Author: Editor

Roy Chemaly, MD, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, provides an overview of a symposium on the role of immunodiagnostics for tuberculosis (TB) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients held at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in Valencia, Spain. Prof Chemaly describes how for around 100 years, there has only been one type of screening test for TB called the tuberculin skin test. However, immunocompromised patients and stem cell recipients do not react to the skin test. For the past 10 years, a…

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, held in Valencia, Spain, John Gribben, MD, from Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK, discusses how novel agents, like ibrutinib and idelalisib, lead to a reduction of allogeneic transplants in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). These new, effective treatments raise a question: Who are the patients and when allogeneic transplants should be offered?

At the 2016 Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Gesine Bug, MD from University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany discusses deacetylase inhibitors, which inhibit acetylation of histones and several proteins important for cancer. These molecules need to be combined with demethylating agents or chemotherapy. They are orally available and can be used for maintenance therapy, in particular in patients after allogeneic transplantation.

At the 2016 Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Arno Mank, PhD from Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL discusses EBMT efforts to standardise education of hematological and transplant nurses in Europe. Currently this process can take one or two years depending on educational systems of individual countries.

At the 6th European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1316 April 2016, Don Gibbons, MD, PhD, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, discusses a phase 1 expansion study evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of durvalumab, a human IgG1 anti-programmed cell death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody, combined with gefitinib for tyrosine kinase inhibitor-naïve patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Giovanni Martinelli, MD, from the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy discusses the side-effects of inotuzumab ozogamicin, which targets CD22 in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. According to Prof Martinelli, due to the specificity of the drug, severe side-effects are not to be expected. This means that the drug can also be given to eldery patients with acute leukemia. The majoriy of patients, 82%, responded very well to the drug according to Prof Martinelli. Recorded at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in Valencia, Spain.

At the 2016 Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Gesine Bug, MD from University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt/Main, Germany discusses deacetylase inhibitors, which inhibit acetylation of histones and several proteins important for cancer. Deacetylase inhibitors can induces apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and differentiation. They also have effects on the immune system. Four deacetylase inhibitors have been approved by the FDA and used in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) after transplant.

At the 2016 Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Arno Mank, PhD from Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL discusses EBMT Nurses Group in Europe and the way this organisation is structured.

Roy Chemaly, MD, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, discusses the T-SPOT.TB assay for predicting tuberculosis (TB) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in stem cell transplant patients. Prof Chemaly explains that is more robust and gives more accurate results compared to the available ELISA assay. According to Prof Chemaly, patients should be screened for TB and given treatment in order to prevent acute infection in the future. The next step for the T-SPOT.TB assay is to show that it can improve long-term outcomes for patients. For CMV, preliminary data shows that if there is a good…

Chiara Bonini, MD, from San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy, gives an overview of the progress that has been made in cell therapy. According to Dr Bonini, at this stage it is important to register data and really understand what is going on in terms of safety and efficacy. The European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) and the new EBMT Registry launched in Valencia, have an important role to play in these next steps according to Dr Bonini. Recorded at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in Valencia, Spain.

Bruno Paiva, PhD, from the University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, gives an overview of his talk on whether or not there is a need to improve the assessment of response in relapsed myeloma. Dr Paiva talks about how overall response rates have improved in relapsed/refractory myeloma with the development of novel agents and a fraction of patients can achieve complete response (CR). The question is whether the response criteria need to be improved in relapsed myeloma. According to Dr Paiva, the data suggests that patients could benefit by improving response critera after incorporating minimal residual disease (MRD) techniques. Recorded at…

At the 2016 Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Arno Mank, PhD from Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL gives an overview of key EBMT topics for nursing. These include mucositis, infection prevention, isolation procedures, and CVC lines.

At the 2016 Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Arno Mank, PhD from Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL talks about the importance of collaboration as a key to successful nursing research. Nurses should talk to each other and communicate how they handle their patients. Dr Mank recommends avoiding the not-invented-here syndrome and excessive competition in order to advance the nursing research.

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Andrew Evans, MRCP, FRCR, from the University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom, discusses tumour parameters, including the size of peritumoural stiffness on 2D shear wave elastography (SWE), for predicting the response of a patient with breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Isabel Rubio, MD, PhD, from Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain, explains that high response rates observed with neoadjuvant treatment in patients with breast cancer is enabling a trend towards breast conservative surgery. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

The bone marrow biopsy is used to diagnose and manage the treatment of a range of blood cancers. Here, John Murray, a Nurse Clinician at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK, discusses the changing role of nurses in bone marrow biopsies, and other related medical procedures. Approximately 20 years ago, nurses in the UK started having a more prominent role in patient management, including performing blood draws, medicine administration and bone marrow biopsy. In some centres in the UK, you will also find nurse performing bone marrow harvests. Although not as common in the rest of Europe, things are…

David Marks, MD, PhD, from the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK, provides an overview of the randomized Phase 3 clinical trial UKALL14 for adult acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Two of the main questions the trial seeks to answer is whether rituximab improves survival of B-cell ALL and whether nelarabine improves survival of T-cell ALL. Dr Marks also talks about how the field is changing in regard to relapsed/refractory ALL. Recorded at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in Valencia, Spain.

Roy Chemaly, MD, from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, provides an overview of an symposium on the role of tuberculosis (TB) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunodiagnostics in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. The theme of the symposium was to look at immunotesting, specifically the T-SPOT.TB and T-SPOT.CMV assays, and how they can help to better predict and diagnose TB and CMV in patients. Recorded at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in Valencia, Spain.

Giovanni Martinelli, MD, from the University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy talks about blinatumomab for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Blinatumomab targets CD90 and works differently than inotuzumab, which targets CD22. According to Prof Martinelli, blinatumomab may be an especially promising treatment option for elderly patients who are not eligible for a transplant. Recorded at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) in Valencia, Spain.

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, EBMT 2016 President Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, from Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, discusses the EBMT session focussing on difficult-to-treat patients in four diseases: multiple myeloma, mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Sessions involved a state-of-the-art lecture on the use of monoclonal antibodies in the field of multiple myeloma, highlighting two new monoclonal antibodies: elotuzumab, which targets SLAMF7 and daratumumab, which targets CD38.

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, held in Valencia, Spain, Navneet Majhail, MD, from Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, discusses Twitter as a way to engage colleagues and stay up-to-date with the latest medical information from journals and organisations, including the EBMT, European Hematology Association (EHA), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, EBMT 2016 President Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, from Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, discusses graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a complication that can occur after allogeneic transplantation and be a major barrier to the success of stem cell transplantation. Dr Mohty gives an overview of EBMT 2016 discussions, which address GvHD prophylaxis, pharmacologic agents and the role of polyclonal antibodies.

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, EBMT 2016 President Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, from Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, talks about veno-occlusive disease (VOD), a rare but serious complication that can occur after allogeneic transplantation. Severe VOD can be fatal in up to 80% of patients. The approval of the novel polydisperse oligonucleotide defibrotide for the treatment of VOD treatment rejuvenated this field, with EBMT 2016 discussions focusing on the criteria for the diagnosis and grading of the severity of this complication.

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Mike Thompson, MD, PhD, from Aurora Health Care, WI, discusses Twitter and other social media platforms as a way to engage colleagues and educate patients who now have a better access to disease information. Twitter allows for diversification of communication, without being limited to only physician-to-physician communication. Dr Thompson provides tips on how to approach Twitter, including a discussion on preferred activity level.

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, held in Valencia, Spain, Miguel Perales, MD, from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, discusses strategies to reduce graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), highlighting ex vivo T-cell depletion. An ablative conditioning regimen combined with ex vivo T-cell depletion using CD34 selection offers long-term survival in patients with significantly reduced acute and chronic GvHD and low risk of relapse in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Catherine Bollard, MD from Children’s National Health System, Washington, D.C., gives an overview of the field of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. Dr Bollard discusses CAR T-cells for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), where they give a response rate in the order of 90%, and in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, where response rate is lower at 50%. There are many outstanding questions related to the clinical development of CAR T-cell therapy, including understanding how long…

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, held in Valencia, Spain, Arnon Nagler, MD, from Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel, talks about the separation of graft-versus-leukemia from graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). A good readout assay for graft-versus-leukemia is currently unavailable, besides lack of patient’s relapse or GvHD development. Patients with GvHD usually have less relapse; this gives an opportunity for patients with low-grade GvHD to benefit from the immunological attack against leukemia caused by allogeneic transplant without morbidity or mortality of GvHD.

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), held in Valencia, Spain, Paul Richardson, MD, from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, discusses the clinical development and approval of the novel polydisperse oligonucleotide defibrotide for the treatment of patients with severe veno-occlusive disease (sVOD) following a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Giuseppe Curigliano, MD, PhD, from Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy, discusses the value of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Multiple checkpoint inhibitors are currently in clinical development for this patient group, including anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab, anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab and anti-PD-L1 antibody atezolizumab. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, from Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France and President of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT), provides an overview of the sessions and themes of the 42nd Annual Meeting of the EBMT held in Valencia, Spain. The range of topics covered this year include standard and novel therapies as well as the use of stem cell transplantation for diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma and veno-occlusive disease (VOD). Prof. Mohty also talks about the novel features and innovations in the structure of the meeting, such as a session on social media and its importance for clinicians.…

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Douglas Easton, PhD, from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges associated with applying the knowledge of a patients genetic susceptibility for breast cancer in clinical management, including the potential to individualise breast cancer screening and risk-reduction measures. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Fatima Cardoso, MD, from the Champalimaud Clinical Center, Lisbon, Portugal, provides highlights of abstracts from the conference, including results from the EPHOS-B trial, which was designed to evaluate lapatinib and trastuzumab, alone and in combination, for early HER2-positive breast cancer; and results from the EORTC 10085/TBCRC/BIG/NABG International Male Breast Cancer Program, which was designed to understand pathologic prognostic factors of male breast cancer. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Isabel Rubio, MD, PhD, from Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain, discusses her highlights from the conference, including the development of personalised screening and the translation of cancer genomics into therapeutics for patients with breast cancer. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Giuseppe Curigliano, MD, PhD, from Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy, provides an overview of the challenges in the clinical development of precision medicine, which is defined as treatment selection that is guided by specific molecular aberrations in a patient’s tumour, for patients with breast cancer. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

How much progress has been made in the field of lung cancer? Can patients expect increased treatment options? Patient Power Founder Andrew Schorr interviews lung cancer expert Dr. George Simon, Thoracic/Head & Neck Oncology Professor at MD Anderson Cancer Center, discussing the dramatic changes occurring in lung cancer research. Listen as Dr. Simon describes how the field is accelerating, or as Dr. Simon puts it, Getting 2020 treatment in 2016. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

Viewer Cindy in this Ask the Expert segment asks MPN expert Dr. Naval Daver, Can the effectiveness of ruxolitinib (Jakafi) be impacted by missing doses? Listen as Dr. Daver the long-term efficacy of this treatment and reviews the potential impact of missing a dose. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Andrew Evans, MRCP, FRCR, from the University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom, discusses the development of new methods to personalise breast cancer imaging based on risk factors, such as breast cancer density, texture, MRI parenchymal enhancement and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

B.J. Rimel, MD of Cedars Sinai Medical Center discusses the SGO 2016 highlights and trends from SGO 2016. Transcription: I think that the array of options. For testing whether it be genetic panel testing with multiple multiple genes. Or is it a ray of immunotherapy auctions are probably the two strongest trends I see here at this meeting. There’s a lot of work that remains to be done to see how that’s going to play out for patients I think that clinicians and providers. And patients need to be aware of these options before we run headlong into these be…

B.J. Rimel, MD of Cedars Sinai Medical Center discusses the next 5 years in gynaecologic malignancies treatment from SGO 2016. Transcription: I think that we’re going to continue become more multi disciplinary then we have been. Gynecologic oncology is. Expanding in the types of people that are practicing it medical oncologist being included in our society pharmacist nurse. Shares position of. Students. Our frozen residents I think it’s just an incredibly expanding field and I think that that’s going to be a wonderful opportunity for us to draw on the experiences of other disciplines to help better treat our.

B.J. Rimel, MD of Cedars Sinai Medical Center discusses the SGO Presidential address and how inspirational it was from SGO 2016.

B.J. Rimel, MD of Cedars Sinai Medical Center discusses the high number of uterine and BRCA mutations from study focusing on endometrial cancer patients from SGO 2016. Transcription: There is another abstract by doctor ring that looked at and unselected cohort of individual cancer patients that have been panel tested and soon there some pretty remarkable findings from. Paper I specifically that there were urine cancers that had opposed. Surprisingly high number of mutations that were previously unknowns there there are some recommendations in their serious cancers which is really interesting more data will be very valuable and try to…

B.J. Rimel, MD of Cedars Sinai Medical Center discusses the future clinical trials in ovarian cancer from SGO 2016. Transcription: In terms of future clinical trials. There we are selecting more clinical trials based on. Known genetic predispositions be RCA. The potential response to platinum potential response to part now being a sort of thing that we’re looking at. So all of these panel testings are going to lead us down different pathways and so that does make us help a stratified patients for future study for clinical trials. Probably the direction I see that going on right now.

Karen H. Lu, MD of MD Anderson discusses recommendations to physicians whos patients are concerned about their risk of ovarian cancer from SGO 2016.

Karen H. Lu, MD of MD Anderson discusses how genetic testing improves early detection of BRCA in at risk women for ovarian cancer from SGO 2016.

Karen H. Lu, MD of MD Anderson discusses genomic analysis and prophylactic surgical management for women with inherited genetic abnormalities from SGO 2016.

Karen H. Lu, MD of MD Anderson discusses genetic counseling and prophylactic measures for women at high risk for ovarian cancer from SGO 2016.

Karen H. Lu, MD of MD Anderson says that all women with ovarian cancer should undergo genomic testing for BRCA mutation from SGO 2016.

Thomas Herzog, MD of UC Health discusses preoperative staging and likelihood of R0 resection in gynecologic cancer at SGO 2016.

Thomas Herzog, MD of UC Health discusses neoadjuvant regimen for patients with ovarian cancer at SGO 2016.

Thomas Herzog, MD of UC Health discusses GOG-172 and the ability to modify the Armstrong regimen for greater tolerability at SGO 2016.

Thomas Herzog, MD of UC Health discusses neoadjuvant chemotherapy compromise postoperative recovery at SGO 2016.

Thomas Herzog, MD of UC Health discusses age and the decision to use intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer at SGO 2016.

Martee L. Hensley, MD of Memorial Sloan Kettering discusses how trabectedin improves PFS over Dacarbazine in uterine leiomyosarcoma at SGO 2016.

Martee L. Hensley, MD of Memorial Sloan Kettering discusses trabectedin improves patients with drug resistant metastatic leiomyosarcoma at SGO 2016.

Martee L. Hensley, MD of Memorial Sloan Kettering discusses gynecologic cancer treatment trends at SGO 2016.

