Articles related to MEDICAL MEETINGS AND EVENTS

In a recent study presented at the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Annual Meeting, researchers reported that more than 75% of patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) were still alive and event-free at 1 year. The treatment was also well-tolerated, with a manageable rate of side effects. The 1-year event-free survival rate was 78.3%, and the 1-year overall survival rate was 88.0%. The postoperative complication rate was 35.6%, and the rate of grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events was 18.1%. The most common side effects were leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, and hyperglycemia. Overall, the results of this study suggest that neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with an ICI is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. The treatment was associated with a high rate of pCR and R0 resection, and the side effects were generally manageable.

In an interview with OBR Oncology, Hagop Kantarjian, MD, professor and chair of the leukemia department at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discussed the importance for young oncologists to think critically and avoid following the crowd. He warned that “herd mentality” can lead to poor decision-making and can ultimately harm patients. Dr. Kantarjian urged young oncologists to be open to new ideas and to challenge the status quo. He also emphasized the importance of lifelong learning and staying up-to-date on the latest research. By following these principles, young oncologists can make a real difference in the lives of their patients.

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) have been found to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in men with both coronary artery disease (CAD) and erectile dysfunction (ED), with tadalafil showing greater cardiac benefits compared to sildenafil, according to a study presented at the American Urological Association’s annual meeting. The retrospective study analyzed over 41,000 men with CAD and ED and found that those who took tadalafil or sildenafil had significantly lower 5-year risks of heart failure, myocardial infarction, and overall mortality compared to those who received no PDE5i treatment. Tadalafil recipients had even lower risks than sildenafil recipients across all categories. The study suggests that understanding the specific differences among PDE5i medications is crucial for addressing cardiac outcomes in patients with ED and CAD, with tadalafil potentially offering superior benefits due to differences in pharmacokinetics and longer duration of efficacy. However, further research is needed before definitive conclusions can be made regarding preferential prescription of tadalafil over other PDE5i medications.

The investigational combination therapy of extended-release pramipexole and extended-release rasagiline controlled symptoms similar to pramipexole alone in this phase 3 trial, but with less sleepiness and orthostatic hypotension. Pramipexole mimics dopamine activity in the brain, and rasagiline increases dopamine levels by blocking dopamine reuptake.

Dr. Jyoti Mayadev, a professor of Radiation Medicine at University of California San Diego, discussed the treatment of patients with 1B3 cervical cancer at the Society of Gynecological Oncology’s Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. The discussion centered around whether to treat patients with primary chemoradiation and brachytherapy or radical surgery. Dr. Mayadev recommends a multidisciplinary approach, but notes that level 1 evidence data from Landoni et al. in 1997 showed no difference in progression-free survivals or overall survivals between radiation therapy and radical hysterectomy in patients with bulky disease, 1B3, and no lymph node disease. Dr. Mayadev discusses the benefits of chemoradiation, including potential toxicity reduction if a patient needs adjuvant therapy after surgery. She also notes that with technologically advanced radiation and brachytherapy, long-term toxicities can be minimized, including genitourinary toxicities at 6-8%, vaginal toxicities at 5%, and fistula at less than 2%. Dr. Mayadev believes that adaptive radiation therapy may further decrease toxicities and increase cure rates for patients with 1B3 cervical cancer. There are ongoing trials for novel therapeutics and adaptive radiation therapy, such as the ARTIA Cervical Trial, which aims to decrease toxicities and collect patient reported outcomes.

New findings from an open-label clinical trial show that by 12 weeks into the maintenance phase, daily off time had decreased by an average of about three hours. Daily “good on” time consistently increased by an average of three hours per day when symptoms are under control without bothersome dyskinesia. By week 12, 62.1% had less free time—at least two hours less per day. The amount of levodopa taken on average every day during the research significantly decreased, which was consistent with improved symptom control. At week 12, just over two-thirds (65%) of patients said they had “much improved” or “very much improved” since beginning SPN-830. Patients reported that their overall health had improved by about 90%.