers frequently overgraded—the severity of adverse events experienced by children with cancer. Study Details The study included 438...
Early Intrathecal Therapy for High-Grade ICANS in Patients Receiving CAR T-Cell Therapy
In a single-institution retrospective review reported in JAMA Oncology, Zurko et al found that early intrathecal therapy with hydrocortisone with or without intrathecal chemotherapy was effective in treating grade ≥ 3 immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) in patients...
Web-Based Intervention to Manage Symptoms and Quality of Life in Women With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer
In an NRG Oncology/GOG study (GOG-0259) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Donovan et al found that both nurse-led (Nurse-WRITE) and self-directed (SD-WRITE) Web-based symptom self-management interventions (WRITE Symptoms) improved symptom control vs enhanced usual care alone in women...
Differences in Risk of Severe Adverse Events in Women vs Men Receiving Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy, or Chemotherapy in Cancer Clinical Trials
In a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Joseph M. Unger, PhD, and colleagues found that women in clinical trials of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy had a significantly greater risk for severe adverse events overall—and, particularly, with immunotherapy. As stated...
Study Finds Direct Oral Anticoagulants Significantly Decrease Recurrent Venous Thrombosis for Adult Patients With Cancer
Direct oral anticoagulants should be considered the standard of care to treat adult patients with cancer-associated thrombosis, according to a new, ongoing study by Mayo Clinic researchers published by Riaz et al in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The report examined the results of four randomized...
Does Armodafinil Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue in Patients With High-Grade Glioma?
In a phase III trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Porter et al found that armodafinil, a psychostimulant, did not improve cancer-related fatigue vs placebo in adult patients with high-grade glioma. As stated by the investigators, “Nearly 96% of patients with high-grade glioma report...
Study Examines Rates of Lymphedema in Black and White Patients With Breast Cancer
Black women had a 3.85-fold increased risk of developing lymphedema following treatment for breast cancer compared to White women, according to the results from a study by Barrio et al being presented at the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (Abstract GS4-01). In addition, the researchers...
Fosnetupitant vs Fosaprepitant for Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
In a Japanese phase III noninferiority trial (CONSOLE) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Hata et al found that fosnetupitant was noninferior to fosaprepitant in preventing nausea and vomiting in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (both in combination with palonosetron and ...
Digital Symptom Monitoring System May Improve Patients’ Symptom Control and Physical Function During Cancer Therapy
A digital symptom monitoring system in which patients undergoing cancer treatment could report symptoms through weekly at-home surveys resulted in better symptom control and physical function, as well as improved communication with their medical team, according to results from a study by Basch et...
Youssef Zeidan, MD, PhD, on HER2-Positive Breast Cancer: Treatment-Related Cardiotoxicity
Youssef Zeidan, MD, PhD, of Florida International University and the Lynn Cancer Institute, discusses the advances in radiotherapy planning and delivery that have reduced cardiac radiation exposure in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer who are treated with radiotherapy and trastuzumab (Abstract 12).
Ruxolitinib for Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease After Failure of Systemic Therapy
On September 22, 2021, ruxolitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of JAK1 and JAK2 was granted approval for treatment of chronic graft-vs-host disease after failure of one or two lines of systemic therapy in adult and pediatric patients aged ≥ 12 years.1 Supporting Efficacy Data Approval was...
Pharmacovigilance Study of Pancytopenia in Patients Receiving PARP Inhibitors
In a study reported in a research letter in JAMA Oncology, Morice et al found that pancytopenia was associated with use of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for cancer treatment, according to drug adverse event reports in the World Health Organization global pharmacovigilance database...
Effect of Geriatric Assessment–Driven Intervention on Incidence of Severe Chemotherapy-Related Toxicity in Older Patients With Cancer
In a single-center study reported in JAMA Oncology, Daneng Li, MD, and colleagues found that a geriatric assessment–driven intervention (GAIN) was associated with a reduced incidence of grade ≥ 3 adverse events and a higher frequency of completion of advance directives vs standard of care among...
Ruxolitinib Granted FDA Approval for Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease
On September 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi), a JAK inhibitor, for the treatment of chronic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) after failure of one or two lines of systemic therapy in adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older. REACH3 Efficacy was...
Technology-Enabled Monitoring of Adverse Reactions to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
In an interim analysis of a single-institution study reported in JAMA Network Open, Pavlos Msaouel, MD, PhD, and colleagues found that the use of a mobile device application for patient reporting of adverse reactions to immune checkpoint inhibition was feasible. It permitted identification of...
