William King
Authored Items
By William King
May 2023, Vol 13, No 5
In a session during the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Annual Conference, Deborah M. Stephens, DO, provided important updates to treatment recommendations for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and identified key factors for selecting frontline and subsequent therapies, including IGHV gene status, 17p deletion/TP53 mutation status, age, patient comorbidities, and resistance mutations. Read More ›
By William King
May 2023, Vol 13, No 5
NCCN 2023 Conference Highlights, Renal-Cell Carcinoma, Genitourinary Cancers, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
Surgery is typically the gold standard for patients with biopsy-proven, clear cell, renal cell carcinoma with no evidence of metastatic disease, said Eric Jonasch, MD, in a session during the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network Conference. In this setting, there is probably not a role for systemic neoadjuvant treatment, as response rates of 15% to 45% have been recorded with axitinib (Inlyta), sunitinib (Sutent), and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Read More ›
By William King
May 2023, Vol 13, No 5
NCCN 2023 Conference Highlights, Head & Neck Cancers , Brain Cancers , National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
Molecular/genetic characterization has taken on greater importance in the classification of adult gliomas and in diagnostic and treatment decision-making. “These tumors are now grouped and predicated more on molecular features rather than histopathologic criteria,” said L. Burt Nabors, MD, in a presentation during the 2023 National Comprehensive Cancer Network Annual Conference. Read More ›
By William King
April 2023, Vol 13, No 4
During the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, a panel of experts identified some of the key challenges to achieving health equity in bladder cancer care and discussed what can be done to improve access to clinical trials, mitigate financial toxicity, and promote value-based care. Read More ›
By William King
March 2023, Vol 13, No 3
The decision to use adjuvant therapies in patients with renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) should be based on risk, patient goals, and shared decision-making. This topic was explored in a presentation by Matthew Zibelman, MD. Read More ›
By William King
February 2023, Vol 13, No 2
Results from the IFM2017-03 trial showed that a dexamethasone-sparing regimen of daratumumab (Darzalex) plus lenalidomide (Revlimid; DR) was superior to lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (Rd) in terms of response rates and rates of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity in frail patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Read More ›
By William King
February 2023, Vol 13, No 2
Using circulating tumor cell (CTC) count to guide the choice of first-line treatment—chemotherapy or endocrine therapy—improved overall survival (OS) compared with investigator’s choice of treatment for patients with metastatic, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer, according to results from the STIC CTC trial. Read More ›
By William King
January 2023, Vol 13, No 1
In patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-low or -negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer resistant to aromatase inhibitors, the addition of the investigational first-in-class AKT inhibitor capivasertib (AZD5363) to fulvestrant (Faslodex) led to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared with placebo plus fulvestrant. Read More ›
By William King
January 2023, Vol 13, No 1
Patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, including those with visceral crises, treated with the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib (Kisqali) plus endocrine therapy had a significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) and fewer adverse events (AEs) compared with those treated with combination chemotherapy, according to results from the phase 2 RIGHT Choice trial. Read More ›
By William King
January 2023, Vol 13, No 1
Results of a recent survey of cancer centers revealed that 66% of responding institutions had a biosimilar interchangeability policy in place, but barriers to adoption remain an issue. Read More ›
By William King
December 2022, Vol 12, No 12
At the AVBCC 12th Annual Summit in 2022, a panel of experts from Upstream Partners discussed the current state of value-based agreements (VBAs) in pharma and what lies ahead. Read More ›
By William King
December 2022, Vol 12, No 12
Standardizing biosimilar adoption in oncology through the electronic health record can improve biosimilar utilization and reduce health system costs. Read More ›
By William King
November 2022, Vol 12, No 11
In a special symposium held during the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2022, experts discussed lessons learned in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with primary brain tumors and what is on the horizon. Read More ›
By William King
November 2022, Vol 12, No 11
Providers participating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) value-based payment (VBP) models may realize a reduction in financial risk via biosimilar substitution. Read More ›
By William King
November 2022, Vol 12, No 11
The increased use of biosimilars within the US Oncology Network generated more than $6 million of savings in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Oncology Care Model (OCM) during the first half of 2020. Read More ›
By William King
November 2022, Vol 12, No 11
