Articles related to Hematology/Oncology

Directly from this Journal of Clinical Oncology Original Report: “Among men randomly assigned to receive ADT + RT + docetaxel versus ADT + RT, significantly less RT-induced cancers were observed. The treatment effect of adding docetaxel to ADT + RT on overall survival in men with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < 4 ng/mL was driven by the absence of PC death, providing evidence to support a distinct biology in low PSA-producing, unfavorable-risk PC that is docetaxel-sensitive.”

In this clinical trial, the authors attempt to answer the question of whether a high-intensity interval training program can improve cardiorespiratory fitness and delay the biochemical progression of prostate cancer in patients who are undergoing active surveillance. One group was asked to complete 12 weeks of thrice-weekly, supervised aerobic sessions on a treadmill at 85% to 95% of peak oxygen consumption (V̇o2). The usual care group maintained their normal exercise levels.

Test your knowledge on this case study from JAMA Oncology! Full text available with registration, or you can access the Clinical Challenge from your institution. Good luck!

The results, presented during the virtual ESMO Congress 2021, will substantially change the population of patients with melanoma who undergo treatment in the adjuvant setting, according to Jason J. Luke, MD: “Patients with stage IIB/C melanoma have similar rates of recurrence and melanoma specific survival to those with stage IIIA/B disease. Despite this, adjuvant anti-PD-1 immunotherapy has only been available in standard practice for stage III disease. The results of KEYNOTE-716 will facilitate access to anti-PD-1 for stage IIB/C patients and, in a sense, level the playing field against melanoma.”

Lead author of the study, Dr. Ana Maria Arance, who presented the results over the summer at the ASCO Annual Meeting, commented: “With additional follow-up, lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab continues to show clinically meaningful, durable responses in patients with advanced melanoma with confirmed progression on a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor given alone or in combination. These data support lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab as a potential regimen for this population of high unmet need.”

Second-line therapy with pembrolizumab plus gemcitabine, vinorelbine, and liposomal doxorubicin (pembro-GVD) is a highly effective and well-tolerated regimen that can efficiently bridge patients with rel/ref cHL to high-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HDT/AHCT).