Martee L. Hensley, MD of Memorial Sloan Kettering discusses GOG-86P results and genetic testing among most notable data released at SGO 2016.

Martee L. Hensley, MD of Memorial Sloan Kettering discusses genomic analysis and immunotherapy are treatments to watch in gynecologic malignancies at SGO 2016.

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses toxicities of anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 in gynecologic cancers at SGO 2016. Transcription: Database here is very limited said there’s been one study of about twenty patients an ovary. There’s been an adorable studies in cervix and endometrial cancer so we don’t have a big and. To look at toxicities it’s probably better to extrapolate. From the larger studies in lung cancer and melanoma and real cell in the bottom line is that he’s ageism extremely well tolerated. Yes skin rash is good za and some fifty. The biggest concern is auto…

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses the unique side effects of trabectedin at SGO 2016. Transcription: The main talks isn’t your back is seen in the ovarian cancer trial was essentially miles suppression. It affects the bone marrow presumably through targeting the minor groove of DNA. Wheat you do see elevated liver function tests. And that is of some concern. And so patients who have elevated liver function tests prior to initiation drug may not be candidates to be treated with this. Rather mile isis I’ve actually not seen a case I would if I did manage…

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses promising immunotherapy currently under evaluation for advance gynecologic cancers at SGO 2016. Transcription: Well I think the checkpoint hitters are the hot ones partly because they they’ve got eggs terrific track record and other tumors into easy to give their antibodies but it’s been a long track record of immunotherapy. In gynecologic cancers the the. Pennsylvania group where George Lucas was now Georges and in Switzerland was doing adopted TCL approaches and there were some promising results with that the problem is it’s it’s. Resource intensive credibly expensive and toxic. But…

Is there a reliable test to determine whether a patient has a tendency to develop blood clots? Andrew Schorr asks MPN expert Dr. Naval Daver of MD Anderson Cancer Center to answer this and related questions. Dr. Daver explores the reasoning and methodology behind thrombotic screening. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses PDL-1 and immune checkpoint inhibitors in endometrial cancer at SGO 2016. Transcription: And the short answer is not a lot and meet your cancer. Has not been one of the first tumors explored for immunotherapy a really was melanoma and real sal. The second wave is involving ovary and. Other tumors in endometrial is probably closer to the third wave. Suffice it to say PT one is expressed. Our and it’s likely that PPL one will also be expressed. We have no clue whether that’s predictive. For. Response.

The international Consensus Conference for Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC) has established itself as a major international breast cancer conference. Its primary aim is the development of international consensus guidelines for the management of ABC patients. These guidelines are based on the most up-to-date evidence and can be used to guide treatment decision making in many different health care settings globally, with the necessary adaptations due to different access to care.

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses ovarian cancer is targetable with PARP inhibitors at SGO 2016. Transcription: Because because ovarian cancer has this defect in DNA repair. And you see this sort of gross shifting of DNA. How chromosomal abnormalities it has been argued that this tumors not target herbal. And the truth is that it is. You can target the DNA repair process very effectively I think with part innovators and maybe apartment either combinations. And then to the low frequency mutations which do exist but the low frequency once we understand the biology better. It’s…

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses multiplex testing and next generation sequencing in metastatic ovarian cancer at SGO 2016. Transcription: So this is a really high question. Because there are many many commercially available platforms which provide a lot of genomic data both for the physician and the patient. I and I think frankly is more often than not confusing. For both individuals. What I recommend because. Ovarian cancer is a disease of genomics chaos. There’s a very low frequency of actionable mutations and even when you see a mutation in a gene that you think is…

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses mirvetuximab soravtansin side effects compared to other systemic treatments in heavily pretreated OC at SGO 2016. Transcription: Ameritech some have survey and seeing is a antibody drug kanji and by definition these are drugs he’s our agency does specifically to the tumor. The distribution of fully receptor alpha in ovarian cancer patients is as almost solely locator on the. I cancer cells there’s a low level expression in the kidney tubules and some expression on type two alveolar cells begin see right there is extremely selective. So the side effects are…

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses HPV-related cervical cancer with anti-PD-1 and anti-PDL-1 antibodies at SGO 2016. Transcription: So I think from a theoretical standpoint. Cervical cancer should be the poster child for immunotherapy. I sencha understand these tumors. Result in infection from HP vis vis vis vis genome is there E. seven any six are usually expressed these are foreign and agents these are viral infections. So if the immune system is. Op inactivated. Ended tumors producing some of these in him dory prophecies if you use an anti PDL-1 one or anti PD-1 you should.…

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses guidelines for micro satellite instability or MSI testing for endometrial patients at SGO 2016. Transcription: So we established a. Policy and mass general to stain for MSH six. And other mismatch repair proteins. In. Patients who have an image of cancer under the age of fifty. That is consistent with the NCC and guidelines. Yes Yohe guidelines actually puts the age limit at six. And my guess is with time we will be doing on on everybody. A because it has a bit of a fairly large impact. In that Frizzle…

Michael J. Birrer, MD of Massachusetts General Hospital discusses current actionable mutations in advanced ovarian cancer at SGO 2016. Transcription: I think all of the genes and there’s probably between twenty and thirty of them are that are looking to Fanconi DNA repair pathway I would be important to look at they may ascribe homologous recombination deficiency to the tumor in which case those patients would benefit from apartment a better doesn’t have to be at the time of initial diagnosis. But knowing it would be important in the recurrent setting that the patient that would be a candidate for…

Elizabeth Swisher MD of the University Of Washington discusses Vice President Bidens initiative to increase clinical trials for women with ovarian cancer at SGO 2016.

Elizabeth Swisher MD of the University Of Washington discusses using Next Generation Genetic Sequencing to determine what fraction of ovarian cancer are caused by heredity at SGO 2016.

Elizabeth Swisher MD of the University Of Washington discusses ovarian cancer focus for 2016 to include genetic analysis and target therapies at SGO 2016.

Elizabeth Swisher MD of the University Of Washington discusses how genomic analysis will strengthen prophylactic surgical management in inherited genetic abnormalities at SGO 2016.

Elizabeth Swisher MD of the University Of Washington discusses how genomic analysis may improve prevention, screening and management of inherited ovarian cancer at SGO 2016.

Elizabeth Swisher MD of the University Of Washington discusses the clinical factors for requesting a genomic analysis for at risk patients at SGO 2016

