Top in hem/onc: Survivorship, underrepresentation in cancer trials

Fitness levels often decline in patients with cancer due to the strain of illness and treatments. An exploration of why keeping active is a vital part of cancer survivorship was the top story in hematology/oncology last week.

Another top story was about the lack of diversity in cancer clinical trials. Data published in Cancer suggest that Black and Hispanic individuals, as well as women and older adults, remain underrepresented.

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

One vital piece of cancer survivorship care is keeping active

Cancer and its various treatments can strain the body to the point that participation in fitness activities and exercise is often drastically decreased, reducing the survivor’s level of physical fitness and adding to their medical problems. Read more.

Despite progress, certain populations remain underrepresented in cancer clinical trials

Although cancer clinical trial participation has increased among Black and Hispanic individuals, these populations — along with women and older adults — remained underrepresented, according to a study published in Cancer. Read more.

FDA grants fast track designation to BNT111 for advanced melanoma

The FDA granted fast track designation to BNT111 (BioNTech) for the treatment of advanced melanoma. Read more.

FDA grants orphan drug designation to DF1001 for esophageal cancer

The FDA granted orphan drug designation to DF1001 (Dragonfly Therapeutics) for treatment of esophageal cancer. Read more.

Institutions should ‘apply an equity lens’ to physicians with caregiver duties

Balancing the responsibilities of being both a caregiver and a health care professional requires flexibility, especially considering the way the world has changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.