Latest Conference Articles

Molecular Targeting Yields Responses in 12 Cancers in Off-Label Indications

Treating patients based on the presence of molecular abnormalities regardless of tumor type proved to be a promising strategy in an ongoing phase IIa umbrella basket study.

Large Study Gives Boost to Liquid Biopsy Testing for Mutations

The liquid biopsy testing method correlated closely with mutations described in databases and in some cases from tumor biopsies.

Patient-Driven Research Project Aims to Advance Metastatic Breast Cancer Treatment

Researchers are hoping that a new nationwide effort to encourage patients to share their tumor samples and clinical information will lead to new discoveries and better treatments.

Combining Atezolizumab With OX40 Agonist Shows Promise in Solid Tumors

A combination regimen of the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and the investigational OX40 agonist MOXR0916 was well tolerated and showed early signs of of antitumor activity in solid tumors.

Carfilzomib/Pomalidomide Regimen Warrants Further Investigation in Refractory Multiple Myeloma

A regimen consisting of carfilzomib, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone merits further investigation for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma whose disease progresses while on lenalidomide in the earlier stages of disease.

Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Combination Active in Recurrent SCLC

Treatment with the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab demonstrated a median overall survival of 7.7 months and a 1-year OS rate of 43% for patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer.

Study Confirms Adjuvant Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy Is Beneficial and Well Tolerated

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is beneficial and tolerable, and physicians should present it as an option to women who have had successful cytoreductive surgery for their advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Dr. Hochhaus on TFS With Nilotinib in Patients With CML

Andreas Hochhaus, MD, professor of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, interim head of the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Jena in Germany, discusses results of the phase II ENESTFreedom study, which examined treatment-free survival (TFS) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who received frontline nilotinib (Tasigna).

Abemaciclib Active Against HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer

The CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib induced a response rate of nearly 20% in heavily pretreated patients with refractory, HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, according to findings from the phase II MONARCH 1 trial.

Isatuximab Monotherapy Effective for Heavily Pretreated Myeloma

The anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody isatuximab showed promising signs of activity as a single-agent for patients with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Dr. Borghaei on 2-Year Findings With Nivolumab Vs Docetaxel in NSCLC

Hossein Borghaei, DO, chief, Thoracic Oncology, director, Lung Cancer Risk Assessment, associate professor, Department of Hematology/Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, discusses 2-year follow-up results of the CheckMate-017 and -057 studies, which compared the efficacy of nivolumab (Opdivo) versus docetaxel in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Temozolomide Trial Shows Improved 5-Year Survival Rates in Anaplastic Glioma

Results from a phase III trial investigating the benefit of adjuvant temozolomide in combination with radiation therapy has the potential to be practice changing for a rare type of brain cancer.

Biosimilar Trastuzumab Matches Herceptin in Efficacy and Safety

A biosimilar version of trastuzumab demonstrated equivalent efficacy and safety to the FDA-approved branded drug in a randomized phase III study among patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Capecitabine Combo Improves Survival in Resected Pancreatic Cancer

The addition of capecitabine to standard adjuvant gemcitabine doubled 5-year overall survival (OS) rates for patients with pancreatic cancer whose tumors were surgically removed.

A Look at This Year's ASCO Pipeline

Immunotherapy agents targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway will be the most robust area for news at the 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting, but there will be much new data about recently approved and novel anticancer drugs for clinicians to digest.

6 Potential Practice-Changers Top Kantar's ASCO List

Research into 6 drugs scheduled to be presented during the upcoming 2016 ASCO Annual Meeting stand out as the most noteworthy abstracts on the docket this year because of their potential to influence clinical practice in the near future.

Pembrolizumab 3-Year Survival Rate Hits 40% in Melanoma

Forty percent of patients with advanced melanoma who started taking pembrolizumab during the clinical trial that led to its initial approval were still alive after 3 years, with many responders in remission even after stopping treatment.

Stem Cell Transplant Continues to Show Benefit in 'Novel-Agent Era' of Multiple Myeloma

Early findings from a phase III clinical trial suggest that patients with multiple myeloma who receive upfront autologous stem cell transplant survive longer without disease progression than those who receive chemotherapy alone.

Tumor Location Linked to Survival Outcomes in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Survival outcomes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were significantly longer among those with tumors originating on the left versus the right side of the colon, according to a retrospective analysis of the phase III 80405 trial.

Early Integration of Palliative Care Improves Outcomes for Family Caregivers

Early palliative care integrated with oncology care benefits not only patients with cancer but also family caregivers.

Outcomes Better With Biomarker-Based Therapies in Phase I Studies

Outcomes were significantly better in clinical trials that utilized a biomarker-based treatment selection strategy compared with non-personalized approaches.

Krishna Vanaja Donkena on Using Immune Markers to Predict Survival in Bladder Cancer

Krishna Vanaja Donkena, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, discusses using immune and checkpoint markers to predict cancer-specific survival in bladder cancer.

Task Force PSA Recommendation Challenged Following Analysis

Major health policy implications follow findings from the landmark Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovary screening trial, after it was found that 80% of the control group reported at least one PSA test during the trial.

Dennise Geiger Discusses Telephone Triage in Cancer Care

Dennise Geiger, RN, Regional Cancer Care Associates, Central Jersey Division, discusses difficulties nurses face when using telephone triage, and the plan that was developed to better streamline the process. 

Kathryn Ciccolini Discusses the CREAM Principles to Manage Dermatologic AEs

Kathryn Ciccolini, RN, BSN, OCN, DNC, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the concept she developed to manage dermatologic adverse events for patients with cancer.

Moving Time-Consuming Chemotherapy Regimens from Inpatient to Outpatient Settings Improves Quality of Life and Saves Money, Study Shows

When chemotherapy involves tricky infusion timing, patients are routinely admitted to hospitals to receive their treatments. But what would happen if these drugs could be administered successfully on an outpatient basis?

Finding the Right Dose: Sublingual Fentanyl Spray for Breakthrough Cancer Pain

West Cancer Center researchers developed a best nursing practice protocol for titration of fentanyl sublingual spray, which is the most recently approved transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl formulation.

Nurse-Led Study Evaluates Safe Use of Nephrostomy Tube to Deliver Chemotherapy and Biotherapy

Researchers at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey are testing the possibility of sending treatment drugs directly to the kidney in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma.

When a Symptom Intervention Works, Why Not Use It?

When oncology nurses move proactively to learn more about and use proven effective green-lighted interventions like exercise and muscle relaxation in their daily practice, it can go a long way.

Proactive, Team-Based Approach Leads to Better Care, Fewer Treatment Delays for Head and Neck Cancer Patients

A multidisciplinary team led by oncology nurses can reduce both hospitalization and treatment breaks for patients with head and neck cancer.