One-year follow-up data from a phase 3 study found similar duration of response, time to progression (TTP), and survival rates with the biosimilar candidate CT-P16 compared with its reference drug, bevacizumab (Avastin), in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or recurrent nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Read More ›
By William King
October 2022, Vol 12, No 10
Minimizing some of the most distressing symptoms of cancer and its treatment requires systematic screening and risk assessment, as well as a focus on the underlying cause of these symptoms, according to experts at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022. Read More ›
By William King
October 2022, Vol 12, No 10
Several baseline factors were associated with an increased risk for treatment discontinuation in the phase 3 monarchE clinical trial, which assessed adjuvant abemaciclib (Verzenio) in patients with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative early breast cancer, according to findings from a multivariate analysis presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Read More ›
By William King
September 2022, Vol 12, No 9
The addition of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab (Avastin) resulted in significantly and clinically meaningful improvements in overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in women with cervical cancer. Read More ›
By William King
August 2022, Vol 12, No 8
Targeting HER2 with the antibody–drug conjugate fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu; T-DXd) provided clinically meaningful benefits for patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer, according to findings presented at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Read More ›
By William King
August 2022, Vol 12, No 8
More than 50% of adults with refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who were not deemed candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) had complete responses (CRs) following treatment with lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi). Read More ›
By William King
July 2022, Vol 12, No 7
The theme for the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting selected by 2021-2022 ASCO President Everett E. Vokes, MD, John E. Ultmann Professor of Medicine, and Chair, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Duchossois Center for Advanced Medicine, Hyde Park, was advancing equitable cancer care through innovation. Read More ›
By William King
July 2022, Vol 12, No 7
Once-daily ibrutinib (Imbruvica) combined with bendamustine (Bendeka) and rituximab (Rituxan; BR) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with placebo plus BR in patients aged ≥65 years with newly diagnosed mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL), according to results from the phase 3 SHINE trial, which were presented at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine (N Engl J Med. 2022 June 3. Epub ahead of print). Read More ›
By William King
June 2022, Vol 12, No 6
Telehealth is playing a larger role in the delivery of cancer care, but there is more work that needs to be done to permanently increase access, according to a panel of experts during a plenary session at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2022 Annual Conference. Read More ›
By William King
June 2022, Vol 12, No 6
Genetic testing is becoming increasingly used in oncology because of its potential to inform surgical decisions and chemotherapy. Read More ›
By William King
May 2022, Vol 12, No 5
The PD-1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody, AK104, plus chemotherapy represents a potential new first-line treatment option for patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. Read More ›
By William King
May 2022, Vol 12, No 5
Updates to the screening guidelines for colorectal cancer (CRC) from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) include lowering the initial screening age for average-risk individuals and second- and third-degree family members with CRC, as well as an extension in the interval for surveillance colonoscopy for low-risk individuals. Read More ›
By William King
May 2022, Vol 12, No 5
Treatment with nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) in the neoadjuvant setting plus adjuvant nivolumab resulted in a high rate of pathologic complete response (pCR) in patients with resectable microsatellite instable (MSI)/mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) oeso-gastric junction (OGJ) adenocarcinoma, according to findings from the GERCOR NEONIPIGA clinical trial. Read More ›
By William King
May 2022, Vol 12, No 5
Trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu; T-DXd) continues to show superior antitumor activity and improved survival compared with standard chemotherapy in patients with advanced HER2-expressing gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, according to updated results from the phase 2 DESTINY-Gastric01 trial. Read More ›
By William King
May 2022, Vol 12, No 5
The neoadjuvant combination of avelumab (Bavencio) and axitinib (Inlyta) resulted in a partial response (PR) rate of 30% in patients with localized renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) at high risk for relapse after nephrectomy, according to results from the phase 2 NeoAvAx clinical trial. Read More ›
By William King
May 2022, Vol 12, No 5
Treatment with the androgen receptor inhibitor darolutamide (Nubeqa), in combination with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) and docetaxel, significantly improved overall survival (OS) compared with ADT and docetaxel alone in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), according to recent results from the phase 3 ARASENS clinical trial, which were simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Read More ›
