Patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer experienced elevated responses to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) following the addition of a short-term, flat dose of bevacizumab (Avastin) to the anti–PD-1 therapy, according to results from the phase 1 PEMBOV trial (NCT03596281) that were presented during the 2021 SITC Annual Meeting.

Results from the study showed that among the 19 patients enrolled, the combination yielded an overall response rate (ORR) of 26%; this was comprised of 1 complete response (CR; 5%) and 4 partial responses (PRs; 21%). Additionally, the disease control rate (DCR) with the doublet was 79%.

For patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, there is an unmet medical need for more efficacious treatment options.

Previously, the phase 3 AURELIA trial (NCT00976911) examined the combination of chemotherapy and bevacizumab in platinum-resistant patients who were bevacizumab naïve and had received a maximum of 2 prior treatment regimens. Results showed that the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.4 months in those treated with chemotherapy vs 6.7 months in those who received the combination. Moreover, the ORRs reported in each group were 11.8% and 27.3%, respectively.

Bevacizumab monotherapy has been shown to induce a median PFS of 4.4 months and an ORR of 15.9% in this patient population.

 Anti–PD-1/PD-L1 monotherapies have been shown to elicit ORRs ranging from 3.7% to 15.0%, and a median PFS ranging from 1.9 months to 3.5 months. The addition of chemotherapy to these agents appears to slightly improve outcomes, with ORRs ranging from 13.3% to 23.0%, and a median PFS ranging from 3.7 months to 8.1 months.

Prior phase 2 trials have also examined the combination of anti­–PD-L1 therapy and PARP inhibitors, a regimen that has been shown to elicit an ORR of 14.0% and a median PFS of 3.9 months,

 as well as anti­–PD-L1 therapy, PARP inhibition, and bevacizumab, a triplet which yielded an ORR of 28.0% and a median PFS of 4.1 months.

Additionally, phase 1b/2 trials have previously examined pembrolizumab in combination with bevacizumab and chemotherapy. When pembrolizumab and bevacizumab were paired with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD), the regimen yielded an ORR of 32.0%.

 When the 2 agents were combined with cyclophosphamide, the regimen induced an ORR of 43.3% and a median PFS of 7.6 months.

Prior phase 2 clinical trials have investigated the combination of an anti–PD-1 blockade plus an anti–CTLA-4 blockade. Results from these trials have showed that this approach can produce an ORR of 31.4% and a median PFS of 3.9 months.

The PEMBOV study enrolled patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer. There was no limit to the number of previous treatments patients could have received, and prior treatment with bevacizumab was permitted.

The study was comprised of 2 cohorts. Patients in cohort A received pembrolizumab plus PLD, and those in cohort B were given pembrolizumab plus bevacizumab. Here, investigators reported data from cohort B of the study.

Patients enrolled to cohort B received 200 mg of pembrolizumab once every 3 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent, and 400 mg of bevacizumab every 3 weeks for 6 cycles.

The primary end point of the study was best overall response (BOR) per RECIST v1.1 criteria, and duration of response (DOR). Secondary end points included safety and tolerability, and key exploratory objectives were to examine PD-L1 status and the pharmacokinetics of bevacizumab.

Among the 19 patients enrolled, the median age was 70 years (range, 38-76), and most had an ECOG performance status of 0 (52.6%) with the ovary as their primary tumor location (79%). Additionally, most patients had serous high-grade disease (95%) and had received prior antiangiogenic therapy (68%). Sixteen percent of patients had a 

 mutation, and 47% had received prior treatment with PARP inhibitors. Moreover, 95% of patients had received 2 or more prior chemotherapy regimens.

The median follow-up time was 7.6 months (95% CI, 6.7-19.5), with a minimum of 2.9 months and a maximum of 29.0 months. Time to progression (TTP) was not reached for 26.0% of patients (n = 5/19), and 42.0% of patients (n= 8/18) had a TTP that was 24 weeks or more.

For patients who had a PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) of 10% or higher (n = 4), the ORR with the regimen was 50%; this was comprised of 2 PRs, and 1 patient had stable disease. Among those with a PD-L1 CPS of 1% or higher (n = 10), the ORR was 30%, which was comprised of 3 PRs and 4 patients achieved stable disease. For patients with a PD-L1 CPS of 1% or lower (n = 8), the ORR was 25%, and this was comprised of 1 CR, 1 PR, and 6 patients with stable disease.

