Patient Education for Oral Therapies Is Crucial
April 29th 2020There is far less patient education for oral agents, such as CDK4/6 inhibitors for breast cancer, as there is for chemotherapy. This is a major issue, explained Patricia Jakel, MN, RN, AOCN, advanced practice nurse at UCLA's solid tumor program and co-editor in chief of Oncology Nursing News.
Talazoparib Improves Quality of Life, Not Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer
April 28th 2020Treatment with talazoparib (Talzenna) did not demonstrate a statistically significant overall survival (OS) benefit in patients with BRCA1/2-mutated metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer, according to updated findings from the phase 3 EMBRACA trial (NCT01945775).1 However, lead author Jennifer Litton, MD, said that there is still reason to believe treatment with the PARP inhibitor can improve OS.
NDA Submitted for Single-Agent Relugolix to Treat Prostate Cancer
April 21st 2020A New Drug Application (NDA) has been submitted to the FDA for single-agent relugolix for use as a treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer, according to Myovant Sciences, the developer of the oral GnRH receptor antagonist.
FDA Approves Pemigatinib Companion Diagnostic in FGFR2+ Cholangiocarcinoma
April 21st 2020The FDA has approved FoundationOne CDx as the registrational companion diagnostic for pemigatinib (Pemazyre), which the agency recently approved for the treatment of adult patients with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with an FGFR2 fusion or other rearrangement as detected by an FDA-approved test.
Proceed With Caution: Transplants for Blood Cancer in the Era of COVID-19
April 20th 2020In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, transplant-eligible patients with cancer are undergoing careful assessment to determine whether they should proceed with the procedure or receive additional consolidation therapy to buy time, according to Naval G. Daver, MD.
Oncology Clinicians Must Be Adaptable in COVID-19 Pandemic
April 19th 2020Just as the situation with COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve, the oncology community must actively adapt how they approach the treatment of their patients based on the information available, according to Balazs Halmos, MD, MS.
Anticoagulation Is Key for Adjunctive Therapy in Thrombosis Management
April 18th 2020Patients at risk of developing thrombosis should receive anticoagulants, in the form of Xa inhibitors and, if necessary, andexanet alfa (Andexxa) or prothrombin concentrates to control excessive bleeding, explained Alvin H. Schmaier, MD.
FDA Approves Tucatinib to Treat HER2+ Breast Cancer
April 17th 2020The FDA has approved tucatinib (Tukysa) for use in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) and capecitabine (Xeloda) for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, including patients with brain metastases, following at least 1 prior therapy.
Socioeconomic and Healthcare Disparities Are Now More Apparent
April 17th 2020The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked the US healthcare system, highlighting our flaws while showing our deep commitment to quality patient care. We in healthcare cannot “pause,” but I am hoping millions of people around the world will do so and realign their convictions from the lessons learned.
FDA Considers Pemigatinib Approval for Cholangiocarcinoma Treatment
April 16th 2020Findings from the phase II FIGHT-202 study of pemigatinib in patients with previously treated, locally advanced or metastatic FGFR2-positive cholangiocarcinoma have been published in the Lancet Oncology as the FDA considers a new-drug application (NDA) for the treatment in this setting.
Trial Will Test Acalabrutinib for COVID-19
April 15th 2020Acalabrutinib (Calquence), a BTK inhibitor approved for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), is being explored in the CALAVI trial as a treatment for cytokine storm in patients with COVID-19.
T-Cell Therapies Are Promising in Melanoma, But Challenges Remain
April 13th 2020T-cell therapies, such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, T-cell receptor (TCR) therapy, and CAR T-cell therapy, which have shown preliminary signals of activity, are poised to have a dramatic impact in metastatic melanoma, according to Jason J. Luke, MD, FACP.