Author: Editor

Jorge Cortes, MD, Director of the Georgia Cancer Center discusses the ASCO 2021 Abstract – OPTIC primary analysis: A dose-optimization study of 3 starting doses of ponatinib (PON).Link To Abstract -https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/195828/abstractBackground information:PON, a third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), showed deep and long-lasting responses and survival in patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML) who were resistant or intolerant to second-generation TKI therapy (PACE; NCT01207440); post-hoc analysis suggested a link between dose and both adverse events and response. The primary analysis of OPTIC (NCT02467270), a randomized, phase 2 study using a new response-based PON dosage regimen in patients with resistant/intolerant CP-CML,…

Holly J. Pederson, MD, Director Medical Breast Services, Cleveland Clinic, Associate Professor of Medicine, CCLCM speaks about the ASCO 2021 Abstract – Ancestrally Unbiased Polygenic Breast Cancer Risk Assessment – new data validates the use of a polygenic breast cancer risk assessment in women across all ancestries.Link to Abstract:https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/197017Background information:Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with minor effects that can be aggregated into polygenic risk scores affect BC risk (PRSs). PRSs is mainly created and validated for people of European ancestry. We created and validated a novel global PRS (gPRS) that uses human ancestral genetic makeup to make a PRS accessible to all…

Saad Usmani, FACP, MBA, MD from the Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders, Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute speaks about the ASCO 2021 Abstract – Ciltacabtagene autoleucel, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM): Updated results from CARTITUDE-1.Link to Abstract:https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/195437Background information:CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207) is a phase 1b/2 trial in patients with R/R MM testing ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel; JNJ-68284528), a CAR T-cell treatment with two BCMA–targeting single-domain antibodies. We present new findings in pts for a longer follow-up period (median 12.4 months).Methodologies:Patients with MM who had undergone three previous regimens or…

Saad Usmani, FACP, MBA, MD from the Department of Hematologic Oncology and Blood Disorders, Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute speaks about the ASCO 2021 Abstract – Comparison of outcomes with ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) in CARTITUDE-1 versus real-world standard of care (RW SOC) for patients (pts) with triple-class exposed relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM).Link to Abstract -https://meetings.asco.org/abstracts-presentations/195465Background information:Patients with RRMM that are triple-class exposed (to immunomodulatory medications [IMiDs], proteasome inhibitors [PIs], and an anti-CD38 antibody) go on several salvage regimens, each with increasingly worse outcomes. CARTITUDE-1 (NCT03548207) is a single-arm phase 1b/2 study evaluating cilta-cel, a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy with…

Pablo Okhuysen, MD, FACP from MD Anderson speaks about the ASCO 2021 Abstract – Impact of Cancer-Related Diarrhea on Changes in Cancer Therapy Patterns: Real World Evidence.Link to Article:https://www.morningstar.com/news/accesswire/642708msn/jaguar-health-and-napo-pharmaceuticals-announce-title-of-abstract-regarding-patient-outcomes-associated-with-cancer-therapy-related-diarrhea-accepted-for-poster-presentation-at-the-american-society-of-clinical-oncology-2021-annual-meetingNapo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Jaguar’s wholly owned subsidiary, and Napo’s partners have had their abstract on patient results consistent with cancer therapy-related diarrhea (“CTD”) approved for poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO®) Annual Meeting, which will be held digitally from June 4-8, 2021.The approved poster presentation’s title is:Real-world research on the effect of cancer-related diarrhea on improvements in cancer therapy trendsSymptoms and Survivorship (Poster Session)Pablo C. Okhuysen, MD, is…

Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center speaks about ASCO 2021 Abstract FDA Approves Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Combined With Trastuzumab and Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment in Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic HER2-Positive Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma.Link to Article:https://www.merck.com/news/fda-approves-mercks-keytruda-pembrolizumab-combined-with-trastuzumab-and-chemotherapy-as-first-line-treatment-in-locally-advanced-unresectable-or-metastatic-her2-positive-gastric-or-g/Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA, has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in combination with trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. This indication received accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and response durability; continued approval for…

David Ilson, MD from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center speaks about the Top 5 ASCO 2021 Abstracts in Gastrointestinal Cancer.Link to Abstract 4000 – ESCORT-1st: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of camrelizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy in patients with untreated advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/195933/abstractLink to Abstract LBA4001 – Nivolumab (NIVO) plus ipilimumab (IPI) or NIVO plus chemotherapy (chemo) versus chemo as first-line (1L) treatment for advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC): First results of the CheckMate 648 study.https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/195919/abstractLink to Abstract 4002 – First-line (1L) nivolumab (NIVO) plus chemotherapy (chemo) versus chemo in advanced…

Howard ‘Jack’ West, MD, Executive Director of Employer Strategy; Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research at the City of Hope speaks about ASCO 2021 Top 5 Abstracts in Lung Cancer.Link to Abstract 8500- IMpower010: Primary results of a phase III global study of atezolizumab versus best supportive care after adjuvant chemotherapy in resected stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/195950/abstractLink to Abstract 8517 – Residual ctDNA after treatment predicts early relapse in patients with early-stage NSCLC.https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/196544/abstractLink to Abstract 9006 – Amivantamab in combination with lazertinib for the treatment of osimertinib-relapsed, chemotherapy-naïve EGFR mutant (EGFRm) non-small cell…

Grzegorz S. Nowakowski, MD from the Mayo Clinic speaks about Incyte and MorphoSys Announce First Patient Dosed in Phase 3 frontMIND Study Evaluating Tafasitamab Combination as a First-Line Treatment for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.Link To Study -https://investor.incyte.com/press-releases/press-releases/2021/Incyte-and-MorphoSys-Announce-First-Patient-Dosed-in-Phase-3-frontMIND-Study-Evaluating-Tafasitamab-Combination-as-a-First-Line-Treatment-for-Diffuse-Large-B-Cell-Lymphoma/default.aspxThe first patient in the pivotal Phase 3 frontMIND study evaluating tafasitamab and lenalidomide in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) versus R-CHOP alone as first-line treatment for high-intermediate and high-risk patients with untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was dosed today (DLBCL). Tafasitamab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that is used to target the B-cell specific antigen CD19 and activate immune…

Mingxuan Xu, Ph.D., Research Scientist at MD Anderson speaks about the Implementation of a Novel Web-Based Lesion Selection Tool to Improve Acquisition of Tumor Biopsy Specimens.Link to Naing Tool:https://doi.org/10.36401/JIPO-21-X1Link to Article:https://meridian.allenpress.com/innovationsjournals-JIPO/article/4/2/45/465080/Implementation-of-a-Novel-Web-Based-LesionSUMMARY:The first paragraph is an introduction.Biopsy specimens must yield sufficient tumor tissue, and sequential biopsy specimens should sample a clear site, for the optimum utility of molecular characterization by next-generation sequencing (NGS) and greater understanding of the tumor microenvironment with immune correlates study. We created a web-based lesion selection tool (LST) to help with biopsy specimen collection management and monitoring.Methodologies:The LST was used on 88 of the 145 patients, with…

Murat Ak, MD from UPMC speaks about Radiomics analysis for predicting pembrolizumab response in patients with advanced rare cancers.Link to Abstract:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/9/4/e001752Synopsis:Background information:A radiomics-based model for predicting pembrolizumab response in patients with advanced rare cancers is presented.Methodologies:In the report, 57 patients with advanced rare cancers were enrolled in our pembrolizumab phase II clinical trial. Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and immune-related RECIST were used to assess tumor response (irRECIST). The patients were divided into two groups: 20 with “controlled disease” (stable disease, partial reaction, or full response) and 37 with “progressive disease.” On standard-of-care, pretreatment contrast improved CT…

Drs. Charu Aggarwal and Jack West host dynamic GU oncology specialist Dr. Petros Grivas as they discuss how research, mentorship, and teaching have adapted to digital platforms in the wake of the pandemic.

Timothy Ritter, MD, Senior Medical Director, Department of Research and Education GI Alliance Research speaks about U.S. FDA Grants De Novo Clearance for First and Only Artificial Intelligence System for Colonoscopy; Medtronic Launches GI Geniusâ„¢ Intelligent Endoscopy Module.Link to Article:https://news.medtronic.com/2021-04-12-U-S-FDA-Grants-De-Novo-Clearance-for-First-and-Only-Artificial-Intelligence-System-for-Colonoscopy-Medtronic-Launches-GI-Genius-TM-Intelligent-Endoscopy-ModuleIn the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved de novo clearance for the GI GeniusTM intelligent endoscopy module. The GI Genius module is the first and only commercially viable artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer-aided detection (CADe) method for detecting colorectal polyps. The module, which works with every colonoscope video, gives doctors a new tool to combat colorectal cancer, which…

Lenka Kyrych Sadilkova, Ph.D. from SOTIO speaks about the AACR 2021 Poster: SOTIO Demonstrates Strong Potential of SOT102 (ADC Targeting Claudin 18.2) for Treatment of Solid Tumors in Preclinical Studies.Link to Article:https://sotio.com/news-publications/news/sotio-demonstrates-strong-potential-of-sot102-adc-targeting-claudin-18-2-for-treatment-of-solid-tumors-in-preclinical-studiesIn a virtual poster presentation at the 2021 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, SOTIO, a clinical-stage immuno-oncology firm owned by PPF Group, revealed new preclinical results of its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), SOT102 (formerly SO-N102), for the treatment of solid tumors. The findings, which show that SOT102 has a high propensity for eradicating CLDN18.2-expressing tumor cells in a target-specific manner, serve as proof of concept for both…

Watch our interview with Dr. Howard Soule and Dr. Becky Campbell from the Prostate Cancer Foundation talking about their new Prostate Cancer Patient Guide

Richard T Penson, MD, MRCP, Associate Professor, Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Clinical Director, Medical Gynecologic Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital speaks about Olaparib tablets as maintenance therapy in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer and a BRCA1/2 mutation (SOLO2/ENGOT-Ov21): a final analysis of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.  ***This was for the ARIEL4, not the ARIEL3 trial.***Link to Article:https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(21)00073-5/fulltext?utm_campaign=update-lanonc&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=126264841&_hsenc=p2ANqtz–fwIwWOX6zOsv0PbKgjP6nwULFQQ0Ki4AbzR_WHMQzikUfgdBumHyS480a720PFN2PlFrg5Etnpp1g8CYURtfM7BzudkH2NW8hgEa9EerZwOWyycY&utm_content=126264841&utm_source=hs_email#%20In SummaryBackground information:In the SOLO2/ENGOT-Ov21 trial, olaparib, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, was shown to improve progression-free survival compared to placebo in patients with relapsed high-grade serous or endometrioid ovarian cancer who were platinum-sensitive and had a BRCA1 or BRCA2…

Dan Sherbenou, MD, Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Medical Campus, Division of Hematology Research, Sherbenou Lab speaks about Older Multiple Myeloma Patients Require Personalized Treatment.Link to Press Release:https://www.waxmancancer.org/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/method-developed-to-treat-multiple-myeloma-patients/Although MM remains an incurable condition, improvements in drug therapies have increased the quality of life over the past 20 years. Older patients, on the other hand, have a lower tolerance for the side effects of the standard three-drug regimen, which is typically given in monthly or annual infusion appointments. As a result, older patients are often undertreated, receiving two-drug regimens with a lower chance of a positive reaction.Dr. Daniel Sherbenou and…

Coya Tapia, MD, Ph.D., Surgical and Molecular Pathologist speaks about Decrease in tumor content assessed in biopsies is associated with improved treatment outcome response to pembrolizumab in patients with rare tumors.Link to Abstract:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/1/e000665.longSynopsis:Background: After neoadjuvant treatment, decreased tumor content (TC) in resection specimens is used to assess prognosis. We looked at whether TC measured in biopsy specimens or the change in TC from baseline to treatment can be used to predict reaction in pembrolizumab-treated patients with rare tumors.Methods: A total of 57 tumors (representing 173 baseline and 179 on-treatment biopsies) were analyzed from 57 patients with unusual tumors who were…

Thomas Brown, MD Syapseâ chief medical officer speaks about Syapse Showcases Real-World Mortality Data in American Society of Clinical Oncologyâs JCO-CCI.Link to Press Release:https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/04/09/2207503/0/en/Syapse-Showcases-Real-World-Mortality-Data-in-American-Society-of-Clinical-Oncology-s-JCO-CCI.htmlThe results of a peer-reviewed report published in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics (JCO-CCI), an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Journal, were revealed today by Syapse®, a pioneering real-world evidence organization accelerating the delivery of precision medicine through the Syapse Learning Health NetworkTM.The study, titled “Validation of a mortality composite score in the real-world setting: overcoming source-specific disparities and biases,” looked at the Syapse Learning Health Network platform’s ability to accurately assess oncology mortality rates, demonstrating that…

Jonathan A. Coleman, MD from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center speaks about ENdoluminal LIGHT ActivatED Treatment of Upper Tract Urothelial Cancer (ENLIGHTED) Study (UCM301).Link to Clinical Trials gov:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04620239Brief Synopsis:TOOKAD is being studied in a phase 3 open label, single arm trial for the treatment of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma (UTUC). Patients with low-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma in the kidney or ureter may be enrolled in the ENLIGHTED trial. The patients will receive TOOKAD (padeliporfin) VTP in two phases: an induction treatment phase and a maintenance treatment process, followed by a 12-month long-term (non-intervention) follow-up phase.Patients who enroll in the…

Connie Lehman, MD, Ph.D., Diagnostic Radiologist, Chief, Breast Imaging Massachusetts General Hospital speaks about These Doctors Are Using AI to Screen for Breast Cancer.Link to Article:https://www.wired.com/story/doctors-using-ai-screen-breast-cancer/?utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_campaign=ba46f08703-MR_COPY_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-ba46f08703-150690609CONSTANCE LEHMAN WAS Persuaded TO Adjust THE WAY MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL SCREENED WOMEN FOR BREAST CANCER After COVID ARRIVED IN MASSACHUSETTS. Owing to concerns about the infection, several people skipped routine checkups and scans. As a result, the Lehman-coordinated center started using an artificial intelligence algorithm to determine who is most likely to contract cancer.According to Lehman, the AI technique has assisted in identifying a number of women who, after being advised to come in…

Eytan M. Stein, MD, Assistant Attending Physician, and Director, Program for Drug Development in Leukemia, Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the trial’s principal investigator speaks about Syndax Announces Positive Interim Data Demonstrating Robust Clinical Activity in Phase 1 Portion of the AUGMENT-101 Trial of SNDX-5613 in Patients with Genetically-Defined Acute Leukemias.Link to Clinical Trial:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04065399?term=AUGMENT-101+SNDX-5613&draw=2&rank=1Link to Article:https://ir.syndax.com/news-releases/news-release-details/syndax-announces-positive-interim-data-demonstrating-robustModified promising results from the Phase 1 dose-escalation section of the ongoing Phase 1/2 AUGMENT-101 trial of SNDX-5613 in patients with mixed lineage leukemia rearranged (MLLr) and nucleophosmin (NPM1c) mutant relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute leukemias were released today by a clinical-stage…

Matthew Tate, MD, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Neurology – Ken and Ruth Davee Department Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine speaks about Surgical Management of Low-grade Glioma.Link to Press Release:https://www.astrazeneca.com/media-centre/press-releases/2021/astrazeneca-accelerates-early-oncology-pipeline-across-key-strategic-scientific-platforms-at-aacr.htmlDuring the simulated American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, 10 to 15 April 2021, AstraZeneca will discuss insights from the Company’s groundbreaking early oncology pipeline through various strategic channels.The next-generation PARP1 selective inhibitor AZD5305, which will be unveiled in five presentations, demonstrates AstraZeneca’s dedication to developing therapies that selectively destroy cancer cells by attacking the mechanism that cells rely on to repair DNA harm. Furthermore, studies…

David Berd, MD Biovaxys And The World Ovarian Cancer Coalition Join Forces For May 8th, World Ovarian Cancer Day.Link to Article:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biovaxys-and-the-world-ovarian-cancer-coalition-join-forces-for-may-8th-world-ovarian-cancer-day-301272288.htmlBiovaxys, a global pioneer in haptenized antigen vaccines for antiviral and cancer uses, today declared its support for World Ovarian Cancer Day, a major effort of the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition (“the Coalition”), a non-profit organization based in Canada.On May 8th, 2013, a coalition of leading ovarian cancer activists founded World Ovarian Cancer Day to provide a forum for stakeholders to lift their voices in unity in the battle against ovarian cancer. Although the Coalition operates on a variety of…

Scott Loughhead, Ph.D. from SQZ Biotechnologies speaks about AACR 2021Abstract – Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Engineered Via Microfluidic Cell Squeeze® Technology to Generate APCs that Drive Mutant-KRas-Specific CD8+ T Cell Responses Abstract Number: 1524 – targeting KRAS with SQZ APCs, which show preclinical proof-of-concept for potential applicability to multiple KRAS mutations, supporting the SQZ opportunity to rapidly expand into additional tumor types.Link to Press Release:https://www.pharmiweb.com/press-release/2021-03-10/sqz-biotech-to-present-preclinical-data-on-kras-tumor-targets-and-next-generation-sqz-eapcs-at-the-aSQZ eAPCs are designed to take advantage of the SQZ APC platform’s capabilities to generate robust and specific CD8+ T cell activation through efficient MHC-I antigen presentation. The platform takes advantage of the Cell Squeeze® technology’s…

Scott Loughhead, Ph.D. from SQZ Biotechnologies speaks about AACR 2021Abstracts – Clinical Applications Abstract Number: 2626 and Technology Abstract Number: 1525 – preclinical data from SQZ eAPCs utilizing multiple mRNA cargo to potentially expand addressable patient populations and meaningfully increase CD8 T cell response by incorporation of costimulatory molecules and cytokine signaling.Link to Press Releases:https://www.pharmiweb.com/press-release/2021-03-10/sqz-biotech-to-present-preclinical-data-on-kras-tumor-targets-and-next-generation-sqz-eapcs-at-the-aSQZ eAPCs are designed to take advantage of the SQZ APC platform’s capabilities to generate robust and specific CD8+ T cell activation through efficient MHC-I antigen presentation. The platform takes advantage of the Cell Squeeze® technology’s cargo versatility to develop next-generation product candidates that carry multiple…

Dr. Steve Vogl of “Vogl, New York” fame joins hosts Charu Aggarwal and Jack West as they discuss the priorities of patients and general oncologists in practice as new developments are presented, and how telemedicine was adopted in NYC during the pandemic.