Pharmacologic Cardioprotection in Women With Nonmetastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy
In an interim analysis of the Italian phase III SAFE trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Livi et al found that a cardioprotective strategy using ramipril and/or bisoprolol reduced the risk of myocardial dysfunction in women with nonmetastatic breast cancer receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy....
Belumosudil for Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease
On July 16, 2021, belumosudil, an inhibitor of Rho-associated coiled-coil kinase 2, was approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with chronic graft-vs-host disease after the failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy.1 Supporting Efficacy Data...
FDA Pipeline: Reviews for Agents in Acute Graft-vs-Host Disease, Nasopharyngeal and Ovarian Cancers
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Priority Review to an agent for the prevention of acute graft-vs-host disease; Breakthrough Therapy designation to an anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma; and Fast Track designation to a ...
Wearable Temperature Sensor May Aid in Detecting Febrile Adverse Events in Patients With Cancer
A simple, wearable temperature sensor was able to detect dangerous complications in hospitalized patients with cancer hours earlier than routine monitoring. The device, which takes readings every 2 minutes and wirelessly transmits them to the cloud, was able to quickly detect adverse events that...
Ruxolitinib for Glucocorticoid-Refractory or -Dependent Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation
In the phase III REACH3 trial, reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Robert Zeiser, MD, and colleagues found that ruxolitinib produced a significantly higher overall response rate vs investigator-selected control treatments in patients with glucocorticoid-refractory or -dependent chronic ...
Survivors of Early-Stage Breast Cancer Face Broad Range of Symptoms and Concerns
Patients with early-stage breast cancer may be at low risk of dying of their disease, but they experience a high burden of physical and psychological symptoms long after their treatment has ended, according to data presented during the 2021 American Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Meeting.1...
Study Examines Aromatase Inhibitor–Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms in a Diverse Population With Early Breast Cancer
A clinical trial in a racially diverse group of postmenopausal women with early breast cancer to study severe pain in the bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves caused by aromatase inhibitor treatment has found that the symptoms were more commonly reported in Black and Asian patients than...
Third-Party BK Virus–Specific Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Therapy for BK Virus–Associated Hemorrhagic Cystitis After Stem Cell Transplant
In a single-institution phase II trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Olson et al found that high rates of response were achieved with third-party BK virus–specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte therapy (BKV-CTL) in patients with BK virus–associated hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic...
TLR4 as a Possible Therapeutic Target to Mitigate Cisplatin-Induced Hearing Loss
A research team has identified a receptor in cells that could play a role in preventing permanent hearing loss in childhood cancer survivors treated with the drug cisplatin. The researchers believe that by inhibiting the receptor, they may be able to better control otoxicity, according to findings...
Incidence of Interstitial Lung Disease Related to Trastuzumab Deruxtecan-nxki in Patients With HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer
Drug-related interstitial lung disease occurred in less than 16% of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer following treatment with trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd) at the approved dose of 5.4 mg/kg. In addition, the majority of these cases were classified as grade 1 or 2,...
Effect of Oral Chemotherapy Management Program on Capecitabine Toxicity
In a health system retrospective study reported in JCO Oncology Practice, Nhean et al found that implementation of an oral chemotherapy management program was associated with reduced rates of any-grade and severe capecitabine toxicity, less frequent toxicity-related emergency department visits and...
Antiviral T Cells for BK Virus–Associated Hemorrhagic Cystitis
A phase II trial has found found that BK virus (BKV)-specific T cells from healthy donors were safe and effective as an off-the-shelf therapy for BKV-associated hemorrhagic cystitis, a painful complication that is common after allogeneic stem cell transplants for patients with leukemia or lymphoma. ...
Contralateral Esophagus-Sparing Radiotherapy Technique Reduces Rates of Esophagitis in Patients With Lung Cancer Receiving High-Dose Chemoradiation
In a small, single-institution phase I trial reported in JAMA Oncology, Kamran et al found that the use of a contralateral esophagus-sparing radiotherapy technique in patients receiving high-dose chemoradiation for locally advanced lung cancer was associated with no cases of grade ≥ 3 esophagitis,...
ROCK2 Inhibitor Belumosudil for Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease
In a phase IIa study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Jagasia et al found that the oral ROCK2 inhibitor belumosudil produced high response rates and reduced corticosteroid use among patients with chronic graft-vs-host disease after allogeneic bone marrow or hematopoietic cell...