By William King
May 2022, Vol 12, No 5
During a presentation at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 2022 Annual Conference, Genevieve Boland, MD, PhD, FACS, Section Head, Melanoma/Sarcoma Surgery; Surgical Director, Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies; and Director, Therapeutic Intralesional Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, discussed how targeted treatments and immunotherapies are improving the treatment landscape for melanoma. Read More ›
By William King
April 2022, Vol 12, No 4
Interim results from a phase 2 clinical trial showed that a novel combination of aldoxorubicin, N-803 (an IL-15 superagonist), and PD-L1 natural killer cell therapy (Nant Cancer Vaccine) plus low-dose chemotherapy doubled overall survival (OS) compared with historical controls in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Read More ›
By William King
April 2022, Vol 12, No 4
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) added to best supportive care (BSC) improved outcomes including overall survival (OS) versus BSC alone in Asian patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) previously treated with sorafenib (Nexavar), according to final results from the KEYNOTE-394 trial. Read More ›
By William King
April 2022, Vol 12, No 4
Continuous enzalutamide (Xtandi) treatment in combination with docetaxel significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with placebo plus docetaxel in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had disease progression on enzalutamide alone, according to results from the phase 3b PRESIDE clinical trial. Read More ›
By William King
April 2022, Vol 12, No 4
Neoadjuvant enfortumab vedotin (Padcev) showed promising antitumor activity in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who were ineligible for cisplatin therapy, according to preliminary findings from cohort H of the phase 1b/2 EV-103 clinical trial. Read More ›
By William King
April 2022, Vol 12, No 4
According to results presented at the 2021 ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition, new sequencing technologies may overcome previous limitations of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) profiling in patients with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. Read More ›
By William King
March 2022, Vol 12, No 3
With better insights into the biology of cancer and other diseases, genetic medicine is entering “a whole new ballgame,” said Scott Gottlieb, MD, Former FDA Commissioner, during the keynote session at the 11th Annual Summit of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care in 2021. Read More ›
By William King
March 2022, Vol 12, No 3
Community-based providers remain at the core of the oncology care delivery system. A panel moderated by Barbara McAneny, MD, Chief Executive Officer, New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants, Albuquerque, at the 11th Annual Summit of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care in 2021 explored the road ahead for community practices in terms of balancing value and delivering optimal access to care for patients. Read More ›
By William King
February 2022, Vol 12, No 2
Many innovative therapies in oncology have made it to market recently, with a wealth of agents that are currently on the verge of FDA approval. Read More ›
By William King
February 2022, Vol 12, No 2
The success of oncology support services developed by pharmaceutical manufacturers depends on tailoring programs that meet the needs of their specific patient populations, said panelists at a roundtable discussion on patient centricity and connectivity in oncology support and HUB services. Read More ›
By William King
January 2022, Vol 12, No 1
The results from 2 phase 3 clinical trials highlighted the superiority of CAR T-cell therapies over current standard of care (SOC) when used earlier in the course of treatment for patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). These findings were reported at the ASH 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition. Read More ›
By William King
January 2022, Vol 12, No 1
Reducing disparities in cancer care, including those affecting research and treatment, requires a better understanding of the history of racism, noted experts during a panel discussion at the 11th Annual Summit of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care in 2021. Read More ›
By William King
January 2022, Vol 12, No 1
Enhanced flexibility in delivery, increased investment in digital capability, and quick adaptation to events were some of the positive impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer care. Read More ›
By William King
January 2022, Vol 12, No 1
At the 11th Annual Summit of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care in 2021, a panel of experts, moderated by Michael Reff, RPh, MBA, Founder and Executive Director, National Community Oncology Dispensing Association (NCODA), Cazenovia, NY, discussed the current and future state of Medically Integrated Pharmacy (MIP) and the benefits of this approach in oncology. Read More ›
By William King
January 2022, Vol 12, No 1
Currently, 31 biosimilar products have been approved by the FDA, 20 of which have been launched in the United States. As the biosimilar markets become more competitive, so should pricing, said Sean McGowan, Senior Director, Biosimilars, AmerisourceBergen, Philadelphia, PA, who moderated a panel discussion on the gateway and watershed opportunities ahead for biosimilars and their adoption in oncology at the 11th Annual Summit of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care in 2021. Read More ›
