What I learned (or relearned?) at HOPA's 2024 Annual Conference: updates in Neuro Oncology, fedratinib toxicity, and bispecific antibodies in multiple myeloma. Also, fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) garnered a site-agnostic approval for HER2 amplified solid tumors. Finally, the ALINA study, adjuvant alectinib in ALK+ NSCLC, was published in this week's NEJM ..read more

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) is a foundational topic for all oncology clinicians. We discuss the what, the why, prevention, and treatment ..read more

Discussing four papers that caught our eyes from the last few weeks: Pazopanib vs. placebo following metastatectomy. Always concerning when placebo has an OS advantage. ECOG-ACRIN E2810: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.01544 Gemcitabine vs. Gem + Paclitaxel (Taxol) in pancreatic cancer patients after FOLFIRINOX: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.00795 An RNA assay to predict gemcitabine sensitivity: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.02668 Management of skin cancers with ICIs in kidney transplant patients: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.02570 ..read more

Two recent publications suggest more people may be choosing non-colonoscopy screening practices in the future. One is a new stool DNA test, while the other is a blood test. How do they compare to the gold standard of colonoscopy? Cell-free DNA blood test: DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2304714 Next generation stool DNA test: DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2310336 ..read more

EV-302 is finally published, and you have to squint to find any major critiques. Enfortumab bedouin + pembrolizumab fully arrives as a standard 1st-line regimen of advanced urothelial cancer. Also, nivolumab gets a 1st-line FDA approval for urothelial carcinoma in conjunction with cisplatin + gemcitabine based on CHECKMATE-901 ..read more

Two nice studies have been recently published in the supportive care realm. SPARED asks if we can omit dexamethasone on days 2-4 following cisplatin-based chemotherapy. D-TORCH asks if topical diclofenac can prevent capecitabine-induced hand-foot syndrome. SPARED: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-023-02493-7 D-TORCH: https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.01730 ..read more

An exciting new cellular therapy, lifileucel, is approved for metastatic melanoma. The FLAURA2 trial of osimertinib + chemotherapy has led to an FDA approval, but questions remain about a possible new standard of care. And a few minor updates on tepotinib ..read more

New updates on metastatic pancreatic cancer (NAPOLI-3), upper tract urothelial cancer (POUT), and the drug-drug interaction between ivosidenib and azole antifungals. NAPOLI 3: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01366-1 POUT (final OS): https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.01659 Ivosidenib Azole Antifungal DDIs: https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.35251 ..read more

You know about small cell lung cancer, but let's talk about small cell carcinoma of the prostate ..read more

In oncology we are always asking questions about which treatment option is best. And that focus on the next best treatment may prevent us from rethinking some fundamentals of current practice. Three recent studies illustrate this and made me ask: Do we need a Port or PICC for every testicular cancer patient? Study: https://doi.org/10.1200/OP.23.00580 Editorial: https://doi.org/10.1200/OP.23.00730 Is vaginal estrogen safe if breast cancer patients? Study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/article-abstract/2811413 Does paclitaxel work differently than we always thought? Study: https ..read more