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Giuseppe Curigliano, MD, PhD, from Istituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milan, Italy, discusses treatment-induced amenorrhoea and overall survival in pre-menopausal breast cancer patients; nipple-sparing mastectomy and outcomes from a national multicentre registry; and pathologic prognostic factors of male breast cancer. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a biologically and clinically heterogeneous disease. At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Martine Piccart-Gebhart, MD, PhD, from Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium, discusses the role of chemotherapy; targeted therapies, including anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody bevacizumab and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors; and immunotherapy for the treatment of patients with TNBC. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the 10th European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC), held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from 9 to 11 March 2016, Fatima Cardoso, MD, from the Champalimaud Clinical Center, Lisbon, Portugal, discusses the themes of the conference, including the manifesto calling for European patients with breast cancer to be cared for in specialist breast units and the emphasis on the clinical application of new research. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany from 24 to 27 February 2016, Viktor Grünwald, MD, PhD, from Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, highlights recent advances in the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer, including the increasing interest in immunotherapy with the programmed death (PD-1) inhibitors, pembrolizumab and nivolumab. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Martin Reck, MD, PhD, from the LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany, discusses the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Promising agents include the anti-PD1 antibodies, nivolumab and pembrolizumab; the anti-PD-L1 antibodies, atezolizumab, durvalumab and avelumab; and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, ipilimumab and tremelimumab. Challenges exist with determining how these immunotherapy approaches can be integrated in clinical practice, in order to, for example, exploit their favourable toxicity profile while avoiding immune-related adverse events. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Matthias Löhr, MD, PhD, from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, discusses the application of next-generation sequencing for guiding cancer treatment decision-making. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany from 24 to 27 February 2016, Viktor Grünwald, MD, PhD, from Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany, reviews ongoing clinical trials for the treatment of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, including investigations of nivolumab versus everolimus; cabozantinib versus everolimus; and lenvatinib combined with everolimus. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Martin Reck, MD, PhD, from the LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Grosshansdorf, Germany, discusses immunotherapy as an option for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who progress after initial treatment, as well as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression as a predictive biomarker for the development of immunotherapy. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Matthias Löhr, MD, PhD, from Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, discusses the clinical value of next-generation sequencing for cancer management, including the accelerating trend towards evidence-based, multigene-driven personalised cancer therapeutics. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Why are researchers and physicians so excited about combination CLL therapy? Patient Power Founder Andrew Schorr sits down with CLL experts Dr. John Gribben, Dr. Constantine Tam and Dr. William Wierda for a CLL roundtable to discuss the rationale behind treatment combinations. Note as they mention key factors such as toxicity overlap and statistical resistance. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

In this Ask the Expert segment, MPN expert Dr. Naval Daver of MD Anderson Cancer Center explains why the current pacritinib trial is on hold and shares the positive and negative learnings thus far. Dr. Daver applauds the FDA for the hold but still views pacritinib as a valuable addition to the MPN (myeloproliferative neoplasm) armamentarium. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

Why are researchers and physicians so excited about combination CLL therapy? Patient Power Founder Andrew Schorr sits down with CLL experts Dr. John Gribben, Dr. Constantine Tam and Dr. William Wierda for a CLL roundtable to discuss the rationale behind treatment combinations. Note as they mention key factors such as toxicity overlap and statistical resistance. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Christoph Röllig, MD, from the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany, reviews the clinical development of new treatment options for patients with acute myeloid leukemia, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Wolfgang Hiddemann, MD, PhD, from the University of Munich, Munich, Germany, provides an overview of chemotherapy-free approaches in clinical development for the treatment of patients with indolent lymphoma. Promising approaches include the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, ibrutinib, and PI3K-delta inhibitor, idelalisib, in combinations with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies; Bcl-2 inhibitors; and PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Christoph Röllig, MD, from the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany, explains the different therapeutic needs of younger and older patients with acute myeloid leukemia, which is recognised as a clinically heterogeneous disease.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Michael Hallek, MD, from the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, discusses the upcoming International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (iwCLL) in New York, NY, during May 2017. The themes of the iwCLL will highlight the latest advances in the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia CLL, including the treatment of relapsed disease; optimization of treatment combinations; understanding of molecular changes in tumor cells; and clinically meaningful interactions within the tumor microenvironment.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Michael Hallek, MD, from the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, discusses the rapidly changing treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, including the development of new venetoclax-based combinations with improved treatment efficacy.

Immunotherapy is personalized therapy for people with cancer–but can it outsmart CLL? Experts Drs. John Gribben, Constantine Tam,and William Wierda, along with Patient Power Founder Andrew Schorr, review immunotherapy advances and how they could impact CLL treatment.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Michael Hallek, MD, from the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, discusses chemotherapy, kinase inhibitors and ongoing research of personalised approaches for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Dr. Toni Choueiri of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute discusses the subgroup analyses of METEOR, a randomized phase 3 trial of cabozantinib versus everolimus in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma

Tony Choueiri, MD of Dana Farber discusses CheckMate 025 phase III trial at ASCO GU 2016

Robert Dreicer, MD of the University of Virginia Health System discusses immunotherapy in non muscle invasive bladder cancer at ASCO GU 2016.

Robert Dreicer, MD of the University of Virginia Health System discusses the how soon should we expect approval of immunotherapy in urothelial cancer at ASCO GU 2016.

Robert Dreicer, MD of the University of Virginia Health System discusses the future role of immunotherapy and checkpoint inhibitors in urothelial cancer at ASCO GU 2016.

Robert Dreicer, MD of the University of Virginia Health System discusses how Atezolizumab shows very significant activity in advanced urothelial cancer at ASCO GU 2016.

Jeremy Abramson, MD, from the Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts, MA, gives an overview of the interim analysis of a multicenter prospective Phase II study of Dose-Adjusted EPOCH-R (NCT01092182), which showed that the vast majority of patients with Burkitt’s Lymphoma achieved complete remission with the DA-EPOCH-R based therapy. The results were presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Christof Scheid, MD, PhD, from the University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, evaluates current and emerging approaches for managing patients with multiple myeloma, including drug sequencing and a clinical trial investigating lenalidomide, bortezomib, dexamethasone and elotuzumab as induction therapy for newly diagnosed patients.

Monoclonal antibodies have been recognised for their significant potential in the treatment of multiple myeloma. At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Christof Scheid, MD, PhD, from University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, reviews the clinical development of elotuzumab, which targets CS1, and daratumumab, which targets CD38.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Dirk Reinhardt, MD, PhD, from Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany, reviews the role of recent advances in the understanding of the biology of acute myeloid leukemia in children for the development of new therapeutic approaches.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Lorenz Trümper, MD, from University Hospital of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, discusses significant advances in the treatment of lymphoma, including approaches that decrease the toxicity and increase the efficacy of chemotherapy; and approaches that reduce the use of chemotherapy, such as monoclonal antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous disease. At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Martin Schrappe, MD, PhD, from University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany, explains that there have been significant advances in the understanding of pediatric ALL subtypes and there is now a need to define the clinical importance of these subtypes.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Lorenz Trümper, MD, from University Hospital of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, reviews the development of more tailored approaches for the treatment of lymphoma that have improved outcomes in patients.

Progress in the field of blood cancers has resulted in the rapid development of more effective, less toxic therapies. At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Rüdiger Hehlmann, MD, from Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany, discusses some of the challenges posed by the rising cost of treatments.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 to 27 February 2016, Rüdiger Hehlmann, MD, from Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany, examines the recent progress in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and myelodyplastic syndrome (MDS).

