The NRG Oncology trial shows improved in-field tumor control with adaptive radiotherapy, increasing local-regional tumor control by 11% and primary tumor control by 17%. The study's results suggest individualizing radiotherapy dose prescriptions according to patient's intrinsic sensitivity for better survival outcomes.
The NRG Oncology phase II clinical trial determined that the combination of total neoadjuvant therapy with pembrolizumab and chemoradiotherapy is safe for patients with locally-advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, it may not offer any statistically significant improvement in downstaging of the cancer at the time of surgery.
The FDA Oncology Center of Excellence has developed initiatives to address the unique challenges faced by cancer patients during COVID-19. The center provides guidance and support to healthcare professionals, enabling them to provide high-quality cancer care despite the pandemic's impact.
A randomized clinical trial demonstrated the benefits of early integration of palliative care into oncology care for patients with high-risk AML. Patients who received integrated palliative and oncology care reported significantly better quality of life and lower levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Researchers found non-pharmacological interventions such as fan therapy and bilevel ventilation to be effective in improving breathlessness in patients with advanced cancer. In contrast, medications like opioids had limited impact on symptom relief.
The new guidelines provide uniform standards for treating brain tumour complications such as epileptic attacks, brain edema, haemorrhage, or thrombosis worldwide. The initiative aims to increase patient safety and improve treatment outcomes.
Researchers report factors preventing effective launch of oncology biosimilars, including market share struggles and patent litigation lawsuits. The 'Pay-for-Delay' strategy by AMGEN and Genentech/Roche holds the market hostage.
The ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2020 discussed the latest developments in cancer treatment, including adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments, tumour microenvironments, and novel therapeutics. The event also examined the impact of COVID-19 on immunotherapy in cancer patients.
A study of UK oncology staff found that many had COVID-19 antibodies without symptoms and lost positivity after four weeks. Researchers propose routine testing for signs of current or previous infection to protect staff and cancer patients.
The study found that patients with a radio-sensitive genotype have better survival with standard radiation therapy, while those with the resistant genotype fare better with high dose radiotherapy. High dose radiotherapy is associated with shorter survival times among patients with the sensitive genotype.
A survey of nearly 400 cancer survivors found that 87% experienced sexual side effects, but most were not formally asked by their oncologist. Female patients were particularly unlikely to be discussed with. Researchers recommend using a standard questionnaire to initiate conversations and improve patient experience.
A phase II trial shows similar safety and efficacy with single- and multiple-fraction treatment for patients with limited oligometastases. The study found comparable survival rates, local control rates, and disease-free survival rates between the two treatment groups.
The ESMO Asia Virtual Congress 2020 examined the efficacy of new therapies for prevalent cancer types in the Asia-Pacific region. The scientific program featured key research areas, including neo-adjuvant immuno-oncology and molecular stratification.
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant financial risks to independent oncology practices. Experts propose various strategies to promote stability and survival in these vulnerable entities.
The new guideline provides options for different treatments to improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Recommendations address patient selection, pelvic radiation treatments, integration with chemotherapy and surgery, and follow-up care.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) will highlight groundbreaking studies and discussions on cancer treatment advances, COVID-19, and racial representation in radiation therapy clinical trials at its upcoming Annual Meeting.
The FDA has issued guidance on clinical trials for cancer drug development during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance highlights regulatory challenges and lessons learned from recent experiences. By providing this support, the FDA aims to facilitate oncology drug development in a challenging environment.
A pay-for-performance program increased prescriptions of high-quality, evidence-based cancer drugs by 5.1 percentage points without significantly changing total spending on care. The program improved the rate of high-value prescribing in oncology, leading to better patient outcomes and longer life expectancy.
Researchers at UVA Cancer Center developed a set of metrics to evaluate care provided for brain metastases, aiming to enhance treatment decisions and coordination. The findings, published in JCO Oncology Practice, will help hospitals improve their interdisciplinary treatment programs.
The MAP Congress 2020 aimed to answer the critical question of how to integrate tumour sample analysis into daily practice. Key findings highlighted actionable mutations in patient DNA for personalized treatment, with expert guidance on molecular targeting and biomarkers.
A new study published in Frontiers In Oncology found a negative association between beta-blocker use and survival outcomes in patients with HER2 positive advanced breast cancer. The research highlights a subgroup of patients whose survival outcomes are poorer and calls for further investigation to improve treatment outcomes.
