Author: Editor

Steven P. Rowe, MD, PhD Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA presents 99mTc-Sestamibi SPECT CT for Renal Mass Characterization at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

I. Alex Bowman, MD Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX Co-Authors: Marianna Dakanali, Guiyang Hao, Aditi Mulgaonkar, Payal Kapur, Xiankai Sun, Orhan K. Oz, James Brugarolas. present An Exploratory Study of 89Zr-DFO-Atezolizumab ImmunoPET CT at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Haris Zahoor, Akash Sali, Manju Aron, Imran Siddiqui, Bino Varghese, Steven Cen, Xiaomeng Lei, Anishka D’Souza, Austin Fullenkamp, Mihir Desai, Inderbir Gill, David Quinn, Vinay Duddalwar USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center discusses Radiomic Signatures of CD8+ T Cell Infiltration and PD-L1 Expression in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Zhen J. Wang, MD Professor of Radiology Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging University of California, San Francisco discusses Hyperpolarized 13C Metabolic MRI of Renal Tumors at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Ivan Pedrosa, MD PhD Professor of Radiology, Urology, Advanced Imaging Research Center and Biomedical Engineering University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX discusses Virtual Biopsy with MRI The Clear Cell Score at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Allan Pantuck, MD, MS, FACS Professor and Vice Chair, Urology Institute of Urologic Oncology David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA discusses Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CAIX) Imaging for Renal Cell Carcinoma at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Martin H. Voss1, Arun Azad2, Aaron R. Hansen3, Jhanelle E. Gray4, Sarah J. Welsh5, Xuyang Song6, Ikbel Achour6, Heping Hu6, Lisa Lewis6, Farzana L. Walcott6, Sjoukje F. Oosting7 1Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; 2Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia; 3Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada; 4Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA; 5Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK; 6AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA; 7University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands Results from a Randomized Phase 1-2 Trial Evaluating the Safety and Antitumor Activity of Anti-PD-1 (MEDI0680) Anti-PD-L1 (Durvalumab) vs Anti-PD-1 (Nivolumab) Alone in Metastatic Clear…

Ritesh Kotecha1, Ronan Flippot2, Sujata Patil1, Taylor Nortman1, Annalisa Guida2, Ashley Foster1, Bernard Escudier2, Robert Motzer1, Laurence Albiges2, Martin Voss1 1Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, USA 2Institute Gustave Roussy, France discusses Incidence of Occult Brain Metastasis at Study Screening in Patients with Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Viraj Master MD PhD FACS Professor Fray F. Marshall Chair in Urological Research Department of Urology Director of Integrative Oncology and Survivorship Winship Cancer Institute Emory University discusses Optimal Role of Consolidative Surgery in the IO Era at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL. _________ Interview here: https://www.oncologytube.com/video/consolidative-surgery-in-the-io-era-winshipatemory

Elad Sharon, MD, MPH Senior Investigator/Medical Officer Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program Division of Cancer Therapy & Diagnosis National Cancer Institute discusses Vulnerable Populations in Immuno-Oncology Research at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Tian Zhang, MD, MHS discusses Aiming to personalize immunotherapy with existing and emerging biomarkers at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

André P. Fay, MD, PhD Professor, PUCRS School of Medicine Chief, Medical Oncology Department – Oncoclínicas/HSL-PUCRS Visiting Scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/ Harvard Medical School discusses Optimal Management of Favorable Risk Clear Cell RCC Combination Therapy at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Walter Stadler, MD FACP Dean for Clinical Research Deputy Director Comprehensive Cancer Center University of Chicago discusses Favorable Risk Renal Cancer Of Course Monotherapy is the Obvious Right Answer at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Michael R. Harrison, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Duke Cancer Institute discusses Active Surveillance for Favorable Risk mRCC at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Deborah Maskens MA MSM International Kidney Cancer Coalition discusses Unmet Patient Needs: Results from IKCC Global Survey at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

David Braun, MD, PhD DF/HCC Kidney Cancer SPORE Harvard Medical School discusses Understanding CD8+ T Cell Function and Specificity in RCC at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Toni K. Choueiri, MD On Behalf of DF/HCC SPORE leadership PI: McDermott and Kaelin gives an overview of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Kidney Cancer SPORE A brief overview 2014-2019 at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Srinivas Malladi, Ph.D. Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Pathology University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX discusses ccRCC – Invasion and Metastasis at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

James Brugarolas, M.D., Ph.D. Director, Kidney Cancer Program Principal Investigator, Kidney Cancer SPORE Sherry Wigley Crow Endowed Chair in Cancer Research Professor of Internal Medicine / Hematology-Oncology Cancer Biology, Genetics, Development and Disease University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center discusses UT Southwestern Kidney Cancer Program & SPORE at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL. _______ Interview here: https://www.oncologytube.com/video/kidney-cancer-program-spore

Mark H. Michalski MD Executive Director, Center for Clinical Data Science Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital discusses How Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Cancer Care at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

W. Kimryn Rathmell, MD, PhD Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry; Director, Division of Hematology and Oncology Vanderbilt University Medical Center discusses Learning to Pivot: The Renal Cell Carcinomas at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Pavlos Msaouel, MD, PhD Assistant Professor Genitourinary Medical Oncology The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses Changing Paradigms in Statistical Interpretation at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL. _______ Interview with Pavlos Msaouel here: https://www.oncologytube.com/video/do-we-still-need-the-p-value-mdandersonnews?channelName=kidneycancer

Javid J. Moslehi, M.D. Associate Professor of Medicine Director, Cardio-Oncology Program Co-Director, Vanderbilt Program for Optimizing Immuno-oNcology Therapy (V-POINT) Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN www.cardioonc.org Twitter: @CardioOncology discusses Immune-Related Cardiac Toxicities at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Bianca D. Santomasso MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discusses Current Management Strategies for Immune Related Neurologic Toxicity at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Yinghong (Mimi) Wang, MD, PhD Director of Medication-Induced Colitis and Enteritis Director of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at MD Anderson discusses Management of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Related GI Toxicity at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Raja-Elie E. Abdulnour, M.D. Assistant Professor of Medicine Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine DFCI / BWH discusses Current Management Strategies for Immune Related Pneumonitis at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Kerry Reynolds, MD Clinical Director, Inpatient Oncology UnitsDirector, Severe Immunotherapy Complications ServiceMassachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA discusses Establishing an Immune Related Adverse Event (iRAE) Service at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Gopal N. Gupta, MD, FACS Associate Professor Departments of Urology, Surgery and Radiology Fellowship Director, Society of Urologic Oncology Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center Loyola University Health System discusses What is the optimal management of post-ablation recurrence? PRO SURVEILLANCE at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Raj Ayyagari M.D. Assistant Professor of Radiology Department of Radiology Yale University School of Medicine discusses What is Optimal for Management of Post-Ablation Recurrent RCC? at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Jose A. Karam, MD, FACS Associate Professor Departments of Urology and Translational Molecular Pathology MD Anderson discusses the Optimal Management of Post-Ablation Recurrences PRO-Partial Nephrectomy at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Rod J Ellis, M.D. FACRO Professor and Chair Radiation Oncology Penn State University Milton Hershey Medical Center Hershey Pennsylvania discusses RENAL SBRT – EVIDENCE, PATIENT SELECTION AND OUTCOMES at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Stenio de Cássio Zequi, MD, MSc, PhD Head of Referral Center for Urological Tumors Robotic and HIFU Programs at AC Camargo Cancer Center Livre-Docente Professor at São Paulo University/ Graduate School Antonio Prudente Foundation and Federal University of São Paulo LARCG – Latin American Renal Cancer Group- Founder and Coordinator discusses Management of the Complex Cystic Mass (Bosniak 3-4):Pro Surgical Treatment at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Alexander Kutikov, MD, FACS Professor and Chief, Urologic Oncology Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA discusses Treatment of the Cystic Renal Mass: Gone Fishin’… for Minnows! at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL. __________ Interview here: https://www.oncologytube.com/video/cystic-renal-masses-active-surveillance Interview here: https://www.oncologytube.com/video/cystic-renal-mass-treatment

William C Huang, MD Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Urology NYU School of Medicine Chief of Urology and Co-Director of Robotic Surgery Tisch Hospital / Perlmutter Cancer Center NYU Langone Health discusses Meaningful Endpoints for Surgical Trials for Localized RCC at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Steven C. Campbell, MD, PhD Professor Surgery, Vice Chair, Program Director Section of Urologic Oncology, Department of Urology Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute Cleveland Clinic discusses Meaningful Endpoints for a Surgical Trial for Localized RCC at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL. ________ Interview with Steven Campbell here: https://www.oncologytube.com/video/surgical-trial-for-rcc-cleclinicmd

Sasan Setoodeh, MD Genitourinary Pathology Fellow University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas discusses the Effects of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on Morphology of Renal Cell Carcinoma at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Neil Mendhiratta MD, MS UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine discusses the Identification of Oncocytic Neoplasms with Cyclin D1 Immunohistochemistry at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL. Co-authors: Adebowale Adeniran MD1, Jamil Syed MD1, Tyler Valdez2, Dipti Sajed MD, PhD2, Peter Humphrey MD, PhD1, Sung-Hae Kang PhD2, Huihui Ye MD, MS2, and Brian Shuch MD2 1Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven CT 2University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA

Gennady Bratslavsky, M.D. Professor and Chairman Department of Urology Upstate Medical University Syracuse, NY discusses Surgical Insights For Variant Histology at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Matt Campbell MD Assistant Professor GU Medical Oncology discusses The Argument for Front Line TKI based treatment for non-clear cell RCC at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL. __________ Interview here: https://www.oncologytube.com/video/front-line-tki-based-treatment-for-non-clear-cell-rcc

Primo N. Lara, Jr., MD Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Professor of Medicine and Executive Associate Dean UC Davis School of Medicine at the Kidney Cancer Association International Meeting, Miami FL November 15, 2019

Eric C. Kauffman, MD Department of Urology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo NY Kidney Cancer Association Meeting, Miami FL November 15, 2019

Nizar M. Tannir, MD, FACP Ransom Horne, Jr. Professor for Cancer Research Professor and Chair ad interim Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology discusses Renal Medullary Carcinoma: A Call to Action! at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019, Miami, FL.

Ying-Bei Chen, MD, PhD Associate Attending Pathologist Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discusses the Importance of Tumor Profiling for Rare Histology Variants at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019 in Miami, FL.

Michelle Hirsch, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Pathology Chief, Genitourinary Pathology Service Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School discusses the Updates in the WHO Kidney Cancer Classification Schemes at the 18th International Kidney Cancer Symposium 2019

Oncoceutics, Inc. announced that results from the second and third cohort of the Phase II trial for patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with the company’s lead imipridone, ONC201, were recently published in the journal Neuro-Oncology. This manuscript represents the third publication among a series of reports demonstrating durable radiographic regressions with ONC201 in patients with H3 K27M-mutant glioma. The study (NCT02525692) also demonstrated that weekly oral administration of ONC201 given as a single agent was well-tolerated, achieved therapeutic intratumoral concentrations, and intratumoral pharmacodynamic activity in adult recurrent glioblastoma patients. ONC201 achieved intratumoral concentrations that exceeded preclinical efficacy thresholds and induced intratumoral biomarkers of pharmacodynamic signaling and apoptosis indicating…

V.K. Gadi, MD of @SeattleCCA answers commonly asked questions of the AVIATOR study and shares how it will affect future treatment.