Adverse Events in Patients With Melanoma Treated With Ipilimumab: Results of a Toxicity Monitoring Program
In a single-institution study reported in JCO Oncology Practice, Menjak et al found that a nurse-led telephone surveillance program for toxicity associated with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma led to earlier identification of toxicities and earlier intervention, with an apparent...
Low-Dose Tamoxifen for Reduction of Mammographic Density in Women Undergoing Breast Cancer Screening
In the Swedish phase II KARISMA study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Eriksson et al found noninferior mammographic density reduction and reduced vasomotor symptoms following tamoxifen therapy at 2.5, 5, and 10 mg vs the standard dose of 20 mg among women undergoing breast cancer...
Supriya Chopra, MD, on Cervical Cancer: Reducing Late Effects of Bowel Toxicity
Supriya Chopra, MD, of Tata Memorial Centre, discusses a final analysis of the phase III PARCER trial, which showed that image-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy is superior to conventional radiotherapy in reducing bowel toxicity in women with cervical cancer. Acute diarrhea was also reduced, with no difference in disease-related outcomes (ID# 10224).
Lauren Thomaier, MD, on Predicting Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Gynecologic Cancer Survivors
Lauren Thomaier, MD, of the University of Minnesota, discusses the genetic variants found to be associated with an increase in chemotherapy-induced neuropathy symptoms in a cohort of gynecologic cancer survivors. Combining these variants with clinical characteristics may provide an important treatment tool (ID# 10253).
Ruxolitinib Improves Outcomes in Steroid-Refractory or Steroid-Dependent Graft-vs-Host Disease
Ruxolitinib was superior to best available therapy in achieving efficacy as determined by best overall response and duration of response, with acceptable safety in adolescents and adults with steroid-dependent or steroid-refractory chronic graft-vs-host disease effects. These findings were shown in ...
FDA Approves Trilaciclib to Reduce Chemotherapy-Induced Bone Marrow Suppression in Adults Being Treated for SCLC
On February 12, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved trilaciclib (Cosela) as the first therapy in its class to reduce the frequency of chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression in adults receiving certain types of chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC)....
FDA Pipeline: Breakthrough Designations in CML and for Cachexia, EUA for COVID-19
Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Breakthrough Therapy designation to asciminib for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); a Breakthrough Device designation to an assay designed to help select patients with cachexia for treatment with an investigational therapeutic; and an...
ASH 2021 Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients With Cancer
As reported in Blood Advances by Gary H. Lyman, MD, MPH, FASCO, FRCP, and colleagues, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) has issued evidence-based guidelines intended to assist patients, clinicians, and other health-care professionals in decisions regarding the prevention and treatment of...
Sitagliptin Added to Tacrolimus/Sirolimus Prophylaxis Regimen for Acute Graft-vs-Host Disease After HSCT
In a phase II trial reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, Sherif S. Farag, MD, PhD, of Indiana University School of Medicine, and colleagues, found that the addition of the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4; CD26) inhibitor sitagliptin to tacrolimus and sirolimus prophylaxis resulted in a...
Trading One Disease for Another: Patients With Chronic Graft-vs-Host Disease May Face Lifelong Complications
The field of allogeneic stem cell transplantation continues to improve survival for patients with previously incurable blood cancers. However, up to 50% of patients who undergo transplantation with donor cells will develop chronic graft-vs-host disease, a potentially deadly condition that can also...
Addition of Abatacept to Acute Graft-vs-Host Disease Prophylaxis
In a phase II trial (ABA2) reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Watkins et al found that the addition of T-cell costimulation blockade with abatacept to calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)/methotrexate (MTX)–based graft-vs-host disease prophylaxis resulted in reduced rates of acute graft-vs-host...
Expert Point of View: Virginia Kaklamani, MD
Press conference moderator Virginia Kaklamani, MD, of UT Health San Antonio, and Leader of the Breast Cancer Program, UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, weighed in on this study. “This study compared patients’ reports with physicians’ reports about the severity of symptoms. It is a...
Severity of Patients’ Symptoms May Be Underrecognized During and After Breast Radiotherapy
Physicians may commonly underrecognize radiation-associated symptoms and their severity compared with self-reports of patients with breast cancer, according to a large study comparing patient-reported outcomes with physician assessments of four common radiation-associated symptoms: pain, pruritus, ...
