Authors



Süheyla Aytaç Arslan, MD

Latest:

Spinal ATRT and Radiotherapy Case Report in an Adult Man

A rare case of spinal atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor is presented in an adult man after presenting with neck pain and bilateral upper extremity paralysis.



Timothy Schmidt, MD

Latest:

Frontline Forum: Real-World Practice in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

Experts discuss key data updates in real-world newly diagnosed multiple myeloma practices, and how these findings may change the treatment paradigm.


Deanna Griffie, MSN, AGNP-BC

Latest:

Unmet Needs in Patient Care for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The panel closes by highlighting currently unmet needs in the treatment and management of metastatic colorectal cancer.



Syed Arslan Shehzad Shah, MD

Latest:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Kidney: A Large Case Series

Syed Arslan Shehzad Shah, MD, and colleagues present findings from a broad investigation into this rare neoplasm of the kidney, including data on patient demographics and mean survival.


Yoshiaki Nakamura, MD

Latest:

Clinical Trials in Progress: GOZILA

Nationwide Circulating-Tumor DNA–Guided Basket and Umbrella Clinical Trials for Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors (GOZILA; UMIN000029315)





Kristina F. Byers, PharmD

Latest:

Optimizing the Duration of Trastuzumab: A Fresh Perspective

ABSTRACT Prior to the introduction of trastuzumab, the first targeted anti-HER2 agent, in 1998, patients diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer felt like they were being handed a death sentence. Despite treatment with aggressive chemotherapy, their tumors recurred faster, more often spread to brain and liver, and were associated with higher rates of death than HER2-negative tumors. However, in the 1980s, cancer researchers and oncologists recognized that HER2 could be targeted by a small molecule that binds to the receptor on the cell surface and blocks the signal telling the cell to divide. This small molecule was called trastuzumab, and it eventually completely changed how HER2-positive breast cancer was treated. The drug was first approved in the metastatic setting, and then the results of 2 pivotal randomized control trials demonstrated that the administration of trastuzumab in the adjuvant setting decreased the risk of breast cancer recurrence by 50%. These trials showed trastuzumab to be unequivocally effective in the adjuvant setting and the HERA trial results led to the adoption of 1 year of adjuvant trastuzumab as the standard of care. Since that time, the field of anti–HER2-targeted therapy has exploded, with the development of multiple targeted agents for use in the advanced and up-front settings. Although trastuzumab significantly improves outcomes for women diagnosed with HER2-positive breast cancer and has few adverse effects (AEs), the disadvantages are that it requires intravenous administration every 3 weeks and can be associated with cardiac AEs. It is also expensive. Given all of these factors, the question of whether a duration of trastuzumab that is shorter than 1 year may be acceptable for some patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer is an important and very relevant one. Here, we will review the studies that have examined this question and evaluate their results.


Stefania Calì, MD

Latest:

Life Experience of Survivors of Gynecologic Cancers: A Survey Conducted in Italy

A survey was conducted in Italy for survivors of gynecologic cancer regarding quality of life, specifically that of sexual activity after a cancer diagnosis.


Elen Baloyan, MD

Latest:

Diagnosing and Treating Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm in a Resource-Limited Setting

A recent clinical quandary focused on the diagnosis and treatment of blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm in a resource-limited setting.


Lori Wirth, MD

Latest:

OncView™ Podcast: Advances in Systemic Therapy of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

In an OncView™ program, Lori Wirth, MD, shared her insights into the current treatment of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.


Hana F. Safah, MD

Latest:

Future Directions in Graft vs Host Disease Management

Closing out their panel on GVHD management, expert hematologist/oncologists share their hope for future evolution in the treatment landscape.


Benjamin Cooper, MD

Latest:

Benjamin Cooper, MD, Remarks on Future Analyses of TAK-676 Plus Pembrolizumab in Solid Tumors Undergoing Radiation

Benjamin Cooper, MD, discussed potential future studies exploring TAK-676 plus pembrolizumab after radiation for those with solid tumors.


Abhinav Rohatgi, MD

Latest:

Considerations for the Management of Oncology Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Worldwide incidence and mortality due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is greatest in the United States, with the initial epicenter in New York. In Nassau County, New York, where we practice, our institution has had more than 2500 cases and has discharged from the hospital more than 1000 patients. As many academic and private institutions have swiftly shifted their clinical and research priorities to address the pandemic, data are emerging regarding both the impact of malignancy on COVID-19 outcomes as well as the challenges faced in assuring that cancer care remains unimpeded. Of concern, recent studies of cancer patients primarily in China and Italy have suggested that advanced malignancy is associated with increased susceptibility to severe COVID-19 infection. At present, more than 500 clinical trials are underway investigating the pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19, including expanded use of oncology drugs, such as small molecular inhibitors of cytokine pathways. Here, we begin by reviewing the latest understanding of COVID-19 pathophysiology and then focus our attention on the impact of this virus on hematologic and oncologic practice. Finally, we highlight ongoing investigational treatment approaches that are so relevant to the care of oncology patients during this extraordinary pandemic.



Amanda Nizam, MD

Latest:

Enfortumab Vedotin Combo Data in Urothelial Carcinoma Are ‘Compelling’

Patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer and visceral disease may particularly benefit from enfortumab vedotin plus pembrolizumab, according to Amanda Nizam, MD.



Prativa Subedi, MBBS

Latest:

Danazol for the Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Systematic Review

Danazol was reviewed as an effective treatment option for patients with myelodyspplastic syndromes, according to a recently published article by Sangam Shah, MBBS, et al.


Tycel Phillips, MD

Latest:

Expert Insight and Future Perspectives for Follicular Lymphoma

Panelists close the discussion by offering insights and future perspectives on the treatment landscape for follicular lymphoma.




Daner Li, MS

Latest:

Circulating Tumor DNA as a Predictive Biomarker for Clinical Outcomes With Margetuximab and Pembrolizumab in Pretreated HER2-Positive Gastric/ Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma

Daniel V. T. Catenacci, MD, and colleagues present findings from a study of circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker for gastric and gastroesophageal cancer.


Matthew Fowler, Associate Editor

Latest:

HER2+ Breast Cancer Clinical Pearls

Advice for community physicians treating HER2+ breast cancer.


Minqian Shen, MD, PhD

Latest:

Genomic Predictors Associated With Exceptional Response to Systemic Therapy in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Suneel K. Kamath, MD, et al investigated exceptional responders and the correlation of nonsynonymous mutations for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.



Ryan Scott

Latest:

Avutometinib Combo Yields Responses in Serous Ovarian Cancer Subgroups

Findings from the phase 2 RAMP 201 trial highlight responses with avutometinib/defactinib in those with KRAS-mutated low-grade serous ovarian cancer and other patient subgroups.