V.K. Gadi, MD of @SeattleCCA discusses the AVIATOR study for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. __________ Read here: https://www.seattlecca.org/clinical-trials/breast-cancer-nct03414658

Earn CME: https://www.naccme.com/program/19-gdugi-1 In this webcast from the ‘Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: An individualized Approach to Optimal Treatment Selection and Adverse Events Management’ symposium during the 2019 Great Debates & Updates in Gastrointestinal Malignancies conference, Dr. Axel Grothey discusses therapeutic sequencing and treatment approaches in colorectal cancer. © 2019 Imedex, an HMP Company

Earn CME: https://naccme.com/program/19-gdugi-1 In this webcast from the ‘Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: An individualized Approach to Optimal Treatment Selection and Adverse Events Management’ symposium during the 2019 Great Debates & Updates in Gastrointestinal Malignancies conference, Dr. Scott Kopetz discusses novel agents and targets in colorectal cancer. © 2019 Imedex, an HMP Company

Earn CME: https://naccme.com/program/19-gdugi-4 In this webcast from the ‘Exploring the Evolving Role of Immunotherapy in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Considerations for Therapeutic Selection, Toxicity Management, and Sequencing’ symposium during the 2019 Great Debates & Updates in Gastrointestinal Malignancies conference, Dr. Tanios S. Bekaii-Saab discusses the optimal sequencing of current and emerging agents for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). © 2019 Imedex, an HMP Company

Earn CME: https://naccme.com/program/19-gdugi-2 In this webcast from the ‘Making Progress in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Targeted Agents: Considerations for Therapeutic Selection, Toxicity Management, and Sequencing’ symposium during the 2019 Great Debates & Updates in Gastrointestinal Malignancies conference, Dr. David H. Ilson provides an update on the current standard of care for gastric cancer in the first line setting. © 2019 Imedex, an HMP Company

Earn CME: https://naccme.com/program/19-gdugi-4 In this webcast from the ‘Exploring the Evolving Role of Immunotherapy in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Considerations for Therapeutic Selection, Toxicity Management, and Sequencing’ symposium during the 2019 Great Debates & Updates in Gastrointestinal Malignancies conference, Dr. Ghassan Abou-Alfa discusses novel agents and therapeutic targets for the treatment of biliary cancer. © 2019 Imedex, an HMP Company

Giorgio Scagliotti, MD @giorgioscaglio3 discusses the IASLC. _________ Read here: https://www.oncologytube.com/video/iaslc-open-comment-period-on-multidisciplinary-recommendations-for-pathologic-assessment-of-lung-cancer-resection-specimens-following-neoadjuvant-therapy-

Oncopeptides AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: ONCO) announced today that data from the clinical program evaluating its lead candidate melflufen in multiple myeloma and Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis have been selected for six poster presentations to be featured at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2019 Annual Meeting taking place December 7-10 in Orlando, Florida. Melflufen is a peptide-conjugated alkylator belonging to the novel class of Peptidase Enhanced Cytotoxics (PEnC). A wide range of clinical and preclinical data for melflufen in both multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis will be presented at the ASH annual meeting. Two key data sets that will be…

Heidi Gray, MD @heidigraydrezn5 of @SeattleCCA @UWashOBGYN discusses the phase I/II study of ruxolitinib with front-line neoadjuvant and post-surgical therapy in patients with ovarian or peritoneal cancer. _________ Read here: https://www.seattlecca.org/clinical-trials/gynecologic-cancer-nct02713386

-Recommended and maximum tolerated dose defined as 1.5 mg/kg for further study–Expansion cohort in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma added based on observed clinical activity–Clinical trial collaboration with Merck announced to evaluate CDX-1140 with KEYTRUDA®- Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLDX) presented data at the 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) information from the company’s ongoing CD40 agonist program. CD40 is an important target for immunotherapy, expressed on dendritic cells and other cells presenting antigen, as it plays a critical role in triggering innate and adaptive immune responses. CDX-1140 is a fully human agonist anti-CD40 monoclonal…

Jianjun Zhang, MD of @MDAndersonNews discusses immune and circulating tumor DNA profiling following radiation treatment for oligometastatic NSCLC. How will this affect clinicians and treatment today?

Richard Sainson, PhD @rcasainson of @kymabltd answers KY1044, targets ICOS increasing cytotoxic to regulatory T cells ratio: how does this affect treatment?

Richard Sainson, PhD @rcasainson of @KymabLtd explains KY1044, targets ICOS increasing cytotoxic to regulatory T cells ratio: what mechanism of action is the most relevant for targeting ICOS?

Jianjun Zhang, MD of @MDAndersonNews discusses immune and circulating tumor DNA profiling following radiation treatment for oligometastatic NSCLC.

Richard Sainson, PhD @rcasainson of @kymabltd shares Kymab’s new findings for KY1044 presented at the #CICON2019 annual meeting.

Ayman A. Saad, MD of @OSUCCC_James answers commonly asked questions regarding the @NCCN guidelines debut to manage complications and actually improve readiness for stem cell transplant recipients. _________ National Comprehensive Cancer Network expands resources to meet growing utilization of cell-based cancer treatments. Today, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) published new NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT), also known as stem cell transplant or historically as bone marrow transplant. This new resource provides step-by-step information on best practices in evaluating patients for hematopoietic cell transplantation and managing complications afterwards. This type of specialized treatment is increasingly…

– Results Demonstrated Statistically Significant Improvement in Progression-Free Survival – – Data to be Submitted for Presentation at an Upcoming Medical Meeting – Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502/NYSE: TAK) (“Takeda”) today announced the randomized, Phase 3 TOURMALINE-MM4 study met its primary endpoint of progression free survival (PFS). The trial evaluated the effect of single-agent oral NINLAROâ„¢ (ixazomib) as a first line maintenance therapy versus placebo in adult patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma not treated with stem cell transplantation. TOURMALINE-MM4 is the first industry sponsored Phase 3 trial to explore the concept of “switch” maintenance, the use of medicines not…

Ayman A. Saad, MD of @OSUCCC_James discusses the @NCCN guidelines debut to manage complications and actually improve readiness for stem cell transplant recipients. ___________ National Comprehensive Cancer Network expands resources to meet growing utilization of cell-based cancer treatments. Today, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) published new NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT), also known as stem cell transplant or historically as bone marrow transplant. This new resource provides step-by-step information on best practices in evaluating patients for hematopoietic cell transplantation and managing complications afterwards. This type of specialized treatment is increasingly common, occurring approximately 22,000…

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Syndax,” the “Company” or “we”) (Nasdaq: SNDX), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline of cancer therapies, today announced that the first patient has been dosed in AUGMENT-101, a Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating SNDX-5613, Syndax’s potent, highly selective oral Menin inhibitor, in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute leukemias.   “Dosing of the first patient in AUGMENT-101 represents an important milestone, both for the SNDX-5613 program and, importantly, for patients with genetically-defined acute leukemias, many of whom often do not achieve durable benefit from currently available treatment regimens,” said Briggs W. Morrison, M.D., Chief Executive Officer…

At the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Human Immune Monitoring Center (HIMC) will use state-of – the-art high-throughput technology to test the therapeutic effects of Libtayo ® (cemiplimab-rwlc), a PD-1 antibody blockade developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Sanofi. While immunotherapy has revolutionized the field of oncology, key issues remain — such as learning more about how these drugs work in human cancer— and many patients are still failing to respond to these therapies, leaving a need for a better understanding of how FDA-approved immunotherapies work and how we can use emerging therapies to further improve treatment…

— First clinical data from Phase 1 study of MGTA-145 show successful mobilization of target number of stem cells in 11 of 12 healthy volunteers within hours; updated data including apheresis collection to be presented at ASH – — Single dose of CD117-ADC demonstrates first-ever successful gene therapy transplant in primates without chemotherapy conditioning, in collaboration with NIH — — Additional presentations from across the pipeline will showcase progress in autoimmune diseases, blood cancers and genetic diseases –  Magenta Therapeutics (NASDAQ: MGTA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines to bring the curative power of stem cell transplant to more patients,…

Douglas G. McNeel, MD of @UWCarbone discusses the phase II trial of a DNA vaccine encoding in patients with nonmetastatic, castration-sensitive prostate cancer. How does this affect treatment and clinicians today? ______ Read here: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.19.01701?journalCode=jco&

— MAVIS Study Identifies Most Responsive Patient Subpopulations, Supporting the Continued Study of Adjuvant Treatment in Localized Melanoma Patients — Polynoma LLC, a U.S. immuno-oncology focused biopharmaceutical company and wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed CK Life Sciences Int’l., (Holdings) Inc., is presenting clinical data from MAVIS (Melanoma Antigen Vaccine Immunotherapy Study), its ongoing Phase III clinical study of seviprotimut-L, an investigational melanoma vaccine candidate, on November 8 at the 2019 Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. MAVIS is an adaptive phase III multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the safety and efficacy of seviprotimut-L, with primary endpoints of recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with American Joint Cancer Committee (AJCC) Stage IIB / C, IIIA, IIIB / C melanoma at high risk of recurrence following definitive surgical resection. Highlights of the data presented include: Improved outcomes in Stage IIB/C patients: Interim analysis of subgroups suggested enhanced…

Address to Japan Society of Clinical Oncology focuseson opportunities to expand benefits to more patients Accomplished surgeon-scientist joined Roswell Park in 2016 Currently, immunotherapies work well for very few patients with breast cancer Dr. Takabe also speaking on how to support development of oncology leaders  Dr. Kazuaki Takabe, Roswell Park’s Chief of Breast Surgery, gave the keynote address at the annual meeting of the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology. BUFFALO, N.Y. — Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Chief of Breast Surgery, Kazuaki Takabe, MD, PhD, FACS, gave an Oct. 24 keynote address on immunotherapy for breast cancer at the 57th Annual Meeting of…

– Target Enrollment of 450 Achieved Early Due to High Demand – – Topline Results Expected in 2023 – Dendreon Pharmaceuticals, a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and pioneer in the development of immunotherapy, announced early completion of patient enrollment of its Phase 3 ProVent clinical trial. More than 450 subjects were randomized in the large-scale clinical trial, which is evaluating the effectiveness of sipuleucel-T (PROVENGE®) in reducing disease progression in men with early-stage prostate cancer on active surveillance (AS). “The rapid pace of enrollment in the ProVent trial is a significant milestone for Dendreon, and underscores a strong interest by patients…

Douglas G. McNeel, MD of @UWCarbone discusses the phase II trial of a DNA vaccine encoding in patients with nonmetastatic, castration-sensitive prostate cancer. ______ Read here: https://ascopubs.org/doi/abs/10.1200/JCO.19.01701?journalCode=jco&

National Comprehensive Cancer Network expands resources to meet growing utilization of cell-based cancer treatments. Today, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) published new NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT), also known as stem cell transplant or historically as bone marrow transplant. This new resource provides step-by-step information on best practices in evaluating patients for hematopoietic cell transplantation and managing complications afterwards. This type of specialized treatment is increasingly common, occurring approximately 22,000 times a year in the United States in people with various malignancies, most commonly for blood-related cancers.[1] “Establishing NCCN Guidelines for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation…

Katherine Clifton @katherineclift4 of @WUSTL answers a common question regarding using an anti-EGFR resistance mechanism: are these gene fusions targetable? __________ Read here: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/PO.19.00141

Katherine Clifton, MD @katherineclift4 of @WUSTL discusses actionable fusions as an anti-EGFR resistance mechanism. __________ Read here: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/PO.19.00141

A comparison of the Pinktober and Movember movements reveals that reach and engagement do not always lead people to research screening options A new study published in Lancet Oncology shows that health awareness campaigns ‘ internet success may not always translate into increased interest in related health behaviors. USC’s Keck School of Medicine researchers compared Pinktober and Movember, two month-long cancer awareness programs focused on six years of web traffic data of similar online popularity. Google Trends search data patterns were analyzed for specific keywords associated with each campaign and the health behaviors that should result from increased awareness. For…

Studies show that proton therapy compared to traditional radiation increases overall survival in patients with inoperable liver cancer and recognizes predictors that reduce complications in the liver. Two new studies support and inform the use of proton radiation therapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, a common but often fatal type of liver cancer with limited treatment options. One research (Sanford et al.) shows that proton radiation is capable of increasing overall survival with decreased toxicity compared to traditional photon radiation. A second study (Hsieh et al.) identifies predictors that may result from radiation treatments to reduce liver damage. These…

Nicklas Oscarsson of @goteborgsuni on how oxygen in hyperbaric chamber provides relief after radiotherapy affects clinicians and treatment today. ________ Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the pelvic region, a study shows, can relieve self-reported symptoms and side effects of radiotherapy against cancer. Most patients reported reductions in vomiting, urinary incontinence and discomfort following 30–40 sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. “This treatment is highly effective for the majority of the patients” states Nicklas Oscarsson, first author of the article, a doctoral student in anesthesiology and intensive care at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and senior consultant at Angered Hospital. Radiation therapy…

Company Commences First-in-Human Study at Multiple Academic Sites in United States Oct. 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Linnaeus Therapeutics, Inc. (Linnaeus), a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel small molecule oncology therapeutics, today announced that it has dosed the first patient in its phase 1/2 clinical trial of LNS8801 in patients with advanced solid and hematologic cancers. This marks the first time any company has dosed a patient in a clinical trial specifically targeting the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). The initiation of the study follows U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance of…

Nicklas Oscarsson of @goteborgsuni answers frequently asked questions regarding oxygen in hyperbaric chamber provides relief after radiotherapy. __________ Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the pelvic region, a study shows, can relieve self-reported symptoms and side effects of radiotherapy against cancer. Most patients reported reductions in vomiting, urinary incontinence and discomfort following 30–40 sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. “This treatment is highly effective for the majority of the patients” states Nicklas Oscarsson, first author of the article, a doctoral student in anesthesiology and intensive care at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and senior consultant at Angered Hospital. Radiation therapy is part…

