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Terri Pollack, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, discusses key data that may affect clinical practice for nurses from the 2023 GI Cancers Symposium.

Pollack Discusses Ongoing Research for Patients With Refractory mCRC and Other Hard-to-Treat GI Malignancies 

In this episode of "The Vitals," Terri Pollack, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, underscores potentially practice-changing data which were presented during the 2023 GI Cancers Symposium.

Pollack Offers Perspective on 2023 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium 

Nivolumab/Cabozantinib continued to outperform sunitinib in an updated analysis of the phase 3 CheckMate 9ER trial.

Nivolumab/Cabozantinib Shows Continued Benefit In Frontline Treatment of RCC

Karyn A. Goodman, MD, MS, provides perspective on the potential advantages of stereotactic body radiation therapy in locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Goodman Highlights Potential Benefit of SBRT in Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

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The state-of-the-art facility represents the organization’s vision of global cancer care

Cleveland Clinic Opens New Cancer Center in Abu Dhabi

In the United States, only 27 institutions have been awarded the Gold level “Center of Excellence” by the International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS).  The Cardio-Oncology Program at the Georgia Cancer Center is proud to be one of those 27 institutions.

Georgia Cancer Center’s Cardio-Oncology program gets the gold

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Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute Television Commercial Recognized with Silver ADDY® Award

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, we ring in the New Year 2023 by combing through 2022 FDA approvals. Listen as associate editor, Lindsay Fischer, recounts key approvals on a month-by-month basis, with input from some of the investigators from behind the research. To read the full information surrounding the approvals, be sure to check out our news coverage below. Other resources can also be found below.

, and for all the engagement in 2022. We look forward to bringing you more oncology news in 2023.

We want to hear from you! Which drugs approved in 2022 have been practice changing? Have you had any difficulty or success in incorporating these novel agents into clinical use? Any challenges with supporting patients on these regimens? Email 

FDA Approves Tebentafusp to Treat HLA-A*02:01 Positive Uveal Melanoma

Cilta-Cel Snags FDA Approval for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Plus Platinum-Doublet Chemotherapy Is Now Approved for Resectable NSCLC

FDA Greenlights Olaparib for BRCA-Mutated, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

FDA OKs Relatlimab/Nivolumab for Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma

FDA Approves Pembrolizumab in MSI H/dMMR Advanced Endometrial Carcinoma

FDA Approves 177Lu-PSMA-617 for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Axi-Cel Snags FDA Approval for Second-Line LBCL

FDA Approves Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Unresectable or Metastatic HER2+ Breast Cancer

FDA Grants Ivosidenib Plus Azacitidine Approval for Newly Diagnosed AML With IDH1 Mutations

FDA Grants Azacitidine Approval For Pediatric Patients With Myelomonocytic Leukemia

FDA Grants 2 Frontline Nivolumab-Based Regimens Approval for Unresectable Advanced or Metastatic ESCC

Tisagenlecleucel Receives FDA Approval for Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Dabrafenib Plus Trametinib for BRAF V600E–Mutated Solid Tumors

FDA Approves Liso-Cel for Second-Line Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Crizotinib Approved For ALK+ Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors

HER2-Directed Therapy, Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Approved for Metastatic NSCLC

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Is Approved for Patients With Metastatic HER2-Low Breast Cancer

FDA Approves Darolutamide Tablets for Select Patients With Prostate Cancer

Capmatinib Snags Full FDA Approval for MET Exon 14 Skipping NSCLC

FDA Grants Ibrutinib Approval for Pediatric Graft-Versus-Host-Disease

FDA Gives Pemigatinib Greenlight for FGFR1 Rearranged Myeloid/Lymphoid Neoplasms

Durvalumab Plus Gemcitabine/Cisplatin Approved by the FDA for Advanced or Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancers

Sodium Thiosulfate Gets Green Light for Chemotherapy-Induced Hearing Loss in Pediatric Patients

Selpercatinib Is Approved for 2 RET Fusion–Positive Solid Tumors, Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

FDA Approves Futibatinib for Pretreated, Advanced or Metastatic Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 Rearrangements

FDA Approves Durvalumab in Combination with Tremelimumab for Unresectable HCC

Teclistamab-cqyv Snags Accelerated Approval for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

Cemiplimab Gets Go Ahead In Combination With Chemotherapy For Advanced NSCLC

Brentuximab Vedotin Gets Green Light for High-Risk Hodgkin Lymphoma in Pediatric Patients