In terms of safety, grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse effects (TRAEs) were reported in 20% of patients. The most common grade 3/4 TRAEs were cerebral ischemia (5%), sepsis (5%), bowel proliferation (5%), and proteinuria (5%).

No new safety signals were observed on the study, and correlative studies are ongoing.

Michels J, Frenel J-S, Genestie C, et al. Pembrolizumab and bevacizumab in platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Presented at: 2021 SITC Annual Meeting; November 10-14, 2021; Washington DC. Abstract 355.

Pujade-Lauraine E, Hilpert F, Weber B, et al. Bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer: the AURELIA open-label randomized phase III trial. 

. 2014;32(13):1302-1308. doi:10.1200/JCO.2013.51.4489

Cannistra SA, Matulonis UA, Penson RT, et al. Phase II study of bevacizumab in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer or peritoneal serous cancer. 

. 2007;25(33):5180-6. doi:10.1200/JCO.2007.12.0782

Hamanishi J, Mandai M, Ikeda T, et al. Safety and antitumor activity of anti-PD-1 antibody, nivolumab, in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. 

. 2015;33(34):4015-4022. doi:10.1200/JCO.2015.62.3397

Disis ML, Taylor MH, Kelly K, et al. Efficacy and safety of avelumab for patients with recurrent or refractory ovarian cancer: phase 1b results from the JAVELIN solid tumor trial. 

. 2019;5(3):393-401. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.6258

Matulonis UA, Shapira-Frommer R, Santin AD, et al. Antitumor activity and safety of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced recurrent ovarian cancer: results from the phase II KEYNOTE-100 study. 

. 2019;30(7):1080-1087. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdz135

Pujade-Lauraine E, Fujiwarab K, Ledermannc JA, et al. Avelumab alone or in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin versus pegylated liposomal doxorubicin alone in platinum-resistant or refractory epithelial ovarian cancer: Primary and biomarker analysis of the phase III JAVELIN Ovarian 200 trial. Presented at: 50th Annual Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology; March 16-19, 2019. Honolulu, HI.

Lee EK, Xiong N, Cheng S-C, et al. Combined pembrolizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in platinum resistant ovarian cancer: a phase 2 clinical trial. 

. 2020;159(1):72-78. doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.07.028

Lampert EJ, Zimmer A, Padget M, et al. Combination of PARP inhibitor olaparib, and PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab, in recurrent ovarian cancer: a proof-of-concept phase II study. 

. 2020;26(16):4268-4279. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-0056

Freyer G, Floquet A, Tredan O, et al. 733P Bevacizumab (bev), olaparib (ola) and durvalumab (durva) in patients with recurrent advanced ovarian cancer (AOC): the GINECO BOLD study. 

. 2021;32(5):S734-S735. Doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2021.08.1176

Michels J, Ghiringhelli F, Frenel J-S, et al. Pembrolizumab in combination with bevacizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer. 

. 2021;39(15):5522. Doi:10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.5522

Zsiros E, Lynam S, Attwood K, et al. Efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab in combination with bevacizumab and oral metronomic cyclophosphamide in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer: a phase 2 nonrandomized clinical trial

. 2021;7(1):78-85. Doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.5945

Zamarin D, Burger RA, Sill MW, et al. Randomized phase II trial of nivolumab versus nivolumab and ipilimumab for recurrent or persistent ovarian cancer: an NRG oncology study. 

. 2020;38(16):1814-1823. Doi:10.1200/JCO.19.02059

Pembrolizumab in combination with bevacizumab and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in patients with ovarian cancer (PEMBOV). ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated July 22, 2021. Accessed November 17, 2021. 

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03596281

This article was originally published on OncLive as “Addition of Bevacizumab to Pembrolizumab Improves Responses in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer.”

Articles

The addition of bevacizumab was found to boost responses in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer receiving pembrolizumab. 