Nicklas Oscarsson of @goteborgsuni explains oxygen in hyperbaric chamber provides relief after radiotherapy. ___________ Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the pelvic region, a study shows, can relieve self-reported symptoms and side effects of radiotherapy against cancer. Most patients reported reductions in vomiting, urinary incontinence and discomfort following 30–40 sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. “This treatment is highly effective for the majority of the patients” states Nicklas Oscarsson, first author of the article, a doctoral student in anesthesiology and intensive care at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and senior consultant at Angered Hospital. Radiation therapy is part of many cancer treatment…

EU approval based on JAVELIN Renal 101 trial results demonstrating significant improvement in progression-free survival with BAVENCIO in combination with axitinib compared with sunitinib.  Combination regimen approved across all IMDC prognostic risk groups and irrespective of PD-L1 expression.  EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, USA and Canada, and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced that BAVENCIO ® (avelumab) in combination with axitinib has been approved by the European Commission (EC) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The approval was based on promising interim results from the Phase III JAVELIN…

Actinium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.  (NYSE AMERICAN: ATNM) (“Actinium”) today announced key interim findings from the pivotal Phase 3 SIERRA trial of Iomab-B, including feasibility and safety data, at 50% of total patient enrollment. The SIERRA trial (Study of Iomab-B in Elderly Relapse/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia) is a 150-patient, 1:1 randomization Phase 3 pivotal trial that is studying Iomab-B (Iodine-131 apamistamab) compared to physician’s choice of salvage chemotherapy in patients age 55 and above with active, relapsed or refractory AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). These interim data provide information on safety and feasibility of using Iomab-B to enable a BMT (Bone Marrow Transplant), the only curative treatment…

Evidence from the lead program showed that glucocorticoids promote the growth of prostate tumor cells, stimulate androgen-regulated gene expression and stimulate enzalutamide resistance, which ORIC-101 has completely reversed. Second program data showed that small molecule inhibition of CD73 fully restored proliferation and cytokine production of T cells with AMP/adenosine suppression.  ORIC Pharmaceuticals, a privately held, clinical-stage oncology company focused on developing treatments that address mechanisms of therapeutic resistance, presented new preclinical data on its lead program ORIC-101 – a selective and potent glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist in Phase 1b – and its CD73 inhibitor program – an orally bioavailable small…

Greg Delgoffe, PhD @delgoffelab of @PittTweet explains how the dual-function virus designed to killing tumors is affecting clinicians today. ________ Viruses designed to kill cancer cells are already used to treat one skin cancer and are commonly studied in other cancers. A new study shows that oncolytic viruses known as viruses can be enhanced further to improve the body’s immune response to tumors. The researchers found that this new type of oncolytic virus can simultaneously kill the cancer cells and provide tumor immune cells with a hormone that they need to perform their own cell killing functions. The dual-function virus…

Greg Delgoffe, PhD @delgoffelab of @PittTweet explains the dual-function virus designed to killing tumors and helping immune cells. __________ Viruses designed to kill cancer cells are already used to treat one skin cancer and are commonly studied in other cancers. A new study shows that oncolytic viruses known as viruses can be enhanced further to improve the body’s immune response to tumors. The researchers found that this new type of oncolytic virus can simultaneously kill the cancer cells and provide tumor immune cells with a hormone that they need to perform their own cell killing functions. The dual-function virus was…

Steven Mansoor, MD @mansoor_steven of @OHSUSOM describes what is next and how this protein associated with many disease is visualized for the first time will affect clinicians today. __________ New drugs can be motivated by understanding how receptors of P2X7 proteins function.  Scientists first noticed how a protein associated with various health issues functions at the molecular level. The breakthrough, that one day could inspire new drugs to treat inflammation, coronary artery disease, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, and more, has been published today in the Cell journal. Research assistant at Oregon Health & Science University Alanna McCarthy, B.S., and scientist at…

Steven Mansoor, MD @mansoor_steven of @OHSUSOM answers common questions involving a protein associated with many disease is visualized for the first time. __________ New drugs can be motivated by understanding how receptors of P2X7 proteins function.  Scientists first noticed how a protein associated with various health issues functions at the molecular level. The breakthrough, that one day could inspire new drugs to treat inflammation, coronary artery disease, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, and more, has been published today in the Cell journal. Research assistant at Oregon Health & Science University Alanna McCarthy, B.S., and scientist at OHSU Steven Mansoor, M.D., Ph.D., used…

Steven Mansoor, MD @mansoor_steven of @OHSUSOM explains a protein associated with many disease is visualized for the first time. ___________ New drugs can be motivated by understanding how receptors of P2X7 proteins function.  Scientists first noticed how a protein associated with various health issues functions at the molecular level. The breakthrough, that one day could inspire new drugs to treat inflammation, coronary artery disease, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, and more, has been published today in the Cell journal. Research assistant at Oregon Health & Science University Alanna McCarthy, B.S., and scientist at OHSU Steven Mansoor, M.D., Ph.D., used cryoelectron microscopy to…

New drugs can be motivated by understanding how receptors of P2X7 proteins function.  Scientists first noticed how a protein associated with various health issues functions at the molecular level. The breakthrough, that one day could inspire new drugs to treat inflammation, coronary artery disease, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, and more, has been published today in the Cell journal. Research assistant at Oregon Health & Science University Alanna McCarthy, B.S., and scientist at OHSU Steven Mansoor, M.D., Ph.D., used cryoelectron microscopy to obtain a protein receptor’s 3D structure and observe its inner working. The protein receptor they studied is a protein of…

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in the pelvic region, a study shows, can relieve self-reported symptoms and side effects of radiotherapy against cancer. Most patients reported reductions in vomiting, urinary incontinence and discomfort following 30–40 sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. “This treatment is highly effective for the majority of the patients” states Nicklas Oscarsson, first author of the article, a doctoral student in anesthesiology and intensive care at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, and senior consultant at Angered Hospital. Radiation therapy is part of many cancer treatment procedures for organs like the heart, cervix, ovaries, and colon. In the lower abdomen,…

Bradley E. Bernstein, MD @BradEBernstein @willflavahan of @MassGeneralNews answers how this affects clinicians on the cause of drug resistance found in a form of intestinal tumor. __________ Most cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), a form of soft tissue cancer (sarcoma), are caused by gene mutations that can be treated effectively with drugs that inhibit the action of enzymes which promote rogue cancer. But an estimated 10% to 20% of GISTs do not have any mutations detectable or targeted. Scientists in a partnership on cancer research in the Boston area have now explained mechanisms that allow the production of these…

Most cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), a form of soft tissue cancer (sarcoma), are caused by gene mutations that can be treated effectively with drugs that inhibit the action of enzymes which promote rogue cancer. But an estimated 10% to 20% of GISTs do not have any mutations detectable or targeted. Scientists in a partnership on cancer research in the Boston area have now explained mechanisms that allow the production of these hard-to-treat cancers and have identified approaches in laboratory experiments that could lead to successful new therapies. The research, a joint effort by scientists at the Massachusetts General…

Bradley E. Bernstein, MD @BradEBernstein @willflavahan of @MassGeneralNews answers commonly asked questions on the cause of drug resistance found in a form of intestinal tumor. __________ Most cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), a form of soft tissue cancer (sarcoma), are caused by gene mutations that can be treated effectively with drugs that inhibit the action of enzymes which promote rogue cancer. But an estimated 10% to 20% of GISTs do not have any mutations detectable or targeted. Scientists in a partnership on cancer research in the Boston area have now explained mechanisms that allow the production of these hard-to-treat cancers and…

Bradley E. Bernstein, MD @BradEBernstein @willflavahan of @MassGeneralNews explains the cause of drug resistance found in a form of intestinal tumor. ___________ Most cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), a form of soft tissue cancer (sarcoma), are caused by gene mutations that can be treated effectively with drugs that inhibit the action of enzymes which promote rogue cancer. But an estimated 10% to 20% of GISTs do not have any mutations detectable or targeted. Scientists in a partnership on cancer research in the Boston area have now explained mechanisms that allow the production of these hard-to-treat cancers and have identified approaches in…

Alena Gros of @VHIO answers commonly asked questions regarding the development of cell therapies for non-responders to current immunotherapies: can these cells kill the tumor? _________ Research conducted by VHIO’s Alena Gros suggests a modern, less intrusive approach to detecting killer T lymphocytes in patients with low mutational burden gastrointestinal tumors that are refractory to authorized immune-based therapies. Killer T cells found in blood that can hone on mutations expressed in cancer cells pave the way for an effective and customized avenue of therapy. In today’s current era of precision medicine against cancer, we are increasingly witnessing how research is…

Alena Gros of @VHIO explains driving the development of cell therapies for non-responders to current immunotherapies. __________ Research conducted by VHIO’s Alena Gros suggests a modern, less intrusive approach to detecting killer T lymphocytes in patients with low mutational burden gastrointestinal tumors that are refractory to authorized immune-based therapies. Killer T cells found in blood that can hone on mutations expressed in cancer cells pave the way for an effective and customized avenue of therapy. In today’s current era of precision medicine against cancer, we are increasingly witnessing how research is successfully potentiating and personalizing immunotherapy to more effectively unleash…

Research conducted by VHIO’s Alena Gros suggests a modern, less intrusive approach to detecting killer T lymphocytes in patients with low mutational burden gastrointestinal tumors that are refractory to authorized immune-based therapies. Killer T cells found in blood that can hone on mutations expressed in cancer cells pave the way for an effective and customized avenue of therapy. In today’s current era of precision medicine against cancer, we are increasingly witnessing how research is successfully potentiating and personalizing immunotherapy to more effectively unleash the power of the immune system in a greater number of patients to attack disease. Despite such…

Peter O’Donnell, MD of @UChicagoMed provides results from biomarkers in patients with locally advanced metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with durvalumab in phase 1/2 dose‐escalation.

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer today announces an open comment period for the “IASLC Multidisciplinary Recommendations for Pathologic Assessment of Lung Cancer Resection Specimens Following Neoadjuvant Therapy” paper. The paper has been made available here to provide an opportunity for public review of new draft recommendations. The open comment period runs from October 14 to November 7, 2019. With the recent growing number of clinical trials for non-small cell lung cancer with neoadjuvant therapy, there is a great need for standardization of sample processing since it has consistently been shown that major pathological response (MPR) is an important…

Cancer center recognized for following best practices in field Designated centers demonstrate best practices outlined by NCCN, ACR Roswell Park’s Lung Cancer Screening Program offers low-dose CT scans Center’s program diagnoses 70 percent of lung cancers at early stage The efforts of the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center to provide opportunities for early detection of lung cancer to the community have won a prestigious GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer Screening Center of Excellence. Technical governing bodies such as the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) offer clear information on who is a qualified candidate…

Peter O’Donnell, MD of @UChicagoMed explains biomarkers in patients with locally advanced metastatic urothelial carcinoma treated with durvalumab in phase 1/2 dose‐escalation.

