Oncology

The FDA has granted a fast track designation to an investigational antibody-drug conjugate for use as a monotherapy in the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

Pharmacists play a key role in educating patients on risk factors for cervical and endometrial cancers and can assist with treatment decisions, and management of potential adverse effects in patients with these cancers.

Consumption of sugary drinks regularly may be a major contributory factor to the epidemic of cancer, according to a study published by the British Medical Journal.

Randall A. Oyer, MD, discusses rising cancer mortality during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and what that means for cancer care.

Current and emerging indications for use in ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers are presented.

A shift toward precision oncology has individual treatment plans being created for improving patient outcomes.

In contrast with standard chemotherapy, long-term follow-up with ICI therapies showed a long-lasting effect on overall survival for non−small cell lung cancer.

The SUNY Outpatient Pharmacy has developed a strong collaboration with specialty pharmacy personnel and clinically embedded pharmacists.

HER2+ breast cancer accounts for 15% to 30% of the 276,480 women diagnosed with breast cancer annually in the United States.

Specialty pharmacies are the primary provider of oncology-related medication therapy.

In the 2020 Directions in Oncology Pharmacy® conference session, redefining the management of anemia in patients with cancer was discussed.

Reduce the risk of errors with rapid acting–insulins fentanyl patches and weight-based chemotherapy doses.

Pharmacists’ Roles in Addressing Oncology Biosimilar Challenges

Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic may create a shortage of plasma therapy.

Pharmacists should communicate the universal message that colorectal cancer screenings save lives.

Symposium speakers discussed how CDK4/6 inhibitors are game changers in treatment of HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer.

Targeting screening to high-risk groups who are less compliant with recommendations could be more effective than general age-based recommendations.

In a live 2020 Directions in Oncology Pharmacy® conference session, the presenter provided an update on the management of cervical and endometrial cancers.

Updated phase 3 progression-free survival and overall survival data demonstrated clinical benefits in efficacy and tolerability of oral paclitaxel and encequidar versus intravenous paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep; GlaxoSmithKline) is the first in its class anti-BCMA therapy to gain FDA approval.

Inqovi (decitabine and cedazuridine) tablets from Astex Pharmaceuticals, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and Taiho Oncology are indicated to treat adults with myelodysplastic syndromes.

In a live 2020 Directions in Oncology Pharmacy® conference session, an update on research in the past decade that has led to improvements in the diagnosis, risk stratification, prevention, and treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease was provided.

Rucaparib is an oral, small molecule inhibitor being developed in multiple tumor types, including ovarian and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancers.

Three monoclonal antibodies, 1 antibody-drug conjugate, and 1 nuclear export inhibitor have been approved by the FDA for relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma in the past 4 years.

With the explosion of new therapies for cancer, the role of the oncology pharmacist continues to expand.

Osimertinib (Tagrisso; AstraZeneca) is indicated for treatment in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have a specific type of genetic mutation.

Heading into the new year, we hope that pharmacists and pharmacy staff enjoy a happy and safe holiday season, and receive a well-deserved break after working especially hard in 2020.

Selinexor (Xpovio; Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc.) in combination with bortezomib (Velcade; Takeda) and dexamethasone was approved for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least 1 prior therapy.