By William King
January 2022, Vol 12, No 1
Results from 2 single-center studies presented at the ASH 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition showed that nearly 1 in 6 patients with hematologic diseases had no or low antibody response after a second COVID-19 vaccination, but that the mRNA 1273 COVID-19 vaccine induced a strong antibody response in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Read More ›
By William King
January 2022, Vol 12, No 1
Treatment with the investigational agent mosunetuzumab (RG7828) as monotherapy induced deep remissions in patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma, according to results of a recent trial presented at the ASH 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition. Read More ›
By William King
December 2021, Vol 11, No 12
Oncologic drug pricing is being transformed with greater value in mind. At the 11th Annual Summit of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care in 2021, a panel led by moderator William McGivney, PhD, Managing Principal, McGivney Global Advisors, Wayne, PA, discussed innovation in drug pricing, how the current rebate system supports higher drug costs, balancing new interventions with profits, and the implications of drug price negotiations being considered in Congress. Read More ›
By William King
December 2021, Vol 11, No 12
At the 11th Annual Summit of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care in 2021, health plans and employers discussed the utility of value-based contracting for managing oncology care costs while maintaining focus on outcomes of value for patients. Rob O’Brien, Vice President, Specialty, Real Endpoints, Florham Park, NJ, served as moderator for this session. Read More ›
By William King
December 2021, Vol 11, No 12
The use of telehealth in the fee-for-service program surged by more than 4000% during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More ›
By William King
December 2021, Vol 11, No 12
Vaccination with the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna) appears safe in patients with solid tumors receiving immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or chemoimmunotherapy. Read More ›
By William King
November 2021, Vol 11, No 11
Early results from the CheckMate-648 clinical trial, which evaluated the 1 and safety of Opdivo (nivolumab), a PD-1 inhibitor, plus Yervoy (ipilimumab), a CTLA-4 inhibitor, or nivolumab plus chemotherapy, sugge1st a potential new standard of care for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC). These findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2021 virtual annual meeting by Ian Chau, MD, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Gastrointestinal and Haemato-Oncology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, United Kingdom, and lead investigator of the trial. Read More ›
By William King
November 2021, Vol 11, No 11
A single dose of ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel), an investigational B-cell maturation antigen–directed CAR T-cell therapy, resulted in early, deep, and durable responses in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, according to updated results from the phase 1b/2 CARTITUDE-1 clinical trial. These findings were reported by Saad Zafar Usmani, MD, FACP, Director, Plasma Cell Disorder Program, and Director, Clinical Research in Hematologic Malignancies, Levine Cancer Institute, Charlotte, NC, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›
By William King
October 2021, Vol 11, No 10
During the virtual European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021, 5-year follow-up data from a clinial trial showed comparable results related to cardiac safety and long-term efficacy between trastuzumab (Herceptin) and the biosimilar trastuzumab-dttb (SB3; Ontruzant) in patients with HER2-positive, early or locally advanced breast cancer. These findings were reported in a poster presentation by Xavier Pivot, MD, PhD, General Director, Centre Paul Strauss, Institut de Cancérologie Strasbourg Europe, France, and colleagues. Read More ›
By William King
October 2021, Vol 11, No 10
The use of the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) for 1 year after receiving standard chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant or the adjuvant setting significantly improved invasive disease-free survival in patients with high-risk, early-stage, HER2 negative breast cancer and BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, according to results presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›
By William King
September 2021, Vol 11, No 9
Oropharyngeal cancer, which can develop at the base of the tongue, tonsils, and the middle part of the throat, is primarily caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the most common sexually transmitted virus and infection in the United States.1 Over the past 2 decades, cases of HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma (OPSCC) have been increasing at an alarming rate among men in the United States.2,3 According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 54,000 cases of oropharyngeal and oral cavity cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2021, and more than 10,000 individuals will die from the disease.4 OPSCC is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in increased mortality and morbidity. Read More ›
By William King
September 2021, Vol 11, No 9
According to results from a recent study, balstilimab, an investigational PD-1 inhibitor, demonstrated meaningful and durable clinical activity in patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer. These findings were presented by Cailin E. Joyce, MD, Director, Applied Technology, Agenus, Boston, MA, during the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2021 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›