A research study published in Neoplasia, led by lead researcher Nallasivam Palanisamy, Ph.D., associate researcher at the Vattikuti Urology Institute at Henry Ford Health System, identified a novel fusion of the prostate cancer gene involving the KLK4 protein coding gene and KLKP1 pseudogene. In urine samples of prostate cancer patients, this particular biomarker can be identified, providing a non-invasive method of detection.  The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is currently being used as the standard method of screening prostate cancer. Nevertheless, elevated levels of PSA are not exclusive to prostate cancer, as benign prostate conditions can also induce them. As a…

Kristin Campbell of @UBCnews shares exercise guidelines for cancer survivors. ________ There is growing evidence that exercise is a significant part of recovery for the increasing number of cancer survivors worldwide. But how much is required, and what kind of exercise? A recent research study, undertaken by an international group of experts led by the University of British Columbia, has led to the development of new guidelines for exercise for cancer survivors. The revised guidelines, published today in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, detail detailed’ exercise treatments’ to tackle common side effects associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment,…

Kristin Campbell of @UBCnews explains exercise guidelines for cancer survivors limitations and safety concerns. __________ There is growing evidence that exercise is a significant part of recovery for the increasing number of cancer survivors worldwide. But how much is required, and what kind of exercise? A recent research study, undertaken by an international group of experts led by the University of British Columbia, has led to the development of new guidelines for exercise for cancer survivors. The revised guidelines, published today in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, detail detailed’ exercise treatments’ to tackle common side effects associated with…

There is growing evidence that exercise is a significant part of recovery for the increasing number of cancer survivors worldwide. But how much is required, and what kind of exercise? A recent research study, undertaken by an international group of experts led by the University of British Columbia, has led to the development of new guidelines for exercise for cancer survivors. The revised guidelines, published today in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, detail detailed’ exercise treatments’ to tackle common side effects associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment, such as anxiety and exhaustion. Generally speaking, the new guidelines prescribe…

Akash J. Patel of @bcmhouston answers meningioma molecular profiling reliably predicts tumor recurrence: how does this help us? ________ Read here: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/bcom-mmp100719.php

Akash J. Patel of @bcmhouston explains meningioma molecular profiling reliably predicts tumor recurrence. __________ Read here: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/bcom-mmp100719.php

Nallasivam Palanisamy, Ph.D. @NallasivamPala4 of @HenryFordNews highlights select biomarkers in patients with prostate cancer and what is next on the horizon for research. _________ A research study published in Neoplasia, led by lead researcher Nallasivam Palanisamy, Ph.D., associate researcher at the Vattikuti Urology Institute at Henry Ford Health System, identified a novel fusion of the prostate cancer gene involving the KLK4 protein coding gene and KLKP1 pseudogene. In urine samples of prostate cancer patients, this particular biomarker can be identified, providing a non-invasive method of detection.  The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is currently being used as the standard method of…

Nallasivam Palanisamy, Ph.D. @NallasivamPala4 of @HenryFordNews explains a unique biomarker can be detected in the urine samples of prostate cancer patients, offering a non-invasive way of detection. _________ A research study published in Neoplasia, led by lead researcher Nallasivam Palanisamy, Ph.D., associate researcher at the Vattikuti Urology Institute at Henry Ford Health System, identified a novel fusion of the prostate cancer gene involving the KLK4 protein coding gene and KLKP1 pseudogene. In urine samples of prostate cancer patients, this particular biomarker can be identified, providing a non-invasive method of detection.  The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is currently being used as…

Nallasivam Palanisamy, Ph.D. @NallasivamPala4 of @HenryFordNews explains a biomarker in urine may offer noninvasive detection of prostate cancer. __________ A research study published in Neoplasia, led by lead researcher Nallasivam Palanisamy, Ph.D., associate researcher at the Vattikuti Urology Institute at Henry Ford Health System, identified a novel fusion of the prostate cancer gene involving the KLK4 protein coding gene and KLKP1 pseudogene. In urine samples of prostate cancer patients, this particular biomarker can be identified, providing a non-invasive method of detection.  The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is currently being used as the standard method of screening prostate cancer. Nevertheless, elevated…

Carol DeSantis, MPH @caroldesantis6 of @AmericanCancer provides information on trends in breast cancer death rates.

Carol DeSantis, MPH @caroldesantis6 of @AmericanCancer explains breast cancer trends in the U.S.

Emily Bernstein, PhD of @IcahnMountSinai answers neuroblastoma in older children: what happens when you have an ATRX deletion?

Emily Bernstein, PhD of @IcahnMountSinai explains neuroblastoma in older children & adolescents harboring deletions within a gene called ATRX may be responsive to tazemetostat.

Courtney Williams, MPH @cphilwil of @ONealCancerUAB explains findings in a new study that results in lower costs and how this affects treatment and clinicians today. __________ Research from the UAB’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center finds that patients treated outside the recommendations of the NCCN Guidelines had significantly greater direct costs. A new study by the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB), published in the October 2019 issue of JNCCN— Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, finds that direct costs for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) increase dramatically when their treatment differs from…

James Suliburk, MD @jsuliburk of @bcmhouston answers how far away is this technology from being used in clinical practice? ___________ Read here: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/uota-ntf100219.php

James Suliburk, MD @jsuliburk of @bcmhouston explains new tests for thyroid cancer could prevent unnecessary surgery. ___________ Read here: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/uota-ntf100219.php

Courtney Williams, MPH @cphilwil of @ONealCancerUAB explains findings in a new study that results in lower costs for patients with metastatic breast cancer. __________ Research from the UAB’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center finds that patients treated outside the recommendations of the NCCN Guidelines had significantly greater direct costs. A new study by the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB), published in the October 2019 issue of JNCCN— Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, finds that direct costs for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) increase dramatically when their treatment differs from the NCCN…

Amanda Haymond of @GeorgeMasonNews @GMU_COS explains a new discovery that includes protein painting technology and enables scientists to make discoveries in cancer research.

Zhibo Ma, PhD of @salkinstitute explains mapping normal breast development to try and better understand cancer. __________ Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and some types are among the hardest to treat. The different types and presence of many different cells makes it difficult to target these tumors. Scientists at the Salk Institute have now used state-of – the-art technology to test each cell during normal breast development to understand what happens wrongly in cancer. The results of the group, published in the Cell Reports on 8 October 2019 and distributed in a free online resource, lay…

Zhibo Ma, PhD of @salkinstitute explains how this affects treatment and clinicians today. __________ Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and some types are among the hardest to treat. The different types and presence of many different cells makes it difficult to target these tumors. Scientists at the Salk Institute have now used state-of – the-art technology to test each cell during normal breast development to understand what happens wrongly in cancer. The results of the group, published in the Cell Reports on 8 October 2019 and distributed in a free online resource, lay the foundations for…

Zhibo Ma, PhD of @salkinstitute answers common questions asked by colleagues regarding measuring chromatin accessibility changes in breast cancer. ________ Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and some types are among the hardest to treat. The different types and presence of many different cells makes it difficult to target these tumors. Scientists at the Salk Institute have now used state-of – the-art technology to test each cell during normal breast development to understand what happens wrongly in cancer. The results of the group, published in the Cell Reports on 8 October 2019 and distributed in a free…

Viruses designed to kill cancer cells are already used to treat one skin cancer and are commonly studied in other cancers. A new study shows that oncolytic viruses known as viruses can be enhanced further to improve the body’s immune response to tumors. The researchers found that this new type of oncolytic virus can simultaneously kill the cancer cells and provide tumor immune cells with a hormone that they need to perform their own cell killing functions. The dual-function virus was significantly more active in shrinking and removing tumors in mice with melanoma tumors than a regular oncolytic virus. The…

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and some types are among the hardest to treat. The different types and presence of many different cells makes it difficult to target these tumors. Scientists at the Salk Institute have now used state-of – the-art technology to test each cell during normal breast development to understand what happens wrongly in cancer. The results of the group, published in the Cell Reports on 8 October 2019 and distributed in a free online resource, lay the foundations for understanding normal breast growth and can lead to new strategies for tumor control. “In…

Curtis McCloskey, PhD of @ottawahospital explains how this affects treatment and clinicians today. __________ A laboratory study published in Clinical Cancer Research provides a new perspective on how ovarian cancer is developed and suggests how it can be avoided. The research is the first to demonstrate that with age occurs the normal ovarian stiffening called fibrosis. It also indicates that this cycle may be prevented by the diabetes medication metformin. “Fibrosis happens when body tissues are repeatedly injured and inflamed, leaving behind hard collagen fibers that pile up over time, like a scar on the skin,” said Dr. Curtis McCloskey,…

Curtis McCloskey, PhD of @ottawahospital provides insight on a possible new frontier for preventing ovarian cancer. ____________ A laboratory study published in Clinical Cancer Research provides a new perspective on how ovarian cancer is developed and suggests how it can be avoided. The research is the first to demonstrate that with age occurs the normal ovarian stiffening called fibrosis. It also indicates that this cycle may be prevented by the diabetes medication metformin. “Fibrosis happens when body tissues are repeatedly injured and inflamed, leaving behind hard collagen fibers that pile up over time, like a scar on the skin,” said Dr.…

A laboratory study published in Clinical Cancer Research provides a new perspective on how ovarian cancer is developed and suggests how it can be avoided. The research is the first to demonstrate that with age occurs the normal ovarian stiffening called fibrosis. It also indicates that this cycle may be prevented by the diabetes medication metformin. “Fibrosis happens when body tissues are repeatedly injured and inflamed, leaving behind hard collagen fibers that pile up over time, like a scar on the skin,” said Dr. Curtis McCloskey, the lead author, “Cancer cells tend to like growing in these fibrotic tissues. Dr.…

Lee P. Richman, MD, Andrew J. Rech, MD and Robert H. Vonderheide, MD of @PennMedicine answer how it is different and is the software ready? _______ When tumor cells expand, tens of thousands of genetic mutations are often spawned. It’s like finding a few needles in a haystack to figure out which ones are most important to try with immunotherapy. Now a new model built by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center hand-picks certain needles so they can be leveraged in more effective, personalized cancer vaccines. Cell Systems today published data on the design of the template,…

Lee P. Richman, MD, Andrew J. Rech, MD and Robert H. Vonderheide, MD of @PennMedicine discuss an algorithm personalizes which cancer mutations are best for immunotherapy. ____________ When tumor cells expand, tens of thousands of genetic mutations are often spawned. It’s like finding a few needles in a haystack to figure out which ones are most important to try with immunotherapy. Now a new model built by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center hand-picks certain needles so they can be leveraged in more effective, personalized cancer vaccines. Cell Systems today published data on the design of the…

When tumor cells expand, tens of thousands of genetic mutations are often spawned. It’s like finding a few needles in a haystack to figure out which ones are most important to try with immunotherapy. Now a new model built by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center hand-picks certain needles so they can be leveraged in more effective, personalized cancer vaccines. Cell Systems today published data on the design of the template, and the algorithm is already available online as a resource-serving open source software. “There are mutations in tumors that can lead to powerful immune responses, but…

– Data from pivotal study demonstrate safety and efficacy regardless of prior gastrectomy in previously treated patients with metastatic gastric cancer (mGC) and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma   PRINCETON, N.J., October 14, 2019 – Taiho Oncology, Inc. announced today that detailed results from the analysis of patients with prior gastrectomy enrolled in the Phase 3 TAS-102 Gastric Study (TAGS) evaluating LONSURF® (trifluridine and tipiracil) in adult patients with metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma previously treated with at least two prior lines of chemotherapy that included a fluoropyrimidine, a platinum, either a taxane or irinotecan, and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy, were published in the…

Ajai Chari, MD of @MountSinaiNYC answers how the phase 2 PLEIADES study affects treatment and clinicians today. ____________ About the PLEIADES Trial2 The non-randomized, open-label, parallel assignment Phase 2 PLEIADES (MMY2040) study included 199 adults with either newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were treated with 1,800 mg of the SC formulation in combination with either bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd) or bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone (D-VMP). Patients with relapsed or refractory disease were treated with 1,800 mg of the SC formulation plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd). The primary endpoint for the D-VMP and D-Rd…

Ajai Chari, MD of @MountSinaiNYC explains a common question asked by colleagues regarding the PLEIADES study: how long do you keep people in clinic? _____________ About the PLEIADES Trial2 The non-randomized, open-label, parallel assignment Phase 2 PLEIADES (MMY2040) study included 199 adults with either newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were treated with 1,800 mg of the SC formulation in combination with either bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd) or bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone (D-VMP). Patients with relapsed or refractory disease were treated with 1,800 mg of the SC formulation plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd). The…

Ajai Chari, MD of @MountSinaiNYC discusses the phase 2 PLEIADES study. _________ About the PLEIADES Trial2 The non-randomized, open-label, parallel assignment Phase 2 PLEIADES (MMY2040) study included 199 adults with either newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma were treated with 1,800 mg of the SC formulation in combination with either bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-VRd) or bortezomib, melphalan and prednisone (D-VMP). Patients with relapsed or refractory disease were treated with 1,800 mg of the SC formulation plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (D-Rd). The primary endpoint for the D-VMP and D-Rd cohorts was overall response rate. The…

Scott Kopetz, MD @skopetz of @MDAndersonNews discusses what’s next for the phase 3 BEACON trial in colorectal cancer. __________ Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced detailed results from the interim analysis of the Phase 3 BEACON CRC trial evaluating the combination of BRAFTOVI® (encorafenib), MEKTOVI® (binimetinib), and cetuximab (BRAFTOVI Triplet), in patients with advanced BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), following one or two lines of therapy. The results show significant improvements in overall survival (OS) and objective response rates (ORR) for the BRAFTOVI Triplet and BRAFTOVI Doublet combination (BRAFTOVI and cetuximab), compared to cetuximab plus irinotecan-containing regimens (Control), and provide analysis of the…