Adding Bevacizumab to Pembrolizumab Enhances Response Rates in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Lindsay Fischer is the Associate Editor at ONN. She joined MJH life sciences in 2021 after graduating from Rutgers University with majors in both English and Spanish and a minor in creative writing. When she is not writing, or researching the latest oncology nursing news, Lindsay is an amateur backpacker and rollerblader. Email Lindsay at lfischer@mjhlifesciences.com

When it comes to comprehensive oncology care from the nurse practitioner’s perspective, the “excellence is in the details,” according to Sarah Donahue, MPH, AOCNP, a nurse practitioner on the breast team at University of California San Francisco Health. Donahue originally thought she wanted to go the geriatric route focusing on reducing cardiac risk factors when she was in school for her master’s, but after some clinical experience in an infusion center, she knew oncology was the perfect path for her career.

Donahue fell in love with oncology when she was a student. Her mother, who is an oncologist, offered her some clinical experience by working at her infusion center during the summer.

She said she immediately felt comfortable chatting and caring for the older patients at the center, “I think I am an old soul or something,” she said, adding that she was also impressed by the science behind the treatments. “The science were fascinating to me. Then you put that together with the patient and all the social issues that come up around having cancer…it’s a lot more emotional, [but] it was also really exciting for me, and it brought together the science and social [components] perfectly.”

“I love to teach,” Donahue said. “I like to take something really complicated and make it as simple as possible.”

“She is committed to communicating the interpretation of scan and laboratory results to our patients, particularly now that results are released immediately to the patient, which can cause significant anxiety. She is very attentive to management of toxicity and pain, providing clear information and potential strategies,” said coworker Hope S. Rugo, MD, professor of medicine and director of breast oncology and clinical trials education at the University of California San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Donahue said she tries her best to imagine not having any sort of medical background when talking with patients. She will often ask her patients to repeat back her explanations so she can gather a sense of their understanding. She is also very thoughtful about her wording. She prefers words that are palpable and not scary.

“There’s a bit of finesse when you’re talking about scans in cancer. [You need] to give the patient the information they need but also not scare them,” Donahue said. For example, she prefers to use words like 

 because it allows the patient to feel calm, even though the cancer is still present.

As a nurse practitioner, Donahue is used to approaching supportive care from a variety of viewpoints. There are the “obvious” pillars of care, like ensuring patients arrive for treatments, monitoring for medication adherence, and actively managing adverse events, but cancer care also involves more complex assistance that needs to be managed. Donahue explained how she must constantly evaluate her patients, not just for symptoms but for psychological components, family stress, transportation issues, and more. “It is all interconnected,” she said.

She noted that, often, the role of a nurse practitioner in oncology is almost akin to that of a therapist because of the strong emotional and psychological component that accompanies the treatment journey. Often times patients don’t just offer up how they are coping mentally, so she makes sure to ask directly at every visit if they are anxious or depressed.” “I’ll go into a room to see a patient and usually take a quick look at their chart before I walk in. I’ll see a lot has happened since the last visit, and I must go in, gather all the information from them, get it noted in their chart, then go over all their symptoms and get their story. Because often, it doesn’t match exactly, so I have to go through a lot of information.”

She said there are days when it feels as if every patient requires high level of data collection, which is part of why the workload for nurse practitioners can feel overwhelming at times. However, the best thing a nurse can do in this situation is remain calm and focus on the details, she said. If a patient states they are experiencing diarrhea, she needs to ask when: First thing in the morning? In the afternoon? Exactly when are they taking their Imodium? She will tell them, “We’re going to figure it out together because I can’t help you unless I know exactly what’s going on.” She also added that her patients often learn to take notes between visits with her so they can explain to her exactly what they are experiencing.

Donahue acknowledged that supportive oncology care often feels as though it is nonstop. Between patient visits and coordinating care with other providers’ between visits, one of the biggest challenges is learning to “turn it off” when she is not in the clinic. She said she is grateful for her family and her 2 kids for helping her practice separating herself from work when she goes home.

“Her commitment to patient care is exemplary,” Rugo said. “Sarah is always willing to step in to see a patient manage an issue [even] when she is not in [the] clinic, and this commitment showed clearly throughout the pandemic despite her need to juggle the care of her 2 young children. Sarah is a true Oncology Nurse Champion.”