Laura van ’t Veer, Ph.D., Co-Leader, Breast Oncology Program and Director, Applied Genomics at UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Co-founder and Chief Research Officer at Agendia speaks about 70-gene signature as an aid for treatment decisions in early breast cancer: updated results of the phase 3 randomised MINDACT trial with an exploratory analysis by age.Link to Article:https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(21)00007-3/fulltextDetailsAbstractThe MINDACT trial found that patients with high clinical and low genomic risk breast cancer who did not undergo chemotherapy had a 5-year remote metastasis-free survival rate of 947 percent (95 percent CI 9255–962). We present long-term follow-up findings as well…

Alexey Danilov, MD, Ph.D., associate director of the Toni Stephenson Lymphoma Center at City of Hope speaks about the AACR 2021 Abstract – 938 – Pharmacologic targeting Mcl-1 with AZD5991 induces apoptosis, suppresses mitochondrial respiration, and overcomes ibrutinib resistance in non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells.Link to Abstract:https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9325/presentation/2449Synopsis:Pro-apoptotic “initiators” (Noxa, Bim, Puma), anti-apoptotic “guardians” (Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-xL), and pro-apoptotic effectors (Bax/Bak) are all members of the Bcl-2 family of proteins. Venetoclax, a Bcl-2 receptor, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Venetoclax, on the other hand, is only moderately successful…

Dino Mehic, MD from the Medical University of Vienna speaks about Elevated levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor in patients with mild to moderate bleeding tendency.Link to Abstract:https://ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/5/2/391/474924/Elevated-levels-of-tissue-factor-pathway-inhibitorPoints to Remember -* TFPI levels are higher in patients with minor bleeding disorders, especially those that have BUC or PFDs.* There were no genetic changes in the F5 gene that were related to increased TFPI levels.Synopsis:High levels of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) were recently discovered in two families with an unknown bleeding propensity, due to a longer TFPI half-life after binding to a factor V splice variant and variations in the…

Frederick L. Locke, MD from H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute speaks about the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immune effector cell-related adverse events.Link to Article:https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001511#ref-88SummaryIn a large number of patients with hematological tumors, immune effector cell (IEC) therapies have long-term remissions. Although these novel immunotherapies have increased results for children and adults in a variety of diseases, their toxicity profiles, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), vary significantly from that of traditional cancer therapies. At the time of writing, the US Food and Drug Administration…

Rona Yaeger, MD from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center speaks about KRASG12C Inhibition with Sotorasib in Advanced Solid Tumors.Link to Article:https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1917239?query=featured_homeSummaryBEGINNINGSThere are no accepted cancer therapies that target KRAS mutations. The KRAS p.G12C mutation is found in 13% of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and 1–3% of colorectal cancers and other cancers. Sotorasib is a small molecule that targets KRASG12C in an irreversible and selective manner.APPROACHESIn patients with advanced solid tumors harboring the KRAS p.G12C mutation, we performed a phase 1 trial of sotorasib. Sotorasib was given orally once a day to the patients. The main goal was to ensure that…

In this video series, presented in March of 2021, GRACE Board Members Dr. H. Jack West, Dr. Jared Weiss and Dr. Ben Levy have continued candid discussions regarding cancer and COVID-19. In this continued time of social distancing and limiting clinic exposure, the doctors sat down in their respective homes to discuss some of the questions we all hear regarding these unprecedented times, and how they effect primarily cancer patients. In this video the discussion is surrounding Covid 19 variants and the challenge for cancer care. Thanks to Exelixis and Merck for their support of this program. For more, please…

In this video series, presented in March of 2021, GRACE Board Members Dr. H. Jack West, Dr. Jared Weiss and Dr. Ben Levy have continued candid discussions regarding cancer and COVID-19 In this continued time of social distancing and limiting clinic exposure, the doctors sat down in their respective homes to discuss some of the questions we all hear regarding these unprecedented times, and how they effect primarily cancer patients. In this video the doctors discuss what patients should expect post COVID19 vaccinations. Thanks to Exelixis and Merck for their support of this program. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To…

In this video series, presented in March of 2021, GRACE Board Members Dr. H. Jack West, Dr. Jared Weiss and Dr. Ben Levy have continued candid discussions regarding cancer and COVID-19. In this continued time of social distancing and limiting clinic exposure, the doctors sat down in their respective homes to discuss some of the questions we all hear regarding these unprecedented times, and how they effect primarily cancer patients. In this video the discussion is surrounding whether the COVID19 vaccine is safe for cancer patients. Thanks to Exelixis and Merck for their support of this program. For more, please…

In this video series, presented in March of 2021, GRACE Board Members Dr. H. Jack West, Dr. Jared Weiss and Dr. Ben Levy have continued candid discussions regarding cancer and COVID-19. In this continued time of social distancing and limiting clinic exposure, the doctors sat down in their respective homes to discuss some of the questions we all hear regarding these unprecedented times, and how they effect primarily cancer patients. In this video the discussion is surrounding the continued use of telemedicine in cancer treatment. Thanks to Exelixis and Merck for their support of this program. For more, please visit…

In this video series, presented in March of 2021, GRACE Board Members Dr. H. Jack West, Dr. Jared Weiss and Dr. Ben Levy have continued candid discussions regarding cancer and COVID-19. In this continued time of social distancing and limiting clinic exposure, the doctors sat down in their respective homes to discuss some of the questions we all hear regarding these unprecedented times, and how they effect primarily cancer patients. In this video the discussion is surrounding changes and challenges of consistent cancer care during the pandemic. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/​. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum​.

In this video series, presented in March of 2021, GRACE Board Members Dr. H. Jack West, Dr. Jared Weiss and Dr. Ben Levy have continued candid discussions regarding cancer and COVID-19. In this continued time of social distancing and limiting clinic exposure, the doctors sat down in their respective homes to discuss some of the questions we all hear regarding these unprecedented times, and how they effect primarily cancer patients. In this video the discussion is surrounding trends and implications – the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s continued impact on cancer care. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/​. To join the conversation,…

We continue to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR Breakout Session, Drs. Jared…

We continue to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR Breakout Session, Drs. Jared…

We continue to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR Breakout Session, Drs. Jared…

We continue to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR Breakout Session, Drs. Jared…

We continue to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR Breakout Session, Drs. Jared…

We continue to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR Breakout Session, Drs. Jared…

For this series of case based panel discussions, Dr. Benjamin Levy is joined by Dr. Stephen Liu and Dr. Julie Brahmer to discuss treatment for specific cases in Lung Cancer. Dr. Levy is Associate Professor of Oncology and Clinical Director of Medical Oncology and Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital, and sits on the board of GRACE. Dr. Liu is Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Thoracic Oncology and Director of Developmental Therapeutics at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Julie Brahmer is Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program and Professor of Oncology at…

For this series of case based panel discussions, Dr. Benjamin Levy is joined by Dr. Stephen Liu and Dr. Julie Brahmer to discuss treatment for specific cases in Lung Cancer. Dr. Levy is Associate Professor of Oncology and Clinical Director of Medical Oncology and Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital, and sits on the board of GRACE. Dr. Liu is Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Thoracic Oncology and Director of Developmental Therapeutics at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Julie Brahmer is Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program and Professor of Oncology at…

For this years Case Based Panel Discussions – Dr. Benjamin Levy is joined by Dr. Stephen Liu and Dr. Julie Brahmer to discuss treatment for specific cases in Lung Cancer. Dr. Levy is Associate Professor of Oncology and Clinical Director of Medical Oncology and Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Dr. Levy sits on the board of GRACE. Dr. Liu is Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Thoracic Oncology and Director of Developmental Therapeutics at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Julie Brahmer is Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program and Professor of Oncology…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. In this video from the EGFR…

GRACE is excited to bring you a new series on current updates in Melanoma Treatment. Meredith McKean MD, MPH with Tennessee Oncology, Michael Postow, MD Chief of Melanoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Sanjiv Agarwala, MD, Professor of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Temple University School of Medicine in Easton, PA joined GRACE to discuss current updates in treatment for Melanoma. In this video, Dr. Postow discusses first line therapy for BRAF positive metastatic melanoma. A huge thank you to Merck for sponsoring this program. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

GRACE is excited to bring you a new series on current updates in Melanoma Treatment. Meredith McKean MD, MPH with Tennessee Oncology, Michael Postow, MD Chief of Melanoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Sanjiv Agarwala, MD, Professor of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Temple University School of Medicine in Easton, PA joined GRACE to discuss current updates in treatment for Melanoma. In this video, Dr. Postow discusses understanding immunotherapy resistance mechanisms in melanoma. A huge thank you to Merck for sponsoring this program. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

GRACE is excited to bring you a new series on current updates in Melanoma Treatment. Meredith McKean MD, MPH with Tennessee Oncology, Michael Postow, MD Chief of Melanoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Sanjiv Agarwala, MD, Professor of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Temple University School of Medicine in Easton, PA joined GRACE to discuss current updates in treatment for Melanoma. In this video, Dr. Postow discusses future prospects for immunotherapy agents in advanced melanoma. A huge thank you to Merck for sponsoring this program. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

Julio Chavez, MD from Moffitts Cancer Center & Research Institute speaks about U.S. FDA Approves Yescarta® for Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma After Two or More Lines of Systemic Therapy.Link to Press Release:https://www.gilead.com/news-and-press/press-room/press-releases/2021/3/us-fda-approves-yescarta-for-relapsed-or-refractory-follicular-lymphoma-after-two-or-more-lines-of-systemic-therapyYescarta® (axicabtagene ciloleucel) has been given accelerated clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) following two or more lines of systemic therapy, according to Kite, a Gilead Company. Yescarta is the first chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to be accepted for indolent follicular lymphoma patients after FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation and a…

Linghua Wang, MD, PhD of MD Anderson speaks about Single-cell Analysis Of Metastatic Gastric Cancer Finds Diverse Tumor Cell Populations Associated With Patient Outcomes.Link to Article:https://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/gastric-cancer-study-finds-diverse-tumor-cell-populations-linked-with-outcomes.h00-159457689.htmlResearchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center profiled over 45,000 individual cells from patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC), a form of metastatic gastric cancer, and discovered two distinct subtypes that were linked to patient survival.The researchers created and validated a gene expression signature capable of forecasting patient survival better than other clinical features based on their results, which were published today in Nature Medicine. This tool may be helpful in stratifying patients…

GRACE is excited to bring you a new series on current updates in Melanoma Treatment. Meredith McKean MD, MPH with Tennessee Oncology, Michael Postow, MD Chief of Melanoma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, and Sanjiv Agarwala, MD, Professor of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Temple University School of Medicine in Easton, PA joined GRACE to discuss current updates in treatment for Melanoma. In this video, Dr. McKean discusses if there is a role for molecular testing in early melanoma management. A huge thank you to Merck for sponsoring this program. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit…

GRACE is excited to bring you a new series on current updates in Melanoma Treatment. Meredith McKean MD, MPH with Tennessee Oncology, Michael Postow, MD Chief of Melanoma service at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Sanjiv Agarwala, MD, Professor of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Temple University School of Medicine in Easton, PA joined GRACE to discuss current updates in treatment for Melanoma. In this video, Dr. McKean discusses the current status of sentinel lymph node mapping and completion lymphadenectomy. A huge thank you to our sponsor, Merck! For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

GRACE is excited to bring you a new series on current updates in Melanoma Treatment. Meredith McKean MD, MPH with Tennessee Oncology, Michael Postow, MD Chiefof Melanoma service at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Sanjiv Agarwala, MD, Professor of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Temple University School of Medicine in Easton, PA joined GRACE to discuss current updates in treatment for Melanoma. In this video, Dr. Agarwala discusses adjuvant therapy for melanoma. A huge thank you to our sponsor, Merck! For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

GRACE is excited to bring you a new series on current updates in Melanoma Treatment. Meredith McKean MD, MPH with Tennessee Oncology, Michael Postow, MD Chiefof Melanoma service at Memorial Sloan Kettering and Sanjiv Agarwala, MD, Professor of Medical Oncology and Hematology at Temple University School of Medicine in Easton, PA joined GRACE to discuss current updates in treatment for Melanoma. In this video, Dr. McKean discusses combination immunotherapy vs. monotherapy for Metastatic Melanoma. A huge thank you to our sponsor, Merck! For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. Access to the full agenda can…

We are pleased to present this newest video series of updates from ASCO and ESMO 2020, with discussions on updates to head and neck cancer treatments and trials. Dr. Joshua Bauml, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Jared Weiss, Associate Professor of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill and Vice President of the Board of GRACE chaired this program. Drs. Bauml and Weiss spoke with Dr. Kathryn Gold, Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego and Dr. Ranee Mehra, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University…

We are pleased to present this newest video series of updates from ASCO and ESMO 2020, with discussions on updates to head and neck cancer treatments and trials. Dr. Joshua Bauml, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Jared Weiss, Associate Professor of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill and Vice President of the Board of GRACE chaired this program. Drs. Bauml and Weiss spoke with Dr. Kathryn Gold, Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego and Dr. Ranee Mehra, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University…

We are pleased to present this newest video series of updates from ASCO and ESMO 2020, with discussions on updates to head and neck cancer treatments and trials. Dr. Joshua Bauml, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Jared Weiss, Associate Professor of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill and Vice President of the Board of GRACE chaired this program. Drs. Bauml and Weiss spoke with Dr. Kathryn Gold, Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego and Dr. Ranee Mehra, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. Access to the full agenda can…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. Access to the full agenda can…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. Access to the full agenda can…

Petros Grivas, MD, Ph.D. Department Of Medicine, Division Of Medical Oncology, University of Washington; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Ali Raza Khaki, MD Stanford (Clinical Assistant Professor, Medicine – Oncology) speaks about A New Prognostic Model in Patients with Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma Treated with First-line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.Link to Article:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2588931120302145?dgcid=authorSummaryBackground information -Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved in the first-line (1L) setting for cisplatin-intolerant patients with PD-L1-positive tumors or for platinum (cisplatin/carboplatin)-intolerant patients, reaction rates are modest and results are variable, with no clinically useful biomarkers (except for PD-L1).The goal is to -In a multicenter cohort study, we…

Zhen Han, assistant research professor at City of Hope, and Christiane Querfeld, MD, Ph.D., director of the Cutaneous Lymphoma Program at City of Hope speaks about AACR 2021 – Abstract: 2759 – Reprogramming of PD1+ M2-like tumor-associated macrophages with anti-PD-L1 and Lenalidomide in cutaneous T cell lymphoma.   Link to Abstract: https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9325/presentation/4036   Synopsis:   TAMs, or M2-like tumor-associated macrophages, are abundant and affect the progression of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) by causing immunosuppression. While it is well-founded that M2-like TAMs depletion inhibits CTCL growth, little is known about the underlying mechanisms that form the PD1+ M2-like TAMs phenotype…