Scott Kopetz, MD @skopetz of @MDAndersonNews explains the phase 3 BEACON CRC trial.  ______ Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced detailed results from the interim analysis of the Phase 3 BEACON CRC trial evaluating the combination of BRAFTOVI® (encorafenib), MEKTOVI® (binimetinib), and cetuximab (BRAFTOVI Triplet), in patients with advanced BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), following one or two lines of therapy. The results show significant improvements in overall survival (OS) and objective response rates (ORR) for the BRAFTOVI Triplet and BRAFTOVI Doublet combination (BRAFTOVI and cetuximab), compared to cetuximab plus irinotecan-containing regimens (Control), and provide analysis of the efficacy and safety of the…

Andrew Krivoshik, MD of @AstellasUS explains insights on EV-103 enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab that was presented at ESMO. #ESMO2019

Andrew Krivoshik, MD of @AstellasUS discusses the EV_103 phase I trial in locally advanced and first- and second-line metastatic urothelial cancer. #ESMO2019

GRACE is very excited to bring to you this new program on supportive care in cancer treatment.Arjun Gupta, MD, one of the GRACE Fellows Ambassador Program Winners for 2019 is the host of this video series, Supportive Care in Cancer Treatment. In this next video, Dr. Gupta’s guest is Dr. Richard Dunne, with the University of Rochester Medical Center in NY. Their topic of discussion is cachexia in cancer treatment.For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD @RamalingamMD of @WinshipAtEmory illustrates the next step in the phase III FLAURA trial in NSCLC. ________ 28% of patients in the global FLAURA trial were still receiving TAGRISSO at three years vs. 9% on either gefitinib or erlotinib TAGRISSO showed a 52% reduction in risk of central nervous system disease progression or death AstraZeneca today presented detailed overall survival (OS) results from the Phase III FLAURA trial of TAGRISSO® (osimertinib) in the 1st-line treatment of adult patients with locally-advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results showed a statistically significant…

Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD @RamalingamMD of @WinshipAtEmory illustrates the next step in the phase III FLAURA trial in NSCLC. ________ 28% of patients in the global FLAURA trial were still receiving TAGRISSO at three years vs. 9% on either gefitinib or erlotinib TAGRISSO showed a 52% reduction in risk of central nervous system disease progression or death AstraZeneca today presented detailed overall survival (OS) results from the Phase III FLAURA trial of TAGRISSO® (osimertinib) in the 1st-line treatment of adult patients with locally-advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results showed a statistically significant…

Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD @RamalingamMD of @WinshipAtEmory illustrates the next step in the phase III FLAURA trial in NSCLC. ________ 28% of patients in the global FLAURA trial were still receiving TAGRISSO at three years vs. 9% on either gefitinib or erlotinib TAGRISSO showed a 52% reduction in risk of central nervous system disease progression or death AstraZeneca today presented detailed overall survival (OS) results from the Phase III FLAURA trial of TAGRISSO® (osimertinib) in the 1st-line treatment of adult patients with locally-advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results showed a statistically significant…

Sarah Osman of @Queens_Belfast explains the standardized technique is using CT scans to assess and predict prostate cancers in patients. __________ Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have discovered a new way to predict the aggressiveness and future behaviour of prostate cancers. The new method uses images from computed tomography (CT) scans that are routinely collected from all patients. The images are then analysed by a computer to extract hundreds of features, termed ‘radiomic features’, which have the potential to uncover disease characteristics that fail to be seen by the naked eye. This technique could complement traditional assessment methods and may…

Sarah Osman of @Queens_Belfast provides insight on research that found a new way to predict the future behavior of prostate cancers with computed tomography (CT) scans. _____________ Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have discovered a new way to predict the aggressiveness and future behaviour of prostate cancers. The new method uses images from computed tomography (CT) scans that are routinely collected from all patients. The images are then analysed by a computer to extract hundreds of features, termed ‘radiomic features’, which have the potential to uncover disease characteristics that fail to be seen by the naked eye. This technique could…

Sarah Osman of @Queens_Belfast provides insight on research that found a new way to predict the future behavior of prostate cancers with computed tomography (CT) scans. ______________ Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have discovered a new way to predict the aggressiveness and future behaviour of prostate cancers. The new method uses images from computed tomography (CT) scans that are routinely collected from all patients. The images are then analysed by a computer to extract hundreds of features, termed ‘radiomic features’, which have the potential to uncover disease characteristics that fail to be seen by the naked eye. This technique could…

Xiao-Ou Shu, MD of @VUMChealth explains how oncologists should treat male breast cancer patients and how it will affect clinicians. _______ Men may be more likely than women to die after being diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly during the first 5 years after diagnosis, a new study suggests.  In the study, the 5-year overall survival rate after a diagnosis of breast cancer was 77.6% for men, compared with 86.4% for women, researchers reported in JAMA Oncology on September 19.  The findings add to previous research showing differences in death rates between men and women with breast cancer while also providing information about some of the…

Valérie Gabarre @valeriegabarre of @OSEIMMUNO discusses the ATALANTE-1 trial and the TEDOPaM study presented by OSE Immunotherapeutics at #ESMO19. __________ ATALANTE-1 randomized phase III trial, OSE-2101 versus standard treatment as second or third line in HLA-A2 positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Moving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in first-line setting in advanced NSCLC, new treatment strategies are needed for patients who progress on treatment with ICI. Tedopi® (OSE-2101) is a neoepitope vaccine restricted to HLA-A2 positive patients (∼45% of NSCLC) targeting five tumor-associated antigens expressed in lung cancer cells: ACE, HER2, MAGE2, MAGE3 and P53. In a phase II…

Research from the UAB’s O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center finds that patients treated outside the recommendations of the NCCN Guidelines had significantly greater direct costs. A new study by the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB), published in the October 2019 issue of JNCCN— Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, finds that direct costs for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) increase dramatically when their treatment differs from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines for Oncology (NCCN) recommendations. Previous studies have found that disagreeable care leads to higher overall health care costs[1], but this is…

Xiao-Ou Shu, MD of @VUMChealth explains that in a recent study, men have a higher mortality rate than women due to multiple contributors. #breastcancer ___________ Men may be more likely than women to die after being diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly during the first 5 years after diagnosis, a new study suggests.  In the study, the 5-year overall survival rate after a diagnosis of breast cancer was 77.6% for men, compared with 86.4% for women, researchers reported in JAMA Oncology on September 19.  The findings add to previous research showing differences in death rates between men and women with breast cancer while also providing information…

Researchers from Queen’s University Belfast have discovered a new way to predict the aggressiveness and future behaviour of prostate cancers. The new method uses images from computed tomography (CT) scans that are routinely collected from all patients. The images are then analysed by a computer to extract hundreds of features, termed ‘radiomic features’, which have the potential to uncover disease characteristics that fail to be seen by the naked eye. This technique could complement traditional assessment methods and may help clinicians to make more informed personalised treatment decisions for men with prostate cancer. In the long run, it may reduce…

Once breast cancer spreads to bone, treatment becomes nearly impossible. Breast cancer cells can lie dormant in the bone, often undetectable and able to escape typical treatments. Unfortunately, these dormant cells can awaken at any time to generate tumors. All of this combined makes it difficult to understand how the cells proliferate and how to stop them from doing so. However, researchers from the University of Notre Dame have now identified a pair of proteins believed to be critical for spreading, or metastasizing, breast cancer to bone. One protein, known as CXCL5, was discovered to be key for signaling growth…

Patients with mesothelioma may gain similar benefit from immunotherapy as chemotherapy, and good responders may provide important clues to novel treatment for the thousands of new cases each year. Data from the PROMISE-meso trial presented at the ESMO Congress 2019 highlight the need to understand the biological mechanisms whereby mesothelioma, which is incurable, adapts to immunotherapy in some patients but not in others, resulting in variations in treatment response. PROMISE-meso compared the effects of immunotherapy with the checkpoint inhibitor, pembrolizumab, and standard chemotherapy after patients with mesothelioma relapsed on or after first-line treatment. “In PROMISE-meso, nearly four times more patients…

The investigational drug selpercatinib may benefit patients with lung cancer whose tumors have alterations in the RET gene, according to preliminary results from a clinical trial.  About 2% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have fusions between the RET gene and other DNA segments. These gene fusions can lead to the production of abnormal RET proteins that spur the growth of cancer cells. Selpercatinib (LOXO-292) is a targeted therapy that works by inhibiting the activity of abnormal RET proteins. The drug is an oral therapy that patients take as a pill.  In the trial, more patients responded to the drug—that is, their tumors shrank—than has been seen with older drugs that…

Men may be more likely than women to die after being diagnosed with breast cancer, particularly during the first 5 years after diagnosis, a new study suggests.  In the study, the 5-year overall survival rate after a diagnosis of breast cancer was 77.6% for men, compared with 86.4% for women, researchers reported in JAMA Oncology on September 19.  The findings add to previous research showing differences in death rates between men and women with breast cancer while also providing information about some of the factors that may contribute to the disparity between the sexes. One factor identified by the authors was the lack of adequate…

Ellen J. Kim, MD of @PennMedicine includes observations found in the PROVe Study. #EORTC19 _________ Dr. Ellen J. Kim, UPENN, Professor of Dermatology, Penn Cutaneous Lymphoma Program, PROVe principal investigator, said: “The rarity of MF-CTCL has resulted in there being limited knowledge available for those affected by this disease, as well as many clinicians. We are pleased to have conducted the PROVe study and to further highlight our findings at the EORTC, as we set out to further expand our knowledge concerning the field of MF and current treatment options. The observational study assessed nearly 300 patients and verified that…

Ellen J. Kim, MD of @PennMedicine addresses questions asked by colleagues including: how long are patients on therapy in the PROVe Study? #EORTC19 _______ Dr. Ellen J. Kim, UPENN, Professor of Dermatology, Penn Cutaneous Lymphoma Program, PROVe principal investigator, said: “The rarity of MF-CTCL has resulted in there being limited knowledge available for those affected by this disease, as well as many clinicians. We are pleased to have conducted the PROVe study and to further highlight our findings at the EORTC, as we set out to further expand our knowledge concerning the field of MF and current treatment options. The…

Ellen J. Kim, MD of @PennMedicine explains the PROVe Study on efficacy and quality of life (QoL) in patients with mycosis fungoides cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (MF-CTCL) treated with chlormethine gel and other therapies. #EORTC19 ________ Dr. Ellen J. Kim, UPENN, Professor of Dermatology, Penn Cutaneous Lymphoma Program, PROVe principal investigator, said: “The rarity of MF-CTCL has resulted in there being limited knowledge available for those affected by this disease, as well as many clinicians. We are pleased to have conducted the PROVe study and to further highlight our findings at the EORTC, as we set out to further expand our…

Chung-Han Lee, MD @ChungHanLee3 of @sloan_kettering answers how it affects clinicians and what is to come in kidney cancer. _______ Data shared today in oral presentation at ESMO Congress 2019 show telaglenastat doubles median progression-free survival (PFS) in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced disease, reduced risk of death by 36% (HR=0.64, p=0.079 one-sided)   First glutaminase inhibitor to demonstrate clinical activity for treatment of cancer   SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALA), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer…

Chung-Han Lee, MD @ChungHanLee3 of @sloan_kettering explains questions asked by his colleagues: was the improvement in progression-free survival clinically meaningful? ________ Data shared today in oral presentation at ESMO Congress 2019 show telaglenastat doubles median progression-free survival (PFS) in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced disease, reduced risk of death by 36% (HR=0.64, p=0.079 one-sided)   First glutaminase inhibitor to demonstrate clinical activity for treatment of cancer   SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALA), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drugs for the treatment of…

Chung-Han Lee, MD @ChungHanLee3 of @sloan_kettering discusses data from randomized #ENTRATA Study in patients with advanced RCC. __________ Data shared today in oral presentation at ESMO Congress 2019 show telaglenastat doubles median progression-free survival (PFS) in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced disease, reduced risk of death by 36% (HR=0.64, p=0.079 one-sided)   First glutaminase inhibitor to demonstrate clinical activity for treatment of cancer   SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALA), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and other…

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 3, 2019– Verastem, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSTM) (Verastem Oncology or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing medicines seeking to improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients, today announced a poster highlighting new preclinical duvelisib (COPIKTRAâ„¢) data that will be presented at the 5th International Conference on New Concepts in Lymphoid Malignancies, which is hosted by the European School of Haematology (ESH), and is taking place October 3-5, 2019, in Estoril, Portugal. The poster features preclinical research that compared duvelisib with idelalisib in preclinical models of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). COPIKTRA is not approved for use in MCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma…

