HCN Oncology Essentials: EPOCH vs. R-CHOP, Ageism & Ableism, SCLC SurvivalNovember 30, 2021 | Oncology Hematology DA-R-EPOCH vs. R-CHOP in DLBCL: How Do We Choose? DLBCL is increasingly being recognized as a heterogeneous disease with distinct molecular subtypes. This has challenged the rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) treatment paradigm in recent years, as several DLBCL subtypes have inferior survival after standard R-CHOP therapy. So how do you choose? In this review the authors conclude with proposed clinical management scenarios in which DA-R-EPOCH may be preferred, including some for patient populations in which the use of R-CHOP vs. DA-R-EPOCH is controversial. Read full article Geriatrics Who is MB and What Does She Want? “MB” is a frail, wheelchair-ridden, nearly blind, and mostly deaf woman living with early dementia and neglected lung cancer. What this oncologist thought MB wanted and needed was a lot different than what MB actually wanted and needed after discussing various options with her and talking to her family on numerous occasions. A humbling, honest view of an oncologist’s biases. Read full article Hematology/Oncology Immunotherapy Combo Fails to Boost Survival in Limited-Disease SCLC A randomized phase II trial has found that consolidation therapy with nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) after chemoradiotherapy did not lead to better survival outcomes for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The study enrolled 222 patients with stage I-IIIB histologically or cytologically confirmed limited-disease SCLC, and adequate hematologic, renal, lung, and pulmonary function. The combination regimen yielded no improvement in overall survival, and grade 3 adverse events were approximately 2.5 times more common in the dual therapy group. Read full article