Xiuning Le, MD, Ph.D., Department of Thoracic-Head and Neck Med Onc, Division of Cancer Medicine MD Anderson speaks about Tepotinib Phase II in NSCLC Harboring MET Alterations (VISION). Link to the Trial:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02864992 Brief Synopsis: The VISION Study is a phase two, single-arm, multi-center, global trial that evaluated the efficacy of tepotinib, a small molecule inhibitor targeting MET, in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) exhibiting MET exon 14 skipping alterations. This trial allowed enrollment of patients identified with MET exon 14 alterations in their lung cancer, detected either through tissue biopsy or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via liquid biopsy,…

Li Du, Ph.D. City of Hope speaks about AACR 2021 Abstract – 1329 – SUMOylation Inhibition Overcomes Dexamethasone Resistance In Multiple Myeloma.Link to Abstract:https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9325/presentation/2180Synopsis:Multiple myeloma (MM), the second most prevalent hematopoietic cancer, is also incurable when patients relapse after reacting to treatment. Dexamethasone (Dex) is a corticosteroid that has been commonly used to treat multiple sclerosis (MM) as a single agent or in conjunction with other medications. In MM, however, both inherent and acquired Dex tolerance is linked to a weak prognosis. As a result, there is a constant need for the discovery of Dex resistance mechanisms and the development…

Dawn Marie Stull Medical Science Liaison at Takeda Pharmaceuticals speaks about Ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone in routine clinical practice: effectiveness in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.Link to Study:https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/FON-2020-1225Goal:The aim of this study was to see whether ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (IRd) was successful and healthy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients in routine clinical practice. Patients and procedures: Data from the INSIGHT MM global retrospective study and the Czech Registry of Monoclonal Gammopathies were combined and analyzed at the patient level. At the time of the data cut-off, 263 patients from 13 countries were included in the study. The median time from diagnosis to the start of IRd was…

Brigitte Widemann, MD, Deputy Director, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute speaks about Selumetinib in Children with Inoperable Plexiform Neurofibromas.Link to the Study:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32187457/ Link to The Clinical Research Foundation is proud to announce the 2021 finalists for the Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Awards : https://www.clinicalresearchforum.org/page/2021Top10Finalists SummaryBackground information:In patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, there are no accepted treatments for inoperable plexiform neurofibromas.Methodologies:We performed an open-label, phase 2 trial of selumetinib to evaluate the objective reaction rate and assess clinical advantage in patients with plexiform neurofibromas. On a constant dosing regimen, children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and symptomatic inoperable plexiform…

Robert Seitz, Head of Immune Oncology at Oncocyte speaks about AACR 2021 Abstract: 23 – Validation of a 27-gene immuno-oncology algorithm in metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with an immune checkpoint inhibitor.Link to Abstract:https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9325/presentation/1088Synopsis:ForegroundPatients of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) have a poor prognosis, with just around 10% of patients remaining two years after diagnosis. The IMvigor210 study included patients with mUC who were treated with the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) atezolizumab in a multicenter, single-arm, phase 2 trial. This trial’s RNA expression, total survival, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and PD-L1 IHC results are all open to the public. Using three related…

Valeria Arango Velez, MD, Founder, Healing Presents speaks about being This Years Astellas Oncology C3 Prize – Innovation Prize Winner.Astellas C3 Prize:https://astellasoncology.com/c3prize?fbclid=IwAR1ce6L5ElZOgBG9_SoIc3XCNQgeX0Qmv3DGX7S2mZORjUB3tH1y_933qzoHealing Presents:https://healingpresents.co/Download On Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=iglab.mobile.baobabapp&hl=es_DODownload On App Store:https://apps.apple.com/co/app/healing-presents/id1484400672Idea: A mind-body therapy app that will help cancer patients overcome obstacles and boost their diagnosis and overall experience.Healing Presents is a mobile cancer app that combines mind-body therapy to promote understanding, quality of life, and psycho-physiological well-being during the cancer journey.It’s been carefully crafted to assist with emotional difficulties and is intended to enhance cancer patients’ diagnosis and overall experience.Dr. Valeria Arango Velez knows firsthand the emotional demands that people face…

John Baird, MD, Fellow in Hematology/Medical Oncology at Stanford Cancer Center speaks about the Retrospective Study: Immune Reconstitution And Infectious Complications Following Axicabtagene Ciloleucel Therapy For Large B-cell Lymphoma.Link to Article:https://ashpublications.org/bloodadvances/article/5/1/143/474814/Immune-reconstitution-and-infectious-complicationsPoints to Remember* Delayed CD4+ T-cell recovery after CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy increases the risk of opportunistic infections by up to a year.* Antimicrobial prophylaxis, immunoglobulin replacement, and growth factor use after axi-cel can help to reduce nonrelapse morbidity and mortality.SummaryIn the treatment of refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeting CD19 has greatly improved outcomes (LBCL). In 41 patients with LBCL treated with…

Brian Rini, MD Professor of Medicine from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center speaks about AVEO Oncology Announces U.S. FDA Approval of FOTIVDA® (tivozanib) for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma.Link to Press Release:https://investor.aveooncology.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aveo-oncology-announces-us-fda-approval-fotivdar-tivozanibFOTIVDA was approved based on the results of AVEO’s pivotal Phase 3 trial, TIVO-3, which compared FOTIVDA to sorafenib in patients with relapsed or refractory advanced RCC who had received two or more prior systemic therapies. Three additional RCC trials back up the submission, which contains safety evidence from over 1,000 clinical trial participants.Patients in the TIVO-3 study (n=350)…

Christine Brown, Ph.D. Deputy Director, T Cell Therapeutics Research Laboratory; Professor, Departments of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Immuno-Oncology and Darya Alizadeh, Ph.D. assistant research professor in the Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at speaks about AACR 2021 Abstract – CAR T Cell Therapy Reshapes Tumor Microenvironment In Glioblastoma.Link to Abstract:https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9325/presentation/1124SummaryCAR T cell therapy is gaining traction as a promising cancer treatment choice, with the potential to open up new therapeutic possibilities for people with glioblastoma (GBM) and other solid tumors. Although early clinical trials of CAR T cell therapy in GBM have shown that it is…

Jacob J. Adashek, DO University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute discusses the AARC 2021 Abstract – The Landscape Of 2,706 RET Alterations From 89,754 Adult Patients With Cancer: Clinical Implications.Abstract• Mutations and fusions in the activating receptor-tyrosine kinase rearranged during transfection (RET) have been identified as active drivers of oncogenesis in a variety of cancers.• The FDA has approved selpercatinib and pralsetinib as highly potent and selective RET inhibitors for RE110111 fusion+ NSCLC and selpercatinib for RET+ thyroid cancers.• A systematic review of RET alterations in pan-cancer adult malignancies is presented here.Patients and Procedures•…

Jacob J. Adashek, DO University of South Florida, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute discusses AARC 2021 Abstract – Pan-cancer Efficacy Of BRAF and/or MEK Inhibitors In BRAF V600-mutant Multiple Non-melanoma Cancers: A Clinico-genomic Study.Abstract• BRAF and MEK inhibitors have been approved by the FDA for melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and anaplastic thyroid cancer. • The lack of clinical value issue-agnostic BRAF inhibition in RAF V600+ colorectal cancer (CRC) has stopped its success as an issue-agnostic treatment.•The BRAF pathway inhibition is involved in over 20 different cancer forms, according to the Vemurafenib-Basket report and the NCI-match trial.Patients…

Loretta Erhunmwunsee, MD Assistant Professor, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery; Assistant Professor, Division of Health Equities, Department of Population Sciences from the City of Hope speaks about Neighborhood Disadvantage Linked To Aggressive Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.Link to Abstract:https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/9325/presentation/1832SummaryThe first paragraph is an introduction.In the United States, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Though smoking is still the leading cause of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there is less research on the role of negative social circumstances and neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) in the production of particular NSCLC somatic mutations. Economic, housing, education, transportation, and environmental…

Dr med Florian Moik from the Medical University of Vienna, Department of Medicine I, Division of Haematology and Haemostaseology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria speaks about the Incidence, Risk Factors, And Outcomes Of Venous And Arterial Thromboembolism In Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy.Link to Article:https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/137/12/1669/469619/Incidence-risk-factors-and-outcomes-of-venous-andPoints to Remember:* Patients taking immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer are at a higher risk of developing VTE/ATE.* VTE caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors has a poor prognosis and is difficult to predict.Synopsis:Immune checkpoint inhibitors are currently associated with a risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE). The aim of this study was to…

Alessandra Larocca, MD, Ph.D. from the University of Torino, AOU S.Giovanni Battista, TORINO, Italy speaks about Dose/Schedule-Adjusted Rd-R vs Continuous Rd for elderly, intermediate-fit, newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients.Link to Article:https://ashpublications.org/blood/article-abstract/doi/10.1182/blood.2020009507/475576/Dose-Schedule-Adjusted-Rd-R-vs-Continuous-Rd-for?redirectedFrom=fulltextPoints to RememberIn intermediate-fit elderly NDMM, dose/schedule-adjusted Rd-R prolonged EFS while causing similar PFS and OS to normal continuous Rd.For elderly multiple myeloma (MM) patients, lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Rd) is a common therapy. We compared the effectiveness and feasibility of a dose/schedule-adjusted Rd followed by maintenance 10 mg/day without dexamethasone (Rd-R) vs continuous Rd in elderly, intermediate-fit newly diagnosed MM patients in this randomized, phase III trial. The primary endpoint was event-free…

Iván Márquez Rodas MD, Ph.D. of the Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Gregorio Marañon, Madrid, Spain Speaks about Highlight & Pivotal start Phase IIa Melanoma Trial.Link to Article:https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/03/02/2185058/0/en/Highlight-Pivotal-start-Phase-IIa-melanoma-trial.htmlHighlight Therapeutics and Pivotal collaborate on melanoma therapy, launching a Phase IIa study to assess the effectiveness and safety of BO-112.* In unresectable or metastatic melanoma patients, the trial would look at using Highlight’s BO-112 in conjunction with an anti-PD1 drug.* In Spain and France, recruitment has already started in 19 top-level centers.* Despite the ongoing difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no gaps in recruitment.Highlight Therapeutics, Inc. (“Highlight”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical…

Mandana Emamzadeh, Ph.D., Pharma Analyst at GlobalData speaks about New Standard Of Care In Hepatocellular Carcinoma Shifts The Treatment Paradigm To A Grey Area, Says GlobalData.Link to Article:https://www.globaldata.com/new-standard-care-hepatocellular-carcinoma-shifts-treatment-paradigm-grey-area-says-globaldata/According to GlobalData, a leading data, and analytics firm, the approval of Roche’s Avastin (bevacizumab) plus Tecentriq (atezolizumab), in addition to the long list of pipeline drugs, opens up holes in the care model about the sequence of treatments.Mandana Emamzadeh, Ph.D., Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments, “The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) market is evolving swiftly after the May 2020 FDA approval of Roche’s Avastin (bevacizumab) + Tecentriq (atezolizumab). The combination replaced the prior standard…

Rimas V. Lukas, MD from Northwestern Medicine speaks about Nonmalignant Brain Tumors.Link to Abstract:https://journals.lww.com/continuum/Fulltext/2020/12000/Nonmalignant_Brain_Tumors.6.aspxSUMMARY:REVIEW’S OBJECTIVEMeningioma, pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, and glioneuronal tumors are all discussed in this article, as well as their diagnosis and treatment.RECENT RESULTSMeningiomas and pituitary adenomas are two types of brain tumors that are widespread. These lesions are often discovered by chance on imaging as patients are being examined for a variety of symptoms and signs. Despite being non-cancerous, these tumors may cause substantial morbidity due to their location and the resulting secondary symptoms. These tumors may sometimes develop into malignant variants. Surgical techniques allow more complete resections…

Matteo Lambertini, MD, Ph.D. from San Martino Hospital Genoa and the University of Genoa speaks about the Exploratory Analysis: Unexpected findings on weight loss and breast cancer from international study in JNCCN.Link to Press Release:https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/nccn-ufo021621.phpIn a report published in the February 2021 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, researchers looked at BMI data for people with HER2-positive early breast cancer and discovered that a 5% weight loss in patients over two years was related to worse outcomes. Over the same time span, weight gain had little effect on survival rates.”The finding that weight loss, and not weight…

Hosts Jack West and Charu Aggarwal speak with radiation oncology experts David Palma of the London Health Sciences Centre and Puneeth Iyengar of University of Texas-Southwestern about the functional definition and treatment of oligometastatic cancer.

Paul G. Richardson, MD from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute speaks about FDA Approves Oncopeptides´ PEPAXTO® (melphalan flufenamide) for Patients with Triple-Class Refractory Multiple Myeloma.Link to Article:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-oncopeptides-pepaxto-melphalan-flufenamide-for-patients-with-triple-class-refractory-multiple-myeloma-301237310.htmlThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved PEPAXTO® (melphalan flufenamide), also known as melflufen during clinical development, in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have rectal bleeding. Based on the HORIZON trial, this indication has been given accelerated approval. PEPAXTO is the first anticancer peptide-drug conjugate that has been approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma.”While the treatment landscape for multiple myeloma has dramatically…

Satish Shah, MD, Medical Director, Gettysburg Cancer Center speaks about Theratechnologies Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1 Clinical Trial of TH1902 for Sortilin Positive Solid Tumors.Link to Article:http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/03/24/2198364/0/en/Theratechnologies-Announces-First-Patient-Dosed-in-Phase-1-Clinical-Trial-of-TH1902-for-Sortilin-Positive-Solid-Tumors.htmlTheratechnologies Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery and commercialization of novel therapies, is pleased to report that the first patient was given a dose of TH1902, the company’s lead peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) for the treatment of sortilin positive (SORT1+) solid tumors.TH1902 is a fictional character.Theratechnologies’ patented peptide is combined with docetaxel in TH1902. TH1902 was recently granted fast track approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a…

Omolola Salako, MBBS, FWACS, Founder and CEO, Oncopadi Technologies speaks about the Astellas Oncology C3 Prize – This Years Grand Prize Winner.The Astellas Oncology C3 Prize, launched in 2016, is a global challenge that aims to address the complexities of the cancer journey by funding the best ideas in cancer care beyond medicine. The C3 Prize sparks innovative developments in cancer care, tackling cancer challenges by awarding the winners with grants and connecting them with resources and support.Link to Astellas C3 Prize:http://www.c3prize.com/Link To Oncopadi:https://oncopadi.com/Link to the Apple App Store:https://apps.apple.com/kw/app/oncopadi/id1534418355Link to Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oncopadi.orgIdea: An app that connects cancer patients with the…

Tito R. Mendoza, Ph.D., MS, MEd from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center speaks about Associations between the gut microbiome and fatigue in cancer patients.Links Mentioned in Question 1:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923753419357151Andhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1003466Link to Article:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84783-9/metricsAccess and Citations: Web of Science and CrossRef have citation counts. The counts may differ by service and are dependent on the data’s availability. Counts will be updated on a regular basis once they become accessible. Online Attention: Altmetric assigns a score to an article based on the amount of online attention it gets. Each particular type of online attention is represented by a different colored thread in…

Santhosh Upadhyaya, MD, Pediatric Hematologist from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital speaks about ATRT molecular groups: looking at the biology from the clinic.Link to Article:https://www.stjude.org/media-resources/news-releases/2021-medicine-science-news/atrt-molecular-groups-looking-at-the-biology-from-the-clinic.htmlAtypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is a rare form of brain tumor that often affects children. Scientists at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital studied the molecular groups of ATRT and correlated them with clinical results using evidence from two clinical trials. Clinical Cancer Research, a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, published a paper outlining the findings today.“If you look at the biology of ATRT, we have learned in the last few years that…

Lisa McKenzie, Founder, and Executive Producer, You Night Empowering Events speaks about being This Years Astellas Oncology C3 Prize – Innovation Prize Winner. The Astellas Oncology C3 Prize, launched in 2016, is a global challenge that aims to address the complexities of the cancer journey by funding the best ideas in cancer care beyond medicine. The C3 Prize sparks innovative developments in cancer care, tackling cancer challenges by awarding the winners with grants and connecting them with resources and support.Link to Astellas C3 Prize:http://www.c3prize.com/Link to You Night:https://www.younightevents.com/Idea: A narrative therapy storytelling course that helps cancer patients express their life journeys, find inner…

Douglas Johnson, MD, MSCI, associate professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and clinical director of Melanoma at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center speaks about Forty-three Percent Of Melanoma Patients Have Chronic Complications From Immunotherapies.Link to Article:https://news.vumc.org/2021/03/25/forty-three-percent-of-melanoma-patients-have-chronic-complications-from-immunotherapies/According to a report published March 25 in JAMA Oncology, chronic side effects among melanoma survivors treated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapies are more frequent than previously thought.Chronic complications, which affected 43% of patients, mainly affected the joints and endocrine system, with salivary glands, lungs, peripheral nerves, and other organs coming in second and third. Just 14% of cases were resolved at the last follow-up, indicating that…