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany from 24 February to 27 February 2016, Axel Hauschild, MD, from University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany, discusses the development of treatment guidelines for patients with metastatic melanoma, including the challenges and next steps of applying the results from recent clinical trials into daily practice. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

What are monoclonal antibodies, and how are they used to treat CLL? From MD Anderson Cancer Center, Drs. Zeev Estrov and Michael Keating describe the function and properties of antibodies. As Dr. Keating says, Antibodies are key elements in everything we do in CLL because eventually most patients will develop significantly low levels of the normal gamma globulins. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

Understanding all of the emerging immunotherapy options for CLL patients can be difficult. Drs. Zeev Estrov, Michael Keating, and Nicole Lamanna explore the strategies of various checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies and how they work in a balancing act between both suppressing and stimulating your immune system. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

Are you refractory to some of the existing myeloma medications? Are you a relapsed patient? Myeloma experts Drs. John Burke, Faith Davies and Noopur Raje along with patient advocate, Jack Aiello, gathered at the 2015 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting for a discussion covering subjects of maintenance treatment until progression to deepen response and achieve MRD negativity, creative uses of combination therapy, and specific clinical trials, all aimed to improve relapsed and refractory patients quality and quantity of life. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower…

Understanding all of the emerging immunotherapy options for CLL patients can be difficult. Drs. Zeev Estrov, Michael Keating, and Nicole Lamanna explore the strategies of various checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapies and how they work in a balancing act between both suppressing and stimulating your immune system. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

Guillermo De Velasco, MD at Dana Farber discusses discontinuing VEGF-TT for progression versus toxicity impacts outcomes of second-line therapies in mRCC at ASCO GU 2016

Dr. Petros Grivas, MD at Cleveland Clinic discusses how genomics in urothelial carcinomas may play much bigger role in the future at ASCO GU 2016

Dr. Petros Grivas, MD at Cleveland Clinic discusses inhibiting autophagy in bladder cancer at ASCO GU 2016

Dr. Petros Grivas, MD at Cleveland Clinic discusses clinical and pathological factors that can influence outcomes in upper tract urothelial cancer at ASCO GU 2016

Dr. Petros Grivas, MD at Cleveland Clinic discusses if treatment for prior cancer develops secondary bladder cancer at ASCO GU 2016

Marin Xavier, MD of the Scripps Health discusses the greatest impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors in hematologic malignancies at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Marin Xavier, MD of the Scripps Health discusses the management of hematologic and solid tumor malignancies with PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Marin Xavier, MD of the Scripps Health discusses the most common adverse events for PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Marin Xavier, MD of the Scripps Heal;th discusses her real world experience with the novel immune checkpoint inhibitors at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany from 24 February to 27 February 2016, Axel Hauschild, MD, from University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany, explains that the treatment of metastatic melanoma has been revolutionised by recent developments in immunotherapeutic agents, including ipilimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, and nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody; targeted agents, including vemurafenib and dabrafenib, both BRAF inhibitors; and the oncolytic virus immunotherapy, talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC). European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Josep-Maria Ribera, MD, PhD from the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain, presents preliminary data, which shows that adult patients with high risk (HR) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with an adequate minimal residual disease (MRD) response, can be safely managed without allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). He further explains why avoiding alloHSCT can be of advantage to the patients. The preliminary results are from the Pethema ALL-HR-11 trial presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, held in Orlando, FL.

Tanguy Seiwert, MD of the University of Chicago discusses using biomarkers in Immunotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Tanguy Seiwert, MD of the University of Chicago discusses Pembrolizumab and nivolumab Immunotherapies and that they Show Efficacy in Head and Neck Cancer at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Tanguy Seiwert, MD of the University of Chicago discusses Immunotherapy and how it is well tolerated in Head and Neck Cancer at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Tanguy Seiwert, MD of the University of Chicago discusses immunotherapy and future use of combination treatment in Head and Neck Cancer at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Susan M. O’Brien, MD of University of California Irvine discusses Venetoclax in the management of CLL and where in the therapeutic algorithm it should play a role at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Susan M. O’Brien , MD of University of California Irvine the preferred treatment regimen for patients who fail frontline therapy in CLL at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Susan M. O’Brien, MD of University of California Irvine the preferred salvage regimens for Ibrutinib and Idelalisib-Rituximab at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Susan M. O’Brien, MD of University of California Irvine discusses the preferred frontline regimen for new CLL patients greater than 70 years at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Susan M. O’Brien, MD of University of California Irvine discusses how to decide between Ibrutinib and Idelalisib-Rituximab in relapse setting at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Susan M. O’Brien, MD of University of California Irvine discusses FCR produces better and longer progression free survival than BR at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Susan M. O’Brien, MD of University of California Irvine discusses Duvelisib and other PI3K inhibitors in CLL at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Susan M. O’Brien, MD of University of California Irvine discusses Acalabrutinib, ONO-4059 and other novel BTK inhibitors in CLL at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Omid Hamid, MD of The Angeles Clinic discusses the future of Immunotherapy new developments and new clinical trials at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Omid Hamid, MD of The Angeles Clinic discusses how important it is in Immunotherapy to find the correct biomarkers at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego. www.scrippshealth.org/cancer

Omid Hamid, MD of The Angeles Clinic discusses immune related adverse events within melanoma and other disease states at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany from 24 February to 27 February 2016, Thomas Seufferlein, MD, from University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany, discusses the relationship between oncologists in the community and oncologists in hospitals that have pancreatic cancer specialist teams. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in developed countries. At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany, from 24 February to 27 February 2016, Thomas Seufferlein, MD, from the University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany, summarises current treatment options, including new chemotherapy combinations, for pancreatic cancer and opportunities for developing novel therapies based on the improving understanding of the molecular processes underlying the development of the disease. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the German Cancer Congress 2016, held in Berlin, Germany from 24 February to 27 February 2016, Thomas Seufferlein, MD, from University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany, explains the rationale of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for the treatment of pancreatic cancer with mutations in the BRCA genes, including the current status of the clinical development and future directions for research in this field. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Owen A O’Connor, MD, PhD from the Columbia University Medical Center Center for Lymphoid Malignancies, New York, NY, talks about a study on TGR-1202 presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, in Orlando, FL. TGR-1202 is a novel, next generation PI3K-delta inhibitor, found to show a favorable safety and tolerability profile and promising activity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

Wyndham Wilson, MD, PhD from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD talks about the concept of precision medicine in lymphoid malignancies. He discusses a study presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, looking at key mutations in the B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling cascade within diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The study revealed that certain mutations were associated with a better response to certain drugs, such as ibrutinib. These findings are important as we strive to improve precision in medicine and ensure patients are receiving the best treatment for their disease type.

Wyndham Wilson, MD, PhD from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD talks about the new developments in the fields of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), mantle cell lymphoma and large B-cell lymphoma. In particular, new drugs targeting B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, such as ibrutinib (Brutton tyrosine kinase inhibitor), idelalisib (PI3K-delta inhibitor). Other diseases such as mantle cell lymphoma and activated B-cell (ABC) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), have also been shown to be dependent of BCR signaling, indicating that patients can benefit from similar drugs.

Wyndham Wilson, MD, PhD from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD talks about drugs that have been developed to indirectly target BCR, such as venetoclax (ABT-199), a Bcl-2 inhibitor; drugs targeting transcription factors, called bromodomain inhibitors, targeting MYC and NF-kappaB.

Owen A O’Connor, MD, PhD from the Columbia University Medical Center Center for Lymphoid Malignancies, New York, NY, talks about the progress in treating Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and how this might translate into better outcomes for HL patients in light of some studies presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

Owen A O’Connor, MD, PhD from the Columbia University Medical Center Center for Lymphoid Malignancies, New York, NY, discusses the next steps for studying TGR-1202, which is a novel, next generation PI3K-delta inhibitor with promising activity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). He also talks about findings concerning the targeting of oncogenes such as c-Myc in aggressive lymphomas, particularly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

Owen A O’Connor, MD, PhD from the Columbia University Medical Center Center for Lymphoid Malignancies, New York, NY, talks about the Phase I trial (NCT01998035) looking into combining oral 5-azacitidine and romidepsin in patients with B-cell and T-cell lymphoma. Recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL.