A recent study found that COVID-19-related interruptions in rehabilitation care for women with breast cancer led to increased emotional distress and reduced physical activity. The study, published in Rehabilitation Oncology, surveyed 15 breast cancer survivors who experienced cancelled appointments due to the pandemic.
Researchers have developed an immune-oncology approach that uses nanobodies to target cancer cells and boost the body's natural immune response. The new therapy has shown promise in treating multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia, and could lead to new treatments for a range of cancers.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a huge backlog of cancer treatments and research, with delays and cancellations reported across 18 countries. Oncology professionals are also facing burnout and wellbeing damage due to the pandemic's impact on their workload and job performance.
The COVID-19 pandemic is driving a shift in oncology clinical research, as new technologies are incorporated and old practices are revisited. This Viewpoint discusses how the pandemic may reshape clinical practice and highlight the need for rethinking oncology clinical research.
A clinical trial found that patients with IDH-mutant high-risk LGG, regardless of codeletion status, receive a survival benefit from adding postradiation chemotherapy. The study supports the use of WHO-defined molecular subgroups in predicting response to treatment.
Prof. Hans-Joachim Schmoll receives the ESMO Award 2020 for his pioneering work in developing medical oncology as a specialty, while Prof. Nadia Harbeck wins the Lifetime Achievement Award for her global cancer research and education contributions.
The European Society for Medical Oncology has issued its first recommendations on the use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) for patients with metastatic cancers. The guidelines recommend routine NGS use for four specific cancer types, while also allowing patients to order larger gene panels if feasible and cost-effective. The recomme...
A recent survey of UK professionals found that COVID-19 has caused significant disruptions to psycho-social care for cancer patients, leading to delays in accessing support. The study highlights the need for innovative solutions to address the growing demand for psychological support during the pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted oncology clinicians to prioritize cancer care, leveraging expertise from low-resource settings for guidance. Prioritization involves weighing the benefits and harms of different treatments, considering factors such as patient outcomes and healthcare resource availability.
A new AI-driven system called ModGraProDep has been developed to predict cancer survival and risk. This innovative tool uses probabilistic modeling and machine learning to provide personalized predictions for patients, enabling more effective treatment planning and improved patient outcomes.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released its first clinical guideline on radiation therapy for cervical cancer. The guidelines address indications and best practices for external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy in postoperative and definitive settings, including the use of chemotherapy and IMRT.
Oncology pharmacy practitioners worldwide are struggling with limited and restricted PPE supply, making it difficult for them to provide high-quality cancer care. In a study, half of the surveyed countries reported impaired access to essential medications, including anti-infective agents and anticancer medications.
The NRG Oncology trial NSABP B-43 found a statistically non-significant, modest reduction in the rate of recurrence among women that received trastuzumab. The study showed an annual IBTR event rate of 0.80% per year in the RT+T group compared to 0.99% per year in the RT group.
Researchers found that patients in Huntsman at Home had reduced hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and cumulative charges compared to controls. The study demonstrated strong evidence for the care model, showing improved patient outcomes while improving value.
The NRG Oncology trial RTOG 1010 found that adding trastuzumab to neoadjuvant trimodality treatment did not improve disease-free survival for patients with HER2-positive local and locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma. The study also showed no significant differences in treatment-related toxicity between the two arms.
Oncologists are calling for more time spent on education about palliative care and discussing 'bad news' with patients. Research shows cancer doctors have limited coaching in this area, which can impact patient preferences for treatment or palliative care.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published a list of high-impact measures for assessing quality improvements in cancer care. The recommendations reflect a landscape analysis from leading oncology experts and include endorsement of 15 existing measures and seven new concepts proposed for development.
A recent study published in Annals of Oncology found that excess body fat in middle to late adulthood increases the risk of developing advanced prostate cancer. Maintaining a healthy weight through healthy eating and exercise can help reduce this risk.
The NRG-CC001 trial found that lowering radiotherapy dose to hippocampal stem cells reduces cognitive toxicity and neurologic symptoms in patients with brain metastases. Patients who received whole-brain radiotherapy with hippocampal avoidance reported improved cognitive function, reduced fatigue, and fewer cognitive symptoms.
A new study found that US patients are less likely to undergo breast conserving therapy compared to European and Asian patients, with a higher rate of mastectomy. The study suggests that insurance coverage and costs may be factors influencing this difference.