Jennifer C. King, Ph.D. CFO of the GO2 Foundation speaks about GO2 Foundation Leads Study to Improve Participation of Black Communities in Lung Cancer Clinical Trials.Link to Article:https://www.interventionaloncology360.com/content/go2-foundation-leads-study-improve-participation-black-communities-lung-cancer-clinicalThe GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer (GO2 Foundation) has announced its participation in the launch of a major multi-institutional study to see how to increase Black community participation in lung cancer clinical trials.Although total cancer patient participation in clinical trials in the United States is extremely low, at around 8%1, it is even lower among racial and ethnic minority groups. Just about 6% of patients who participate in clinical trials are Black, 3%…

Allison W. Kurian, MD, MSc from Stanford University California speaks about Genetic Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer: What Has Changed and What Still Needs To Change?Link to Article:https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/947040A major retrospective review illustrates how germline genetic testing in women with breast or ovarian cancer has progressed over time, as well as a way forward for testing these patients.Researchers discovered racial and ethnic differences in genetic testing, as well as “persistent underuse” of testing in ovarian cancer patients.The researchers also discovered that the majority of pathogenic variant (PV) findings came from 20 genes linked to breast and/or ovarian cancer, while testing…

Russell Langan, M.D., Chief of Surgical Oncology and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, and Surgical Oncologist at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey speaks about RWJBarnabas Health Pioneers Innovative Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance Program.Link to Article:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rwjbarnabas-health-pioneers-innovative-pancreatic-cyst-surveillance-program-301245061.htmlIn order to classify, track, follow, and monitor patients with pancreatic cysts, Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, developed one of the first cloud-based data management systems in the world. SBMC’s Pancreatic Cyst Surveillance Program, which has a specific collaboration with Eon, a healthcare technology company, detects patients when incidental scans, such as an MRI, CT scan,…

Veerle Groen, MD from the University Medical Center Utrecht, Radiation Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands speaks about Focal Boost to the Intraprostatic Tumor in External Beam Radiotherapy for Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer: Results From the FLAME Randomized Phase III Trial.Link to Study:https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.20.02873BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study is to see whether using external beam radiotherapy to improve the macroscopic visible tumor improves biochemical disease-free survival (bDFS) in patients with localized prostate cancer.PATIENTS AND TECHNIQUESBetween 2009 and 2015, 571 patients with low- and high-risk prostate cancer were enrolled in phase III, multicenter, randomized managed Focal Lesion Ablative Microboost…

An international team of researchers led by scientists from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center explain how pancreatic cancer cells use an alternative method to find essential nutrients, defying current therapies, to help them develop and spread in new findings published online March 18, 2021 in the journal Cancer Cell. Pancreatic cancer makes up about 3% of all cancers in the United States, but it is one of the most aggressive and lethal, accounting for 7% of all cancer deaths per year. Pancreatic cancer is particularly deadly after it has spread, with survival…

What is the C3 Prizeâ„¢?   Cancer is a difficult disease to understand. Astellas Oncology acknowledges the complexity of the cancer journey – people with cancer need intensive treatment in addition to medication.   That’s why we’ve committed to supporting big ideas that go beyond medicine to address daily problems in cancer care. By awarding $200,000 in grants and funding to advance innovations that have a significant impact in the cancer world, the C3 (Changing Cancer Treatment) Prize fosters the growth of inventions to transform cancer care for people with cancer, families, and their loved ones. The C3 Prize explicitly…

Prof. Giorgio Scagliotti Professor of Medical Oncology from the Università di Torino speaks about IASLC Statement on the Updated United States Preventive Task Force Guidelines on Lung Cancer Screening.Link to Article:https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/lung-cancer-screeningRecommendation Summary:* Adults aged 50 to 80 who have smoked for at least 20 years and are either smoking or have quit during the last 15 years.*The USPSTF recommends annual lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults aged 50 to 80 who have smoked for 20 years and are either smoking or have quit during the last 15 years. Once a person has not smoked for 15…

Sherif Badawy, MD from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago speaks about A systematic review of quality of life in sickle cell disease and thalassemia after stem cell transplant or gene therapy.Link to Article:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33496753/SummaryPatients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia face a variety of complications during their lives, which result in impairment in various aspects of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Curative therapies for patients with SCD and thalassemia, such as hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and gene therapy, are gaining popularity; however, the impact of these treatments on different HRQOL domains is unknown. Our aim…

Richard T. Lee, MD from Case Western Reserve University speaks about Familiarity With Complementary and Integrative Therapies Among Patients With Cancer and Caregivers.Link to Article:https://ascopost.com/news/february-2021/familiarity-with-complementary-and-integrative-therapies-among-patients-with-cancer-and-caregivers/The research consisted of a survey of patients and caregivers about five complementary and integrative medicine treatments offered at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland: acupuncture, massage, meditation, music therapy, and yoga.The survey was performed by 464 patients and 112 caregivers, for a total of 576 surveys. 65.6 percent of respondents were White, 57.2 percent were female, 74.2 percent had been a patient for less than three years, 73.8 percent had some college education, and…

Drs. Aggarwal & West welcome Drs. Jerad Gardner from Geisenger Medical Labs & Sanjay Mukhopadyay from Cleveland Clinic as they discuss different platforms for education, from textbooks to Instagram, for medical education & a community around it.

Xiaoqiang Wang, MD, Ph.D., MB (ASCP) from the City of Hope speaks about White button mushrooms could slow progression of prostate cancer.Washington, D.C.— According to a mouse study presented digitally at ENDO 2021, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, chemicals found in white button mushrooms may slow the progression of prostate cancer.“Androgens, a type of male sex hormone, promote the growth of prostate cancer cells by binding to and activating the androgen receptor, a protein that is expressed in prostate cells,” said lead researcher Xiaoqiang Wang, M.D., Ph.D., M.B. (A.S.C.P.), of the Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, a comprehensive…

Bradley McGregor, MD of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute speaks about Nivolumab plus Cabozantinib versus Sunitinib for Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma.Link to Article:https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2026982?query=TOCSynopsis:BACKGROUND: In the treatment of previously untreated advanced renal-cell carcinoma, the efficacy and protection of nivolumab plus cabozantinib have not been compared to those of sunitinib.METHODS: We randomly assigned adults with previously untreated clear-cell, advanced renal-cell carcinoma to receive either nivolumab (240 mg every 2 weeks) plus cabozantinib (40 mg once daily) or sunitinib in this phase 3 randomized, open-label study (50 mg once daily for 4 weeks of each 6-week cycle). The primary outcome measure was progression-free survival, which…

Lucas W. Thornblade, MD, MPH of the City of Hope speaks about Patterns of Whole Genome Sequencing and Actionable Mutations in Resected Cholangiocarcinoma.

Jonathan Simons, MD, President, and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation speaks about Study Training Dogs to Detect Prostate Cancer Gets One Paw Closer to a ‘Robotic Nose’ to Diagnose the Disease, Including Most Lethal Form.Link to Article:https://www.pcf.org/news/study-training-dogs-to-detect-prostate-cancer-gets-one-paw-closer-to-a-robotic-nose-to-diagnose-the-disease-including-most-lethal-form/Link to Study:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0245530SummaryIn the developed world, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Beyond serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) population screening, a more sensitive and specific detection strategy for lethal prostate cancer is urgently required. Canine olfaction diagnosis has been shown to be both specific and sensitive by using dogs trained to detect cancer by smell. Although dogs as…

I think the field of cancer and in particular, head neck cancer has been. Somewhat revolutionized with the introduction of immunotherapy. We now use single agent TD1 therapies first line with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab). However, responses or activity is modest. We only have a response rate to about 16 to 18% with single agent pembrolizumab and the big unmet need in the field is what can we do better? How can we improve? What is arguably a dramatic impact on survival, long term survival in a very tolerable treatment. So, there is just an announcement about a new study coming from…

Amar Gajjar, MD from the Division of Neuro Oncology, Department of Oncology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital discusses Outcomes by Clinical and Molecular Features in Children With Medulloblastoma Treated With Risk-Adapted Therapy: Results of an International Phase III Trial (SJMB03).Link to Abstract:https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.20.01372SUMMARY -SJMB03 (identifier: NCT00085202 on ClinicalTrials.gov) was a phase III risk-adapted study that aimed to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of biological variants and genetic abnormalities in medulloblastoma.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Based on DNA methylation profiles and gene mutations from next-generation sequencing, medulloblastomas were molecularly categorized into subgroups (Wingless [WNT], Sonic Hedgehog [SHH], group 3, and group 4) and subtypes.…

Christopher I. Amos, Ph.D. from the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine speaks about Rare deleterious germline variants and risk of lung cancer.Link to Article:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41698-021-00146-7?utm_source=npjprecisiononcology_etoc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=toc_41698_5_1&utm_content=20210223&WT.ec_id=NPJPRECISIONONCOLOGY-202102&sap-outbound-id=3CE5A229F481449C68380549104640E9DD54E0A1Abstract:Recent research suggests that rare variants have larger effect sizes and may play a key role in lung cancer etiology (LC). In the discovery package, 1045 LC cases and 885 controls were given whole-exome sequencing as well as targeted germline DNA sequencing. We based on rare and predicted deleterious variants and small indels enriched in cases or controls to uncover the inherited causal variants. In a sequence of 26,803…

Ethan Basch, MD, MSc from the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina speaks about the Benefits of Digital Symptom Monitoring With Patient-Reported Outcomes During Adjuvant Cancer Treatment.Link to Article:https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.20.03375In prospective randomized trials and population studies, digital symptom tracking through electronic patient-reported outcomes (PROs) has been shown to improve outcomes for adults with metastatic cancer undergoing systemic care, including symptom management, quality of life, emergency department visits, time on treatment, and survival. 1–8 This technique allows care teams to intervene early and avoid preventable downstream complications by detecting symptoms early. 9 It is well known that up to half…

Synopsis:   The most common symptom of cancer and its treatments is fatigue. In patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and other neuropsychiatric conditions, as well as cancer patients, changes in the intestinal microbiome have been discovered. The connection between the intestinal microbiome and fatigue in patients with advanced cancers, on the other hand, has not been studied. Understanding the connection between the microbiome of the intestine and fatigue will allow for interventional and therapeutic opportunities to manipulate the microbiome to enhance fatigue and other patient-reported outcomes. The aim of this study was to see if there were any links between…

Jennifer Ribeiro, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Research) at Brown University and Women & Infants speaks about the New Data Published from Women & Infants Hospital Demonstrate Utility of Predictive Immune Modeling in Ovarian Cancer.Link to Article:https://cofactorgenomics.reportablenews.com/pr/new-data-published-from-women-infants-hospitalMarch 8, 2021 – PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Cofactor Genomics, the company bridging the precision medicine gap, announced today that Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island reported new data in Frontiers in Oncology1. The findings demonstrate the value of Cofactor’s Predictive Immune Modeling technology in elucidating the immune environment of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) for the creation of immunotherapies and identifying prognostic…

Joel Neal, MD, Ph.D., Associate Professor Of Medicine (Oncology) from Stanford Cancer Institute/Stanford University speaks about Randomized Phase II Study of 3 Months or 2 Years of Adjuvant Afatinib in Patients With Surgically Resected Stage I-III EGFR-Mutant Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Link to Article:https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/PO.20.00301Synopsis:OBJECTIVEMultiple studies suggest that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) can delay cancer recurrence in patients with surgically resected disease. The amount of time that therapy must last in order to be effective is unknown.SUMMARYPatients with completely resected stage IA-IIIB EGFR-mutant non–small-cell lung cancer (American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th edition) after stage-appropriate standard-of-care adjuvant…

According to new research published in the January 2021 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, more than a third of qualified people skip colorectal cancer screenings, and at least a fifth tend to miss breast and cervical cancer screenings. The findings are based on self-reported results from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) from 2007 to 2016, and come from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in Alberta, Canada. The findings also point to evidence of screening differences being related to lower socioeconomic status and identifiable minority ethnicity, according to the author, echoing a…

Manish A. Shah, MD from Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian discuss the ASCO Pubs – Phase III Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Andecaliximab With mFOLFOX6 as First-Line Treatment in Patients With Advanced Gastric or GEJ Adenocarcinoma (GAMMA-1).Link to Report -https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.20.02755Synopsis:PURPOSE: Andecaliximab (ADX) is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits matrix metalloproteinase 9, an extracellular enzyme that plays a role in tumor development, metastasis, and matrix remodeling. In patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, a phase I and Ib analysis of modified oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and fluorouracil (mFOLFOX6) with ADX showed promising antitumor activity.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The efficacy…

Flavio G. Rocha, MD, FACS, FSSO from the Division of Surgical Oncology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR speaks about the Landmark Series: Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer.Link to Abstract -https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1245/s10434-020-09367-9?sharing_token=T1DbAW-SKQAdCafzel6OglR9MmLxJfDmU1c3CqwK5f1yZ-hyeGTK4ebdX95t3PWt50cK40IC8QQqxqHX9BgGQ5ySYAGmXDtSWJV97c4LnQB0V8GJAM8I9zVRCLRBxikdE0DYp3b4GGisNenlciVlMoG_w8N4i8ulCVpLzQ6ViFw%3DSUMMARYDespite multimodality treatment, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive gastrointestinal cancers. Carcinogenesis is primarily induced by main driver mutations that can be targeted for oncologic therapy, according to genomic studies published in the last few years. Furthermore, advances in cancer immunology have identified receptors and monoclonal antibodies that can be used to manipulate the immune system of the host to treat cancer.…

Drs. Aggarwal and West welcome Dr. Vincent Rajkumar, Professor of Medicine and multiple myeloma from Mayo Clinic, as they discuss global oncology, academic publishing in a digital world, and advances in telemedicine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aditya Bardia, MD, MPH from Massachusetts General Hospital discusses SAR439859 Plus Palbociclib as First Line Therapy for Patients With ER(+) HER2(-) Advanced Breast Cancer (AMEERA-5).Link to the Trial:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04478266The main goal is toTo see if amcenestrant (SAR439859) in combination with palbociclib enhances progression-free survival (PFS) as compared to letrozole in combination with palbociclib in people with ER+, HER2- advanced breast cancer who haven’t had any previous systemic anticancer therapy for advanced disease.* To compare overall survival in both treatment arms as a secondary goal.* To compare the objective response rates in the two treatment groups.* To see how long each treatment…

Professor Tony Hunter, Ph.D., and Rajasree Kalagiri, Ph.D. of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies discuss the article Salk team reveals never-before-seen antibody binding, informing both liver cancer and antibody design.Link to Article -https://www.salk.edu/news-release/salk-team-reveals-never-before-seen-antibody-binding-informing-both-liver-cancer-and-antibody-design/LA JOLLA (AP) — Some molecules in structural biology are so rare that they can only be captured using a specific collection of methods. That’s how a multi-institutional research team led by Salk scientists identified how antibodies recognize phosphohistidine, a highly unstable molecule implicated in cancers including liver and breast cancer and neuroblastoma.These findings will not only allow scientists to conduct more advanced research on phosphohistidine and…

Tyler Seibert, MD, Ph.D. Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine and radiation oncologist at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health speaks about Genetic Tool Improves Estimation of Prostate Cancer Risk in Diverse Ethnic/Racial Groups.Link to Article -https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/Pages/2021-02-23-genetic-tool-improves-estimation-of-prostate-cancer-risk-in-diverse-ethnic-racial-groups.aspxLink to Study -https://rdcu.be/cfGMFAn international team led by scientists at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine has validated a more inclusive and systematic genetic method for predicting the age of onset of advanced prostate cancer, a disease that could kill over 33,000 men in the United States by 2020.The researchers identify the success…

Samuel R. Denmeade, MD of The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins discusses TRANSFORMER: A Randomized Phase II Study Comparing Bipolar Androgen Therapy Versus Enzalutamide in Asymptomatic Men With Castration-Resistant Metastatic Prostate Cancer.Link to Publication -https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.20.02759Summary -OBJECTIVEBecause of adaptive upregulation of the androgen receptor in response to the low-testosterone microenvironment, prostate cancer (PCa) becomes immune to androgen ablation. In castration-resistant PCa, bipolar androgen therapy (BAT), characterized as rapid cycling between high and low serum testosterone, disrupts this adaptive control (CRPC).APPROACHESThe TRANSFORMER (Testosterone Revival Abolishes Negative Symptoms, Fosters Objective Response, and Modulates Enzalutamide Resistance) trial compared monthly BAT (n…

