Top stories in hematology/oncology: FDA grants accelerated approval to leukemia drug, low-dose cisplatin beneficial in some patients with carcinoma

Among the popular stories in hematology/oncology last week were the FDA’s accelerated approval for venetoclax as a combination therapy in some patients with leukemia and data that showed patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who received weekly low-dose cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy achieved the same survival as those who received high-dose cisplatin and radiotherapy.

Other popular stories included a presentation that compared the time oncologists spend discussing the goals of cancer care with minority patients vs. nonminority patients, an interview with a researcher on a method that may retrospectively determine prostate cancer aggressiveness, and a report on a trial that is evaluating a combination of ibrutinib and cirmtuzumab for B-cell malignancies. – by Janel Miller

FDA approves Venclexta for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia

The FDA granted accelerated approval to venetoclax in combination with azacitidine, decitabine or low-dose cytarabine to treat newly diagnosed adults with acute myeloid leukemia who are aged 75 years or older. Read more.

Study supports weekly low-dose cisplatin for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who received weekly low-dose cisplatin with concurrent radiotherapy achieved the same survival as those who received standard high-dose cisplatin every 3 weeks plus radiotherapy, according to study results published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Read more.

Oncologists spend less time discussing goals of care with minority patients

Oncologists spend significantly less time discussing goals of cancer care with minority patients vs. nonminority patients, according to a study presented at the Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium. Read more.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based method may help predict prostate cancer aggressiveness

Healio spoke with a researcher from Harvard Medical School about his discovery that used metabolic analysis of benign tissue samples from men with prostate cancer to retrospectively predict the aggressiveness of disease and likelihood of recurrence. Read more.

Trial to assess ibrutinib- cirmtuzumab combination for B-cell malignancies

Researchers at University of California, San Diego, are investigating whether the addition of the monoclonal antibody cirmtuzumab to standard therapy with ibrutinib benefits patients with B-cell malignancies. Read more.