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 3, 2019– Verastem, Inc. (Nasdaq:VSTM) (Verastem Oncology or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing medicines seeking to improve the survival and quality of life of cancer patients, today announced duvelisib (COPIKTRATM) has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the treatment of T-Cell lymphoma. The designation was created to encourage the development of drugs that may provide significant benefit to patients suffering from rare diseases. “Receiving orphan drug designation for T-Cell Lymphoma, in addition to the previously-granted Fast Track status, for Peripheral T-Cell lymphoma, marks another important regulatory milestone to bring…

(WASHINGTON, October 3, 2019) — Yesterday, ASH President Roy Silverstein, MD, of the Medical College of Wisconsin asked members of the United States Senate Committee on Appropriations to adopt the provision in the House-passed fiscal year (FY) 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill that dedicates $2 million for a federal program to collect data on the complications, treatments, and health outcomes of people with sickle cell disease (SCD). Through legislation passed in December 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Sickle Cell Data Collection Program was authorized to award grants to states, academic institutions,…

Shaji Kumar, MD of Mayo Clinic explains how patient volumes associated with longer survival in MM will affect clinicians and treatment. ______ New research in the September 2019 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network finds that providers with more experience treating people with multiple myeloma have better outcomes than those with more limited experience. In general, providers who saw the most cases were more likely to be located at academic, NCI-designated cancer centers. However, the researchers found that the very highest-volume providers at community facilities did achieve equally low mortality rates as clinicians at NCI-designated cancer centers. “Multiple myeloma…

Shaji Kumar, MD of Mayo Clinic explains a new study that supports higher patient volumes are associated with longer survival in multiple myeloma. _______ New research in the September 2019 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network finds that providers with more experience treating people with multiple myeloma have better outcomes than those with more limited experience. In general, providers who saw the most cases were more likely to be located at academic, NCI-designated cancer centers. However, the researchers found that the very highest-volume providers at community facilities did achieve equally low mortality rates as clinicians at NCI-designated cancer centers.…

Hypertension with ibrutinib more common than previously reported; this study is first to show association between cancer drug-related hypertension and other heart problems (WASHINGTON, October 3, 2019) — Over half of people prescribed the targeted blood cancer-fighting drug ibrutinib developed new or worsened high blood pressure within six months of starting the medication, according to a new study published online today in Blood. The analysis is also the first to tie ibrutinib-related hypertension to a heightened risk of heart problems, particularly atrial fibrillation. Moreover, the association of ibrutinib with cardiovascular complications remained regardless of the prescribed dose. “This study provides a more clear picture…

An international panel of experts will identify the best approaches to implement genetic testing for men with prostate cancer   PHILADELPHIA — The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center – Jefferson Health (SKCC) will host the second International Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference, “Implementation of Genetic Testing for Inherited Prostate Cancer,” Oct. 4-5. This invitation-only scientific meeting will once again bring together more than 100 clinicians, researchers, national organizations, thought leaders, and patient advocates to review the rapidly evolving field of genetic testing in the management of prostate cancer.   This is a follow-up meeting to the inaugural Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Consensus that…

Ramaswamy Govindan, MD of Siteman Cancer Center explains the phase I KRAS inhibitor that is well tolerated by patients with adenocarcinoma and NSCLC. ________ A clinical trial testing the toxicity of a KRAS inhibitor demonstrated early promising antitumor activity and few adverse side effects in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring KRAS G12C mutation, according to Ramaswamy Govindan, M.D., from the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. The KRAS G12C mutation is found in approximately 14 percent of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and 11 percent of patients with non-small cell lung cancer but…

Ramaswamy Govindan, MD of Siteman Cancer Center answers multiple questions regarding the phase I KRAS inhibitor well tolerated by patients with adenocarcinoma and NSCLC including: will patients respond with other operations? __________ A clinical trial testing the toxicity of a KRAS inhibitor demonstrated early promising antitumor activity and few adverse side effects in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer harboring KRAS G12C mutation, according to Ramaswamy Govindan, M.D., from the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. The KRAS G12C mutation is found in approximately 14 percent of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and 11 percent…

Peter Voorhees, MD of Levine Cancer Institute addresses phase 2 GRIFFIN study affecting clinicians and treatment today. _______ The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today results from the randomized Phase 2 GRIFFIN (MMY2004) study showing that the addition of DARZALEX® (daratumumab) to bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) induced higher response rates in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who were eligible for high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) compared with VRd alone. The data, selected as a late-breaking abstract, were presented at the 17th International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) meeting in Boston. “The GRIFFIN study is the second randomized…

Peter Voorhees, MD of Levine Cancer Institute answers questions received from the audience at IMW 2019 regarding the phase 2 GRIFFIN study patients with high risk cytogenetics. ______ The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today results from the randomized Phase 2 GRIFFIN (MMY2004) study showing that the addition of DARZALEX® (daratumumab) to bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) induced higher response rates in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who were eligible for high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) compared with VRd alone. The data, selected as a late-breaking abstract, were presented at the 17th International Myeloma Workshop (IMW)…

Peter Voorhees, MD of Levine Cancer Institute answers commonly asked questions by colleagues regarding the phase 2 GRIFFIN study: should you change clinical practice or transplant newly diagnosed MM patients? _______ The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today results from the randomized Phase 2 GRIFFIN (MMY2004) study showing that the addition of DARZALEX® (daratumumab) to bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) induced higher response rates in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who were eligible for high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) compared with VRd alone. The data, selected as a late-breaking abstract, were presented at the 17th International…

Peter Voorhees, MD of Levine Cancer Institute explains how the phase 2 GRIFFIN study shows a high response rate in patients with newly diagnosed MM. ________ The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today results from the randomized Phase 2 GRIFFIN (MMY2004) study showing that the addition of DARZALEX® (daratumumab) to bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) induced higher response rates in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who were eligible for high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) compared with VRd alone. The data, selected as a late-breaking abstract, were presented at the 17th International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) meeting in…

COG study shows treatment can be reduced without compromising outcomes Study shows therapy can be reduced in some neuroblastoma patients Algorithm based on tumor biology, anticipated response to treatment For patients with localized tumors, 3-year overall survival was 100% BUFFALO, N.Y. — A recent Children’s Oncology Group (COG) study identified a treatment algorithm that can help reduce therapy for some neuroblastoma patients with intermediate-risk disease, while maintaining good clinical outcomes. The study’s findings are particularly significant because they suggest that many infants and young children with this disease may be spared unpleasant or lingering side effects of prolonged therapy, says…

Ashley T. Freeman, MD of BC Cancer explains how the idea that higher patient volumes are associated with longer survival in multiple myeloma will affect clinicians. _________ New research adds to accumulating evidence of benefit for patients treated at high-volume facilities or by high-volume providers. New research in the September 2019 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network finds that providers with more experience treating people with multiple myeloma have better outcomes than those with more limited experience. In general, providers who saw the most cases were more likely to be located at academic, NCI-designated cancer centers. However, the researchers…

Data published today in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) previously treated with docetaxel and who progressed within 12 months on an androgen receptor (AR)-targeted agent (abiraterone or enzalutamide) experienced significantly longer radiographic progression free survival (rPFS) with Jevtana® (cabazitaxel) plus prednisone compared with abiraterone plus prednisone or enzalutamide. Overall survival (OS) with Jevtana was also significantly longer. These findings from the CARD study were presented today in the Presidential Symposium of the 2019 European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.    “In this study, treatment with Jevtana significantly improved radiographic progression…

September 28, 2019   Data shared today in oral presentation at ESMO Congress 2019 show telaglenastat doubles median progression-free survival (PFS) in heavily pre-treated patients with advanced disease, reduced risk of death by 36% (HR=0.64, p=0.079 one-sided)   First glutaminase inhibitor to demonstrate clinical activity for treatment of cancer   SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALA), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, presented today supporting data for its previously reported positive results from its…

Results from the second interim analysis of the Phase 3 SPARTAN study featured in an oral presentation at ESMO 2019 and simultaneously published in Annals of Oncology   BARCELONA, Spain, Sept. 27, 2019 /PRNewswire/ – The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today updated, longer-term results from the pivotal Phase 3 SPARTAN study following a second interim analysis. Treatment with ERLEADA® (apalutamide) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) resulted in a 25 percent reduction in the risk of death compared with placebo plus ADT in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) who were at high risk of developing metastases.1   The updated findings showed…

Ashley T. Freeman, MD of BC Cancer explains commonly asked questions by colleagues: why do myeloma patients seem to do better when they are treated at a high volume facility or by high volume myeloma oncologist? _______ New research adds to accumulating evidence of benefit for patients treated at high-volume facilities or by high-volume providers. New research in the September 2019 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network finds that providers with more experience treating people with multiple myeloma have better outcomes than those with more limited experience. In general, providers who saw the most cases were more likely to…

Ashley T. Freeman, MD of BC Cancer provides insight on a study in JNCCN that supports the idea that higher patient volumes are associated with longer survival in MM. _________ New research adds to accumulating evidence of benefit for patients treated at high-volume facilities or by high-volume providers. New research in the September 2019 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network finds that providers with more experience treating people with multiple myeloma have better outcomes than those with more limited experience. In general, providers who saw the most cases were more likely to be located at academic, NCI-designated cancer centers.…

Analyses from the Phase III JAVELIN Renal 101 study support efficacy of BAVENCIO plus axitinib across multiple subgroups of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) Abstracts highlight data on BAVENCIO as a monotherapy and in combination in multiple advanced cancers   EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the US and Canada, and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced the presentation of multiple analyses from the JAVELIN clinical development program assessing BAVENCIO® (avelumab) alone or as part of combination regimens for the treatment of advanced cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) and some other solid…

Anurag Singh, MD of Roswell Park explains what’s next in research. ______ Roswell Park researchers present findings at ASTRO Annual Meeting Aspirin improved overall survival for patients with head/neck, lung cancers Patients in both studies also received radiation or chemoradiation therapy Future studies will help determine which patients benefit most   BUFFALO, N.Y. — What if a drug that sits in nearly everyone’s medicine cabinet could help extend the lives of some cancer patients? In companion presentations at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, doctors from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center report new evidence that…

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced detailed results from the interim analysis of the Phase 3 BEACON CRC trial evaluating the combination of BRAFTOVI® (encorafenib), MEKTOVI® (binimetinib), and cetuximab (BRAFTOVI Triplet), in patients with advanced BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), following one or two lines of therapy. The results show significant improvements in overall survival (OS) and objective response rates (ORR) for the BRAFTOVI Triplet and BRAFTOVI Doublet combination (BRAFTOVI and cetuximab), compared to cetuximab plus irinotecan-containing regimens (Control), and provide analysis of the efficacy and safety of the BRAFTOVI Triplet compared to the BRAFTOVI Doublet. These data will be presented…

Anurag Singh, MD of Roswell Park explains a commonly asked question by colleagues: why is there no benefit to cancer specific survival? _______ Roswell Park researchers present findings at ASTRO Annual Meeting Aspirin improved overall survival for patients with head/neck, lung cancers Patients in both studies also received radiation or chemoradiation therapy Future studies will help determine which patients benefit most   BUFFALO, N.Y. — What if a drug that sits in nearly everyone’s medicine cabinet could help extend the lives of some cancer patients? In companion presentations at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in Chicago,…

Michael Buckstein, MD of Mount Sinai answers commonly asked questions by his colleagues: are you overtreating the patients? What is our toxicity profile? How often do patients recur after the treatments? ______ Preliminary results from this Phase II trial show very promising response rates when combining TACE+SBRT in large, unresectable HCC with excellent OS, PFS, and CSS.  These preliminary data are currently being confirmed in an expanded cohort.

Anurag Singh, MD of Roswell Park reveals that patients with some cancers who have taken baby aspirin can improve overall survival. ________ Roswell Park researchers present findings at ASTRO Annual Meeting Aspirin improved overall survival for patients with head/neck, lung cancers Patients in both studies also received radiation or chemoradiation therapy Future studies will help determine which patients benefit most   BUFFALO, N.Y. — What if a drug that sits in nearly everyone’s medicine cabinet could help extend the lives of some cancer patients? In companion presentations at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, doctors…

Michael Buckstein, MD of Mount Sinai explains the Phase II trial using combination of TACE and SBRT for unresectable single large HCC. ________ Preliminary results from this Phase II trial show very promising response rates when combining TACE+SBRT in large, unresectable HCC with excellent OS, PFS, and CSS.  These preliminary data are currently being confirmed in an expanded cohort.

William Smith, MD of Mount Sinai addresses the next steps in radiation therapy on the objective response and outcomes in nivolumab for hepatocellular carcinoma. _____ Among patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who received combination upfront RT and nivolumab, we found the objective response rate (as determined by mRECIST criteria) to be 35%, substantially increased from historical controls, suggesting that this approach may increase the proportion of patients that would benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition.