Robert Zeiser, MD from the University Medical Center Freiburg, speaks about Incyte Announces Acceptance and Priority Review of sNDA for Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) as a Treatment for Patients with Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease.Link to Press Release -https://investor.incyte.com/press-releases/press-releases/2021/Incyte-Announces-Acceptance-and-Priority-Review-of-sNDA-for-Jakafi-ruxolitinib-as-a-Treatment-for-Patients-with-Chronic-Graft-Versus-Host-Disease/default.aspx(BUSINESS WIRE)—WILMINGTON, Del.— The supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for ruxolitinib (Jakafi®) for the treatment of steroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older has been approved for Priority Review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).The sNDA is focused on the findings of the REACH3 review, which compared ruxolitinib to best available therapy (BAT) in patients with steroid-refractory…

Johannes A. Schmid, Ph.D. from MedUni Vienna speaks about How inflammatory signaling molecules contribute to carcinogenesis.Link to Article -https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/02/210217114327.htmThe Whole Story -Researchers at MedUni Vienna’s Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Studies, led by Johannes A. Schmid, have discovered a previously unknown molecular connection between an inflammatory signaling molecule and one of the major oncogenes. The paper was published in the prestigious journal Molecular Cancer.The working group of Johannes A. Schmid at the Institute of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research’s Center for Physiology and Pharmacology has considerable expertise in the molecular and cellular aspects of…

Martin S. Tallman, MD from Weill Cornell and Sloan Kettering discusses Martin S. Tallman, MD, Begins Term as 2021 ASH President.Link to Article -https://www.hematology.org/newsroom/press-releases/2020/martin-s-tallman-md-begins-term-as-2021-ash-president#:~:text=(WASHINGTON%2C%20Jan.%207%2C,long%20term%20through%20December%202021.Dr. Tallman is a medicine professor at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Chief of the Leukemia Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, where he also holds the Cassidy Family Faculty Chair. Clinical studies in acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, and hairy cell leukemia are among Dr. Tallman’s research interests.Dr. Tallman has been a member of ASH for 21 years, during which time he has held numerous leadership…

Jason M. Link, Ph.D., Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Oregon Health and Science University Tumor-Infiltrating Leukocyte Phenotypes Distinguish Outcomes in Related Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.Link to Case Report -https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/PO.20.00287One of the greatest mortality risks of all cancers includes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Most patients have either metastatic PDAC (50 percent -60 percent) or locally advanced tumors (30 percent -40 percent), for which the median survival after diagnosis is 5-9 months. Oh, 1,2 For the limited subset (10 percent -20 percent) of patients who present with resectable tumors confined to the pancreas, outcomes are still…

Mehmet Asim Bilen, MD from Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University discusses the Evaluation of a novel blood pressure scoring method and its association with clinical response in cancer patients treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy.Link to Study -https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24764123/InstractBackground: In advanced cancer patients treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies, the aim of this study was to develop a novel blood pressure (BP) scoring method and correlate it with clinical response.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated data from 23 clinical trials involving at least one anti-VEGF agent for 368 patients. Using the standard Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)…

Emerens Wensink, MD, Ph.D. Candidate from University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University discusses Survival of patients with deficient mismatch repair metastatic colorectal cancer in the pre-immunotherapy era.Link to Abstract -https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33046804/InstractContext: The analysis of single-arm immunotherapy research is complicated by negligible evidence on survival during systemic non-immunotherapy. A broad, systematic cohort of dMMR mCRC patients treated with or without systemic non-immunotherapy is provided with survival results.Methods: Overall survival was analyzed based on mCRC (OS) diagnosis, first-line (OS1), and second-line (OS2) systemic treatment initiation. Prognostic variables were investigated by Cox regression analysis. Compared with OS 2746, MMR proficient mCRC patients have been reported.Results: Median OS…

María Díez Campelo, MD of the Universidad de Salamanca speaks about a Randomized phase 2 trial of pevonedistat plus azacitidine versus azacitidine for higher-risk MDS/CMML or low-blast AML.Link to Abstract:https://www.nature.com/articles/s41375-021-01125-4#Sec2Pevonedistat is the first expressed, developmentally downregulated 8 (NEDD8)-activating enzyme (NAE) small-molecule neural precursor cell inhibitor; NAE promotes the conjugation of NEDD8, a small ubiquitin-like protein that activates Cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs)[4,5,6]. Pevonedistat inhibition of NAE prevents degradation of CRL substrates integral to tumor cell development, proliferation, and survival, leading to the death of cancer cells [4,5,6]. Pevonedistat + azacitidine demonstrated preclinical synergistic antitumor activity in xenografts of AML and…

Melissa L. Johnson, MD Director, Lung Cancer Research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology speaks about A phase 1 study of AMG 757, a half-life extended bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) immuno-oncology therapy against DLL3, in SCLC.Link to Article:https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.2019.37.15_suppl.TPS8577Conceptual -TPS8577 77Context:SCLC is an active neuroendocrine tumor; recurrence, rapid growth, and resistance to current therapies are frequently accompanied by a response to initial chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) is a Notch receptor inhibitory ligand that is expressed but minimally expressed in normal tissues in most SCLC tumors. For T cell-redirecting immunotherapy, DLL3 may therefore be a promising target. AMG 757…

Drs. Susan Love and Stephanie Graff join Drs. Aggarwal and West as they discuss the origins of the Love Foundation, Love Research Army, advocacy and the role of patient outreach to increase clinical trial access.

Professor Thomas Powles, MD from Barts Cancer Centre, London, UK speaks about European Commission Approves BAVENCIO® (avelumab) for First-Line Maintenance Treatment of Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma.Link to Article -https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/european-commission-approves-bavencio-avelumab-for-first-line-maintenance-treatment-of-locally-advanced-or-metastatic-urothelial-carcinoma-301213683.html?tc=eml_cleartimeROCKLAND, Mass. and NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — EMD Serono, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, US, and Canada Healthcare Business Sector, and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced that BAVENCIO® (avelumab) has been approved by the European Commission (EC) as monotherapy for first-line maintenance treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinomas.BAVENCIO plus best supportive treatment (BSC) as first-line maintenance showed a substantial increase in median…

Sheela Rao, MDS Consultant Medical Oncologist, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust discusses Incyte Announces Acceptance and Priority Review of BLA for Retifanlimab as a Potential Treatment for Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal (SCAC).Link to Article -https://investor.incyte.com/press-releases/press-releases/2021/Incyte-Announces-Acceptance-and-Priority-Review-of-BLA-for-Retifanlimab-as-a-Potential-Treatment-for-Patients-with-Squamous-Cell-Carcinoma-of-the-Anal-Canal-SCAC/default.aspxWILMINGTON, Del.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—According to Incyte (Nasdaq: INCY) today, the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Biologics License Application (BLA) for retifanlimab, an intravenous PD-1 inhibitor, for Priority Review as a possible treatment for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic anal canal squamous cell carcinoma (SCAC) who have advanced or are intolerant to platinum-based chemotherapy.BLA submissions…

Takeo Fujii, MD, MPH from MD Anderson Cancer Center speaks about the Incidence of immune-related adverse events and its association with treatment outcomes: the MD Anderson Cancer Center experience.Link to Study -https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10637-017-0534-0Overview -ContextImmunotherapy is emerging as the cornerstone of treatment for patients with advanced cancer, but substantial toxicity (irAEs) associated with the unbridled activity of T cells remains a concern. Patients and Methods A retrospective review of the electronic medical records of 290 advanced cancer patients treated between February 2010 and September 2015 in an immunotherapy-based clinical trial at the Department of Investigative Cancer Therapeutics of the University of Texas…

Roy S. Herbst, MD, Ph.D., chief of Medical Oncology at Yale University discusses the IASLC 2020 abstract – Lung-Map Translational Discoveries Shared At 2020 World Conference On Lung Cancer.Link to Article -https://www.lung-map.org/media/press/lung-map-translational-discoveries-shared-2020-world-conference-lung-cancerTo see the full abstracts for these and all WCLC presentations, visit the conference website – https://wclc2020.iaslc.org/At the 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer, to be held online January 28-31, 2021, WASHINGTON, DC- Investigators leading the Lung Cancer Master Protocol, or Lung-MAP trial, will present results from three translational medicine studies.The presentations will mark the first time that researchers will share insights into translational medicine from Lung-MAP, the first…

Felix Y. Feng, MD, professor of radiation oncology, urology, and medicine from the University of California, San Francisco speaks about the ASCO GU 2021 abstract – SPARTAN: A post-hoc analysis from a biomarker cohort study identifying the molecular signatures associated with long-term response to Erleada (Abstract #8).Link To Abstract -https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/194572/abstractContext:A phase 3 placebo (PBO)-controlled study of SPARTAN in nmCRPC patients (pts) has shown that APA plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) substantially increases metastasis-free survival compared to PBO + ADT. Potential biological signatures of pts with long term responses to APA and PBO were examined in this exploratory study.Methodology:Based on time…

Jared Weiss, MD, Associate Professor Clinical Research Hematology/Oncology from Cancer Grace speaks about FDA Approves First Therapy Developed to Help Protect Against Chemo Side Effects: G1’s COSELA. Link To Press Release -http://investor.g1therapeutics.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-g1-therapeutics-coselatm-trilaciclib-first-and-onlyTRIANGLE PARK RESEARCH, N.C., Feb. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTHX), an oncology company in the commercial stage, today reported that the U.S. COSELATM (trilaciclib) has been approved for injection by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to minimize the occurrence of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in adult patients when administered prior to a platinum/etoposide-containing or topotecan-containing regimen for large-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). It is…

Jonathan D. Tward, MD, Ph.D. from the Huntsman Cancer Institute and U Health – University of Utah speaks about New Study from Leading University of Utah Radiation Oncologist Validates Ability of Myriad Genetics’ Prolaris® test to Guide Treatment for Prostate Cancer.Link to Press Release -https://myriad.com/investors/news-release/news-release-detail/?newsItemId=21816SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYGN), a pioneer in genetic testing and precise medicine, today revealed additional evidence further validating the prognostic strength of its Prolaris® test and its ability to reliably predict which men with more advanced prostate cancer will benefit from therapy intensification and which patients…

Anne L. Angiolillo, MD, MS, director of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Program at Children’s National Medical Center speaks about the Excellent Outcomes With Reduced Frequency of Vincristine and Dexamethasone Pulses in Standard-Risk B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Results From Children’s Oncology Group AALL0932.Link To Study -https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.20.00494Abstract - PURPOSITY:In order to optimize disease-free survival (DFS) thus reducing the burden of therapy in children with newly diagnosed NCI standard-risk (SR) B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia, AALL0932 tested two randomized maintenance approaches (B-ALL).AND METHODS:AALL0932 enrolled 9,229 patients with B-ALL; 2,364 patients with a mean risk (AR) were randomly assigned to vincristine/dexamethasone pulses every 4 (VCR/DEX4) or every 12 (VCR/DEX12)…

Ashley E Ross, MD, Ph.D. From Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine speaks about Practical Applications of Novel Imaging and Genomics Approaches in the Management of Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer.Link to Slides -https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/193305/slideLink to Article -https://www.urotoday.com/conference-highlights/asco-gu-2021/prostate-cancer/127881-asco-gu-2021-use-of-genomics-to-guide-treatment-decisions-in-post-prostatectomy-patients.amp.htmlThe 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Symposium on Genitourinary (GU) Cancers included a presentation by Dr. Ashley Ross exploring the use of genomics in post-prostatectomy patients to guide treatment decisions. Dr. Ross states that the clinical usefulness of the Decipher® genomic classifier recently reported in European Urology was evaluated in a recent systematic review.1 This genomic classifier tests 22 genes representing various oncological…

Zeynep Busra Zengin, MD, a postdoctoral fellow at the City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer center discusses the ASCO GU 2021 abstract – Illustration of temporal evolution in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) using both circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and tissue-based genomic data.Link to Study -https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/195147/abstractContext:We have previously shown the viability of mRCC ctDNA evaluation and have previously shown agreement between ctDNA and tissue-based genomic findings (Zengin et al ESMO 2020). Our data showed that the degree of agreement depended on the temporal separation of samples of blood and tissue. In a separate validation cohort, we sought to…

Cesar A. Santa-Maria, MD MSCI from Johns Hopkins speaks about the PRISMM Study – Patient Response to Immunotherapy Using Spliceosome Mutational Markers.Link to Study -https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/kimmel_cancer_center/cancers_we_treat/breast_cancer_program/research_and_clinical_trials/PRISMM/Link to ClinicalTrials -https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04447651Summary Brief:This research is being performed to see whether patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have a particular tumor genetic mutation (the SF3B1 mutation) are more likely to react to commercially available immunotherapy agents.Description in detail:This is a non-therapeutic study, meaning that while Johns Hopkins offers a treatment recommendation based on the genetic information of participants, the oncologist of participants and participants will eventually determine what to do, and the oncologist…

Professor Thomas Powles, MD of Barts Cancer Centre, Queen Mary University of London speaks about Seattle Genetics and Astellas Announce PADCEV® (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) Significantly Improved Overall Survival in Phase 3 Trial in Previously Treated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer.Link to Press Release -https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200918005101/en/BOTHELL, Wash. & TOKYO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) and Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas”) today reported that their primary endpoint of overall survival relative to chemotherapy was reached by a phase 3 trial of PADCEV® (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv). Following a planned interim study, the findings were reviewed by an independent…

Arjun Balar, MD from NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center discusses Astellas and Seagen Announce Positive Topline Results from Second Cohort of Patients in Phase 2 Pivotal Trial of PADCEV® (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) in Advanced Urothelial Cancer.Link To Press Release-https://www.astellas.com/system/files/news/2020-10/20201013_en_1.pdfTOKYO and BOTHELL, Wash. — October 12, 2020 — Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas”) and Seagen Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) today reported promising topline results from the second cohort of patients known as EV-201 in the pivotal single-arm phase 2 clinical trial. The cohort is testing the antibody-drug conjugate PADCEV® (enfortumab vedotin-ejfv) for patients with locally advanced or…

Yung Lyou, MD from the City of Hope speaks about High-throughput global transcriptional profiling to identify the STAT3 signaling pathway as a potential biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance in metastatic/advanced urothelial carcinoma.Link to Poster -https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/194788/posterContext:A major public health burden, with a median overall survival of 15 months, is advanced/metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC). While an additional second-line treatment choice has been offered by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), only 15-40% of patients can react. In order to further develop these therapies, there has been a great deal of work to establish the mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance and predictive biomarkers.Methodology:For study, pre-treatment…

Kim Chi, MD, Vice President & Chief Medical Officer of BC Cancer speaks about TITAN: A final analysis with close to four years of follow-up data evaluating Erleada versus placebo in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer receiving hormone therapy (Abstract #11).   Link to Abstract- https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/194577/abstract   Context: APA or PBO applied to ADT in pts with mCSPC is evaluated by TITAN. Eligibility was made for Pts with high- and low-volume disease, prior docetaxel, prior localized disease therapy, and prior ADT ( ⁇ 6 mos). APA substantially improved the dual primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR]…

Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center speaks about the Editorial – BRAF Mutation in Colorectal Cancer: An Enigmatic Target.Link to Full Article -https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.20.03043Cytotoxic chemotherapy combined with biologic agents such as antivascular endothelial growth factor or antiepidermal growth factor has been our normal strategy for all patients for over a decade.1-3 Since then, research has advanced, including the importance of genomic alterations as potential predictive and prognostic markers in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC).4,55The BRAF gene encodes the critical mechanism in the carcinogenesis of multiple cancers for a serine or threonine-protein kinase associated…

Prof. Michael Boyer of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse and the University of Sydney discusses Pembrolizumab Plus Ipilimumab or Placebo for Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer With PD-L1 Tumor Proportion Score ≥ 50%: Randomized, Double-Blind Phase III KEYNOTE-598 Study.Link to Full Article -https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.20.03579ABSTRACT -Intent —Pembrolizumab monotherapy is a normal first-line treatment with a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) tumor proportion score (TPS) of about 50 percent without actionable driver mutations for metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is not clear if the addition of ipilimumab to pembrolizumab in this population increases efficacy compared to pembrolizumab alone.FOR METHODSIn the randomized, double-blind, phase III KEYNOTE-598 trial…

Sumanta (Monty) K. Pal, MD of the City of Hope speaks about A randomized, multi-arm comparison of targeted therapies for advanced papillary renal cell carcinoma.PORTLAND, OR-The small molecule inhibitor cabozantinib was found to be most effective in treating patients with metastatic papillary kidney cancer in a SWOG Cancer Research Network trial that tested three targeted drugs, results that are expected to change medical practice.These results will be discussed on Feb. 13, 2021, at 1 p.m. at ASCO’s virtual 2021 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. ET. The et. The results will be published in The Lancet simultaneously.For metastatic papillary kidney cancer or metastatic…

