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We spoke with researchers on the factors that led to nurse loneliness – and what can be done to help.

The management of patients with colorectal liver metastases is complicated and requires careful assessment from a multidisciplinary tumor board—especially in light of recent advances made with chemotherapy, according to Michael J. Cavnar, MD.

The addition of eganelisib (IPI-549) to nivolumab (Opdivo) was found to elicit encouraging responses and improve progression-free survival (PFS) compared with single-agent nivolumab in patients with platinum-refractory, immunotherapy-naïve, advanced, metastatic urothelial cancer, according to an update from the phase 2 MARIO-275 (NCT03980041).

Nurses should be careful of the words that they choose – around patients and other providers.

The FDA has granted fast track designations to cavrotolimod (AST-008) for use in combination with a PD-1 therapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) that is refractory to previous PD-1 blockade and for use in combination with a PD-1/PD-L1 agent in those with advanced or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) that is refractory to previous PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.

Nurse navigation – in addition to a better EHR system – increased the percentage of older patients who utilized advance care planning.

The reversible BET inhibitor CC-90010 was found to have preliminary antitumor activity in patients with heavily pretreated, advanced solid tumors and relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The FDA has approved a supplemental new drug application to add overall survival (OS) and other secondary end point data from the phase 3 ARAMIS trial (NCT02200614) to the prescribing information for darolutamide (Nubeqa) for the treatment of patients with nonmetastatic prostate cancer (nmCRPC).

Molecular testing is a critical component of the treatment selection process in lung cancer, as a host of effective drugs have since been developed to target alterations such as ALK, ROS1, and RET, according to Yujie Zhao, MD, PhD, who added that the integration of RNA-based sequencing into these strategies could potentially provide further benefit to patients.

An immunotherapy agent recently had its FDA approval pulled from the American market. But this may not be as bad as it sounds, experts say.

Recent research found that there may be a correlation between opioid use and pancreatic cancer risk.

“But our study is pointing to new genes to consider. For example, we found that the BRCA2 gene, typically associated with adult breast and ovarian cancer, may also somehow influence the susceptibility of pediatric RMS.”

Twice-weekly text message reminders did not improve adherence to aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for postmenopausal patients with early-stage breast cancer; therefore, increasing the odds of long-term adherence for this population will require more personalized approaches, explained Julie Gralow, MD.

The FDA has granted a fast track designation to the investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) ARX788 for use as a monotherapy in the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have previously received 1 or more HER2-targeted regimens in the metastatic setting.

There is still more to be done in the fields of targeted therapy and immunotherapy, according to the American Cancer Society.

Patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer should be treated with neoadjuvant therapy rather than surgery to determine how they will respond to ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1; Kadcyla)in the adjuvant setting, according to Ian E. Krop, MD, PhD, who added that although residual disease may serve as a potential predictive biomarker for response to this approach, the hunt for effective molecular biomarkers continues.

From the possibility of student loan elimination to the impact of COVID-19 on oncology patients, here’s a look back at the top 5 Oncology Nursing News stories of 2020.

Results of confirmatory trials showed that the drug did not meet its primary endpoints for patients with small cell lung cancer.

“Second-line maintenance therapy is going to be incredibly important for patients because we know that once a patient with ovarian cancer recurs, their disease is incurable."

Regulating the fas protein may be the key in overcoming resistance in patients receiving immunotherapy treatment, such as CAR T-cell therapy.

Only 4 of the 20 most common cancers have a proven screening method.

Several novel chemoimmunotherapy combinations have risen to the forefront of treatment in triple-negative breast cancer.

Data from a recent analysis demonstrated that more than one in five people experienced depression or anxiety, either before or not long after receiving a blood cancer diagnosis, highlighting the need for further mental health screening in these individuals.

While there are multiple ways to create and deliver a survivorship care plan, clinicians should be thinking about these issues from the moment a patient is diagnosed.

The FDA has approved an investigational new drug application for berubicin for the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Balazs Halmos, MD, discusses new advancements in lung cancer that are projected for 2021.

As the pandemic progresses and the long-term emotional effects of COVID-19 become clear, it is imperative to address the specific impact experienced by YA cancer survivors.

This is the second COVID-19 vaccine to be granted Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA.

The FDA has approved ponatinib for the treatment of patients with chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia that is resistant or intolerant to at least 2 prior kinase inhibitors.