William Smith, MD of Mount Sinai explains how this affects clinicians today? _______ Among patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who received combination upfront RT and nivolumab, we found the objective response rate (as determined by mRECIST criteria) to be 35%, substantially increased from historical controls, suggesting that this approach may increase the proportion of patients that would benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition.

William Smith, MD of Mount Sinai answers multiple questions received from colleagues, including: when did patients receive radiation relevant to nivolumab? ______ Among patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who received combination upfront RT and nivolumab, we found the objective response rate (as determined by mRECIST criteria) to be 35%, substantially increased from historical controls, suggesting that this approach may increase the proportion of patients that would benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition.

William Smith, MD of Mount Sinai describes the effect of radiation therapy on the objective response and outcomes with nivolumab for hepatocellular carcinoma. ________ Among patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who received combination upfront RT and nivolumab, we found the objective response rate (as determined by mRECIST criteria) to be 35%, substantially increased from historical controls, suggesting that this approach may increase the proportion of patients that would benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition.

Finding May Explain Why Promising Drugs Work – And When They Won’t     CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Sept. 26, 2019 – A new discovery about pancreatic cancer sheds light on how the cancer fuels its growth and may help explain how promising cancer drugs work – and for whom they will fail.   The finding one day could help doctors determine which treatments will be most effective for patients, so that they get the best outcomes.   “Pancreatic cancer is a very difficult problem. It has been a very difficult problem for a long time. The survival for pancreatic cancer patients is very low…

A recent analysis from Canada found that information on health-related quality of life is often not collected for investigational cancer drugs or used to calculate the balance of costs and benefits of these drugs when they are submitted for reimbursement, according to findings published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.   Both the effectiveness and the expense of a medication are important in determining its value and whether the cost will be reimbursed. This is often considered in terms of the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). One QALY equates to one year in perfect health.…

With Breast Cancer Awareness Month Approaching, Cedars-Sinai Experts Discuss New Treatment Options for Early-Stage, Low-Risk Breast Cancer Patients LOS ANGELES (Sept. 24, 2019) — When Jeanne Anderson was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, the Beverly Hills resident underwent a course of chemotherapy to shrink the tumors in preparation for surgery. But thanks to a minimally invasive procedure that kills cancer cells by freezing them, she was able to avoid the risks and recovery time of surgery, and she now is cancer-free. Anderson was referred to oncologist Aron Bick, MD, after her gynecologist detected a breast lump in June…

TORONTO, CANADA / ACCESSWIRE / September 24, 2019 / Soricimed Biopharma Inc. (“Soricimed”), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing first-in-class, targeted cancer therapeutics, today announced that MD Anderson Cancer Center (“MDACC”) has completed enrolment and begun dosing the first cohort of three late-stage pancreatic cancer patients in its investigator-initiated trial of Soricimed’s lead drug candidate, SOR-C13. This trial was launched last month by Principal Investigator, Siqing Fu, MD PhD, a member of the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at MDACC, one of the world’s most respected cancer research centers. The trial is building on the safety and anticancer activity of SOR-C13 observed in Soricimed’s…

GRACE is very excited to bring to you this new program on supportive care in cancer treatment. Arjun Gupta, MD, one of the GRACE Fellows Ambassador Program Winners for 2019 is the host of this video series, Supportive Care in Cancer Treatment. In this first video, Dr. Gupta’s guest is Charles Loprinzi, MD, with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Their topic of discussion is Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

– Opinion based on Phase III data showing combination lowered risk of disease progression or death by 31% and improved objective response rate compared with sunitinib1 – Decision by the European Commission anticipated in fourth quarter of 2019   ROCKLAND, MA and NEW YORK, US, September 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the US and Canada, and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of BAVENCIO® (avelumab) in combination with axitinib for the first-line treatment of adult patients with…

Gregory Senofsky, MD of UCLA Health explains the standard conversion rate form lumpectomy to mastectomy. ______ FINDINGS Breast cancer surgeons performing lumpectomies seek to spare healthy breast tissue while removing all cancerous cells, but determining appropriate margins and avoiding follow-up surgeries are ongoing challenges. This retrospective, single-institution review found that intraoperative teamwork between a breast cancer surgeon and a dedicated breast pathologist – utilizing tissue-marking ink and gross examination with magnification to evaluate margins – is an accurate, rapid and cost-effective means of significantly reducing the need for second-surgery margin re-excisions or mastectomies. BACKGROUND Several studies have shown significantly increased…

Gregory Senofsky, MD of UCLA Health addresses how reducing the need for second surgery after lumpectomy will affect clinicians today and the next steps. _______ FINDINGS Breast cancer surgeons performing lumpectomies seek to spare healthy breast tissue while removing all cancerous cells, but determining appropriate margins and avoiding follow-up surgeries are ongoing challenges. This retrospective, single-institution review found that intraoperative teamwork between a breast cancer surgeon and a dedicated breast pathologist – utilizing tissue-marking ink and gross examination with magnification to evaluate margins – is an accurate, rapid and cost-effective means of significantly reducing the need for second-surgery margin re-excisions…

A majority of patients with cancer don’t understand critical features of the genomic test results they receive when participating in clinical trials, according to a pilot study conducted under the Lung Cancer Master Protocol (Lung-MAP), the first lung cancer precision medicine trial supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).  In the first-of-its-kind study, researchers surveyed 123 individuals participating in the Lung-MAP trial and other biomarker-driven cancer trials. In these trials, patients receive genomic testing that detects DNA mutations in cancer cells, known as somatic mutations, which are typically found in tumor tissue samples. Precision medicine trials may also include germline testing, which detects inherited…

Gregory Senofsky, MD of UCLA Health answers a question often asked by colleagues. ______ FINDINGS Breast cancer surgeons performing lumpectomies seek to spare healthy breast tissue while removing all cancerous cells, but determining appropriate margins and avoiding follow-up surgeries are ongoing challenges. This retrospective, single-institution review found that intraoperative teamwork between a breast cancer surgeon and a dedicated breast pathologist – utilizing tissue-marking ink and gross examination with magnification to evaluate margins – is an accurate, rapid and cost-effective means of significantly reducing the need for second-surgery margin re-excisions or mastectomies. BACKGROUND Several studies have shown significantly increased local breast…

Jonathan Goldman, MD of UCLA Health explains the full trial design of the CASPIAN trial. ______ In the Phase III CASPIAN trial IMFINZI at a fixed, convenient dose improved survival with either a cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy backbone AstraZeneca today presented detailed results from the Phase III CASPIAN trial, showing IMFINZI® (durvalumab) significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with previously-untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). IMFINZI in combination with four cycles of standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy (etoposide with either cisplatin or carboplatin) demonstrated a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in OS vs. SoC chemotherapy consisting of up to six cycles…

Jonathan Goldman, MD of UCLA Health describes advances in SCLC. _______ In the Phase III CASPIAN trial IMFINZI at a fixed, convenient dose improved survival with either a cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy backbone AstraZeneca today presented detailed results from the Phase III CASPIAN trial, showing IMFINZI® (durvalumab) significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with previously-untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). IMFINZI in combination with four cycles of standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy (etoposide with either cisplatin or carboplatin) demonstrated a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in OS vs. SoC chemotherapy consisting of up to six cycles of chemotherapy and optional prophylactic…

Jonathan Goldman, MD of UCLA Health answers on the CASPIAN trial: is this practice changing? _______ In the Phase III CASPIAN trial IMFINZI at a fixed, convenient dose improved survival with either a cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy backbone AstraZeneca today presented detailed results from the Phase III CASPIAN trial, showing IMFINZI® (durvalumab) significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with previously-untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). IMFINZI in combination with four cycles of standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy (etoposide with either cisplatin or carboplatin) demonstrated a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in OS vs. SoC chemotherapy consisting of up to six cycles…

Jonathan Goldman, MD explains IMFINZI is the first immunotherapy to show both significant survival benefit and improved, durable responses in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. _______ In the Phase III CASPIAN trial IMFINZI at a fixed, convenient dose improved survival with either a cisplatin or carboplatin chemotherapy backbone AstraZeneca today presented detailed results from the Phase III CASPIAN trial, showing IMFINZI® (durvalumab) significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with previously-untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). IMFINZI in combination with four cycles of standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapy (etoposide with either cisplatin or carboplatin) demonstrated a statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in…

Gregory Senofsky, MD of UCLA Health explains the intraoperative teamwork that greatly reduces the need for second surgery after lumpectomy. ____ FINDINGS Breast cancer surgeons performing lumpectomies seek to spare healthy breast tissue while removing all cancerous cells, but determining appropriate margins and avoiding follow-up surgeries are ongoing challenges. This retrospective, single-institution review found that intraoperative teamwork between a breast cancer surgeon and a dedicated breast pathologist – utilizing tissue-marking ink and gross examination with magnification to evaluate margins – is an accurate, rapid and cost-effective means of significantly reducing the need for second-surgery margin re-excisions or mastectomies. BACKGROUND Several…

Sudha Amarnath, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses how this will affect treatment and clinicians today. _____ Preoperative pelvic radiation (XRT), with or without concurrent chemotherapy, is safe and effective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and locally advanced rectal cancer, according to Cleveland Clinic research presented at the 2019 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting. IBD is a risk factor for the development of rectal cancers, and IBD patients are frequently diagnosed with locally advanced cancers. “Patients who have IBD are at a higher risk of developing rectal cancer compared to the general population, and also tend…

Sudha Amarnath, MD of Cleveland Clinic answers: Is this truly safe? Are these outcomes real? _____ Preoperative pelvic radiation (XRT), with or without concurrent chemotherapy, is safe and effective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and locally advanced rectal cancer, according to Cleveland Clinic research presented at the 2019 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting. IBD is a risk factor for the development of rectal cancers, and IBD patients are frequently diagnosed with locally advanced cancers. “Patients who have IBD are at a higher risk of developing rectal cancer compared to the general population, and also tend…

Sudha Amarnath, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses toxicity and efficacy outcomes of preoperative pelvic radiation therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and rectal cancer.  ____ Preoperative pelvic radiation (XRT), with or without concurrent chemotherapy, is safe and effective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and locally advanced rectal cancer, according to Cleveland Clinic research presented at the 2019 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting. IBD is a risk factor for the development of rectal cancers, and IBD patients are frequently diagnosed with locally advanced cancers. “Patients who have IBD are at a higher risk of developing…

New multi-pronged strategy for treating advanced breast cancer earns Breakthrough Award Multifaceted approach combines 3 complementary immunotherapy strategies Two clinical trials slated for 2020 in patients with metastatic breast cancer Platform combines biologic agents to make tumors visible to immune system  BUFFALO, N.Y. — A team from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is moving a new three-part strategy for treating advanced cancers forward with support from a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) grant to Pawel Kalinski, MD, PhD, Vice Chair for Translational Research and Rustum Family Professor for Molecular Therapeutics and Translational Research at the Buffalo, N.Y.-based cancer center. The four-year,…

Kailin Yang, MD of Cleveland Clinic answers how this will affect clinicians today and questions asked by his colleagues. _______ Inhibiting two critical steps in the metabolism of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) attenuates GSC self-renewal and reduces tumorigenesis, finds a new study presented at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). “Determining how to target glioma stem cells effectively has been a major challenge in treating glioblastoma [GBM],” says Kailin Yang, MD, PhD, a radiation oncology resident at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center who presented the abstract under the supervision of Jeremy Rich, MD, MHS, of…

Kailin Yang, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses targeting metabolic reprogramming to radiosensitize glioblastoma stem cells. _________ Inhibiting two critical steps in the metabolism of glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) attenuates GSC self-renewal and reduces tumorigenesis, finds a new study presented at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). “Determining how to target glioma stem cells effectively has been a major challenge in treating glioblastoma [GBM],” says Kailin Yang, MD, PhD, a radiation oncology resident at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center who presented the abstract under the supervision of Jeremy Rich, MD, MHS, of the University of California…

Challenges and Pathways to Coverage, with Christine Cambareri, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

Drs. Jack West, Charu Aggarwal, and Benjamin Levy recently gathered to review top discussion points for Lung Cancer from ASCO 2019. In this video, the doctors discuss their thoughts on KRAS G12D as a new target. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

Drs. Jack West, Charu Aggarwal, and Benjamin Levy recently gathered to review top discussion points for Lung Cancer from ASCO 2019. In this video, the doctors discuss stage 4 non small cell lung cancer and new targets, specifically RET. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

Drs. Jack West, Charu Aggarwal, and Benjamin Levy recently gathered to review top discussion points for Lung Cancer from ASCO 2019. In this video, the doctors discuss stage 4 non small cell lung cancer and new targets, specifically MET. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

CancerGRACE is devoted to giving you the most up to date information about cancer and cancer treatment. In our ongoing series recapping the 2019 ASCO meeting, Drs. Jack West, Charu Aggarwal and Benjamin Levy gather to discuss the long-term effects of Pembrolizumab and how its promising new results may impact yours or a loved one’s cancer treatment. CancerGRACE is funded by our community. If you would like to learn more or donate, please visit CancerGRACE.org. Thank you for watching. If you would like to join the conversation, please visit cancergrace.org/forum to join our community.