Donahue’s message to fellow oncology nurses is this: “As you get more experienced, you will get better. It’s an honor to care for these patients and to be a part of their cancer journey. The end result could be the same, but if you can make their journey better, make them feel heard, treat their symptoms, [and] improve their quality of life, that is 100% worth it and rewarding.”

Sarah Donahue, MPH, AOCNP, shares what drew her to oncology, the daily challenges she faces as a nurse practitioner, and her advice to new oncology nurses on how to overcome those barriers. 

Oncology Nurse Champion: Sarah Donahue 

The FDA has approved daratumumab (Darzalex) and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro) and carfilzomib (Kyprolis) plus dexamethasone as a therapy option for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma and have received between 1 and 3 prior lines of therapy.

The regulatory decision is supported by findings from the ongoing PLEIADES trial (NCT03412565), which assessed 66 pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Patients received daratumumab and hyaluronidase at 1800-mg/30,000 units subcutaneously while also receiving carfilzomib at 20/70 mg/m2 once weekly and dexamethasone.

The overall response rate (ORR) among patients who received the regimen was 84.8% (95% CI, 73.9%-92.5%). The median duration of response had not been reached at a median follow-up of 9.2 months. Approximately 85.2% (95% CI, 72.5-92.3) maintained their responses for 6 months and 82.5% (95% CI, 68.9-90.6) reported a maintained response after 9 months.

Serious adverse events (AEs) associated with treatment occurred in 27% of participants. The most prevalent AEs included upper respiratory tract infection, fatigue, insomnia, hypertension, diarrhea, cough, dyspnea, headache, pyrexia, nausea, and peripheral edema. Three percent of patients experienced a fatal AE.

The recommended dosing for daratumumab with hyaluronidase is 1800 mg/30,000 units (1,800 mg daratumumab and 30,000 units hyaluronidase) administered subcutaneously. Administration should be once weekly for weeks 1 through 8, biweekly from weeks 9 through 24, and every 4 weeks from week 25 until either disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

When carfilzomib is administered in conjunction with daratumumab with hyaluronidase, the recommended dosing is once weekly at 20/70 mg/m2 via intravenous (IV infusions). These infusions should be administered for 30 minutes on cycle 1, day 1 at a 20/mg/m2 dosage. If this is tolerated, 70 mg/m2 as a 30-minute IV infusion on cycle 1, day 8 and day 15, is recommended and should continue for each 28-day cycle.

Alternatively, carfilzomib may also be administered twice weekly via IV infusion at a 20/56 mg/m2 dosage. If on cycle 1, day 1, at a dose of 20 mg/m2 is tolerated, then the dose should be increased to 56 mg/m2 for days 2, 8, 9, 15, and 16 of the 28-day cycle.

"Managing and coping with relapsed disease is a particularly challenging time in a patient's treatment journey and having the option of subcutaneous daratumumab as part of the DKd treatment regimen will be a welcomed option for many of our patients," said Saad Z. Usmani, MD, chief of Myeloma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "Administration time can be drastically reduced, as compared to the intravenous daratumumab formulation in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone."

FDA approves new KYPROLIS® (carfilzomib) combination regimen With DARZALEX FASPRO® (daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj) and dexamethasone for patients with Multiple myeloma at first or subsequent relapse. Cision. News release. December 1, 2021. Accessed December 1, 2021. https://prn.to/3xFK3EI

The FDA has granted an approval to a subcutaneous daratumumab combination to treat adults with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

FDA Approves Daratumumab With Hyaluronidase-Fihj, Plus Carfilzomib/Dexamethasone to Treat Select Multiple Myeloma 

Patients with soft tissue sarcoma who received NBTXR3 in addition to radiotherapy did not experience negatively affected quality of life (QOL) or long-term morbidity. Moreover, the drug’s efficacy, along with its manageable safety profile, point to a favorable risk-benefit ratio for patients with soft tissue sarcoma, explained Sylvie Bonvalot, MD, PhD, HDR.

Results from a long-term safety analysis of the phase 2/3 Act.In.Sarc trial (NCT02379845), which examined NBTXR3 plus radiotherapy vs radiotherapy alone in patients with soft tissue sarcoma, showed that the rate of serious adverse effects [AEs] were similar among the 2 cohorts.

