Top in hem/onc: FDA fast tracks AML therapy, COVID-19 widens gender gap in research

The FDA issued fast track designation to a nongenetically modified allogeneic natural killer cell therapy for adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. It was the top story in hematology/oncology last week.

In another top story, researchers discovered that women were less represented as lead research authors during the early period of the pandemic as opposed to other time periods.

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

FDA grants fast track designation to natural killer cell therapy for advanced AML

The FDA granted fast track designation to CYNK-001 for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Read more.

COVID-19 burdens worsen imbalance of women as lead research authors

Women represented fewer first, last and corresponding authors during the early period of the pandemic, especially on COVID-19-related manuscripts, compared with other periods, according to a study published in The British Medical Journal. Read more.

Black women face more barriers to genetic counseling, testing, breast oncologists say

A survey of physicians showed most believe Black women face more barriers to genetic counseling and testing for breast cancer than white women, according to a study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology. Read more.

Studies show substantial spending on cancer drugs that lack documented clinical benefit

Cancer drugs without documented clinical benefit are being used increasingly and account for a substantial amount of health care spending, according to results of two studies published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Read more.

Quitting smoking before age 40 years may reduce cancer mortality risk by 90%

People with a smoking history who quit, especially at younger ages, avoid much of the excess risk for dying of cancer associated with continued smoking, according to a prospective study published in JAMA Oncology. Read more.