How much more severe is COVID in people with cancer? Read the week’s top stories in hematology/oncology

Results of a multicenter study presented at the virtual American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting showed that individuals with cancer and COVID-19 could be two to three times more likely to die than those with COVID-19 who do not have cancer. This was the top story in hematology/oncology last week.

Another top story was about new findings from the Circulating Cell-free Genome Atlas study, which showed a cell-free DNA multicancer early detection test was able to predict cancer and the tissue of origin ahead of histologic diagnosis.

Read these and more top stories in hematology/oncology below:

COVID-19 outcomes more severe among individuals with cancer

Individuals with cancer and COVID-19 infection could be two to three times more likely to die than cancer-free individuals with the novel coronavirus, according to results of a multicenter study presented at the virtual American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Read more.

Blood test shows promise for predicting cancer, tissue of origin ahead of histologic diagnosis

A cell-free DNA multicancer early detection test demonstrated an ability to predict cancer and the tissue of origin in individuals with clinical suspicion of cancer, according to results of the Circulating Cell-free Genome Atlas study. Read more.

Mortality unexpectedly high among people with lung cancer, COVID-19

Mortality appeared unexpectedly high among individuals with lung cancer and COVID-19 infection, according to international registry data presented at the virtual American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Read more.

Multicancer blood test feasible for routine clinical care, could guide intervention

A minimally invasive, multicancer blood test demonstrated utility for screening and helping to guide management of individuals with no cancer history, according to results of a prospective study presented at the virtual American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting. Read more. 

FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation to mobocertinib for lung cancer subset

The FDA granted breakthrough therapy designation to mobocertinib for treatment of certain patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Read more.