Pasi A. Jänne, MD, Ph.D. from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discusses Takeda Presents New Data Highlighting Scientific Advancements in Lung Cancer at ESMO Virtual Congress. For more information go to IASLC – WCLC 2020 -https://wclc2020.iaslc.org/   Cambridge, MASS. & Osaka, JAPAN, 28 January 2021-Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE: TAK) (‘Takeda’) today announced that new evidence from the Phase 1/2 trial of orally administered mobocertinib (TAK-788) in previously treated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) patients would be presented with Exon20 insertion+ metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) as late-breaking oral lung cancer (mNSCLC)       Patients with EGFR Exon20 insertion+ mNSCLC…

Crystal Denlinger, MD of the Fox Chase Cancer Center discusses Crystal Denlinger Named Chief Scientific Officer for National Comprehensive Cancer Network.Link to Article -https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/crystal-denlinger-named-chief-scientific-officer-for-national-comprehensive-cancer-network-301208454.html#:~:text=14%2C%202021%20%2FPRNewswire%2F%20%2D%2D,Vice%20President%2C%20Chief%20Scientific%20Officer.PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/—A coalition of leading cancer centers, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), today announced the appointment of Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP, to the newly formed position of Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer. In this position, Dr. Denlinger will help guide the non-profit strategic course and supervise the NCCN Oncology Research Program (ORP). It will also be responsible for providing input into the clinical information program of NCCN, including the…

Doreen M. Agnese, MD of The OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute and/or Yale University School of Medicine discusses Surgical and Radiation Treatment Updates to Management of Breast Cancer, Including SABCS UpdatesLink To Event -https://web.cvent.com/event/1e5680ef-4f00-4f94-aae2-4e43c3d17eac/websitePage:645d57e4-75eb-4769-b2c0-f201a0bfc6ceLink To Dr. Agnese’s Bio -https://cancer.osu.edu/find-a-doctor/search-physician-directory/doreen-m-agnese Latest Clinical Trial – https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01901094 I’m a surgical oncologist, clinical geneticist, and researcher who treats breast cancer patients. I specialize in treating high-risk breast cancer patients as a surgeon.   I advise patients as a geneticist on risk assessments based on family background, genetic testing and preventive screening choices, and treatments. My research focuses…

Enrique M. Ocio, MD, Ph.D. of the Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital discusses ANCHOR (OP-104): Melflufen Plus Dexamethasone (dex) and Daratumumab (dara) or Bortezomib (BTZ) in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) Refractory to an IMiD and/or a Proteasome Inhibitor (PI) – Updated Efficacy and Safety.Link To Study -https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/136/Supplement%201/9/470073/ANCHOR-OP-104-Melflufen-Plus-Dexamethasone-dex-andContext:RRMM patients also develop resistance to conventional therapy, emphasizing the need for new treatments and new mechanisms of action (MOA). A first-in-class peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) that targets aminopeptidases and rapidly releases alkylating agents into tumor cells is melphalan flufenamide (melflufen).In the phase 2 HORIZON study (OP-106; overall response rate [ORR], 29 percent; median progression-free…

Matthew Smith, MD, Professor of Medicine of Harvard Medical School and Director of the Genitourinary Malignancies Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Speaks about the ASCO GU 2021 Abstracts Analysis of the effect of crossover from placebo (PBO) to darolutamide (DARO) on overall survival (OS) benefit in the ARAMIS Trial and Safety of darolutamide (DARO) for nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) from extended follow-up in the phase III ARAMIS trial.Link To The Abstract 239 – https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/195160/abstractLink To The Abstract 240 – https://meetinglibrary.asco.org/record/194935/abstract   Abstract 240 – Analysis of the effect of a placebo (PBO) crossover on the overall survival…

Matthew Smith, MD, Professor of Medicine of Harvard Medical School and Director of the Genitourinary Malignancies Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center discusses the U.S. FDA Approves Addition of Overall Survival and Other Secondary Endpoint Data to NUBEQA® (darolutamide) Prescribing Information.Link To the Study -https://bayer2019tf.q4web.com/news/news-details/2021/U.S.-FDA-Approves-Addition-of-Overall-Survival-and-Other-Secondary-Endpoint-Data-to-NUBEQA-darolutamide-Prescribing-Information/default.aspxPhase III results showed that NUBEQA care resulted in a 31 percent reduction in death risk, with a statistically significant increase in overall survival (OS) relative to placebo (HR=0.69, 95 percent CI 0.53-0.88; p=0.003), giving men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) the chance to prolong their lives.For men living with nmCRPC, time to pain…

Dr. Irene Ghobrial and Dr. Karen Winkfield give us guidance on a basic action we can all take to help in the fight against multiple myeloma

Dr. Irene Ghobrial and Dr. Karen Winkfield discuss the ground-breaking study on the disease that will aid in developing new parameters for prevention and treatment

Dr. Irene Ghobrial and Dr. Karen Winkfield discuss the markers surrounding the disease and those people most at risk for developing it

Dr. Irene Ghobrial and Dr. Karen Winkfield describe the symptoms of the disease and how their research study is aiding in prevention

Dr. Irene Ghobrial and Dr. Karen Winkfield talk about the necessity for research to stem the incidence of multiple myeloma

Grzegorz S. Nowakowski, MD from the Mayo Clinic speaks about the Addition of Lenalidomide to R-CHOP Improves Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Randomized Phase II US Intergroup Study ECOG-ACRIN E1412.Link To Study -https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.20.01375Intent —In untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), lenalidomide combined with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) (R2CHOP) showed promising activity, particularly in the activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtype. A randomized phase II study comparing R2CHOP versus R-CHOP in untreated DLBCL was the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)-ACRIN trial E1412.METHODS AND PATIENTSQualified and randomly allocated 1:1 to R2CHOP versus R-CHOP for six…

Conor E. Steuer, MD from the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta discusses Patients with Lung Cancer Reduce Smoking Rate After Enrollment in Phase III Clinical Trial.Link To Article -https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2021-02/iaft-pwl013021.php(DENVER—February 1, 2021, 10:00 a.m. EST) According to research published today in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the first systematic, prospective study of smoking habits in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were involved in a phase III early-stage trial showed that there was a high rate of smoking reduction and cessation following entry into the study. The JTO is the International Association for the Study of…

William Gradishar, MD, FASCO, FACP from the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University speaks about Updates to the Systemic Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer, Including SABCS Updates.Link to NCCN 2021 Flier -https://custom.cvent.com/A534AF7FE15948CAB67ABDABC062DF76/files/42384271dfff470b80f3c1476934d325.pdfWilliam J. Gradishar, MD, is Professor of Breast Oncology at Betsy Bramsen, Professor of Medicine, and Chief of the Hematology and Medical Oncology Division at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Gradishar is also the Deputy Director for the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Clinical Network, where he also acts as Director of the Maggie Daley Center for Women’s Cancer Treatment. In addition, he…

Co-hosts Charu Aggarwal and Jack West are joined by Dr. Toni Choueiri to discuss the role of twitter for education, mentorship and a platform for sharing credible information.Visit https://BeaconMedIC.com for more media and information.Subscribe to audio podcast at http://BTJBeacon.libsyn.com/rss/audio

Erica L. Mayer, MD, MPH of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discusses Palbociclib with adjuvant endocrine therapy in early breast cancer (PALLAS): interim analysis of a multicentre, open-label, randomised, phase 3 study.SummaryContextIn hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative, metastatic breast cancer, the addition of palbociclib to endocrine therapy increases progression-free survival. The aim of the PALLAS trial was to investigate whether the addition of 2 years of palbociclib to adjuvant endocrine therapy enhances invasive disease-free survival in patients with hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative, early-stage breast cancer over endocrine therapy alone.MethodologyPALLAS is an ongoing multicentre, open-label, randomized, phase 3 trial that has recruited patients with histologically confirmed hormone-receptor-positive,…

Omar Nadeem, MD from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute speaks about HORIZON (OP-106): Melflufen Plus Dexamethasone (dex) in Patients (pts) with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM)-Analysis of Adverse Events Related to Hospitalizations.Context:RRMM pts are a very ill group due to signs of illness, comorbidities, medication side effects, and age-related fragility (Chim et al. Leukemia. 2018;32:252). Adverse events (AEs) that impair their quality of life and decrease medication compliance are also encountered by Pts; hematologic AEs are frequent. Inpatient facilities are also required for AE management and are a significant cost driver, with costs increasing per AE episode (highest for hematologic AEs; Felber et…

Erminia Massarelli, MD Ph.D. from the City of Hope speaks about Lung Cancer: Her Experience, Research, And The Current Treatment Landscape.Link To Dr. Massarelli’s Biography -https://www.cityofhope.org/people/massarelli-erminia

Clayton S. Lau, MD of the City of Hope speaks about Prostate Cancer: His Experience, Research, And The Current Treatment Landscape.Link to Dr. Lau’s Biography -https://www.cityofhope.org/people/lau-clayton

Joanne Mortimer, MD from the City of Hope speaks about Breast Cancer: Her Experience, Research, And The Current Treatment LandscapeLink to Dr. Mortimer’s Biography -https://www.cityofhope.org/people/mortimer-joanne

Geoffrey M. Lowman, Ph.D. from Thermo Fisher Scientific discusses Haplotype Analysis of the T-Cell Receptor Beta (TCRB) Locus by Long-amplicon TCRB Repertoire Sequencing.For more information on -OncomineTM TCR Beta-LR Assay -https://www.thermofisher.com/order/catalog/product/A35386?us&en#/A35386?us&enInstractContext:As a risk factor for autoimmune disorders and immune-related adverse effects (IRAEs) during immunotherapy, polymorphism within the human T-cell receptor beta variable (TRBV) gene has been suggested. The repetitive nature of the T-cell receptor beta (TCRB) locus has hindered previous attempts to test TRBV polymorphism through whole genome sequencing. To allow TRBV haplotype analysis from peripheral blood, we present a novel long-amplicon TCRB repertoire sequencing approach.Methodology:For the sequencing of TCRB…

Uri Ben-David, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry at the Tel Aviv University speaks about the AARC 2020 – Abstract NG02: Genomic evolution of cancer models: Perils and opportunities.InstractCancer precision medicine is based on the premise that the drug response is correlated with the unique genomic features of a human tumor. Therefore, its vulnerabilities could be predicted by analyzing the genomic features of a tumor, and appropriate treatment could then be tailored. To achieve this goal, a detailed “dependence map” needs to be established that would allow each tumor’s “Achilles heel” to be predicted based on…

CPI-613 (Devimistat) + Cytarabine + Mitoxantrone in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) FDA Fast Track Designation CPI-613 (Devimistat) Demonstrates Positive Outcomes in Relapsed/Refractory Acute AML This is a clinical trial that is designed for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They have already received prior therapy and either relapsed or refractory aml to the prior therapy. So, it’s what we call salvage therapy and the design of the CPI-613 (Devimistat) study is that of the patient. It’s a phase 3 randomized multicenter clinical trial. CPI-613 (Devimistat) + Cytarabine + Mitoxantrone in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Study Design It’s a large study and…

Josep Tabernero, MD, PhD, Head of Medical Oncology at Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital, and Director, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) discusses Trifluridine/tipiracil outcomes in third- or later lines versus placebo in metastatic gastric cancer treatment: An exploratory subgroup analyses from the TAGS study (Phase3).Context:Metastatic gastroesophageal cancer (GC/GEJC) is a poorly prognosed and aggressive disease with a median overall survival (mOS) of around 1 year. Although new therapies have appeared, given the heterogeneity of the disease, the need for a deeper understanding of biology and patient profiling is important. Previously, in strongly pretreated metastatic GC/GEJC patients with a 31 percent…

Tito R. Mendoza, Ph.D., MS, MEd from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Immunotherapy module of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory.InstractIntroducing:Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of multiple cancers, but their symptomatic toxicity is little understood. By questioning the patients themselves, the diagnosis of these symptoms is better done. Such studies, however, are subjective and, like bonafide science evidence, can face challenges. Demonstrating the validity of symptom evaluation methods, particularly through the elimination of measurement errors, if these tools are widely adopted, has the potential to improve patient care. To that end,…

Michael A. Pulsipher, MD from the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles discusses Continued Role for Radiation in the Conditioning Regimen for Children With ALL.Link To Full Article:https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/JCO.20.03261The outcomes of the 413 randomly selected patients showed an unequivocal increase in survival using the TBI method. A startling 28 percent (86 percent v 58 percent; P < .0001) of event-free survival (EFS) was higher at 2 years. For a population where the advantage was not apparent and did not work, the authors looked very hard. CR1 patients had an EFS gain of 24 percent (91 percent v 67…

Jonathan Shamash MBChB, MD, MRCP of Barts and The London NHS Trust speaks about The impact of a supranetwork multidisciplinary team (SMDT) on decision-making in testicular cancers: a 10-year overview of the Anglian Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (AGCCCG).InstractContextFor the Anglian Network, the germ cell supranetwork multidisciplinary team (SMDT) serves a population of 7.5 million.MethodologyWe analyzed and classified 10 years of SMDT discussion into five domains ((1) overall result, (2) untreated disease and salvage therapy chemotherapy regimens, (3) radiology, (4) pathology, and (5) complex cases) to determine the effects of SMDT.OutcomesThere were a total of 2892 new cases reviewed. In…

Stephen M. Ansell, MD, Ph.D. from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester speaks about the review: Checkpoint BLOCKade in Lymphoma.Link To Paper -https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.20.01522InstractAlong with advances in genomic research, the clinical development of successful cancer immunotherapies has led to the discovery of tumor environmental characteristics that predict susceptibility to immune control point blockade therapy (CBT). The remarkable efficacy of CBT in various lymphoma subtypes, including classical Hodgkin lymphoma and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma, has been demonstrated in early-phase clinical trial findings. Conversely, for follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, CBT has been relatively disappointing. Together with significant scientific findings, these clinical studies…

Vered Stearns, MD of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins discusses Taking an individualized approach to preventing and treating breast cancer, specifically metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer in African American Women.Link To The Article:https://www.v.org/2020/vered-stearns-m-d/Vered Stearns, M.D., and Roisin Connolly, M.D., of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, obtained one such grant. Their team uses an individualized approach, specifically metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer, to prevent and treat breast cancer (TNBC). Compared to white women, African American women are more likely to get TNBC and more likely to get the most violent form and to…

Jean-Jacques Kiladjian, M.D., Ph.D. from Saint-Louis Hospital and Paris Diderot University in France speaks about the ASH abstract – 481 Long-Term Use of Ropeginterferon Alpha-2b in Polycythemia Vera: 5-Year Results from a Randomized Controlled Study and Its Extension.Introducing:Life-long care is required in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) in order to avoid thromboembolic events and minimize the risk of progression. By selectively targeting the malignant clone, ropeginterferon alpha-2b (BESREMi®; hereafter ropeg) will eventually alter the natural history of PV. In the PROUD-PV/CONTINUATION-PV trials, long-term ropeg therapy was contrasted with normal cytoreductive therapy for thromboembolic and other adverse reactions, as well as…

DUBLIN – January 27, 2021 – Mallinckrodt plc, a global biopharmaceutical company, announced today that Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) approved the CELLEX® extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) system for the treatment of steroid-resistant or intolerant chronic graft versus host disease (cGvHD) in adults. The approval was based on an open-label study conducted in patients with steroid-resistant or intolerant cGvHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at three institutions in Japan. The efficacy rate following evaluation of response and changes in steroid dose 24-weeks after ECP initiation was 66.7 percent (8/12 patients), the primary endpoint of the study. Adverse events were observed in…

Danelle James, M.D., M.A.S. of Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie company discusses IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) U.S. Prescribing Information Updated to Include Long-Term Data for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia (WM).Today, AbbVie reported that the U.S. The update of the IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) Prescription Details has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide efficacy and safety data for the combination of IMBRUVICA with rituximab for the treatment of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) based on the final review of Phase 3 iNNOVATE trial. IMBRUVICA is currently available for patients with many forms of blood cancer, as well as chronic graft-versus-host disease, and was first approved in 2013. On…

Gypsyamber D’Souza, Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg School of Public Health speaks about Timing, number, and type of sexual partners associated with the risk of oropharyngeal cancerInstractContextCase-control research from the early 2000s found that oropharyngeal cancer associated with human papillomavirus (HPV-OPC) is a different entity linked to the number of oral sex partners. We examined novel risk factors (sexual debut habits, exposure intensity, and relationship dynamics) and serological markers on HPV-OPC odds using current data.MethodologyFrom 2013 to 2018, HPV-OPC patients and frequency-matched controls were enrolled in a multicenter trial. A behavioral survey was conducted by respondents. Using a chi-square test…

