News

Patients with advanced cancers associated with NTRK gene fusions showed an 80% objective response rate (ORR) with larotrectinib, a TRK inhibitor, according to pooled results from 3 small trials.

The FDA has approved elotuzumab (Empliciti) for use in combination with pomalidomide (Pomalyst) and low-dose dexamethasone (EPd) for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma following 2 or more prior therapies, including lenalidomide (Revlimid) and a proteasome inhibitor.

The PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) as frontline maintenance therapy in women with BRCA-positive advanced ovarian cancer, according to findings reported at the 2018 European Society of Medical Oncology Congress.

Frontline alectinib (Alecensa), a next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, enabled Asian patients with untreated ALK-positive advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to live significantly longer without disease progression compared with those who were treated with crizotinib (Xalkori) as initial therapy.

The Food and Drug Administration approved pegfilgrastim-cbqv (Udenyca), a biosimilar to pegfilgrastim (Neulasta).

After a computerized assessment, patients choose between traditional or virtual therapy.

The FDA has granted lorlatinib (Lorbrena) an accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed on 1 or more ALK tyrosine kinases inhibitors (TKIs).

Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI; Lonsurf) reduced the risk of death in patients with heavily pretreated gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer by 31% compared with placebo, according to data from the phase III TAGS trial.

A panel of experts gathered at a preconference presentation at the Association of Community Cancer Centers 35th National Oncology Conference in Phoenix to exchange their thoughts on the practical and theoretical considerations of incorporating biosimilars into the healthcare ecosystem.

Here are the top 5 Oncology Nursing News stories for October 2018.

At the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) 35th National Oncology Conference, Jessica Clague DeHart, PhD, MPH, discussed how clinicians can communicate the importance of physical activity and good nutrition practices to patients.

The FDA has approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for first-line use in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) for the treatment of patients with metastatic squamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

How can oncology teams become more resilient in the face of growing professional challenges?

Though many patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancer have been treated with cetuximab (Erbitux), results from the international De-ESCALaTE HPV trial showed that chemoradiotherapy, the current standard of care, is still the most effective.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted a priority review to the supplemental new drug application for ruxolitinib (Jakafi) to treat patients with acute graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a priority review to the oral chemotherapy TAS-102 (trifluridine/tipiracil; Lonsurf) for use in previously treated patients with advanced or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma, including cancer of the gastroesophageal junction.

Pet dogs help find cures for cancer.

The FDA has added 3 months to the review period for

To help patients and programs meet the challenges of affording cancer treatments, community cancer centers are expanding the role of financial advocates in their organizations. Financial advocates may be financial counselors, nurses, navigators, social workers; pharmacy technicians; practice managers, and others.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Khapzory (levoleucovorin) injection, a folate analog for 3 indications.

The FDA has granted a priority designation to a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for ibrutinib (Imbruvica) for use in combination with obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for the frontline treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).

The FDA has approved talazoparib (Talzenna) for patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, according to Pfizer, the manufacturer of the PARP inhibitor.

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to LOXO-292 for the treatment of patients with advanced RET fusion–positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy, have progressed on prior treatment, and have no other acceptable alternative treatment options.

In an effort to help individuals gain access to breast health services, Barbells for Boobs and CancerCare®, the leading national cancer support organization, have officially launched the NYC Support Line.

The FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) recommended approval of CT-P10, a biosimilar for the monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxin), for 3 non-Hodgkin lymphoma indications in a 16-0 vote.

For clinical nurse specialist and Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) member Anne Kolenic, DNP, APRN, AOCNS, her decision to pursue a DNP degree meant taking critical research results and implementing them to improve care at her institution.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research and Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Join as Sponsors

Grant to Be Funded by the V Foundation to Early Career Investigator at The University of Kansas Cancer Center