Owen A O’Connor, MD, PhD from the Columbia University Medical Center Center for Lymphoid Malignancies, New York, NY, presents the results of the first multicenter, randomized Phase III study (NCT01482962) in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), which evaluated alisertib vs the investigator’s choice (pralatrexate, romidepsin or gemcitabine). Alisertib is a selective inhibitor of Aurora A kinase but it was not found to be superior to the comparator arm in terms of progression-free survival (PFS). He explains some of the key findings and also talks about data from another study showing a synergy between alisertib and romidepsin. The…

Elias Jabbour, MD from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX talks about the different forms of acute leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). He explains the importance of knowing which subset of acute leukemia a patient is affected by and referring patients with AML or ALL to experts. He also discusses the advancements in treatments that have been made, such as the development of rituximab, and the difference these developments have made for survival rates in patients with, for example, Burkitt lymphoma. Recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual…

Elias Jabbour, MD from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX talks about a Phase II clinical trial of inotuzumab ozogamicin in elderly acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL. Inotuzumab ozogamicin is an anti-CD22 antibody that contains a toxin attached to it, called calicheamicin. When the antibody binds to the cells, the toxin is internalized, binds to DNA, resulting in cell death. This drug was administered to relapsed/refractory patients, in combination with lower-dose chemotherapy (mini-hyper-CVD). The drug proved to be very effective, with a response rate…

Gareth Morgan, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, PhD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas, AR discusses some of the data presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, held in Orlando, FL, on the mechanisms driving relapse in multiple myeloma (MM).

Gareth Morgan, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, PhD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas, AR discusses the results of clinical trial of carfilzomib, lenalidomide, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone. This drug combination turned out to be one of the most efficacious and low toxicity induction treatments for young multiple myeloma patients, as 15-20% of patients achieved complete remission (CR) before they receive a transplant. Recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, held in Orlando, FL.

Anders Österborg, MD, PhD from the Karolinska Hospital & Institute, Stockholm in Sweden gives an overview of the data presented by his group at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL. The first real-world data on ibrutinib in 97 patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), demonstrated that the overall efficacy of this drug was in line with the results of the clinical trials that preceded this study. The progression-free survival (PFS) data was also in line with the clinical trials results. An analysis of historical data from the period between 2002-2013 showed that CLL…

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Solange Peters, MD, PhD, from Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland, discusses KEYNOTE-010, a phase 2/3 clinical trial that was designed to compare pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, against docetaxel, a commonly used chemotherapy, for patients with PD-L1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after platinum-based therapy. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Recent advances in the understanding of the biology of thyroid cancer have led to the development of targeted therapies, such as the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) sorafenib and lenvatinib, which have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer. At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Makoto Tahara, MD, PhD, from National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan, evaluates the efficacy and safety of early versus delayed use of TKIs for the management of patients with thyroid cancer.…

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Solange Peters, MD, PhD, from Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland, discusses results from ASCEND-2 and ASCEND-3, both of which are single-arm, open-label, multicentre phase 2 clinical trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of ceritinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for patients with ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and baseline brain metastases. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses the indications for systemic therapy of Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses the standard of care options for frontline therapy of Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses the roles of proteasome inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents in Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses Ibrutinib and Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses MYD88 mutation and management of Waldenstroms Macroglobulinemia at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses Panobinostat and other HDAC inhibitors in relapsed Multiple Myeloma at Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses how Ixazomib will change therapeutic algorithms for myeloma at the Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses elotuzumab second line or third line regimen following a Proteasome-IMiD based combination Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Seiji Hattori, MD, from The Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCR, Tokyo, Japan, discusses the importance of controlling pain in patients with cancer in order to minimise the negative health and quality-of-life impact of living with cancer. Dr Hattori highlights the challenge of optimising the use of opioids for cancer pain. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses how Daratumumab is to be used anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Morie A. Gertz, MD of Mayo Clinic discusses the new novel agents which might have significant therapeutic impact in multiple myeloma at the Scripps Health 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Ryan Cassaday, MD, from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, discusses clinical data presented on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition. Highlights include a clinical trial evaluating rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, added to a chemotherapy backbone; a phase 2 clinical trial of blinatumomab, a bispecific single-chain antibody targeting the CD19 antigen; and early clinical trials evaluating CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.

William Wierda, MD, PhD from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX talks about venetoclax (ABT-199), which is a Bcl-2 inhibitor. Bcl-2 is an apoptosis regulator expressed in high levels in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, and it is responsible for the prolonged survival of these cells. Venetoclax will block and modulate the activity of Bcl-2. Prof. Wierda also discusses the clinical trials and side-effects associated with this drug.Recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, held in Orlando, FL.         bcl-2 inhibitor, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (cll), cll, american society of…

At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, Stephen Nimer, MD, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, discusses the need to improve the education of physicians in order to better understand the characteristics of new treatment approaches in clinical practice.

At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, Stephen Nimer, MD, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, reviews promising epigenetic targets in cancer and explains that combining epigenetic therapies with immunotherapies may improve outcomes for patients.

William Wierda, MD, PhD from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX discusses the side-effects profile of novel drugs in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, in Orlando, FL. Ibrutinib (trade name Imbruvica) and idelalisib are effective at controlling the disease, but occasionally, patients do have to interrupt treatment due to side-effects. Less toxic drugs, within the same category in respect to mechanism of action, have been developed and are currently being tested in clinical trials.

William Wierda, MD, PhD from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX talks about the importance of prognostic factors in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The most important tool to assess prognostic factors is fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), which is used when patients first need treatment and for any subsequent treatments, as patients can acquire chromossomal abnormalities as the disease progresses. Certain chromossomal changes, such as IgVH mutations, are important in the context of clinical trials, as they are directly associated with prognosis.

William Wierda, MD, PhD from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX talks about recent advances in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, in Orlando, FL. New drugs, and new treatment strategies are having an impact on the standard of care in the field of CLL, and clinicians are now faced with a variety of treatment options that need to be tailored for each patient.

Gareth Morgan, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, PhD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas, AR talks about gene expression analysis in multiple myeloma (MM), which can help determine the prognosis of the disease based on different molecular sub-groups. The Arkansas group has developed a simple test that can help identify the genetic markers of high-risk MM, called Mymap. The data was presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, held in Orlando, FL.

At the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, John Gribben, MD, DSc and Stephan Stilgenbauer, MD discuss several topics related to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The topics covered range from: ASH 2015 highlights; Bcl-2-targeted therapies; Resonate-2 clinical trial; implications and challenges of long-term therapy; venetoclax (ABT-199); combination therapies; and other related topics.

Gareth Morgan, MD, FRCP, FRCPath, PhD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas, AR discusses the future of multiple myeloma (MM) treatment. Dr Morgan believes that newly diagnosed patients will receive a drug combination that will be able to overcome the intra-clonal heterogeneity and eradicate high-risk sub-clones that lead to early relapse. To achieve this, we need to have novel end-points that can be applied early in the disease process that are surrogates for long-term outcome and perhaps minimum residual disease detachment is one of those surrogates. Recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting,…

Véronique Leblond, MD, PhD from the Hospital of Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris, France, talks about one of the arms of the Phase IIIb GREEN clinical trial, of obinutuzumab (GA101) plus bendamustine in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting. Patients in this arm had a complete remission rate of 40%, and the majority of them achieved minimum residual disease (MRD) negativity in the blood and approx. 50% were MRD negative in the bone marrow.