Guillermo Garcia-Manero, MD from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center speaks about ASH 2020 Abstract – 1230 Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Oral Decitabine/Cedazuridine in 133 Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML)Clinically Relevant AbstractIntroducing:The standard of care for the treatment of MDS and CMML is developed with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) or DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) such as decitabine or azacitidine. Because of the rapid degradation of cytidine deaminase (CDA) in the gut and liver, the oral bioavailability of these agents has been reduced, requiring intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injections daily for 5-7 days per…

Andreana N. Holowatyj, Ph.D., MS Assistant Professor of Medicine and Cancer Biology from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center discusses Spectrum of Somatic Cancer Gene Variations Among Adults With Appendiceal Cancer by Age at Disease Onset. InstractSignificance:The incidence of appendiceal cancer (AC) is growing with unknown etiologies, especially among individuals younger than 50 years of age (early onset of AC). In patients with early-onset AC, the unique spectrum of somatic cancer gene variations is largely undetermined.Target:To classify the frequency of somatic variations and genomic trends in early-onset (<50 years of age) vs late-onset (<50 years of age) AC patients.Plan,…

Sophie G Kellaway and Prof Constanze Bonifer from the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham speaks about the Different mutant RUNX1 oncoproteins program alternate haematopoietic differentiation trajectories.InstractImportance:  In patients with early-onset AC, the unique spectrum of somatic cancer gene variations is largely undetermined.Objective: Plan, environment, and participants: This cohort study included individuals diagnosed with pathologically confirmed AC aged 18 years and older. The International Clinicogenomic Data Sharing Consortium American Association for Cancer Research Project Genomics Proof Neoplasia Knowledge Exchange reported cases with clinical-grade targeted sequencing data from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2019. (GENIE). From May to…

Kohei Shitara, MD, Chief, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology of the National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa discusses The impact of prior therapies on outcomes with trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) in the phase III TAGS trial.Context:It is unclear if prior therapy with ramucirumab (RAM) or RAM plus paclitaxel (PAC), the standard second-line therapy for metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (mGC/GEJC), can affect the outcomes of third-line chemotherapy in this patient population (pt) (pop). FTD/TPI demonstrated a survival advantage vs. placebo (PBO) in pts with mGC/GEJC that had received = 2 previous chemotherapy regimens in the phase 3 TAGS trial. In order to…

Nathan Connell, MD, MPH, FACP of Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School speaks about ASH ISTH NHF WFH 2021 guidelines on the management of von Willebrand disease.Context:A prevalent hereditary bleeding disorder is von Willebrand disease (VWD). In management options provided to patients, substantial variability occurs.Target:The aim of these evidence-based recommendations from the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF), and the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) is to help patients, physicians, and health care practitioners in their VWD management decisions.Methodology:The multidisciplinary guideline panel was founded by ASH, ISTH,…

Teresa Klinowska, Ph.D. Global Product Leader, Late Stage Oncology at AstraZeneca discussed the SABCS 20 abstract – SERENA-1 Phase I trial show strong efficacy and safety profile for next-generation oral SERD AZD9833 in HR-positive advanced breast cancerPrincipal abstracts include:New results from the Phase II DESTINY-Breast01 trial reinforcing the long-lasting efficacy of ENHERTU® (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer after two or more previous anti-HER2 regimensNew results from the SERENA-1 Phase I trial, which demonstrated good efficacy and safety in HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, for the next generation oral selective oestrogen receptor degrader (SERD), AZD9833 as monotherapy, and in…

Michele Ghidini, MD, Ph.D., Medical Oncologist, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Milan, Italy speaks about Body weight loss (BWL) as a prognostic/predictive factor in previously treated patients (pts) with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer (mGC/GEJC): Post-hoc analyses of the phase III tags trialContext:Nutritional status is closely related to cancer mortality, and in curative, first- and second-line settings in mGC/GEJC, BWL has been shown to be prognostic for survival. Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) demonstrated clinical advantage against placebo (PBO) and manageable protection in pts with mGC/GEJC that had obtained = 2 previous chemotherapy regimens in the phase III TAGS trial.…

Aung Naing, MD, FACP of MD Anderson discusses the Phase 2 study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced rare cancers.InstractContext:There is a poor prognosis for patients with advanced rare cancers with few treatment options. We aimed to test pembrolizumab (programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor) in patients with advanced, rare cancers as immunotherapy is successful across multiple types of cancer.Methodology:In this open-label, phase 2 study, nine tumor-specific cohorts and a 10th cohort for other unusual histologies were included in patients with advanced rare cancers whose tumors had progressed to standard therapies, if appropriate, during the previous 6 months. Pembrolizumab 200…

Omar M. Abdel-Rahman Abdelsalam, MBBCh, MSc, MD, Assistant Professor of Medical Oncology from the University of Alberta discusses the New Research in JNCCN Highlights Dangerous Disparities for Life-Saving Cancer Screening.PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — New research in the January 2021 issue of the JNCCN-National Comprehensive Cancer Network Journal shows that more than a third of qualifying individuals skip timely colorectal cancer screening tests and at least a fifth tend to miss timely breast and cervical cancer screening tests. The research comes from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine, and Dentistry in Alberta, Canada, with findings from…

Afsaneh Barzi, MD, medical oncologist at the City of Hope discusses the ASCO GI 2020 Discussion- Disparities in Access to Screening and Variation of Targets in Different Groups.https://meetings.asco.org/gi/friday-program

Afsaneh Barzi, MD, medical oncologist at the City of Hope discusses the ASCO GI 2020 Abstract – Health-related quality of life and time from diagnosis among young adult colorectal cancer survivors.Context:The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is growing among patients under 50 years of age. The quality of life of survivors in this population is not well represented. In CRC survivors = 50 years old, who were 6-18 months or 19-36 months from initial diagnosis or relapse, we compared health-related quality of life (HRQoL).Methodology:In conjunction with a national association for young CRC survivors, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted. To…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. Access to the full agenda can…

We are excited to be able to present final videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum. This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President of the Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung cancer. Access to the full agenda can…

We are excited to be able to offer videos from this highly anticipated annual event, the 2020 Targeted Therapies Patient Forum, presented by the Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education (GRACE). This year’s live-online presentations and discussions were launched by our Event Chair, Luis E. Raez, MD FACP FCCP, Member of the GRACE Board of Directors, President Florida Society of Clinical Oncology (FLASCO), and Chief Scientific Officer & Medical Director at Memorial Cancer Institute. This day-long event featured top oncologists in their field, presenting the most current and emerging information in targeted therapies for patients and caregivers living with lung…

We are pleased to present this newest video series of updates from ASCO and ESMO 2020, with discussions on updates to head and neck cancer treatments and trials. Dr. Joshua Bauml, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Jared Weiss, Associate Professor of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill and Vice President of the Board of GRACE chaired this program. Drs. Bauml and Weiss spoke with Dr. Kathryn Gold, Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego and Dr. Ranee Mehra, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University…

We are pleased to present this newest video series of updates from ASCO and ESMO 2020, with discussions on updates to head and neck cancer treatments and trials. Dr. Joshua Bauml, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Dr. Jared Weiss, Associate Professor of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill and Vice President of the Board of GRACE chaired this program. Drs. Bauml and Weiss spoke with Dr. Kathryn Gold, Medical Oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Diego and Dr. Ranee Mehra, Professor of Medical Oncology at the University…

Helene Rundqvist of the Karolinska Institutet speaks about Cytotoxic T-cells mediate exercise-induced reductions in tumor growth.An abstract:Exercise has a large spectrum of structural impacts. Repeated exertion decreases malignant tumor growth in animal models, and exercise can improve outcomes for cancer patients clinically. Like the cellular agents involved, the etiology of the impact of exercise on tumor development is unknown. We show here that exercise-induced reduction of tumor growth in mice is dependent on CD8+ T cells, and that metabolites produced in skeletal muscle and excreted in plasma in both mice and humans at high levels during exercise enhance the effector…

Larysa Sanchez, MD from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Tisch Cancer Institute speaks about the ASH 2020 Abstract – 3242 Real-World Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Proteasome Inhibitor (PI: Bortezomib [V], Carfilzomib [K], or Ixazomib [I])-Lenalidomide/Dexamethasone (Rd)-Triplets By Prior Lenalidomide-Exposure in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) Engaged in Routine Care in the United States (US)REFERENCE:The most frequently used triplet combination regimens in patients (pts) with RRMM in the US are PIs paired with a Rd backbone. The hallmark research supporting the effectiveness of these regimens were primarily in pts without prior exposure to lenalidomide (R).1,2 Real-world studies…

Antonio Llombart-Cussac, MD, Ph.D.  founding partner of Medica Scientia Innovation Research (MedSIR) and the Hospital Arnau de Vilanova speaks about the SABCS 2020 Abstract – Palbociclib in Combination with Fulvestrant or Letrozole in Endocrine-Sensitive Patients with HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer: Detailed Safety Analysis from a Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label, Phase II Trial (PARSIFAL).Abstract – The PARSIFAL study was an international, randomized, open-label phase II trial in patients with endocrine-sensitive, estrogen receptor-positive (ER[+]) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (HER2[-]) metastatic breast cancer (HER2[-]) in patients with endocrine-sensitive, estrogen receptor-positive (ER[+]) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative (HER2[-]) metastatic breast cancer as…

Antonio Llombart-Cussac, MD, Ph.D.  founding partner of Medica Scientia Innovation Research (MedSIR) and the Hospital Arnau de Vilanova explains the SABCS 2020 Abstract – A Phase II Proof-of-Concept Study of Palbociclib Rechallenge in Patients with HR+HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer and Clinical Benefit to Prior Palbociclib-Based Treatment BIOPER.Abstract – BIOPER was a multicenter, open-label, non-controlled phase II trial with two co-primary objectives: I To evaluate the clinical benefit of palbociclib plus endocrine therapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have previously received hormone therapy in combination with palbociclib and who have achieved clinical benefit after progression of the disease; (ii)…

Eunice S. Wang, MD of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center discusses the ASH 2020 abstract – 27 Phase 3, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of Gilteritinib, Gilteritinib Plus Azacitidine, or Azacitidine Alone in Newly Diagnosed FLT3 Mutated (FLT3mut+) Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Patients Ineligible for Intensive Induction Chemotherapy.Context:In patients with FLT3-mutated (FLT3mut+) relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including internal tandem duplication (ITD) and tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) mutations, Gilteritinib is an oral FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor that has demonstrated efficacy with favorable tolerability. Tumor growth and induced apoptosis and differentiation of FLT3 ITD AML cell lines and patient blasts in…

Christina Peters, MD, Professor of Paediatrics of St. Anna Children’s Hospital, and the Children’s Cancer Research Institute speaks about Total Body Irradiation or Chemotherapy Conditioning in Childhood ALL: A Multinational, Randomized, Noninferiority Phase III Study.ABSTRACT -PURPOSITY:In pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), total body irradiation (TBI) prior to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is successful, but long-term side effects are significant. We investigated whether, in such patients, preparatory combination chemotherapy could replace TBI.METHODS AND PATIENTS:FORUM is a non-inferiority, randomized, controlled, open-label, worldwide, multicenter, phase III sample. Myeloablative conditioning with fractionated 12 Gy TBI and etoposide versus fludarabine, thiotepa,…

Co-hosts Charu Aggarwal and Jack West are joined by Dr. Don Dizon to discuss the role social media plays in oncology, clinical trial enrollment and branding.

Prof. Dan Aderka of the Sheba Medical Center discusses the Optimal Sequence of Targeted Agents for All RAS & BRAF Patient Sub-types; Latest Data Update and Clinical Experience.https://virtualgi2020.com/congress-program/

Aung Naing, MD, FACP MD Anderson speaks about Strategies for improving the management of immune-related adverse events.You can download the IO Tox Management below -IOS -https://apps.apple.com/us/app/io-tox-management/id1514006592Android -https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.projectronin.iotoxman&hl=en_US&gl=USYou can find the full Abstract through the link below -https://jitc.bmj.com/content/8/2/e001754.fullInstractDurable and drastic responses in many difficult-to-treat malignancies have been observed with the advent of immunotherapeutic agents, outlining a path to overcoming cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPi) are a class of immunotherapy agents that, by reinvigorating the suppressed immune system, attack tumor cells. However, unbridled T-cell activity disrupts immune homeostasis and, in a large proportion of patients, causes a unique spectrum of side effects…

Jorge Cortes, MD, Director at the Georgia Cancer Center discusses U.S. FDA Approves Supplemental New Drug Application for Takeda’s ICLUSIG® (ponatinib) for Adult Patients with Resistant or Intolerant Chronic-Phase CML.CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & OSAKA, Japan—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE: TAK) announced today that the United States has announced The supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for ICLUSIG® (ponatinib) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in adult patients with chronic phase (CP) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with resistance or aversion to at least two prior kinase inhibitors. The revised label provides an integrated, response-based ICLUSIG dosing regimen in…

Robert M. Rifkin, MD of the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center speaks about the ASH 2020 Abstract – 3247 DREAMM-7: A Phase III Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Belantamab Mafodotin (Belamaf) with Bortezomib, and Dexamethasone (B-Vd) in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM)Introducing:A B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting antibody-drug conjugate is Belantamab mafodotin (belamaf; GSK2857916). In the pivotal Phase II DREAMM-2 trial, single-agent belamaf showed strong, long-lasting responses and a manageable safety profile in patients who were refractory and/or intolerant to ~3 treatment lines, including monoclonal anti-CD38 antibodies such as daratumumab (Lonial et al. Lancet Oncol 2020). Responses were preserved…

Robert M. Rifkin, MD of the Rocky Mountain Cancer Center speaks about the ASH 2020 Abstract – 551 The Phase 3 TOURMALINE-MM2 Trial: Oral Ixazomib, Lenalidomide, and Dexamethasone (IRd) Vs Placebo-Rd for Transplant-Ineligible Patients with Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma (NDMM).ContextIn transplant-ineligible NDMM patients, continuous Rd-based regimens are among the standards of treatment. These patients are diverse, ranging from healthy 70-plus-year-olds to elderly and/or vulnerable patients with low-performance status, requiring individual patient environments to be tailored to care. The continuous or higher cumulative dose use of proteasome inhibitors (PIs) contributes to improved long-term outcomes; however, long-term administration of injectable PIs can…

Jeffrey Skolnik, MD Inovio Pharmaceuticals discusses the Empower the Immune System to Treat Glioblastoma: DNA as Medicine.Information:  * Explore DNA drugs that can produce robust, antigen-specific T cell reactionsEvaluating the DNA medicine of Inovio, INO-5401 has promising early GBM data suggesting early efficacy and immunogenicity.Discuss the DNA medication of Inovio, its technology, and other promising approaches to GBM therapy.Dr. Skolnik supervises all the cancer immunotherapy services for Inovio, as well as those for other infectious diseases. Formerly at Tetralogic Pharmaceuticals, where he was Vice President of Clinical Research and later Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Skolnik supervised all oncology, infectious diseases,…

R. Stephanie Huang, Ph.D. of the University of Minnesota and R.S. Huang Lab discusses Computationally predicting clinical drug combination efficacy with cancer cell line screens and independent drug action.Lab website – http://huang-lab.umn.edu/Outline: Recently, evidence has emerged that many combinations of clinical cancer drugs can derive their effectiveness from independent drug action (IDA), where only the single most effective drug in a drug combination benefits patients. Here we present IDACombo, an IDA-based tool that uses monotherapy data from high-throughput cancer cell line screens to predict the effectiveness of drug combinations. In vitro (Pearson’s correlation = 0.93 when comparing predicted efficacy to observed…

Tammy Lo, NP from Norwalk Hospital speaks about Pancreatic Cancer and Reacts to Alex Trebek’s Death from the Disease.Pancreatic CancerCancer in the organ that lies behind the lower part of the stomach starts (pancreas).Enzymes that aid digestion and hormones that help control sugar metabolism are secreted by the pancreas. Sometimes, this form of cancer is discovered late, spreads easily, and has a poor prognosis.In the early stages, there are no signs. Symptoms are associated with later stages, but these may be non-specific, such as lack of appetite and loss of weight.Treatment may include removing the pancreas, radiation, and chemotherapy surgically.You…

Ron Peck, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Arvinas speaks about Arvinas Releases Interim Clinical Data Further Demonstrating the Powerful Potential of PROTAC® Protein Degraders ARV-471 and ARV-110.NEW HAVEN, Conn., 14 December 2020-Clinical-stage Arvinas, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARVN),The biopharmaceutical company that uses its PROTAC® Discovery Engine to build a new class of drugs focused on targeted protein degradation today revealed clinical program updates for its PROTAC® protein degraders ARV-471 and ARV-110. Interim Phase 1 results for ARV-471 indicate the potential for best-in-class protection and tolerability, degradation of the estrogen receptor (ER) higher than previously recorded for the current standard of care agent…