Bispecific Antibodies Show Encouraging Activity in Heavily Pretreated Patients with Multiple Myeloma
By William King
May 2021, Vol 11, No 5
Bispecific antibodies are showing promise in patients with hematologic malignancies, notably relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Results from studies of 3 bispecific antibodies were presented at ASH 2020, showing deep and durable responses. Read More ›
By William King
May 2021, Vol 11, No 5
The combination of the investigational drug pevonedistat in combination with azacitidine injection (Vidaza) leads to longer event-free survival (EFS) and a higher complete response rate than azacitidine alone in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), according to results from a phase 2, open-label, international clinical trial. The findings were presented by Mikkael A. Sekeres, MD, MS, Director, Leukemia Program, Cleveland Clinic, OH, at ASH 2020. Read More ›
By William King
May 2021, Vol 11, No 5
A small-molecule CD73 inhibitor (AB680) induced a 41% overall response rate (ORR) when combined with chemotherapy (with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine), plus the novel PD-1 inhibitor zimberelimab, as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, according to results of the dose-escalation portion of a phase 1/1b study known as ARC-8. The data were presented as a poster at the 2021 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Read More ›
By William King
May 2021, Vol 11, No 5
Bemarituzumab, an investigational first-in-class humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to FGFR2b, improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when added to modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) chemotherapy in patients with FGFR2b-positive advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer in the phase 2 FIGHT clinical trial. Read More ›
By William King
April 2021, Vol 11, No 4
The HER2-targeted bispecific investigational antibody zanidatamab, either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, has shown promising antitumor activity in an ongoing phase 1 clinical trial of patients with HER2-expressing biliary tract cancer or gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, reported Funda Meric-Bernstam, MD, Chair, Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, at the 2021 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. Read More ›
By William King
March 2021, Vol 11, No 3
Magrolimab, a first-in-class investigational antibody targeting CD47, showed good efficacy when combined with azacitidine injection (Vidaza) regardless of TP53 mutation in patients with treatment-naïve acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy, according to data presented at ASH 2020. The results also showed that this combination did not lead to significant immune-related side effects. Read More ›
By William King
March 2021, Vol 11, No 3
The combination of 2 investigational agents—umbralisib and ublituximab (U2)—represents a promising new treatment option for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In the phase 3 multicenter clinical trial UNITY-CLL, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly longer with U2 than with standard-of-care chemoimmunotherapy, reported John G. Gribben, MD, DSc, FRCP, Centre Lead, Centre for Haemato-Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, England, at ASH 2020. Read More ›
By William King
February 2021, Vol 11, No 2
Apost-hoc analysis of a pivotal clinical trial presented at ASH 2020 showed that the recently approved belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep), a first-in-class antibody targeting BCMA (B-cell maturation antigen), induced deep and durable responses in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. This analysis of the ongoing, open-label DREAMM-2 study focused on 1-year outcomes based on the number of previous therapies. The results were presented by Sagar Lonial, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Read More ›
By William King
February 2021, Vol 11, No 2
In a keynote address during the virtual 2020 International Kidney Cancer Symposium, William G. Kaelin, Jr, MD, Sidney Farber Professor of Medicine, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, provided an update on treatment strategies aimed at improving outcomes for patients with clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) caused by inactivation of the VHL gene. Promising therapies include immunotherapies, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α inhibitors, and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4/6 inhibitors. Read More ›
First-Line Combinations Show Promise in the Treatment of Patients with Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma
By William King
February 2021, Vol 11, No 2
The treatment of renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) continues to evolve with the development of more effective frontline regimens. During the virtual 2020 International Kidney Cancer Symposium, experts discussed the expanding role of several of these therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and immunotherapies, which are being evaluated in various combinations to improve outcomes for patients with advanced and high-risk disease. Read More ›
By William King
January 2021, Vol 11, No 1
VS-6766, a unique inhibitor of the RAF/MEK-signaling pathway, has shown antitumor activity in RAS/RAF mutation–positive solid tumors and in multiple myeloma, when administered on an intermittent dosing schedule, according to recently published data. Read More ›