Durvalumab/Tremelimumab/Chemotherapy Combination Approved for NSCLC Indication

Mirvetuximab Soravtansine-gynx Gets Go Ahead in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Olutasidenib Approved for IDH1-Mutated Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Adagrasib Receives Accelerated Approval for KRAS G12C Mutated NSCLC

Watch: Newly Approved Tebentafusp Requires Up-Front Active Toxicity Management in Melanoma

Dr. Geyer Highlights Optimal Dosing Strategies for New Olaparib Indication in Breast Cancer

Nurse Takeaways: Latest Pembrolizumab Indication in Endometrial Cancer

Podsada Discusses Biomarker Testing and ADC Therapies in Breast Cancer

Goodwin Provides Nursing Perspective on Recent FDA Approvals in NSCLC

Futibatinib Approval Ushers in Targeted Therapy Option for Patients With Unresectable, Intrahepatic FGFR2-Positive Cholangiocarcinoma

Barber Discusses the Integration of Durvalumab/Chemotherapy Combination as New Standard of Care in Biliary Tract Cancers

In this episode of The Vitals, we recount the oncology drugs that received FDA approvals in 2022.  

A Look Back at 2022 FDA Approvals in Oncology

® met with Lidia Schapira, MD, FASCO, to discuss key advances in the treatment of toxicities that may present later in cancer survivorship care.

Schapira is a professor of medicine and director of the Cancer Survivorship Program at Stanford. Schapira specializes in breast cancer with a focus on the psychosocial aspects of cancer care and issues that relate to patient experience and health equity. She recently participated in a poster discussion in the Symptoms and Survivorship track at the 2022 

Schapira discusses recent innovation in addressing later toxicities in survivorship care. She highlights the importance of baseline measurements and health equity considerations in clinical practice and underscores the potential effect evolving technologies may have on the treatment landscape.

“The idea that we can [provide] certain interventions that help people with cognitive reframing and psychoeducation—delivered in their own time, without the need of a specialist—[is] very powerful,” Schapira said. “If we add up all the possible physical, psychological, emotional toxicities of cancer treatments, we come up with a large burden, not to even mention the financial hardship that many of the patients endure as well.”

, please consider subscribing to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many of your other favorite podcast platforms, to get a notification every time a new episode is posted. While you are there, please take a moment to rate us!

In this episode of The Vitals, Lidia Schapira, MD, FASCO, recounts highlights from the 2022 ASCO Symptoms and Survivorship track and underscores key takeaways for practitioners seeking to enhance the delivery of cancer survivorship care. 

Key Advances in Cancer Survivorship Toxicity Management

® spoke with Hamid Emamekhoo, MD, an assistant professor of the Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care with the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. Emamekhoo offers a snapshot of recent advances in kidney cancer treatments, an overview of caring for patients receiving immunotherapy and TKI combinations, and where future advances for kidney cancer research are headed.

“We have used high dose interleukin-2 for the treatment of kidney cancer since 1992—we have been doing immunotherapy for kidney cancer before immunotherapy was cool. But it was not the best treatment modality because it is a little hard to tolerate. It causes a lot of side effects because it mimics a severe sepsis and riles up the immune system,” explains Emamekhoo. “Of course, with the advancements in immunotherapy [and with] the approvals of [various] immune checkpoint inhibitors, that has changed significantly.”

Goodman VL, Rock EP, Dagher R, et al. Approval summary: sunitinib for the treatment of imatinib refractory or intolerant gastrointestinal stromal tumors and advanced renal cell carcinoma. 

. 2007;13(5):1367-1373. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-06-2328.

Fyfe G, Fisher RI, Rosenberg SA, et al. Results of treatment of 255 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who received high-dose recombinant interleukin-2 therapy. 

. 1995;13:688-696. doi:10.1200/JCO.1995.13.3.688.

Tung I, Sahu A. Immune checkpoint inhibitor in first-line treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a review of current evidence and future directions. 

 2021(11):707214. doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.707214.

FDA approves nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination for intermediate or poor-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma. FDA. News release. April 16, 2018. Accessed March 23, 2022. https://bit.ly/37Wi3Uz

FDA approves Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with Inlyta (axitinib) as first-line treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Merck. April 22, 2019. Accessed April 22, 2019. https://bit.ly/2IKrjMM

FDA approves nivolumab plus cabozantinib for advanced renal cell carcinoma. FDA. News release. January 1, 2021. Accessed March 23, 2022. 