Hagop Kantarjian, MD of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses how FLT3 occurs in about a third of adult AML patients and may prove very important at the Scripps 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Hagop Kantarjian, MD of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses phase III RATIFY trial 7+3 chemo plus Midostaurin or placebo in FLT3 mutated AML at the Scripps 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Hagop Kantarjian, MD of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses Quizartinib FLT3 inhibitor status at the Scripps 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Hagop Kantarjian, MD of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses the fact that no data for FLT3 inhibitor more effective than dirty inhibitor like Midostaurin in AML at the Scripps 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Hagop Kantarjian, MD of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses IDH1 and IDH2 results in AML at the Scripps 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Hagop Kantarjian, MD of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses DNMT3A and the impact on the course of AML at the Scripps 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

Hagop Kantarjian, MD of MD Anderson Cancer Center discusses the new targetable molecular abnormalities in AML at the Scripps 36th Annual Conference: Clinical Hematology and Oncology in San Diego.

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Sibylle Loibl, MD, PhD, from the German Breast Group, Neu-Isenburg, Germany, explains the current approach, including some of the challenges, to the management of patients who become pregnant during or after breast cancer. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Solange Peters, MD, PhD, from Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland, discusses a phase 1b trial that was designed to evaluate the safety and antitumour activity of durvalumab (MEDI4736), an anti-PD-L1 antibody, combined with tremelimumab, an anti-CTLA-4 antibody, in patients with stage III/IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Carryn Anderson, MD of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine discusses how GC4419 may assist in delivering more effective radiation therapy at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Carryn Anderson, MD of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine discusses how GC4419 appears to decrease duration of oral mucositis at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Carryn Anderson, MD of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine discusses the trial results of Superoxide Dismotase Mimetic GC4419 to Reduce Chemoradiotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Carryn Anderson, MD of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine discusses the GC4419 mechanism of action at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Su Pin Choo, MBBS, MRCP(UK), FAMS, from the National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, discusses the development of immunotherapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), including early promising clinical data with nivolumab, a programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) antibody. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Lisa Shnayder, MD of the University of Kansas Medical Center discusses how free tissue transfer can help intelligibility of speech in tongue and oropharynx defects at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Lisa Shnayder, MD of the University of Kansas Medical Center discusses the new cost saving technologies for reconstructing a mandible after cancer treatment at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Lisa Shnayder, MD of the University of Kansas Medical Center discusses the challenges reguarding reconstructing oral cavity defects after treatment at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Lisa Shnayder, MD of the University of Kansas Medical Center high;lights that there is no clear data HPV increases risk of oral cavity cancer at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Jessica M. Frakes, MD of Moffitt Cancer Center states that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer can be found through imaging and physical exams within six months after treatment at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016. Press Release: https://www.astro.org/uploadedFiles/Main_Site/News_and_Media/News_Releases/2016/HN16_Frakes.pdf

Jessica M. Frakes, MD of Moffitt Cancer Center discusses why NCCN guidelines may not be best management of HPV+ patients after treatment at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Thomas Churilla, MD of Fox Chase Cancer Center discusses Uninsured and Medicaid patients with head and neck cancer more likely to present with advanced tumors, experience cancer specific mortality at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses new agents in clinical trials that appear interesting and potentially valuable additions to the therapeutic armamentarium for SCCHN at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses the potential role for PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies in Squamous Cell Head & Neck Carcinomas at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses if biomarkers help select patients more or less likely to benefit from agents targeting EGFR in SCCHN at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses role do for EGFR-TKIs in the future management of SCCHN at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses other LUX-Head & Neck trials are ongoing at this time at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses the results of the LUX-Head & Neck 1: a randomised, Phase III trial of afatinib versus methotrexate in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who progressed after platinum-based therapy at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses how the EGFR monoclonal antibody, Nimotuzumab, differ from cetuximab and panitumumab and If it’s likely to play a therapeutic role in SCCHN at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses the importance of targeting EGFR in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head & Neck at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Ezra Cohen, MD of the University of California at San Diego discusses the last 5 years of HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma management at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Is it really important to mention treatment side effects to your healthcare team? CLL expert Dr. Nicole Lamanna of Columbia University Medical Center and Physician Assistant Jamie Lynn Gibbons of MD Anderson Cancer Center explore nature of treatment-related side effects, what your doctor may be looking for, and steps your healthcare team can make to alleviate symptoms. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

Dr. Michael Keating of MD Anderson and Dr. Nicole Lamanna of Columbia University give a thorough description of FISH and CLL profiling, emphasizing the need to get the right test done at the right time to obtain the best targeted therapy. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

In February 2016, the FDA placed a full clinical hold on the trials for the MPN treatment pacritinib. To find out more, we reached out to one of the principal investigators for the trial, Dr. Ruben Mesa from the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Watch as Dr. Mesa helps patients to understand why the FDA places holds on trials from time to time, particularly related to the pacritinib trial. He also shares guidance specifically for patients that may have been on the trial and how they should move forward. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on…

Dr. Keith C. Bible, MD or the Mayo Clinic discusses the clinical benefit rate and duration of response for first and second line therapy in RAI-refractory well-differentiated thyroid cancer at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium

Dr. Keith C. Bible, MD or the Mayo Clinic discusses how important a target is VEGFR in well-differentiated thyroid cancer at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium

Dr. Keith C. Bible, MD or the Mayo Clinic discusses standard of care for RAI refractory well-differentiated thyroid cancer at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium

Dr. Keith C. Bible, MD or the Mayo Clinic discusses tricks to help minimize and prevent adverse events with sorafenib and other TKIs in thyroid cancer at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium

Dr. Keith C. Bible, MD or the Mayo Clinic discusses targeting genetic abnormalities and signaling pathways for papillary and follicular carcinoma at ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium

Dr. Bhisham Chera, MD of the University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill discusses the scientific rationale behind the attempt to de-intensify chemoradiotherapy for HPV-associated Carcinoma at ASTRO Head and Neck Conference.

Dr. Bhishamjit S. Chera, MD of University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina gives an overview of a Phase II Trial of De-intensified Chemoradiotherapy for Low-Risk HPV-associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Purpose To perform a prospective, multi-institutional, phase 2 study of a substantial decrease in concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CRT) intensity as primary treatment for favorable-risk, human papillomavirusassociated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods and Materials The major inclusion criteria were: (1) T0 to T3, N0 to N2c, M0; (2) human papillomavirus or p16 positive; and (3) minimal/remote smoking history. Treatment was limited to 60 Gy intensity modulated radiation therapy…

Dr. Bhishamjit S. Chera, MD of the University of North Carolina Hospitals, Chapel Hill, North Carolina discusses his study at ASTRO Head and Neck Conference 2016 Purpose To perform a prospective, multi-institutional, phase 2 study of a substantial decrease in concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CRT) intensity as primary treatment for favorable-risk, human papillomavirusassociated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods and Materials The major inclusion criteria were: (1) T0 to T3, N0 to N2c, M0; (2) human papillomavirus or p16 positive; and (3) minimal/remote smoking history. Treatment was limited to 60 Gy intensity modulated radiation therapy with concurrent weekly intravenous cisplatinum (30 mg/m2).…

Dr. Jose Zevallos, MD of University of North Carolina Hospitals discusses his study which notes the type and number of HPV in Molecular Profile of HPV-positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Stratified by Smoking Status at the ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Makoto Tahara, MD, PhD, from National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan, discusses the progression-free survival and response rates in pre-defined subgroups and biomarker-defined populations in LUX-H&N1, a phase 3 clinical trial comparing second-line afatinib, an ErbB family blocker, with methotrexate for the treatment of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

Researchers examined the molecular characteristics of OPSCC caused by HPV in an effort to determine which DNA mutations predict lower disease free and survival rates among HPV-positive throat cancer patients who smoke. Whereas most patients with OPSCC caused by HPV have an excellent prognosis for disease free survival, those who also smoke generally face more dire prognoses. The 66 cases of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in this study were split into heavy and light smoking behavior groups based on pack years. This metric of smoking frequency over long stretches of time is determined by multiplying the number of…

Dr. David Adelstein, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses whether there is there a role for neoadjuvant chemotherapy or chemo-radiation in locally advanced oral cavity carcinomas at the ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Dr. David Adelstein, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses novel agents under investigation that might find a future role in adjuvant therapy for oral cavity and other head & neck carcinomas at the ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Dr. David Adelstein, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses what are the indications for chemo-radiation in locally advanced oral cavity carcinomas at the ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Dr. David Adelstein, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses what is the optimal primary therapeutic option for patients with early stage or locally advanced carcinomas at the ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Dr. David Adelstein, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses what is the role of radiation therapy in oral cavity cancers at the ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Dr. David Adelstein, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses Which systemic agents are most effective as part of a chemo-radiation regimen in oral cavity carcinomas at the ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016.

