Oncology

Officials with the FDA approved atezolizumab (Tecentriq, Genentech) in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin) for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma who have not received prior systemic therapy.

A systematic review of medical cannabis and cannabinoid use in oncology care demonstrated varied results. 

Targeted therapy osimertinib (Tagrisso) demonstrated significant improvements in disease-free survival in patients with localized non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated following surgery.

The study marks the first time that the drug has demonstrated benefit for front-line therapy in patients with this type of colorectal cancer.

An outpatient multiple myeloma clinic benefited substantially from employing a clinical pharmacist.

“Data collection is ongoing with additional analyses planned to look at patient and provider perception of COVID-19 impact on cancer care.”

SOLO-2 is the first phase 3 trial to provide overall survival (OS) data on maintenance PARP inhibitor therapy.

The study is the first of its kind on a national scale to show the benefit of Medicaid expansion on cancer mortality rates.

The findings, which were presented virtually in the 2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program, included the association between treatment with hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin and increased risk of death.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) recently released a detailed guidance to oncology practices

Approximately 20% to 30% of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer have HRR gene mutation.

Atezolizumab demonstrated a significant overall survival benefit in individuals with high PD-L1 expression compared with chemotherapy.

Officials with the FDA have granted breakthrough therapy designation to trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo) for the treatment of HER2-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Rucaparib is the first PARP inhibitor that has been approved in a prostate cancer setting.

Fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu, Daiichi Sankyo) is indicated for treating adults with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received 2 or more prior anti-HER2–based regimens in the setting of metastasis.

"A major clinical and public health priority should be to decrease racial inequalities in mortality following the introduction of lifesavings drugs in the United States and worldwide.”

In July 2019, the FDA approved darolutamide (Nubeqa, Bayer) for men with prostate cancer that has not spread (ie, nonmetastatic) and no longer responds to medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone (ie androgen deprivation therapy).

In August 2019, the FDA approved entrectinib for treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that is ROS1-positive.

Capmatinib (Tabrecta, Novartis) is a kinase inhibitor effective in blocking a key enzyme, resulting in decelerated tumor cell growth.

Officials with the FDA approved niraparib (Zejula, GlaxoSmithKline), a once-daily, oral monotherapy, for the first-line maintenance treatment of platinum-responsive advanced ovarian cancer regardless of biomarker status.

In part 2 of our video interview, Doug Hackenyos, oncology pharmacy clinical coordinator at the University of Connecticut, discusses the effects of COVID-19 on cancer care pharmacy.

Officials with the FDA have granted accelerated approval to sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy, Immunomedics Inc.) for previously-treated adult patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

"With the introduction of this ibrutinib-rituximab combination, patients now have a more effective, non-chemoimmunotherapy option."

In a video interview with Drug Topics®, Doug Hackenyos, oncology pharmacy clinical coordinator at the University of Connecticut, discusses the effects of COVID-19 on cancer care pharmacy. 

Officials with the FDA today approved tucatinib (Tukysa, Seattle Genetics) in combination with chemotherapy trastuzumab and capecitabine for the treatment of adults with advanced forms of HER2-positive breast cancer.

A recent meta-analysis showed an association between regular aspirin use and reduced risk of developing several cancers of the digestive tract.

Merck has announced the US launch of trastuzumab-dttb (Ontruzant), a biosimilar to trastuzumab (Herceptin), in both 150-mg single-dose vials and 420-mg multiple-dose vials.

In part 2 of our video interview, Robert Brunault, PharmD, a clinical pharmacy specialist in hematology and oncology at Rhode Island Hospital and the Lifespan Cancer Institute, discussed drug shortages, FDA emergency use authorizations, and the biggest concerns for pharmacists.

In a video interview with Drug Topics®, Robert Brunault, PharmD, a clinical pharmacy specialist of hematology and oncology at Rhode Island Hospital and Lifespan Cancer Institute, answers questions about how the COVID-19 pandemic affects patients undergoing treatment for cancer.

Officials with the FDA have approved durvalumab (Imfinzi) for the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), in combination with standard-of-care (SoC) chemotherapies, in adult patients.