CancerGRACE is devoted to giving you the most up to date information about cancer and cancer treatment. In our ongoing series recapping the 2019 ASCO meeting, Drs. Jack West, Charu Aggarwal and Benjamin Levy review the results from the Adjuvant Afatinib Trial regarding stages 2 and 3 non-small cell lung cancer treatment. We can’t do what we do without your help. Please visit CancerGRACE.org to donate, find out about volunteer opportunities or learn more about CancerGRACE’s mission to provide the information and support needed to overcome cancer. Thank you for watching. If you would like to join the conversation, please…

Drs. Jack West, Charu Aggarwal, and Benjamin Levy recently gathered to review top discussion points for Lung Cancer from ASCO 2019. In this first video, the doctors discuss “Stage I NSCLC – Should Retrospective Japanese Data Lead Us to Lower Our Threshold for Recommending Adjuvant Chemotherapy”. For more, please visit http://cancerGRACE.org/. To join the conversation, visit https://cancergrace.org/forum.

Mohammad Jahanzeb, MD shares data presented at WCLC 2019 that he found interesting.

Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD describes what he would like to see next in NSCLC research.

Nearly 14,000 women will die from ovarian cancer in 2019. Now, new research has found that women who use IUDs for birth control may be lowering their ovarian cancer risk. For five years, Amy Dickson Plache has bravely battled ovarian cancer with chemotherapy, clinical trials, radiation and more. Even now, she’s in treatment. “I won’t be cured, but I’ll just live with this as a chronic disease much like you know someone who had diabetes or you know arthritis,” she said. Plache has an inherited genetic mutation known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Tests show her daughter Abby…

Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD explains the design of the study examining real-world treatment patterns and outcomes in U.S. ALK+ NSCLC patients receiving immuno-oncology therapy.

Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD on how this data will affect clinicians today.

Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD answers questions asked by his colleagues.

– Results from ENTRATA Phase 2 trial of telaglenastat in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accepted as Late-Breaking Oral Presentation   – Data from INCB001158 clinical program accepted as Oral Presentation   SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 03, 2019 – Calithera Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALA), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases, today announced that new data from two oncology programs have been selected for oral presentations at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2019 Congress to be held September 27-October 1,…

First Phase 3 Study Combining KYPROLIS and DARZALEX, Two Critical Mechanisms of Action in Treatment of Multiple Myeloma   THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (Sept. 13, 2019) — Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced the Phase 3 CANDOR study evaluating KYPROLIS® (carfilzomib) in combination with dexamethasone and DARZALEX® (daratumumab) (KdD) compared to KYPROLIS and dexamethasone alone (Kd) met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS). The regimen resulted in a 37% reduction in the risk of progression or death in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma treated with KdD (HR=0.630; 95% CI: 0.464, 0.854; p=0.0014). The median PFS for patients treated with Kd alone was 15.8 months, while the median…

Shauna Campbell, MD of Cleveland Clinic shares three nomograms that were presented on salvage radiotherapy. _____ The integration of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics into a nomogram widely used to predict outcomes of salvage therapy offers physicians and patients a more nuanced, longer-term look at prostate cancer-specific outcomes. In 2007, a multi-institutional cohort led by Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute developed a nomogram to predict prostate cancer-specific and all-cause mortality at six years after salvage radiotherapy (SRT). Almost a decade later, a study led by Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center radiation oncologist Rahul D. Tendulkar, MD, updated the nomogram with evidence that early initiation of…

- DKN-01 Monotherapy Patient with an Ongoing Complete Response - Enhanced PFS in patients with Wnt Activating Mutations and DKK1-high Tumors CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ – Leap Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPTX) today announced an oral and poster presentation of updated clinical data from its ongoing Phase 2 clinical trial of DKN-01, its anti-Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) antibody, as both a monotherapy and in combination with paclitaxel chemotherapy in patients with advanced gynecological malignancies will be presented at the 2019 International Gynecologic Cancer Society Annual Global Meeting taking place September 19-21, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The poster will be presented on Friday, September 20…

New research adds to accumulating evidence of benefit for patients treated at high-volume facilities or by high-volume providers. PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA [September 17, 2019] — New research in the September 2019 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network finds that providers with more experience treating people with multiple myeloma have better outcomes than those with more limited experience. In general, providers who saw the most cases were more likely to be located at academic, NCI-designated cancer centers. However, the researchers found that the very highest-volume providers at community facilities did achieve equally low mortality rates as clinicians at NCI-designated cancer centers.…

Roswell Park researchers present findings at ASTRO Annual Meeting Aspirin improved overall survival for patients with head/neck, lung cancers Patients in both studies also received radiation or chemoradiation therapy Future studies will help determine which patients benefit most   BUFFALO, N.Y. — What if a drug that sits in nearly everyone’s medicine cabinet could help extend the lives of some cancer patients? In companion presentations at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, doctors from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center report new evidence that low-dose aspirin and other anti-inflammatories may improve survival in patients undergoing treatment…

Shauna Campbell, MD of Cleveland Clinic answers a question received from colleagues: how does it differ from previously published nomograms? _______ The integration of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics into a nomogram widely used to predict outcomes of salvage therapy offers physicians and patients a more nuanced, longer-term look at prostate cancer-specific outcomes. In 2007, a multi-institutional cohort led by Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute developed a nomogram to predict prostate cancer-specific and all-cause mortality at six years after salvage radiotherapy (SRT). Almost a decade later, a study led by Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center radiation oncologist Rahul D. Tendulkar, MD, updated the nomogram with…

Shauna Campbell, MD of Cleveland Clinic explains the impact of post-prostatectomy prostate specific antigen (PSA) kinetics on outcomes of salvage radiotherapy. _______ The integration of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics into a nomogram widely used to predict outcomes of salvage therapy offers physicians and patients a more nuanced, longer-term look at prostate cancer-specific outcomes. In 2007, a multi-institutional cohort led by Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute developed a nomogram to predict prostate cancer-specific and all-cause mortality at six years after salvage radiotherapy (SRT). Almost a decade later, a study led by Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center radiation oncologist Rahul D. Tendulkar, MD, updated the nomogram…

New discovery opens new potentially effective approaches to utilize checkpoint inhibitors for treatment of pancreatic cancer and other types of cancers that are unresponsive to current immunotherapies. HOUSTON, Sept. 16, 2019 - Moleculin Biotech, Inc., (Nasdaq: MBRX) (“Moleculin” or the “Company”), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio of drug candidates targeting highly resistant tumors, today announced its sponsored research at MD Anderson Cancer Center has resulted in the filing of a new patent on behalf of MD Anderson Cancer Center covering the combination of its immune-stimulating/transcriptional-modulator, WP1066, with well-known immune checkpoint inhibitors. Read press release online: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moleculin-announces-its-sponsored-research-at-md-anderson-cancer-center-has-resulted-in-the-filing-of-patent-protection-for-new-discovery-300918401.html “We had previously announced preliminary preclinical data…

Dr. Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD explains the health-related quality of life data from the ALTA-1L trial.

Dr. Mohammed Jahanzeb, MD provides Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) Data in a Phase 3 Study of First-Line Brigatinib vs. Crizotinib in NSCLC (ALTA-1L).

Dr. Erin Murphy, MD of Cleveland Clinic provides insight on how this will affect clinicians today. _____ Preoperative (neoadjuvant) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with dose escalation followed by surgical resection for brain metastases > 2 cm yielded local control comparable to that with postoperative SRS or whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) — with the benefits of acceptable acute toxicity and a low incidence of leptomeningeal disease. These preliminary findings from a Cleveland Clinic prospective phase 1/2 clinical trial were presented Sept. 15 at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). “So far we have seen excellent results…

Dr. Erin Murphy, MD of Cleveland Clinic answers a question received form colleagues: why dose escalation? _____ Preoperative (neoadjuvant) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with dose escalation followed by surgical resection for brain metastases > 2 cm yielded local control comparable to that with postoperative SRS or whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) — with the benefits of acceptable acute toxicity and a low incidence of leptomeningeal disease. These preliminary findings from a Cleveland Clinic prospective phase 1/2 clinical trial were presented Sept. 15 at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). “So far we have seen excellent results…

Dr. Erin Murphy, MD of Cleveland Clinic explains the phase I dose escalation study for neoadjuvant radiosurgery for large brain metastases. _____ Preoperative (neoadjuvant) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with dose escalation followed by surgical resection for brain metastases > 2 cm yielded local control comparable to that with postoperative SRS or whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) — with the benefits of acceptable acute toxicity and a low incidence of leptomeningeal disease. These preliminary findings from a Cleveland Clinic prospective phase 1/2 clinical trial were presented Sept. 15 at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). “So far…

Philadelphia, PA (September 16, 2019) – Oncoceutics, a clinical-stage drug discovery and development company, commemorates National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September and reiterates its support for children and all those affected by childhood cancer. Cancer remains one of the greatest current health challenges, and childhood cancer kills more children in the United States than any other disease. “In commemorating this month, we recognize not only the children currently battling cancer, but also the families of those children, the clinicians and caregivers treating them, the survivors, the children who have lost their lives, and the researchers working to defeat this disease,”…

State-of-the-art AI algorithms applied to digitised images of oral cancer tissue specimens can be used to predict their chances of survival by measuring the abundance of Tumour infiltrating immune cells Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (a specific type of immune cells) are key in determining how oral cancers spread and react to treatments University of Warwick researchers were able to look at immune cells that have infiltrated into the tumour with an accuracy of over 96% and stratify patients into low-risk and high-risk in terms of their disease free survival. The chances of surviving oral cancers can be predicted by state of…

– Food & Drug Administration Sets Prescription Drug User Fee Action Date for March 15, 2020 –   BOTHELL, Wash. and TOKYO, September 16, 2019 – Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) and Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas”) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the Biologics License Application (BLA) for the investigational agent enfortumab vedotin and granted Priority Review for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have received a PD-1/L1 inhibitor and who have received a platinum-containing chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant/adjuvant, locally advanced or metastatic setting. The filing is based…

         Phase 2 GRIFFIN study presented at 17th IMW meeting is the fourth randomized study to investigate the clinical benefit of DARZALEX® in the frontline setting ·         New results from Phase 2 PLEIADES study evaluating a DARZALEX® subcutaneous formulation also presented   BOSTON, September 15, 2019 – The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today results from the randomized Phase 2 GRIFFIN (MMY2004) study showing that the addition of DARZALEX® (daratumumab) to bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (VRd) induced higher response rates in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who were eligible for high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) compared with…

Austin, Texas – September 16, 2019 – The iQ Group Global, an enterprise dedicated to developing early stage bioscience assets, today announced it has added a novel anticancer drug platform to its portfolio that has the ability to develop a range of cancer therapeutics. TEX-Core is an anticancer drug platform that has the ability to develop a range of well-tolerated, MRI-detectable cancer therapeutics that target drug-sensitive and drug-resistant solid tumors. The first cancer therapeutic to be commercialized from the platform is OxaliTEX, a novel chemical entity (WO 2015/191797) that targets only solid tumor cells, activates within the tumor and overcomes drug-resistance…

he Tisch Cancer Institute Deepens Bladder Cancer Care With New Center of Excellence   (New York – September 12, 2019) The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has been awarded nearly $1.7 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to study how bladder cancer affects certain types of white blood cells called “natural killer” cells, or NK cells, which control and limit tumor growth. A clinical and research team of investigators with expertise in bladder cancer and immunotherapy will also design interventions to reverse NK cell dysfunction. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, bladder cancer…

National Comprehensive Cancer Network hosts summit on defining, measuring, and applying quality in an evolving health policy landscape and the implications for cancer care. #NCCNPolicy WASHINGTON, D.C. [September 12, 2019] — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) hosted a policy summit at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, today, addressing how to define, measure, and apply quality in cancer care. Speakers across the cancer care continuum shared perspectives on current quality measurement initiatives including the Oncology Care Model and the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), and looked ahead to future trends in this area. “A lot of effort has already gone toward measuring quality…