San Francisco, CA—Immunotherapy for cancer has entered a new phase as researchers focus on monoclonal antibodies that target proteins in T-cells that normally prevent the immune system from responding, or “taking the brakes off the immune system.” In the future, immune therapies may be matched up with targeted therapies for even better efficacy, said Ronald Levy, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University, CA, during a keynote lecture at the 2015 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
San Francisco, CA—Many of the presentations at the 2014 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology centered on the abundance of new molecules being developed for hematologic cancers, including new immunotherapies, and drugs that are expanding from one tumor type to another.
San Antonio, TX—The role of ovarian function suppression (OFS) in premenopausal breast cancer is controversial, with studies to date showing equivocal results. Results of the large International Breast Cancer Study Group SOFT trial shed light on this issue, providing important findings that should be used in treatment discussions with patients.
San Francisco, CA—Higher vitamin D levels are associated with better outcomes after treatment of newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). The median overall survival (OS) was 8.1 months longer for patients with highest 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels versus lowest levels, said Kimmie Ng, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, at the 2015 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
San Francisco, CA—Add gastric cancer to the list of cancers that respond to immunotherapy. In patients with advanced gastric cancer who express programmed cell death (PD)-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), the humanized monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab (Keytruda), which binds to its ligands L1 and L2, demonstrated robust antitumor activity and an acceptable safety profile, according to updated results presented at the 2015 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.
  • Medicare Begins Coverage of Lung Cancer Screening with Low-Dose Computed Tomography for High-Risk Beneficiaries
  • NIH Awards $1.08 Million for Breast Cancer Research Using Genomic Sequencing and Computer Modeling to Investigate the Underlying Mechanism of Human Diseases
  • Northwestern Onco-SET Introduces Genomics-­Based, Personalized Medicine to All Patients with Cancer
  • Hematologic Drugs Offer Value Despite High Costs
  • Imbruvica Gets New FDA Indication for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia
  • Opdivo Second Immunotherapy to Receive FDA Approval for Melanoma
  • Lynparza, First PARP Inhibitor Approved with a Companion Diagnostic for Ovarian Cancer
San Francisco, CA—Upfront treatment with the FOLFOXIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan) regimen plus bevacizumab significantly improves survival compared with the FOLFIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan) regimen plus bevacizumab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), said Chiara Cremolini, MD, Medical Oncologist, Tuscan Tumor Institute, Pisa, Italy, at the 2015 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. However, this regimen is not appropriate for older patients aged >75 years.
I grew up in a lower middle class household. My dad was an insurance salesman, and we needed to live within a budget. The thought that we might buy something without considering the cost was unfathomable. As a doctor now, I wonder how we expect our patients to make healthcare purchases without this information. Why do we need to even justify discussing cost with patients?
San Antonio, TX—Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in itself is not dangerous, but some patients will eventually develop invasive breast cancer. Until recently, there was no way to predict which patients with DCIS were at high risk and required more aggressive treatment. Thus, many patients have been overtreated or undertreated.
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