Oncology

Novel therapeutics under investigation include CAR T-cell therapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and bispecific antibodies, as well as other unique drugs.

New research findings published in Cell Reports identified a type of immune cells that acts as a major driver of breast cancer growth by preventing the accumulation of a specific protein that induces anti-tumor responses.

The study further explored the various aspects of financial hardships, including material, psychological, and behavioral measures.

Immunotherapies will continue to change standards of care for treatment of RCC.

One mutated version of KRAS that commonly arises in cancer cells is called KRAS(G12C) and it produces a mutated KRAS protein that allows the cells to grow and spread in the body.

The study shows that brentuximab vedotin allowed for reduced radiation exposures and resulted in fewer adverse effects for patients, according to its authors.

A new study led by researchers at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing found that breast cancer survivors with a higher risk of cancer recurrence based on genomic testing may experience greater fear of their cancer returning.

A new study shows that overweight breast cancer survivors have a statistically significant increased risk of developing second primary cancers, and obesity is strongly associated with an increased risk of various cancer types.

Nivolumab is the first and only immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy to deliver superior overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone in this patient population.

Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association plans to develop tools and resources to support those conducting research in the oncology pharmacy field, with the goal of promoting pharmacist-led research and improving the ability to analyze difficult scientific questions.

Patient interactions became vastly different during the pandemic, with questions surrounding how to coordinate contact and how to best provide pharmacy services virtually, including counseling, fielding drug information questions, medication reconciliation, and providing home medication sheets to families

Olaparib and niraparib both show promise in the maintenance treatment of ovarian cancer, though they may each be appropriate for different patient populations.

Pharmacokinetic differences in pediatric patients should be considered when administering direct oral anticoagulants, as should potential administration difficulties when pellets or oral solutions are not available.

Selection of any BTK inhibitors for mantle cell lymphoma should consider factors such as cardiovascular or bleeding risks, predisposition for gastrointestinal adverse effects, and potential medication nonadherence.

CLL is the most common leukemia in adult patients in the western world, with 21,040 estimated new cases in 2020.

For unresectable gastrointestinal stromal tumors, the introduction of imatinib revolutionized treatment.

Urothelial carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer diagnosis in the United States, with an estimated 81,400 new diagnoses in 2020 and 17,980 deaths.

Ependymoma is a rare type of tumor that develops in the brain or spinal cord and can occur at any age, but occurs most frequently in young children.

Oral chemotherapies can be effective treatments for children with low-grade gliomas, although clinicians should consider available formulations and administration schedules.

Home infusion within the larger ambulatory infusion setting poses some specific advantages and disadvantages in relation to the other location options available.

In each trial, overall response rate and median progression-free survival in the novel treatment arm showed significant improvement over the sunitinib treatment arm in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Lakesha M. Butler, PharmD, BCPS, diversity and inclusion coordinator and clinical professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, discussed causes of health inequity and how pharmacists can prevent and mitigate them to improve patient outcomes.

A drug recycling program can help increase patient access and minimize waste of expensive oral cancer medications.

Promising investigational oncology drugs include oral taxanes, small molecule drugs, and immunotherapies.

Common factors that contributed to reported increased dissatisfaction at work include role conflict, quantity of work, workflow disruptions, organizational culture, and leadership support.

Even while therapeutically anticoagulated, patients with cancer have risk factors for recurring venous thromboembolism and bleeding, according to a session at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association 2021 Virtual Annual Conference.

Sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy) approved for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who previously received a platinum-containing chemotherapy and either a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor.

A session at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association Virtual Annual Conference provided an overview of how treatment options are changing with potential new therapies in development for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.