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April 2020, Vol 10, No 4

Second-line treatment with a 3-drug regimen that included the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo), the VEGF receptor antagonist ramucirumab (Cyramza), and chemotherapy with the taxane paclitaxel, showed durable and impressive response rates, regardless of PD-L1 expression, in patients with advanced gastric cancers. Shuichi Hironaka, MD, PhD, Chiba Cancer Center, Japan, reported the study results at the 2020 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

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Nutrition plays an important role throughout the continuum of lung cancer. It is well documented that the best protection from lung cancer is to avoid smoking, but it is also protective to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Studies suggest that smokers who took high amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin A supplements had an increased incidence of lung cancer and increased mortality rates, whereas beta- carotene from a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables had a protective effect against lung disease. Read Article ›

Nancy Brinker vividly recalls her sister, Susan G. Komen, saying those words in the waiting room at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston sometime after she received a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer.

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On March 10, 2020, the FDA accelerated the approval of the immunotherapy combination of nivolumab (Opdivo; Bristol-Myers Squibb) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy; Bristol-Myers Squibb) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have previously received sorafenib. Nivolumab and ipilimumab have been previously approved by the FDA for several indications. This new indication was previously granted a breakthrough therapy designation.

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On March 2, 2020, the FDA approved isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa; Sanofi- Aventis), a CD38-directed cytolytic antibody, for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma, for use in combination with pomalidomide (Pomalyst) and dexamethasone, in patients who had received at least 2 therapies that include lenalidomide (Revlimid) and a proteasome inhibitor. The FDA granted isatuximab an orphan drug designation.

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The Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (AVBCC) webcast was introduced by Dr Zweigenhaft, Founder of AVBCC, who assembled an exceptional group of experts from across the country to discuss the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on the healthcare industry. After a few quick welcoming remarks to allow more time for the fast-moving presentations, Dr Zweigenhaft introduced Dr Hudis, who briefly presented ASCO’s outlook on the crisis. Read Article ›

Mr Reff and Mr Bailey addressed the modifications that oncology pharmacies are making to keep staff and patients safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Read Article ›

Oncology nurses and nurse navigators are positioned on the front lines of cancer care, playing an integral role in patients’ battles against cancer. Ms Shockney and Ms Nevidjon discussed the rapidly changing world that oncology nurses are facing because of COVID-19. Read Article ›

Turning from the provision of care to the provision of therapies and essential personal protective equipment (PPE), Mr Pourmahram and Dr Fortner focused on the wholesale supply chain and the challenges of ensuring an uninterrupted flow of crucial materials to areas with the greatest demand. Read Article ›

Mr McDaniel and Dr Consuelos discussed the likely long-term impact of and lessons for the healthcare industry from the COVID-19 pandemic. Read Article ›

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