Dr. David Adelstein, MD of Cleveland Clinic discusses which groups are most susceptible to oral cavity cancers at the ASTRO Head and Neck Symposium 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

4,042 patients were included: 2,538 (63%) received CRT. Median follow-up was 19 months. Unadjusted median OS was longer with the addition of CRT (p<0.001). OS was superior with CRT on MVA (HR, 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58-0.68; p<0.001) and PSM analyses (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.66-0.80; p<0.001) compared to RT alone. Under RPA, CRT was associated with longer OS in patients < 81 years with low comorbidity scores and either T1- 2/N2-3 disease, or patients with T3-4/N0-3 disease. The survival benefit with CRT disappeared for two subgroups in the 71-80 age range: those with T1-2, N1, and CD0-1 and…

The NCDB is a joint project of the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons and the American Cancer Society. It is a hospital-based registry that represents 70% of all cancer cases in the US, drawing data from more than 1,500 commission-accredited cancer programs. The NCDB contains detailed information on disease stage, risk-factors specific to HNSCC cancer, and receipt of treatment including radiation dose, treatment site, and chemotherapy delivered during the first course of treatment. The data used in the study are derived from a de-identified NCDB file. The American College of Surgeons and the Commission on Cancer…

Approximately 45,000 new head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are diagnosed annually in the United States, with at least one-quarter occurring in patients >70 years of age.1,2 Tailoring cancer therapy for older patients with HNSCC can be challenging. Older patients (herein defined as ? 71 years) with HNSCC often have comorbidities that may hinder their ability to receive optimal multimodality therapy. While the addition of concurrent chemotherapy to radiotherapy (RT) is the standard organ preservation approach for locally advanced HNSCC based upon improved overall survival (OS) in multiple prospective randomized trials, it can be associated with increased short and…

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Suresh Kumarasamy, MBBS(Mysore), MObGyn(Mal), FRCOG(Lond), FRCP(Ire), AM, from Gleneagles Penang, Penang, Malaysia, reviews advances in the development of new therapeutic approaches for the management of patients with ovarian cancer, including the available data and future directions of new agents, olaparib, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, and bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

MPN expert Dr. Rami Komrokji of Moffitt Cancer Center discusses various genetic marker subsets of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and how these alterations affect what type of treatment a patient should receive. Dr. Komrokji points out that genetic testing allows doctors to make a firm diagnosis and choose different courses of treatment. Get email alerts | http://www.patientpower.info/alerts Subscribe on YouTube | http://www.youtube.com/patientpower Like on Facebook | http://www.fb.com/patientpower.info Follow on Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/patientpower Follow on Google+ | http://www.google.com/+patientpowerinfo

At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Asia 2015 Congress, held in Singapore from 18 December to 21 December 2015, Sibylle Loibl, MD, PhD, from the German Breast Group, Neu-Isenburg, Germany, discusses changes in tumour expression of HER2 and hormone receptor status and pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a Japanese breast cancer registry. European Medical Journal Website: http://emjreviews.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EMJReviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emjreviews

At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, Anton Hagenbeek, MD, PhD, from the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands, discusses immuno-oncology mechanisms and pathways that can be targeted by immunotherapies for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Highlighted approaches that are being explored include immune checkpoint inhibitors and brentuximab vedotin, an anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate.

At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, John Gribben, MD, DSc, and Stephan Stilgenbauer, MD, summarise the current treatment landscape for CLL; they consider the place of chemotherapy as new treatment options are becoming increasingly available.

At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, John Gribben, MD, DSc, and Stephan Stilgenbauer, MD, discuss drug combination approaches in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) therapy. Targeting multiple molecules or pathways may have the potential to improve treatment response.

At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, John Gribben, MD, DSc, and Stephan Stilgenbauer, MD, discuss a single-arm, multicenter phase 2 clinical trial of monotherapy with the selective BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax (ABT-199/GDC-0199) in patients with ultra-high-risk relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 17p deletion.

At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, John Gribben, MD, DSc, and Stephan Stilgenbauer, MD, explain the clinical development of second-generation phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, including duvelisib, which inhibits the delta and gamma isoforms of PI3K, and TGR-1202, which inhibits the delta isoform of PI3K.

Simon Rule, MD from Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK provides an overview of the side-effects of ibrutinib, based on data presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, on the RAY (MCL3001) study of ibrutinib vs temsirolimus in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma. In mantle cell lymphoma, the side-effects that cause the most problems are bleeding and atrial fibrillation, for which the frequency was similar in both arms of the RAY study.

Simon Rule, MD from Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK provides an overview of the RAY (MCL3001) study of ibrutinib vs temsirolimus in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma, presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, in Orlando, FL. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), which was 14.8 months for the ibrutinib arm and 6.6 months for the temsirolimus arm.

Simon Rule, MD from Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK provides an overview of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTK) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, in Orlando, FL. These include drugs such as BGB-3111, being developed in China; ONO-4059, being developed in Japan; acalabrutinib (ACP-196), being developed in the USA. Prof. Rule also discusses the side-effects of these novel BTK inhibitors and potential use of these drugs in combination with other therapies, such as venetoclax (ABT-199), a Bcl-2 inhibitor.

There is an increasing spectrum of available therapies for patients with cancer, which has improved the outcomes of varied cancer types. At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, Robin Foà, MD, from Sapienza University, Rome, Italy, explains some of the challenges with improving sustainability, access and quality of new treatments around the world.

Mohamad Mohty, MD, PhD, from Saint-Antoine Hospital, Paris, France, summarises data on the management of patients with multiple myeloma that were presented at the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition. Highlights include IFM/DFCI 2009, a phase 3 trial of autologous transplantation for multiple myeloma; Tourmaline-MM1, a phase 3 trial of ixazomib in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma; an update on Eloquent-2, a phase 3 trial of elotuzumab in combination with lenalidomide/dexamethasone for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma; GEN505, a trial of daratumumab monotherapy in heavily pretreated relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma; subgroup…

At the 58th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition, Robin Foà, MD, from Sapienza University, Rome, Italy, summarises major advances, including the development of immunotherapy and targeted therapies, in the treatment of patients with hematological malignancies. Discussed examples include the introduction of B-cell receptor (BCR) kinase inhibitors for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

Paul Richardson, MD from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Medical Oncology, Boston, MA provides an overview of the Tourmaline-MM1 study of ixazomib in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Patients in the ixazomib, and oral proteosome inhibitor, plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone arm had a 6-month benefit on progression-free survival (PFS). Recorded at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2015 Annual Meeting, in Orlando, FL.