 Among those receiving the combination, 40.4% of patients reported a serious AE of any grade vs 35.8% in those receiving radiotherapy alone. Additionally, 12.4% of patients reported a serious AE related to treatment with NBTXR3.

“The qualityoflife, which was [assessed] by 5 different quality-of-life skills, was the same, with no differences [among the study groups],” Bonvalot said. “Altogether, it is interesting because it is very important that treatment is efficient, [but also that we can] show that with long-term follow-up, we do not have more morbidity or worse quality of life.”

, Bonvalot, the head of sarcoma surgery at Institut Curie, in Paris, France, discussed the long-term safety results from the phase 2/3 Act.In.Sarc trial with NBTXR3 and radiotherapy in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

: Could you discuss the rationale for this study?

: NBTXR3 is a hafnium oxide nanoparticle, and it is activated by radiotherapy and administered by a one-time direct intratumoral injection. It was used for the first time in sarcoma, and sarcoma is the first cancer subtype to achieve a phase 2/3 [trial with this agent]. The interaction of radiotherapy with hafnium generates [approximately 9 times more] electrons than with water. [Moreover], these electrons increase the toxicity on the tumor cells, and there is more [tumor cell death] when radiotherapy interacts with hafnium.

What previous data have been seen to support the use of this strategy?

 showing the] initial results of the primary end point of a phase 2/3, randomized study comparing radiotherapy alone vs radiotherapy plus nanoparticles of hafnium NBTXR3. NBTXR3 was injected the day before starting radiotherapy, directly into the tumor. The radiotherapy was applied 50 Gy, and the patient was operated on 6 weeks later. The primary end point was pathologic complete response [pCR]. It is difficult to appreciate pathological response for soft tissue sarcoma because the tumor may decrease in size, however, this was done according to EORTC guidelines.

The main objective was pCR, and in the group of patients [who received] the nanoparticles and radiotherapy, the CR rate was 16%. In the group who had radiotherapy alone, the pCR rate was 9.9%, so…the primary end point was achieved. Another end point was the R0 resection rate, and there was a 77% [R0 rate in the group with NBTXR3 vs 64% in the group with radiotherapy alone]. It was significant, and in fact, the quality of the resection was better in the group with nanoparticles.

The [data] we presented this year at ASCO is the long-term safety of this study. It is very important because it is very promising to have nanoparticles, which increase the rate of pCR, but it is important to show that there is not an increase of toxicity.

Could you highlight the design of the study?

The morbidity of the surgery was quantified during the 6 months following, and the quality of life was quantified according to 5 different [parameters]. As these nanoparticles are now used in other cancer types, especially [in those where] radiotherapy is used alone, it is important to be sure that the safety is okay and that there is not [increased] morbidity. [This is] especially important when [these drugs are] used in tissue that are fragile, like the pancreas or liver.

What were the key takeaways from the trial?

The [rates of] serious adverse effects [AEs] related to radiotherapy were similar in both groups, with 11% in the group with nanoparticles and 13% in the group of patients treated with radiotherapy alone. In terms of hospitalization due to serious AE related to the surgery, in the group with the nanoparticles, 15.7% of the patients were re-hospitalized, [compared with 24% in] the group with radiotherapy alone. This is interesting because in previous studies, grade 3 morbidity, hospitalization, or reoperation due to radiotherapy is approximately 30%. [Here], it is a little bit less. Of course, it is a trial, and the patients were selected, but is less than previously [reported]. [Additionally] there was a little bit less in the group with nanoparticles.

Bonvalot S, Rutowski P, Thariat J, et al. Long-term evaluation of the novel radioenhancer NBTXR3 plus radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma treated in the phase II/III Act.In.Sarc trial. 

. 2021;39(15):11544. doi:10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.11544

This article was originally published on OncLive as “NBTXR3 Plus Radiotherapy Maintains Safety, Quality of Life in Soft Tissue Sarcoma”

An expert from the Institut Curie discusses the risk-benefit ratio associated with NBTXR3 plus radiotherapy for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

NBTXR3 Plus Radiotherapy Does Not Negatively Affect Quality of Life in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

For this episode of “The Vitals,” we spoke with Christopher Zorn, clinic operations administrator of Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, and Gianna Bayci, RN, of the University of Chicago Medicine, about how to foster a safe, yet festive, holiday environment in oncology clinics and floors.

