Latest Conference Articles

Molecular Diagnostics Focus on Thyroid Nodule Classification

New data being presented at the 84th Annual Meeting of the American Thyroid Association show promise for two molecular tests that help identify indeterminate thyroid nodules as either benign or malignant.

Dr. Metz Discusses Using a Multidisciplinary Approach When Treating NETs

David C. Metz, MBBCh, professor of medicine, co-director, GI Physiology laboratory, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, discusses using a multidisciplinary approach to treating neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Somatic Mutations in the ATRX Gene Reported for the First Time in Pheochromocytomas/ Paragangliomas

Somatic mutations in the ATRX gene are observed in about 13% of pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas, the first such report of somatic ATRX mutations in these tumors.

Dr. Kulke on Unanswered Questions Surrounding the Treatment of NETs

Matthew Kulke, MD, comments on some unanswered questions surrounding the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

CDKN1B Mutation May Be Linked to Worse Survival in GEP NETs

Low nuclear expression of CDKN1B, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor gene that encodes p27, in gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) appears to be associated with a worse prognosis.

Few Agents Better Than Somatostatin Analogs for Symptom Control in Carcinoid Syndrome

Somatostatin analogs remain the mainstay of medical therapy for symptom control in patients with carcinoid syndrome.

Subcutaneous Octreotide May Offer Better Option for Managing NETS Symptoms

A subcutaneous depot formulation of octreotide has a rapid onset, greater bioavailability, and a similar duration of effect compared with intramuscular octreotide long-acting repeatable.

Axitinib Shows Promise in Carcinoid Tumors

The rate of PFS with axitinib in patients with advanced carcinoid tumors is promising.

Everolimus Improves Outcomes in Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Treatment with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus improved overall survival by 6.34 months over placebo for patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Dr. Reidy-Lagunes on Determining the Site of Unknown Primary in Metastatic NETs

Diane Reidy-Lagunes, MD, medical oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses an analysis looking at a practical method of determining the site of unknown primary in metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

Dr. Pommier Discusses Challenges Associated With the Treatment of Carcinoid Syndrome

Rodney F. Pommier, MD, professor of surgery, director, Neuroendocrine Tumor Program, Oregon Health & Science University, discusses challenges associated with the treatment of carcinoid syndrome.

Combination Therapies, Novel Targeted Agents Are Focus of Pancreatic NET Studies

Selection of first-line treatments and the rational sequencing of therapies are among the unresolved questions in the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Dr. Yao on Takeaways From the RADIANT-3 Trial

James C. Yao, MD, professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses key takeaways from the RADIANT-3 trial for a community oncologist.

Dr. Kunz on Sequencing Agents for Pancreatic NETs

Pamela L. Kunz, MD, assistant professor, Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, discusses sequencing agents for the treatment of pancreatic NETs.

Targeting Src Adds No Benefit in VEGF-Resistant Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Adding saracatinib to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy did not improve response rates or overall survival while adding to toxicity in VEGF-resistant metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Dr. Saab on a Phase II Study of the Oncolytic Virus Reolysin for Pancreatic Cancer

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, discusses the results of a phase II study of the oncolytic virus reolysin in the first-line treatment metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

Durable Responses Observed with Nivolumab in Previously Treated mRCC

Durable responses were obtained with the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab, with a manageable safety profile, in a phase II dose-ranging trial conducted in patients with previously treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

New Data Provide Insight Into Optimal Pre-Chemo Treatments for mCRPC

The combination of abiraterone acetate and prednisone has demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS) for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who had not received prior treatment with chemotherapy

Dabrafenib/Trametinib Combo Improves Survival Over Vemurafenib in Phase III COMBI-v Trial

Patients with unresectable melanoma had a significant improvement in the odds of survival when treated in first line with a combination of BRAF and MEK inhibitors, as opposed to anti-BRAF monotherapy

Expanded 80405 Study Mutation Analysis Fails to Resolve Targeted Therapy Quandary in mCRC

All patients with metastatic colorectal cancer should undergo RAS mutation testing to ensure optimal patient selection for EGFR inhibitor therapy.

Dr. Motzer on a Phase II Trial of Nivolumab for mRCC

Robert J. Motzer, MD, attending physician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, provides an overview of a phase II study of nivolumab for the treatment of patients with clear cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Combination BRAF, MEK Inhibition "New Standard" for Previously Untreated BRAF-Mutant Melanoma

Inhibiting BRAF and MEK at the same time improves progression-free survival (PFS) more so than BRAF inhibition alone in patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive metastatic melanoma, according to results of a phase III placebo-controlled trial.

Pembrolizumab Shows Promise in Advanced Gastric Cancer

In patients with advanced gastric cancer expressing PD-L1, pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has robust antitumor activity and an acceptable safety profile

Crizotinib Highly-Effective in ROS1-Rearranged NSCLC

Treatment with crizotinib (Xalkori) demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 72% in patients with ROS1-rearranged non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to phase I data presented at the 2014 ESMO Congress and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr. Weber on Nivolumab Versus Chemotherapy in Advanced Melanoma

Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, discusses the results of a phase III study of nivolumab compared with investigator's choice chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma after prior anti-CTLA-4 therapy.

Nivolumab Beats Chemotherapy as Second-Line Treatment for Advanced Melanoma

Treatment with nivolumab (Opdivo) demonstrated superior objective response rates (ORR) and longer durations of response compared with chemotherapy in a phase III trial of patients with previously treated advanced metastatic melanoma, reported Jeffrey Weber, MD, at the 2014 ESMO Congress.

Dr. Galbraith Discusses Phase I/II Results for AZD9291 in Advanced NSCLC

Susan Galbraith, MD, PhD, head, Oncology Innovative Medicine, AstraZeneca, discusses updated data from the ongoing phase I/II AURA study looking at AZD9291 for NSCLC.

CLEOPATRA Trial Update Shows Dramatic OS Benefit

Dual HER2 blockade with pertuzumab and trastuzumab plus chemotherapy for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer improved median OS by almost 16 months over standard first-line therapy.

Dr. Swain Discusses the Final OS Analysis from the CLEOPATRA Study

Sandra M. Swain, MD, discusses final overall survival analysis from the CLEOPATRA study of first-line pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and docetaxel for the treatment of patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Cediranib Combined With Chemotherapy Improves PFS in Advanced Cervical Cancer

Cediranib improved response rate and median PFS when added to conventional chemotherapy in a phase II study of patients with relapsed or metastatic cervical cancer.