Prof. Matthias Preusser from the Medical University of Vienna discusses EANO guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of diffuse gliomas of adulthood.InstractThe European Association of Neuro-Oncology (EANO) acknowledged the need to include revised recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of adult patients with diffuse gliomas in response to significant developments in diagnostic algorithms and the publication of mature findings from numerous broad clinical trials. A task force of EANO offers guidance for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of adult patients with diffuse gliomas through these evidence-based guidelines. The diagnostic portion is focused on the 2016 update of the WHO Central…

Javid Moslehi, MD and Justin M. Balko, Pharm.D., Ph.D. from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center discuss A genetic mouse model recapitulates immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis and supports a mechanism-based therapeutic intervention.InstractCancer therapy has been transformed by immune control point inhibitors (ICI) targeting CTLA-4 or PD-1/PD-L1 but is associated with immune-related adverse effects (irAEs), including myocarditis. A robust preclinical mouse model of ICI-associated myocarditis is reported here, in which mono-allelic loss of Ctla4 in the sense of complete genetic absence of Pdcd1 leads to premature death in about half of the mice. Premature death results from T cell and macrophage myocardial invasion and…

Erika P. Hamilton, MD Director, Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Research Program, Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Tennessee Oncology discussed the SABCS abstract – Tucatinib versus placebo in combination with trastuzumab and capecitabine for patients with locally advanced unresectable or HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (HER2CLIMB): outcomes by hormone receptor status.- New analyses from the pivotal HER2CLIMB analysis identify the hormone receptor status outcomes -BOTHELL, Wash.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Seagen Inc. (Nasdaq: SGEN) today announced at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) Virtual Symposium, held December 8-11, 2020, the presentation of new data from TUKYSA (tucatinib), its HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer treatment. Nine…

Charles L. Shapiro MD, FASCO, Professor of Medicine, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Director of Translational Breast Cancer Research Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai speaks about the SABCS 2020 abstract – Postmenopausal Women With Early-stage Breast Cancer and Low Recurrence Score Could Skip Adjuvant Chemotherapy.SAN ANTONIO-After a median follow-up of 5.1 years, postmenopausal patients had no additional gain from chemotherapy among women with lymph node-positive early-stage breast cancer and a recurrence score of 25 or lower who received adjuvant endocrine therapy with or without chemotherapy, while premenopausal patients who received chemotherapy had increased invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and chemotherapyWith…

Mazyar Shadman, M.D., M.P.H. from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discusses A Phase I/II Study to Evaluate the Safety of Cellular Immunotherapy Using Autologous T Cells Engineered to Express a CD20-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas. For more information, click the link below -https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03277729?term=NCT03277729&draw=2&rank=1OUTLINE:This is a dose-escalation phase I/II analysis of CD20-specific therapy with CAR T cells.Patients undergo leukapheresis and, if necessary for disease control, can receive treatment afterward. Patients first undergo intravenous cyclophosphamide (IV). Fludarabine IV can also be given to patients. After 36-96 hours, patients undergo 20-30 minutes of CD20-specific…

Drs. West and Aggarwal host Dr. Nora Disis of Univ of Washington, Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Oncology as they discuss how academic publishing is evolving and challenges and opportunities for distributing medical research in a broader digital world.

Gerrit-Jan Liefers, MD of Leiden University Medical Center discusses the SABCS 2020 Abstract – The 70-gene signature (MammaPrint) accurately predicts distant breast cancer recurrence risk in patients aged ≥70 years from the population-based observational FOCUS cohort.IRVINE, CALIF., U.S., and AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS-NOVEMBER 17, 2020-Agendia, Inc., a global pioneer in precision oncology for breast cancer, today announced that it would present new evidence from ongoing clinical trials examining the genomic studies of MammaPrint® and BluePrint® at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS 2020) on December 8-11, 2020.These statistics, based on current clinical studies demonstrating the effectiveness of MammaPrint and BluePrint testing…

Frankie Ann Holmes, MD, FACP from Texas Oncology-US Oncology Research speaks about Puma Biotechnology Presents Final Overall Survival Analysis from the Phase III ExteNET Trial at the 2020 SABCS.Link to Poster -https://www.pumabiotechnology.com/docs/120920_PD3_03_Holmes_ExteNET_OS_SABCS_2020_poster_FINAL.pdfLOS ANGELES, Calif., December 11, 2020 / B3C newswire / — Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical firm, announced that at the current 2020 Virtual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) the efficacy findings of neratinib in HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer (eBC) from the Phase III ExteNET trial were presented. A presentation entitled ‘Continued efficacy of neratinib in HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer patients: Final overall survival review from…

Jacob Scott, MD, DPhil of the Cleveland Clinic speaks about Combining Genomics and Mathematics Helps Personalize Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer.Over the decades, clinical trials of lung cancer have determined an ideal “one size fits all” dosing scheme for patients treated with radiation therapy, TAMPA, Fla., and CLEVELAND, Ohio, but recent evidence now indicates that this is not as biologically reliable as once thought. For up to 75 percent of lung cancer patients, a new technique using tumor genomics to personalize radiation dosing suggests that the standard of care method could be suboptimal.A paper published in the Dec. 9 Journal…

Gelareh Zadeh, M.D., Ph.D., FRCS(C), FAANS, professor and dan chair of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, head of the Division of Neurosurgery at Toronto Western Hospital, and president of Society-of-Neuro-Oncology at the University of Toronto and Toronto Western Hospital discusses the SNO 2020 abstract – DNAtrix Announces Positive Data from Phase 2 CAPTIVE (KEYNOTE-192) Study with DNX-2401 in Patients with Recurrent Glioblastoma Highlighted in an Oral Late-Breaking Presentation During Society for Neuro-oncology (SNO) Annual Meeting.HOUSTON, TX-November 9, 2020-DNAtrix, a pharmaceutical company developing virus-driven cancer immunotherapies, today announced that median overall survival of 12.5 months was demonstrated in Phase 2…

Maximilian Merz, MD from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center speaks about 722 Spatiotemporal Assessment of Immunogenomic Heterogeneity in Multiple Myeloma.Introducing:In multiple myeloma, care and immune-mediated procedures are associated with clonal evolution (MM). In this research, whole-exome sequencing (WES) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) were performed on plasma cells (PC) from iliac crest (BM) bone marrow aspirates and corresponding osteolytic lesions (OL) to investigate spatial heterogeneity in newly diagnosed (NDMM) and relapsed/refractory MMM patients (RRMM). To examine the immunogenomic landscape surrounding malignant PCs, next-generation flow (NGF) and T-cell receptor sequencing (TCRseq) were performed.Methodology:In a prospective trial, in addition to the standard…

Pat Whitworth, MD of the Nashville Breast Center discusses the 5-year outcomes in the NBRST trial: preoperative MammaPrint and BluePrint breast cancer subtype is associated with neoadjuvant treatment response and survival.HINTERGROUNDSMammaPrint (MP) distinguishes patients with breast cancer (BC) who can safely forego adjuvant chemotherapy. BC subtypes with distinct therapeutic response rates and survival results are characterized by MP combined with the BluePrint (BP) molecular subtyping signature. Compared to clinical IHC/FISH approaches, MP and BP reclassified 22 percent of tumors into a separate molecular subtype in the Neoadjuvant Breast Symphony Trial (NBRST). In addition, rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) to…

Single agent VS-6766 or VS-6766 plus defactinib in KRAS-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer: the RAMP-202 phase II trial 5 Key Conclusions: VS-6766 as a potential backbone of therapy for RAS pathway-driven cancers VS-6766 is a dual RAF/MEK with anti-tumor activity across multiple MAPK pathway alterations and multiple solid tumor indications VS-6766 + defactinib (FAKi) has shown 46% ORR (11/24) [64% ORR (7/11) in KRAS mt] with 23 months mPFS in LGSOC o Registration-directed clinical trial in progress (RAMP-201; NCT04625270) VS-6766 ± defactinib (FAKi) has shown 57% ORR (4/7) in KRAS G12V mt NSCLC o Registration-directed clinical trial in progress (RAMP-202; NCT04620330)…

Robert Zeiser, MD of the University Medical Center, Freiburg Im Breisgau discusses the ASH abstract – 77 Ruxolitinib (RUX) Vs Best Available Therapy (BAT) in Patients with Steroid-Refractory/Steroid-Dependent Chronic Graft-Vs-Host Disease (cGVHD): Primary Findings from the Phase 3, Randomized REACH3 Study.REFERENCE:Systemic corticosteroids are used in routine first-line cGVHD therapy; however, about 50 percent of patients (pts) are refractory or reliant (SR/D) on steroids and need additional treatment. There is no description yet of the best second-line therapy choice.In a phase 3 trial, RUX, an oral JAK1/2 inhibitor, was superior to BAT in SR acute GVHD (aGVHD) (REACH2). The key review…

Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSc from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey discusses the ASH 2020 abstract – 476 Real World (RW) Outcomes and Prognostication of Older Patients with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL) in the Contemporary Era.Introducing:The treatment of older patients (pts) with PCNSL is complicated because of the prevalence of comorbidities, fragility, and difficulty of chemotherapy delivery (CT). For older PCNSL pts, the optimum induction CT and consolidation regimens are uncertain. In addition, few large-scale forecasting studies are available, including the study of geriatric evaluations (GA). In 17 academic centers, we…

Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSc from Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey discusses the ASH 2020 abstract – 705 The Burkitt Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (BL-IPI).Context:BL is a rare, high-grade lymphoma of B cells that is mostly studied in limited sample size trials. Historical meanings of “low-risk BL” vary between studies, using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) arbitrary cutoffs, and defining a small desirable subset, leaving >80-90% of patients (pts) in an undifferentiated category of “high-risk.” A validated prognostic index would help to compare the populations of the sample and better identify pts of good prognosis…

Frederick Locke, MD of the Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute speaks about the ASH 2020 abstract – 1187 Long-Term Survival and Gradual Recovery of B Cells in Patients with Refractory Large B Cell Lymphoma Treated with Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Axi-Cel).Context:Axi-cel is an autologous T cell anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapy approved for the treatment of patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) with approximately 2 prior systemic therapies. ZUMA-1 is the Phase 1/2 multicenter, single-arm, registrational trial of axi-cel in refractory LBCL pts. Axi-cel demonstrated an objective response, full response (CR), and continuing response rates of 83…

Phillipe Moreau, MD from the University Hospital of Nantes discusses the ASH 2020 abstract – 2316 Isatuximab Plus Carfilzomib and Dexamethasone Vs Carfilzomib and Dexamethasone in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (IKEMA): Interim Analysis of a Phase 3, Randomized, Open-Label Study.Context:Relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) care has improved dramatically, but relapse is unavoidable, and additional successful therapies are required. Isatuximab (Isa), a monoclonal antibody targeting a particular CD38 epitope, is approved in conjunction with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (d) for the treatment of adult RRMM patients who have undergone at least two prior therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor, in the United States,…

Steven W. Pipe, MD of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor speaks about ASH 2020 abstract – Gene Therapy for Hemophilia B Found Safe and Effective in First Phase III Trial.(WASHINGTON, Dec. 8, 2020)-In the largest and most inclusive hemophilia B gene therapy trial to date, gene therapy etranacogene dezaparvovec dramatically improved the development of the blood-clotting protein factor IX among 52 patients. The study was also the first to include patients with such markers of the immune system and found that no elevated risks appeared to be conferred, a result that could greatly expand the number of patients eligible…

Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas is a rare but aggressive cancer that manifests primarily in the skin and remains incurable with current standard therapies. Although there are therapeutic options available for early-stage CTCL, not all patients respond, resulting in refractory CTCL (rCTCL) with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. The disease is usually slow-growing. The 2 most common types of this form of cancer are mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. Each of the two forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma has unique characteristics that distinguish them from other types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. A presentation…

Clint Valentine, MS from TwinStrand Biosciences discusses TwinStrand Biosciences Announces Peer-Reviewed Publication of Study Results Highlighting Ability of Duplex Sequencing Technology to Rapidly Detect the Mutagenic Activity of Chemicals.SEATTLE, Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — At the annual General Meeting of Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) in Marco Island, Florida, TwinStrand BiosciencesTM, a next-generation DNA sequencing technology company, today announced the launch of TwinStrand Duplex SequencingTM Technology kits. At its launch, the company will offer its technology platform for two research applications: the identification of minimal residual diseases in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML MRD) and the multi-species…

Martin Dietrich, MD from Florida Cancer Specialists speaks about the FDA Approves FoundationOne®CDx as Companion Diagnostic for Vitrakvi® (larotrectinib), to Aid in Identifying NTRK Fusion-Positive Patients.WHIPPANY, N.J.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—According to Bayer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved FoundationOne®CDx for use as the first complementary diagnostic to help classify fusion-positive patients with neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) for whom Vitrakvi® (larotrectinib) treatment may be appropriate.1,2 FoundationOne CDx is an FDA-approved extensive genomic profiling (CGP) test for all solid tumors that includes multiple com com tumors.Vitrakvi is approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors who, without…

Philadelphia, PA (December 15, 2020) – Oncoceutics, Inc. announced today the outlicense of the rights to the company’s lead compound, ONC201, for Greater China to China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“CR Sanjiu”). In return for the license and future rights, CR Sanjiu will make a multi-part payment to Oncoceutics including upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties. CR Sanjiu will also be responsible for the execution of clinical trials required to obtain Marketing Authorization in China and the commercialization of ONC201 in the Chinese market. ONC201, the company’s lead development candidate, is a novel small molecule with a unique mechanism…

Jyoti Nangalia, MBBChir of the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, United Kingdom, University of Cambridge, Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United Kingdom, and Cambridge Universities NHS Trust, Cambridge, United Kingdom speaks about the ASH 2020 abstract – LBA-1 Driver Mutation Acquisition in Utero and Childhood Followed By Lifelong Clonal Evolution Underlie Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.Context:However the timing of driver mutations and the dynamics of the clonal expansion remain largely uncertain, but repeated mutations in cancer-associated genes drive tumour outgrowth. Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are distinct cancers that trace the earliest stages of tumorigenesis through the evolution of the disease. Most patients have…

Athena Kritharis, MD — she’s a Hematologist/Oncologist in the Hematologic Malignancies Program at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey speaks about the ASH 2020 abstract – LBA-4: Efficacy and Safety Results from ASCEMBL, a Multicenter, Open-Label, Phase 3 Study of Asciminib, a First-in-Class STAMP Inhibitor, vs Bosutinib (BOS) in Patients (Pts) with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in Chronic Phase (CML-CP) Previously Treated with ≥2 Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs).Introducing:Asciminib is a first-in-class STAMP (Specifically Targeting the ABL Myristoyl Pocket) inhibitor with a new mechanism of action, unlike all licensed TKIs binding to the ATP site of…

Tycel J. Phillips, MD from Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan discusses the ASH 2020 abstract – 338 Phase 2 Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Parsaclisib in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Marginal Zone Lymphoma (CITADEL-204).Context:Clinically heterogeneous, indolent, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) with 3 subtypes known as extranodal, nodal, and splenic MZL. In a phase 1/2 study in patients with previously treated B-cell malignancies, Parsaclisib, an active, highly-selective, next-generation phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) δ inhibitor, has shown promising response rates. In patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) MZL, CITADEL-204 (NCT03144674) is a multicenter,…

Rajat Bannerji, MD, Ph.D. Chief, Section of Hematologic Malignancies at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, an expert in hematology/oncology, lymphoma and clinical trials Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey speaks about the ASH 2020 Abstract – 400 Odronextamab (REGN1979), a Human CD20 x CD3 Bispecific Antibody, Induces Durable, Complete Responses in Patients with Highly Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Including Patients Refractory to CAR T Therapy.REFERENCE: In a first-in-human study of patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Odronextamab (REGN1979) is a first-in-class, hinge-stabilized, completely human IgG4-based CD3 x CD20 bispecific antibody (bsAb) that…

Stephanie A. Cohen, MS, LCGC from Ascension St. Vincent discusses the ACCC/ASCO 2020 abstract – [Abstract #1526] BRCA Testing Concordance with National Guidelines for Patients with Breast Cancer in Community Cancer Programs.Context:Current National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations note that for women diagnosed with early-onset (about 45 years), later age (having met ethnic or family history criteria), or metastatic HER-2 negative breast cancer, checking for extremely penetrating breast/ovarian cancer genes is clinically suggested.A recent survey by the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) (N = 95) found that > 80 percent of respondents registered > 50% test rates for breast cancer…