Immunotherapy combinations with activity in patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer are needed, and the recommended phase 2 dose of RIN had a manageable safety profile and an overall response rate of 27.6%, a median progression-free survival of 4 months, and a median overall survival of 20 months in this nonrandomized clinical trial of 39 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients with no liver metastases received responses (overall response rate, 36.4%; median overall survival not reached).

The findings of this retrospective dual-center cohort study of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) patients suggest that pembrolizumab had clinical activity regardless of PD-L1 status or histology, though patients with nonepithelioid histology may have benefited more. The partial response rate of 21.0% and median OS of 20.9 months in this cohort with 75.0% epithelioid histology call for additional research to identify those most likely to respond to immunotherapy.

At a median follow-up of 24 months following initial PSMA PET scans, 73 of the 226 patients studied had clinical recurrence (CR). The 3-year CR-free rates in the 109-person metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) group were 51% and 28% in the no MDT group (117), respectively. Men who did not receive MDT had a significantly higher rate of distant metastases at CR than those who did (86% vs. 77%). The proportion of distant metastases was significantly lower in the MDT group (67% vs. 76%).

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics released job growth projections for the next decade, from 2021 to 2031. Nurse practitioners are expected to grow at a rate of 45% across all industries. Over the next ten years, the number of employed nurse practitioners is expected to increase from 246,700 to 359,400. Sadly, physicians are missing from the list, with the Association of American Medical Colleges projecting a shortage of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by the year 2034.

The event will be held on Tuesday, April 11th, 2023 from 5:00pm – 9:00pm at The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN, in the Grand Ballroom. Tennessee Oncology’s Stephen Schleicher, MD, and Larry Bilbrey will be your hosts for this one-night event, which will provide commentary on how cancer care has become more complicated over the last 15 years and how data is disrupting delivery today and in the future, from the private sector to tech companies.

The Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) only provides two risk arrangements with varying levels of downside risk, which means that any practice that participates may lose revenue or be required to refund payments to CMS. Furthermore, unlike the Oncology Care Model (OCM), the EOM focuses on systemic chemotherapy for seven cancers (breast, chronic leukemia, small intestine/colorectal, lung, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and prostate), and each will have its own formula for predicting baseline costs. This uncertainty is exacerbated by proposed reductions in Monthly Enhanced Oncology Services (MEOS) payments, which would be reduced from $960 to $420. For practices, this means either receiving less money for value-based care staples like patient navigation and creating care management plans, or reducing their use of them.