A study published in JAMA Oncology found that proton therapy is just as effective as X-ray radiation therapy in treating cancer, but causes fewer side effects and lower hospitalization rates. This could lead to improved quality of life for patients and reduced healthcare costs.
The study found that higher doses of radiation and adding the drug cetuximab did not improve patient survival compared to standard of care chemoradiation. The 5-year overall survival estimate for the standard radiation dose arm was 32.1%, amongst the highest for Stage III NSCLC.
A recent NRG Oncology study found that breast-conserving treatment without surgery is not feasible based on the study's criteria. The study showed a negative predictive value of 77.5% for tumor bed biopsies, which falls short of the required threshold to support omitting surgery.
The NRG Oncology/NSABP B-42 trial found that extending letrozole therapy for five additional years improved disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with HR+ breast cancer. The study showed a 26% decrease in the risk of breast-cancer-free interval events and a 29% reduction in distant recurrence rates.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a new clinical guideline for the use of radiation therapy in treating basal and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. The guideline provides recommendations on when to use radiation as stand-alone therapy or following surgery, as well as dosing and fractionation schedules.
The NRG Oncology clinical trial found that accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) did not meet the criteria for equivalence to whole-breast irradiation (WBI) in controlling ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence. APBI did show a 1% difference in 10-year cumulative incidence of IBTR compared to WBI.
Results from NRG-GOG 9929 show that ipilimumab is tolerated in the curative treatment of women with lymph node-positive cervical cancer. The trial found a 12-month progression-free survival rate of 81% and overall survival rate of 90%. Future studies are needed to identify therapeutic targets for improved outcomes.
A secondary analysis of the NRG Oncology clinical trial shows that neurocognitive function (NCF) declines in half of patients with high-risk, low-grade gliomas up to a year after receiving temozolomide-based chemoradiotherapy. However, quality of life (QOL) remains stable or improves in these patients, according to the study.
A nationwide survey of over 400 US adults with cancer found that nearly all patients felt confident in their treatment decisions but had gaps in knowledge about potential side effects. The study highlights the need for more informed patient counseling and coordination between oncology disciplines to manage treatment-related side effects.
Gajewski's research found that a 'hot' or T cell inflamed tumour microenvironment is key to unlocking immunotherapy efficacy. STING agonists and targeted therapies are being developed to combat 'cold' tumours with limited immune response.
A new algorithm developed by a Penn Medicine-led team flags patients who would benefit most from advance care planning conversations, leading to improved timely discussions. The study found that 51% of high-priority flagged patients died within six months compared to less than four percent in lower priority group.
A new trial analysis found that women diagnosed with early stages of cancer who undergo lumpectomies and receive either partial or whole breast radiation have equivalent cosmetic outcomes, according to patient and physician ratings. The study's findings aim to guide women seeking breast-conserving therapy for early-stage disease.
A new analysis finds that long-term hormone therapy increases mortality risk for men with low PSA levels after prostate surgery. The study suggests that patients with high PSAs should continue to receive hormone therapy in addition to radiation, but those with low PSAs may be better off without it.
A machine-learning model has been developed to predict significant weight loss and need for feeding tube placement in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. The model showed high accuracy in predicting these two endpoints, allowing clinicians to take preventive measures.
ECOG-ACRIN announces late-breaking TAILORx data on chemotherapy regimens for early-stage breast cancer. The data, published concurrently in JAMA Oncology, focuses on patients with a score of 26-100 on the 21-tumor gene recurrence score assay.
A substudy of the NRG Oncology clinical trial found that women rated post-lumpectomy partial breast irradiation as equivalent to whole breast irradiation in terms of cosmetic outcomes and satisfaction. The results suggest that PBI may be a viable option for patients seeking to minimize radiation time commitment and healthcare costs.
A phase 2 clinical trial found that combining temsirolimus with chemotherapy improved patient outcomes for patients with relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma. The treatment resulted in a 54.6% event-free survival rate, compared to 69.1% for those receiving temsirolimus.
A recent study found that a standardized medical school exam can bias the entry of diverse and qualified candidates into radiation oncology residency programs. The researchers suggest that using a holistic approach to evaluate applicants could help address these biases, incorporating emotional intelligence and other core competencies.
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a new clinical guideline recommending the use of radiation therapy in pre-surgical, post-surgical, definitive and palliative settings. The guideline emphasizes a patient-centered approach integrating patients' values and preferences into treatment decisions.