Cancer Therapy

Oncology has a language all its own — from the terms used to describe underlying disease biology to the phrasing of clinical trial results.

Most Americans lack knowledge of best cancer prevention practices, the dangers of e-cigarettes and available end-of-life care despite an abundance of published data, according to results of ASCO’s third annual Cancer Opinions Survey.

Combination therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors conferred significant PFS benefit compared with BRAF inhibitor monotherapy among patients with metastatic melanoma with rare BRAF mutations or translocations, according to results of an international, retrospective study published in Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Although National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines frequently recommend use of drugs in settings beyond their FDA-approved indications, the strength of evidence for such recommendations is robust, according to results of an analysis published in Annals of Oncology.

Many novel, costly and toxic cancer therapies continue to be broadly recommended for off-label use by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network based upon no evidence, low-levels of evidence or evidence not clearly cited in guidance documents, according to Vinay K. Prasad, MD, MPH.

A nonprofit program provides adults in California who have cancer with free multidisciplinary second opinions.

The American Association for Cancer Research today released its annual Cancer Progress Report, which reflects how prior investment in the NIH is paying dividends in terms of advances across the spectrum of cancer care.

With the explosion of knowledge in molecular oncology, advances are being reported almost daily in the scientific and clinical literature.

Although flares and immune-related adverse effects due to checkpoint inhibitor therapy can be frequent and potentially severe, they are “mostly manageable” without the need for discontinuation among patients with preexisting autoimmune diseases, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Among the top stories in hematology/oncology last week were three actions by the FDA: the approvals of Inrebic for myelofibrosis and Rozlytrek for cancers with neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene fusion, and the granting of breakthrough therapy designation to Calquence for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.