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 patien...
Mar 28, 2024•14 min
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
Mar 14, 2024•12 min
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.
Mar 07, 2024•13 min
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
Feb 29, 2024•12 min
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.
Feb 22, 2024•17 min
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
Feb 15, 2024•15 min
You know about small cell lung cancer, but let's talk about small cell carcinoma of the prostate.
Feb 08, 2024•8 min
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/jamaonco...
Feb 01, 2024•16 min
...on FDA approvals for belzutifan for RCC, pembrolizumab + cisplatin/RT for cervical cancer, erdafitinib (FGFR3 alterations only) for bladder cancer. Plus, early morning ICIs (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2024.113571) & FLAG-Ida-GO in AML from NCRI AML 19 (https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.23.00943)
Jan 25, 2024•15 min
Special guest Ryan Beechinor joins the pod to discuss his recent paper on the obstacles in the development of generic lenalidomide. It's a fantastic read, and this episode will be a fantastic listen! Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2023.100446
Jan 10, 2024•35 min
Foundations of OncoPharm episode on lenalidomide (Revlimid) and its MOA, use, dosing, & toxicity.
Jan 04, 2024•15 min
A Holiday Tradition returns as we review 14 new OncoPharm drugs approved this past year and ask Keep, Re-Gift, or Return.
Dec 21, 2023•14 min
Small bites of updates coming out of ASH's 2023 annual meeting on CLL, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma.
Dec 14, 2023•20 min
Our Landmarks of OncoPharm series returns to talk about 2008's VISTA study, which ushered bortezomib into the front line setting, albeit with a now outdated alkylating agent-based backbone. VISTA (VMP vs. MP): https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa0801479
Dec 07, 2023•15 min
The recent approval of nirogacestat, the first gamma secretase inhibitor on the market, provides a great opportunity to discuss desmoid tumors and Notch signaling. Review article: https://doi.org/10.1002/onco.13627 Also, a new T-cell malignancy warning for most CAR-T products. And, is belantamab mafodotin coming back based on the DREAMM-7 results?
Nov 30, 2023•19 min
FDA has approved two new kinase inhibitors: one for ROS1 (+) NSCLC and one for PIK3CA/AKT/PTEN altered breast cancer.
Nov 23, 2023•24 min
This week's Pod dives into a new VEGF-R inhibitor, fruquintinib. We also ask if FLAURA2, osimertinib + chemotherapy in combination, will become a new standard of care in EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC.
Nov 16, 2023•17 min
Aggressive hematologic malignancy publications can be challenging to interpret and translate to clinical practice. We look at two recent studies to illustrate this point. Elderly AML: 10-day decitabine vs. 7 + 3 (https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(23)00273-9) Burkitt Lymphoma: R-CODXO-M/R-IVAC vs. DA-R-EPOCH (https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3026(23)00279-X)
Nov 09, 2023•25 min
Out Landmarks of OncoPharm series returns to chronicle how treatment of stage III NSCLC has changed over time with an overview of three studies. 1. Dillman (1990) NEJM (sequential chemo --> RT): https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm199010043231403 2. Albain (1995) JCO (concurrent cisplatin/etoposide + RT): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=7636530 3. Albain (2009) Lancet (concurrent cis/etposide + RT --> surgery --> consolidation chemo): https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(09)60737-6
Nov 02, 2023•15 min
Lots of practice changing new information came out of last week's ESMO conference. This Pod is packed with updates on NSCLC, bladder cancer, gastric cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, KRAS G12C colorectal cancer.....and even bendamustine (non-ESMO update).
Oct 26, 2023•28 min
This week we discuss the continued push to introduce 2nd generation androgen inhibitors earlier into treatment with the EMBARK trial. Nivolumab and pembrolizumab, pemrolizumab and nivolumab. Again and again. Their role (and approvals) for adjuvant melanoma make sense. But what to think about their use for NSCLC in the neoadjuvant setting? West commentary: https://dailynews.ascopubs.org/do/should-induction-chemoimmunotherapy-lead-us-broaden-our-definition-resectability-nsclc
Oct 19, 2023•17 min
Encorafenib + binimetinib gets FDA-approval for metastatic NSCLC, but how does it compare to dabrafenib/trametinib? Plus, a new pediatric approval for dabrafenib/trametinib means more dosage form options.
Oct 12, 2023•17 min
Trying to make sense of the limited information put out via Press Release the last 2 weeks for mobocertinib, pembrolizumab + enfortumab vedotin, nivolumab, and more.
Oct 05, 2023•15 min
From the Foundations of OncoPharm archives - the history and groundbreaking STI 571 (imatinib).
Sep 28, 2023•19 min
It's another Landmarks of OncoPharm episode looking at the carboplatin-paclitaxel regimen in ovarian cancer from 20 years ago. carboplatin/paclitaxel vs. cisplatin/paclitaxel: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=37643542
Sep 21, 2023•11 min
An experimental drug for EGFRm NSCLC, patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), raises some eyebrows and a new agent is FDA-approved for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization (motixafortide).
Sep 14, 2023•11 min
You read it in every solid tumor paper - RECIST - criteria. This Pod discusses some of the details of the Response Evaluation in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria along with the pros and cons of its use - including a modification of the criteria for use with immunotherapy.
Sep 07, 2023•14 min
Empiric dose reductions for variant DPYD alleles isn't necessarily new, but the outcomes of patients treated with those dose reductions isn't well described. Dutch researchers provide some much needed evidence. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=37639651 Is there a role for ICIs in dMMR/MSI-h pancreatic cancer? This retrospective says, uh maybe probably. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=37625102
Aug 31, 2023•20 min
A Foundations of OncoPharm episode on nab-paclitaxel, with a focus on the pharmaceutical differences from conventional paclitaxel.
Aug 24, 2023•15 min
A combination product is now available of niraparib + abiraterone for use in mCRPC. Another BCMA-CD3 agent is approved for r/r multiple myeloma and melphalan hepatic arterial infusion for metastatic uveal melanoma is approved.
Aug 17, 2023•14 min