FDA approves KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) plus LENVIMA (lenvatinib) combination for first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). News release. Merck. August 11, 2021. Accessed March 23, 2022. 

AVEO Oncology Announces U.S. FDA Approval of FOTIVDA® (tivozanib) for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma. AVEO Oncology. News release. March 10, 2021. Accessed March 10, 2021. 

FDA approves pembrolizumab for adjuvant treatment of renal cell carcinoma. FDA. News release. November 17, 2021. Accessed March 23, 2022. 

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-pembrolizumab-adjuvant-treatment-renal-cell-carcinoma

Choueiri TK, Escudier B, Powles T, et al. Cabozantinib versus everolimus in advanced renal-cell carcinoma. 

Cella D, Choueiri TK, Hamilton M, et al. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in previously untreated patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) in CheckMate 214: five-year follow-up results. 

. 2022;40(suppl 6):307. doi:10.1200/JCO.2022.40.6_suppl.307

Choi WSW, Boland J, Lin J. Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2α as a Novel Target in Renal Cell Carcinoma. 

. 2021;8(2):1-7. doi:10.15586/jkcvhl.v8i1.170

FDA approves belzutifan for cancers associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease. FDA. News release. Accessed August 13, 2021. 

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-belzutifan-cancers-associated-von-hippel-lindau-disease?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

In this episode of “The Vitals,” Hamid Emamekhoo, MD, discusses the evolving treatment landscape of kidney cancer. 

Carbone Cancer Center Expert Shares Biggest Updates in Kidney Cancer Treatment

Lindsay Diamond, MSN, AGNP-C, AOCNP, unpacks the significance of recent advances in the bladder cancer space. 

CheckMate 274 Follow-Up Supports the Use of Adjuvant Immunotherapy in Bladder Cancer

Patients with prostate cancer experienced prostate cancer-specific mortality at a low rate regardless of assigned treatment.

Prostate Cancer Therapy Choice Does Not Significantly Impact Survival According to Long-Term Clinical Trial Follow-Up

A combination of immune checkpoint inhibitor and MET-targeted therapy led to high responses in patients with MET-driven papillary renal cancer, although the regimen missed its primary end point.  


Savolitinib Plus Durvalumab Induces High Response Rates in MET-Driven Papillary Renal Cancer

Atezolizumab did not yield a significant improvement in overall survival compared with placebo plus platinum-based chemotherapy and gemcitabine in patients with untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer.

Atezolizumab Does Not Demonstrate Significant OS Benefit Over Chemotherapy in Untreated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Cancer

Patients with prostate cancer who undergo tissue-based genomic testing as part of active surveillance protocol may be unaware that testing has occurred or have significant misperceptions about the results and their clinical meaning, according to Michael S. Leapman, MD, MHS, associate professor of urology and clinical program leader of the Prostate and Urologic Cancers Program at Yale Cancer Center.

Leapman recently presented on the topic during the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU). As Leapman points out, tissue-based gene expression tests are used to assess disease aggressiveness and inform decisions during active surveillance, but little is known about how patients perceive these tests and their results.

“It’s clear from this experience, that patients really want to know more about their testing— that they understood some components of it, but had a lot of questions,” Leapman told 

“I think the message is to really slow down and make sure patients have the opportunity to ask the questions they want, and to give a structured overview of the important information,” he said.

Investigators sampled a population that was representative of their patient population, but with purposeful efforts to ensure that racial minorities that are historically underrepresented in prostate cancer studies were included. The sample also included patients who were seen by community affiliated providers, academic providers, and patients treated at the Veterans affairs hospital.

The total sample was 20 patients with a mean age was 68 years (range, 51-79). Fourteen were White (70%), 5 were Black (25%), and 2 were Hispanic/Latino (10%). At the time of diagnosis, 17 (85%) were classified as Gleason grade group 1 and 3 (15%) were grade group 2.

Some of the patient response quotes derived from the study included the following:

“[My urologist] wanted to learn more to see if there’s decision for anything there that he was missing. So, we had to go through a [genomic] test.”

“The genomic test... More than any other test, that’s the one that I trusted. and that’s how I came to the conclusion…for active surveillance.”

“As far as the genomic testing, I never really got much information about that at all. Only, ‘Hey, your score is, low probability of like 3 out of 10 or something…. it’s pretty rambly information.”

“But the DNA shouldn’t change, you would think. My assumption is the DNA is the DNA.”

“I would prefer [my doctor] look me in the eye and sa,...here’s the genomic testing, and here’s the data. And do you want to hear more of the data? Or are you good with this? You [have] a 2% chance of dying in 10 years, is that enough or do you want to see more?”