The 2 experts discuss talking to patients about their approach to family gatherings, incorporating festive costumes into the oncology environment, and some favorite holiday memories from over the years.

“Flexibility and adaptability are key. Gathering around the holidays can [be] stressful during [the] best of times, and for those that are going through a cancer journey and are potentially immunocompromised, that stress is heightened even more...We advise our patients: ‘Do what you feel comfortable doing, you don’t have to force yourself to do anything extra, [and] it is okay to set up appropriate boundaries.’”

Podcasts

In this episode of “The Vitals,” 2 health care professionals discuss how to safely celebrate the holidays in oncology units. 

Merry and Bright: Bringing a Festive Air into the Oncology Space for the Holidays

Although White women and Black women carry similar rates of pathogenic variants, a study found that White women were almost 5 times more likely to undergo genetic counseling and testing.

Oncologist Attitudes May Factor into Underutilization of Genetic Counseling, Testing in Black Women with Breast Cancer

In a phase 1 dose-escalation trial, treatment with the investigative agent was well tolerated with no dose-limiting toxicities.

SL-17154 Appears Promising, Tolerable in Treatment of Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Among patients who had participated in telemedicine, 45% preferred it to in-office visits, highlighting the need to make telemedicine a priority in cancer care.

Patients with Cancer Report Satisfaction with Telemedicine both Before and During Pandemic 

Patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia experienced positive gene set enrichment after receiving ibrutinib in addition to lisocabtagene maraleucel.

Liso-Cel Plus Ibrutinib Increases Potency in Relapsed/Refractory CLL Treatment

Pooled findings indicate that the quality of life in patients receiving surufantinib for advanced neuroendocrine tumors was comparable to that of placebo.  

Comparable Quality of Life with Surufatinib for Neuroendocrine Tumors Appears Manageable

Patients with neuroendocrine tumors across various origins experienced favorable responses after receiving tidutamab.

Tidutamab Induces Best Overall Response of Stable Disease in Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors

Videos

Kathy Burns, MS, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, comments on the importance of being mindful about one’s implicit bias in the treatment of patients with cancer who have substance use disorders.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Explains Meaning and Impact of Implicit Bias on Patients

A study in France showed that patients with lung cancer, a population initially excluded from COVID-19 vaccination registration trials, were able to safely receive 3 doses. 

Third COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Effective and Safe in Patients with Lung Cancer

David Hui, MD, MSc, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses how caregivers may prioritize communication when making end-of-life sedation decisions for loved ones with agitated delirium.

Ability to Communicate Is a Key Factor in Personalized Sedation Goals

“Each step along the way has really helped me grow professionally, not just as a clinician, but as a whole practitioner, to make my transition to practice a lot easier and make me more comfortable… it’s really an invaluable experience.”

 The Value of a Fellowship Program in Redirecting One Nurse’s Career Goals

Physicians urge patients with lymphoid malignancies to continue precautionary COVID-19 measures regardless of vaccination status. 

COVID-19 Vaccines May Be Less Effective in Patients with Lymphoid Malignancies

The implementation of the HuCare Quality Improvement Strategy supported superior emotional function for patients newly diagnosed with cancer. 

Patients Experience Improved Emotional Function With Novel Intervention 

Data presented at the 2021 ASCO Quality Care Symposium demonstrated that in-person interactions had a bigger impact of professional satisfaction than financial stability.

Oncologists Attribute Pandemic-Related Burnout to Loss of In-Person Patient Interactions

The FDA approval of sirolimus protein-bound particles marks the first approved therapeutic option for patients with advanced PEComa. 

FDA Approves Sirolimus Protein-Bound Particles for Advanced Malignant PEComa

Within this intense experience, caregivers can often find themselves physically and emotionally exhausted

Top Medical News

Adding Bevacizumab to Pembrolizumab Enhances Response Rates in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Oncology Nurse Champion: Sarah Donahue

FDA Approves Daratumumab With Hyaluronidase-Fihj, Plus Carfilzomib/Dexamethasone to Treat Select Multiple Myeloma

NBTXR3 Plus Radiotherapy Does Not Negatively Affect Quality of Life in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

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