Unraveling gene-specific cancer risks in first-degree relatives of PDAC probands sheds light on a higher uptake of genetic cascade testing. Recent data suggests that first-degree relatives of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who carry pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in specific cancer syndrome-associated genes face heightened cancer risks. The study focuses on PDAC probands carrying PGVs in nine such genes: ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, and CDKN2A. To date, these risks hadn’t been comprehensively analyzed. The study analyzed 234 PDAC probands with PGVs, selected from a pool of 4,562 participants who underwent genetic testing. Findings suggest that different genes correlate to distinct types of cancer. For instance, female relatives of probands with BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants showed significantly increased risks of ovarian and breast cancer. First-degree relatives of probands with Lynch syndrome mismatch repair variants exhibited higher risks of uterine, endometrial, and colon cancer. Additionally, the risk of PDAC itself rose with variants in ATM, BRCA2, CDKN2A, and PALB2, with melanoma risk escalating for relatives of probands with CDKN2A variants. Overall, this research underscores that gene-specific PDAC and extra-PDAC cancer risks in first-degree relatives of PDAC probands are linked with the presence of PGVs in nine cancer […]

Learn about the precise genomic tests and compassionate treatments one doctor is using to address racial inequities in breast cancer care. JAMA’s latest study highlights a discrepancy in breast cancer care for Black women. The accuracy of widely used genomic tests for breast cancer, such as Oncotype DX, is notably less reliable for Black women. Hence, there’s an urgent call to address racial disparities in breast cancer care, especially as Black women currently face 41% higher mortality rates than white women. Dr. Nathalie Johnson, President of The American Society of Breast Cancer Surgeons, advocates for Agendia’s tests, which focus solely on biological factors. Such tests disregard race, ethnicity, age, or menopausal status, allowing for truly personalized treatment selection. Moreover, understanding every woman’s unique cancer empowers not only the patients but also their care teams. Recent research confirms that Black women are more likely to experience high-risk recurrence and death from axillary node-negative breast cancer compared to their non-Hispanic white counterparts. It reveals that Oncotype DX tests have lower prognostic accuracy for Black women. It points to the need for model calibration in genomic assays for populations with more racial/ethnic diversity. Dr. Johnson emphasizes personalized medicine and stresses the importance of […]

Explore the role of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer treatment and its impact on patient survival and oncologic benefits. The recent NRG Oncology/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group study offers fresh insights on androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer treatment. The researchers focused on patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. They used a sample of 1,492 patients, randomly assigned to receive either escalated radiation therapy alone, or combined with short-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Strikingly, the results didn’t point to a significant survival advantage. The five-year survival estimates were almost identical for both groups, at 90% and 91% respectively. Yet, when it comes to oncologic benefits, adding short-term ADT had a substantial impact. Importantly, this therapy reduced the risk for PSA relapse, distant metastasis, and prostate cancer-specific mortality by 48%, 75%, and 90% respectively. Also, patients on ADT exhibited a 38% lower risk of requiring salvage ADT. However, physicians need to be aware of the potential drawbacks. The study observed that the adverse event rates were notably higher with ADT use, at 69% compared to 21% for radiation therapy alone. Indeed, 12% of the ADT group experienced acute grade 3 or higher adverse events, compared to just 2% of the radiation-only group. […]

Cilta-cel CAR-T-cell therapy: A ray of hope for refractory multiple myeloma patients. A new study on ciltacabtagene autoleucel CAR-T-cell therapy (cilta-cel) shows promise for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. Published in Blood, the study led by Dr. Adam Cohen from the University of Pennsylvania, focuses on patients with previous exposure to noncellular anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) therapies. The team’s objective was achieving the primary endpoint of minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity, alongside multiple secondary endpoints. They tested on patients above 18 with RRMM, progressive disease within 12 months of their last treatment or six months of prior therapy, and measurable disease at baseline. They conducted a multicohort study, primarily focusing on cohort C which entailed cilta-cel treatment. A total of 20 patients met the eligibility criteria and received cilta-cel. Among them, 35% had BsAb as their latest anti-BCMA treatment, while 65% had ADC. With a median follow-up of 11.3 months, 7 patients achieved MRD negativity. The overall response rate stood at 60%, with 55% achieving very good partial response (VGPR) or better, and 30% achieving complete remission (CR) or better. However, all patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events, majorly grade 3 to 4 cytopenias. Most of these cytopenia events recovered to […]

Enhancing Platelet Dysfunction Diagnosis with Platelet Function Screen The Platelet Function Screen (PFA-100®) is a critical in vitro system for detecting platelet dysfunction. It uses citrated whole blood samples under high shear flow conditions, demonstrating its sensitivity. As blood is aspirated through collagen-coated membranes, platelet adhesion forms an initial matrix. Adding to the mix, platelet aggregation is stimulated by either epinephrine (COL/EPI) or adenosine diphosphate (COL/ADP), coating the membranes. In this process, the time required to form a platelet plug that blocks the aperture, known as closure time (CT), is the key measure of platelet function. Interestingly, several conditions can cause prolonged CT, including drug effects, low hematocrit, thrombocytopenia, von Willebrand Disease (vWD), and platelet disorders. Notably, aspirin therapy impacts the COL/EPI closure time more than COL/ADP. While assessing results, hematological considerations are pivotal, particularly with anemia and thrombocytopenia that could extend CT. Platelet counts below 150,000/uL or hematocrit below 35% could interfere with the results, thus, the test might not serve patients with counts below 100,000/uL or hematocrit under 30%. Moreover, hematocrit over 50% could generate inconsistent outcomes. Fundamentally, normal CT with both COL/EPI and COL/ADP signifies healthy platelet function. The COL/EPI membrane, while sensitive to primary hemostasis disorders, […]

Discover a holistic perspective on advanced bladder and renal cell cancers management, encompassing everything from pathogenesis to adverse event mitigation. Let’s dive into the “Advanced Bladder and Renal Cell Cancers Management” webcast, released on April 30, 2023, offering valuable 1.00 ANCC contact hour, inclusive of 0.75 pharmacology hours. Presented by expert Mary W. Dunn, MSN, RN, OCN, NP-C from the University of North Carolina, this program targets oncology nurses, nurse navigators, advanced nursing providers, and nurses from other cancer-related subspecialties. It remains available until April 30, 2024, leaving ample time to gain this crucial knowledge. Primarily, this webcast zeroes in on bladder cancer (BC), a malignancy notorious for its high mortality rate, and renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a top-10 common cancer. Unfortunately, BC’s 5% survival rate for metastatic disease cases paints a grim picture. Luckily, hope emerges in the form of novel therapeutic agents for advanced, recurrent, and metastatic BC and RCC. Next, the program navigates through the pathogenesis of these cancers. Equipped with this knowledge, healthcare providers can better understand the intricacies of disease progression. As the treatment landscape rapidly evolves, so does the complexity in selection, sequencing, and adverse event (AE) management. Thus, the webcast outlines how to […]