Top stories in hematology/oncology: accelerating development of glioblastoma treatments, disparities in cancer risk factors

Among the top stories in hematology/oncology last week were a Q&A on the ability of phase 0 trials to accelerate the drug approval process for patients with glioblastoma and research that found modifiable cancer risk factors varied substantially along racial/ethnic and educational achievement lines.

Other highlights included the FDA expanding the approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer, a study that found genetic testing rates were low among women with ovarian and breast cancer and a study that demonstrated immunotherapy had varying efficacy in elderly patients with lung cancer.

Phase 0 trials ‘quickest route’ for development of glioblastoma treatments

Ivy Brain Tumor Center at The Barrow Neurological Institute has launched a program that offers phase 0 trials to accelerate the drug approval process for patients with glioblastoma. Read more.

‘Eye-opening’ disparities observed in rates of cancer risk factors

Although cancer death rates in the U.S. continue to decline, biennial research from the American Cancer Society shows that nearly half of all cancer deaths involve disease with known modifiable risk factors. Read more.

FDA expands Keytruda approval for non-small cell lung cancer

The FDA expanded the approval of pembrolizumab to include the first-line treatment of patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer who are not able to undergo surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, as well as those with metastatic disease. Read more.

Genetic testing rates low among women with ovarian, breast cancer

Less than one-third of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer in two large, diverse states between 2013 and 2014 received subsequent genetic testing, according to results of a study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology. Read more.

Studies show varying efficacy of immunotherapy in elderly patients with lung cancer

Pembrolizumab monotherapy extended OS compared with chemotherapy among elderly patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, according to results of a pooled data analysis presented at European Lung Cancer Congress. Read more.