Author: Editor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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