William M. Sikov, MD

In 21 patients with metaplastic breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 48% achieved pCR—higher than prior estimates—with all pCR patients alive and disease-free at follow-up, suggesting modern regimens including pembrolizumab may improve outcomes in this chemoresistant subtype.

As part of our coverage of the ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium we discuss the clinical meaningfulness of pathologic complete response as a surrogate endpoint in breast cancer clinical trials.

In this day of encyclopedic oncology texts, frequently updated online reference sites, and literature searches at the click of a button, is there a place for a basic medical oncology textbook? The second edition of the Textbook of Medical Oncology, edited by Drs. Cavalli, Hansen, and Kaye, is approximately 50% longer than the first edition, due in large part to the inclusion of newer therapeutic approaches.