By William King
December 2020, Vol 10, No 12
The approaches to the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma are evolving, including the sequencing of therapy and a possibly expanded role for minimal residual disease (MRD) status, said William G. Wierda, MD, PhD, Section Chief, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2020 Virtual Congress: hematologic malignancies. Read More ›
By William King
November 2020, Vol 10, No 11
Cancer health disparities remain a challenge in the United States, despite some strides being made to reduce these disparities, according to a new report from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) that was released in a virtual presentation on September 16, 2020. Furthermore, many of the populations affected by cancer care disparities are the ones affected by disparities related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AACR experts said. Read More ›
By William King
November 2020, Vol 10, No 11
The COVID-19 pandemic has not only resulted in adjustments to the current Oncology Care Model (OCM), but it has led to considerations for future models, said Lara M. Strawbridge, MPH, Director, Ambulatory Payment Models, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), Washington, DC, during the 2020 virtual National Comprehensive Cancer Network Oncology Policy Summit. Read More ›
By William King
November 2020, Vol 10, No 11
Value-based or alternative payment models have yet to deliver the cost-savings in oncology hoped for when these models were proposed, said experts at the 2020 virtual National Comprehensive Cancer Network Oncology Policy Summit during a panel discussion on best practices for value-based agreements. Read More ›
By William King
November 2020, Vol 10, No 11
Value-based drug purchasing, better coordination of care delivery, and earlier institution of palliative care were among the measures to lower the cost of cancer care that were suggested during a panel discussion at the 2020 virtual National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Oncology Policy Summit. The discussion was moderated by Clifford Goodman, PhD, Senior Vice President, Comparative Effectiveness Research, the Lewin Group. Read More ›
By William King
October 2020, Vol 10, No 10
A single infusion of the investigational agent lifileucel—an immunotherapy using cryopreserved autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL)—induced responses in more than 33% of patients with advanced melanoma whose disease progressed with multiple previous therapies, including PD-1 and BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Read More ›
By William King
September 2020, Vol 10, No 9
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared with chemotherapy alone as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1. Read More ›
By William King
September 2020, Vol 10, No 9
The small-molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinase WEE1 adavosertib demonstrated promising clinical activity in a single-arm, phase 2 study of patients with unselected uterine serous cancer (USC), with an objective response rate of 29.4%, said Joyce F. Liu, MD, MPH, Director of Clinical Research, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. The responses were durable, with a median duration of response of 9.03 months. Read More ›
By William King
September 2020, Vol 10, No 9
A total of 80% of patients with relapsed or refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) achieved a complete response (CR) to axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta), and those responses have proved durable, according to the interim results of the phase 2 ZUMA-5 study, said Caron A. Jacobson, MD, Medical Director, Immune Effector Cell Therapy Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›
By William King
August 2020, Vol 10, No 8
The first-line immunotherapy combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and low-dose ipilimumab (Yervoy) continues to show robust, durable clinical benefit, with a deepening of response, in patients with microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), according to results presented at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›
By William King
August 2020, Vol 10, No 8
With follow-up of more than 5 years, women with relapsed platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation who participated in the multicenter phase 3 SOLO2 clinical trial lived more than 1 year longer when randomized to maintenance therapy with the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) compared with placebo, according to data released at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›
By William King
August 2020, Vol 10, No 8
Capmatinib (Tabrecta), an oral kinase inhibitor, has shown clinical activity in patients with high-level MET-amplified advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to new data presented at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›
By William King
August 2020, Vol 10, No 8
Treatment with osimertinib (Tagrisso) in the adjuvant setting significantly improves disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with localized non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an EGFR mutation, according to results presented by Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, FACP, FASCO, Chief of Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, at the ASCO 2020 virtual annual meeting. Read More ›
By William King
August 2020, Vol 10, No 8
There has been an increased focus on the study of tumor alterations that may predict treatment benefit or serve as possible actionable targets in cancer. Read More ›