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Improvements observed in progression-free survival and overall survival with the addition of first-line atezolizumab (Tecentriq) to nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) or inoperable locally advanced TNBC are exclusive to those patients with PD-L1 expression ≥1% in immune cells, according to a biomarker subgroup analysis of the phase III IMpassion130 study.1

Julie Pederson, BSW, RN, OCN, CBCN, provides an overview of developments in research on lymphedema treatments.

The FDA has approved trastuzumab-pkrb (Herzuma, Celltrion) as a biosimilar to trastuzumab (Herceptin, Genentech).

Delayed treatment with chemotherapy of more than 30 days after surgery for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with worse survival rates and outcomes than those who receive adjuvant chemotherapy within 30 days of their procedure, according to findings from a retrospective study performed in Peru presented at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS).

Oncology nurses must not only be aware of the adverse events (AEs) of immunotherapy, but they must also educate their patients—and their other healthcare providers—to recognize them as well, according to Massey Nematollahi, MScN, RN, CNS, OCN, CON.

Oxybutynin helped to improve quality of life among women who could not take hormone replacement therapy in survivorship by reducing the frequency and intensity of hot flashes.

Treatment with luspatercept significantly reduced the need for frequent red blood cell transfusions in nearly 53% of patients with anemia associated with low- to intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), according to results from the phase III Medalist trial presented at the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting.

Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel; JCAR017) appeared tolerable and induced an 81.3% best overall response rate and 43.8% complete response rate in heavily pretreated, high-risk patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who previously received ibrutinib (Imbruvica), according to dose-finding results of a small phase I/II trial.

Funds matched by Bristol-Myers Squibb for a total of $1.3 Million to be used for Breakthrough Cancer Research.

Hematologists may have the ability to determine acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subtype based on genetic analysis of blood samples in 7 days or less, a process that could soon be an integral part of diagnosing and treating this patient population, according to Amy Burd, PhD.

Receiving a stem cell transplant for the first time following CD19 CAR T-cell therapy induced a reduction in the risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) recurrence, according to a retrospective analysis of the phase I/II PLAT-02 study.1

The FDA has approved the combination of atezolizumab (Tecentriq), bevacizumab (Avastin), carboplatin, and paclitaxel (ABCP) for the frontline treatment of metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This indication excludes patients with EGFR/ALK aberrations.

The triplet of daratumumab (Darzalex), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and dexamethasone (DRd) reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 44% compared with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (Rd) in newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who were not candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplant.

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for use in combination with carboplatin and etoposide for the first-line treatment of patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).

Here are the top 5 Oncology Nursing News stories for November 2018.

To receive payment for counseling and increase access to services, a new bill has been introduced so that genetic counselors receive payment for counseling Medicare beneficiaries.

ACCC worked closely with a team of multispecialty thought leaders via the IO Institute Working Groups to develop forward-thinking resources at the intersection of clinical science, care delivery, business, operations, and policy to support all facets of immunotherapy integration.

The acceptance of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) have enabled oncologists to more specifically target genetic mutations in the treatment of patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to Benjamin P. Levy, MD.

The FDA has approved gilteritinib for the treatment of adult patients with FLT3 mutation–positive relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The FDA has approved the first rituximab (Rituxan) biosimilar, CT-P10 (Truxima; rituximab-abbs), for the treatment of adult patients with CD20-positive, B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy.

Because of the risk for developing secondary malignancies, and given the association between smoking and cancer, all patients who smoke should be counseled about quitting, according to Linda Sarna, PhD, RN, FAAN.

Rapid changes in the treatment landscape for melanoma have prompted the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) to issue updated consensus guidelines to help clinicians stratify patients, choose optimal treatment regimens, and manage immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients with stage II to IV disease.

The optimal duration of treatment for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer has been called into question by recent findings from the NSABP B-52, PERSEPHONE, and APT clinical trials.

The FDA has granted an accelerated approval to larotrectinib (Vitrakvi) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors that have an NTRK gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have no satisfactory alternative treatments or that have progressed following treatment.

The PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab did not induce a statistically significant improvement in overall survival or progression-free survival in patients with platinum–resistant/refractory ovarian cancer.

The PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has shown an overall survival advantage across 3 phase III clinical trials studying its use in patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These positive results led to a frontline indication as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy for both patients with squamous and nonsquamous NSCLC.

Patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who were treated with tivozanib (Fotivda) experienced a 26% reduction in the risk of progression or death compared with sorafenib (Nexavar), according to results from the phase 3 TIVO-3 trial.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a priority review to the FLT3 inhibitor quizartinib for the treatment of relapsed or refractory FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the hedgehog pathway inhibitor glasdegib (Daurismo) for use in combination with low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in newly-diagnosed patients who are aged 75 years or older or who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy.