Oncology

Melphalan flufenamide (Pepaxto; melflufen) is approved for use in combination with dexamethasone to treat adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

The incidence of colorectal cancer in adults between the ages of 40 and 49 years has increased by nearly 15% since 2000.

The trial found positive results in both the overall study population of patients with advanced cervical cancer as well as subgroups with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

The findings contrast with those for adult BMI, which indicate that women who gain weight after menopause have an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.

This week on Pharmacy Times, there are a number of important topics that will be covered and posted throughout the week.

The durvalumab plus chemotherapy arm demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS versus chemotherapy in the previous analysis, but the OS trend observed in this analysis did not achieve statistical significance.

As breast cancer becomes an increasingly treatable disease, clinicians should provide personalized follow-up care to address varying burdens of symptoms up to 5 years after diagnosis.

The KEYNOTE-522 trial met its dual primary endpoints of pathologic complete response and event-free survival, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in EFS compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone.

The implementation of multi-gene panel testing may be a necessary part of the standard of care for all colorectal cancer patients.

Loneliness and social isolation have been particularly significant problems for patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely due to isolation and social distancing, according to a study published in Cancer.

Data presented at the 2021 ESMO Breast Cancer Virtual Congress showed 29% of recurrent breast cancer biopsies showed conversion either from, or to, HER2-low expression.

In June 2020, the FDA granted a fast track designation to fruquintinib for patients with mCRC previously treated with other therapies.

In an interview with Pharmacy Times®, Melissa Santibañez, PharmD, BCCCP, assistant professor at Nova Southeastern University College of Pharmacy, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and critical care clinical pharmacist at Memorial Regional Hospital, Hollywood, Florida, discusses the value of a pharmacist on a patient care team.

Tivozanib was the first therapy approved by the FDA for adult patients with relapsed or refractory advanced renal cell carcinoma following 2 or more prior systemic therapies.

These findings also suggest that the efficacy of radiotherapy can be improved with drugs that block the PDGFRb protein.

The researchers obtained genomic data from more than 2000 pediatric patients with leukemia to identify associated gene variants.

The new study evaluated data from 5000 patients with EBC and 3496 with ABC to determine associations between BMI and survival rates across both stages.

Although prolonged COVID-19 infections are rare, even in children or young adults with compromised immunity, it could have public health implications.

This indication has received accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response, though the results of confirmatory trials may change the approval status.

IQVIA researchers saw a sharp uptick in medication usage shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic began, followed by a steep fall in the first few months of the pandemic.

Although young women were the original targets of human papillomavirus vaccine outreach after its approval in 2006, the increasing rates oropharyngeal cancer has made vaccination for young men even more important.

The study also found that patients with comorbidities such as heart disease and diabetes were more likely to experience a high symptom burden.

An interim analysis from the phase 3 ALPINE trial comparing zanubrutinib against ibrutinib demonstrated positive results in the treatment of relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Kenneth Komorny, PharmD, BCPS, a co-lead on development of National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommendations for biosimilar management, explains some of the positions the NCCN has taken.

Health care practitioners and manufacturers must change practice patterns and management strategies.

Individuals with an average risk of colorectal cancer said they would prefer a stool-based screening test for colorectal cancer over colonoscopy.

The relatively new combination of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors with VEGF inhibitors represents a promising option for patients with various malignancies.

Prevention methods, including smoking cessation and public education, remain critical in combating the United States’ third most common cancer type.

Pharmacists must work to keep patients informed and safe so they can continue to deliver lifesaving cancer care.

Directions in Oncology Pharmacy® is getting to know oncology pharmacy professionals through a series of interviews. In this issue, we talk to David DeRemer, PharmD, BCOP, FCCP, FHOPA, president of the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) Board of Directors, whose term ends this month.