These findings inform the need for more effective strategies to communicate genomic testing results to patients, Leapman concluded.

Leapman MS, Sutherland R, Gross CP, et al. Patient experiences with tissue-based genomic testing during active surveillance for prostate cancer. 

41;2023(suppl 6):333. doi:10.1200/JCO.2023.41.6_suppl.333

Michael S. Leapman, MD, MHS, highlights the need for clearer information regarding genomic testing for patients with prostate cancer. 

Leapman On Improving Genomic Testing Communication For Patients With Prostate Cancer

Avelumab (Bavenzio), erdafitinib (Balversa), and enfortumab vedotin-ejfv (Padcev) are 3 distinctly different drugs which have recently been added to the fold of available urothelial cancer therapies, explains Laura Wood, RN, MSN, OCN.

®, she details nurse-specific considerations of these 3 agents.

“We [have] several new treatment options,” Wood says.“No. 1 is avelumab—which is approved as a maintenance therapy. It’s the first and only maintenance therapy approved for individuals with advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer that [has] not progressed with frontline platinum containing chemotherapy. Nurses need to be aware that this treatment is available, that it is an approved option for patients who are doing well and benefiting from first line platinum-based chemotherapy.”

In addition, nurses should know that patients will require premedication for the first 4 doses of avelumab, which is unique to the other approved immune checkpoint inhibitors, she adds.

“The second drug that I talked about was erdafitinib, and that is approved for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer where there's an 

This means biomarker testing is necessary, she says. Further, the drug is linked to an increased risk of elevated phosphorous levels. Nurses should be cognizant of this and educate patients about this potential adverse event (AE)—and potentially educating them about a low phosphorus diet as well.

The drug also has a unique dosing titration. “We start that drug at 8 mg once daily, which is [two] 4-mg tablets. If patients, after 14 to 21 days, do not have increase in their phosphorus levels, or other significant grade to AEs including ocular AEs, that dose can be increased to 9 mg, which is a 3-mg tablet, and 3 tablets taken once daily.”

Educating the patient about the unique dosing regimen is important, she says.

Finally, Wood highlights enfortumab vedotin. The drug’s recommended dose is 1.25 mg/kg.

The maximum dose is 125 mg/kg. It is administered intravenously over 30 minutes on days 1, 8, and 15, as part of a 28-day cycle.

“It is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets nectin-4 on the cell surface of your affiliate cancer cells,” Wood explains. “The drug binds to the Nectin-4, is taken into the cell where the linker of the drug and the drug conjugate is dissolved, [then] the microtubule payload is released and that leads to cancer cell apoptosis and death.”

Enfortumab vedotin may induce severe and fatal cutaneous AEs, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. These reactions frequently occur throughout the first treatment cycle but may also occur later.

Wood L. Novel approaches to renal and urothelial cancers. Presented at: 

 School of Nursing Oncology™; July 29-30, 2022; San Diego, CA.

Laura Wood discusses the successful integration of avelumab, erdafitinib, and enfortumab vedotin-ejfv into oncology nursing practice. 

Laura Wood on the Integration of Avelumab, Erdafitinib, and Enfortumab Vedotin into Urothelial Cancer Care

Starting the conversation is a simple, yet important, step to draw attention to DEI—diversity, equity, and inclusion—in oncology nurse leadership, according to Aliènne Salleroli, MS, BSN, RN, OCN.

Salleroli, an assistant patient services manager at Yale-New Haven Health Smilow Cancer Hospital, and cochair of the Yale New Haven Hospital Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Nursing Task Force, recently spoke on the topic of how racial diversity within oncology leadership is linked with positive outcomes at the 47th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress.

®, Salleroli explains that although opening dialogue can be uncomfortable, it yields important results.

“Leadership needs to understand that this is going to be an uncomfortable conversation and part of leadership is becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable,” she said. “But having these conversations [is] actually what bridge[s] that gap. Discussing things like micro-aggressions, implicit biases, language being used… that’s what brings [individuals] together.”

Open dialogue is key to establishing unity across an organization, Salleroli said, adding that these conversations can also inspire local change. For example, once leadership starts the conversation, heads of other teams can bring that information down to their home departments and perpetuate a domino effect.

“We need to walk before we can run,” she concluded.

Aliènne Salleroli, MS, BSN, RN, OCN, underscores the importance of open dialogue surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion in oncology leadership. 

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