Articles by Shannon Connelly

Patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who experienced progression of disease within 2 years following an upfront chemoimmunotherapy regimen containing high-dose cytarabine were more likely to have worse outcomes than patients who progressed later, according to the results of a retrospective analysis presented at the 2018 European Hematology Association Congress. Alternatively, patients who experienced POD later had an unexpectedly long life expectancy.

The addition of bortezomib to rituximab as a maintenance therapy following consolidative autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with mantle cell lymphoma, results of a small phase II study suggest.

While not all patients with gastrointestinal cancers will respond to immunotherapy, those who do are likely to have long-lasting responses, explained John L. Marshall, MD.

The immunotherapy agent balixafortide (POL6326) has been granted Fast Track designation by the FDA in combination with eribulin (Halaven) for the treatment of patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer who have previously received at least 2 chemotherapeutic regimens in the metastatic setting, according to Polyphor, the manufacturer of the potent and highly selective CXCR4 antagonist.

Selinexor was recently granted a Fast Track designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least 3 prior lines of therapy, according to Karyopharm Therapeutics, the manufacturer of the oral SINE compound.

Robert A. Figlin, MD, Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology, professor of medicine, and director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, recently discussed the cases of 2 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

The FDA has granted a fast track designation to pamrevlumab for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer, according to FibroGen, the manufacturer of the first-in-class anti-CTGF antibody.

Harry P. Erba, MD, PhD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with polycythemia vera.

Ryan J. Sullivan, MD, discusses the available therapies for patients with <em>BRAF-</em>mutant and non-<em>BRAF</em>-mutant melanoma, as well as the current role of mutation status in treatment decision making.<br />

In results of a phase II study, cabozantinib (Cabometyx) showed signs of activity in patients with progressive glioblastoma who were naïve to antiangiogenic therapy, despite the predefined statistical target for success not being met.

Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, discusses the phase III COMBI-AD study and the phase III CheckMate-238 trial, as well as the most exciting ongoing research at his institution.

The first-in-class glutaminase inhibitor CB-839 showed encouraging activity and tolerability when combined with everolimus and cabozantinib in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, according to results from a phase I study presented in a poster session at the 2018 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, California.

Matthew S. Davids, MD, MMSc, recently discussed the treatment choices for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and the factors he considers when choosing a treatment, based on 2 patient cases.

Eflapegrastim (Rolontis), a novel long-acting granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, has met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority in duration of severe chemotherapy-induced neutropenia in comparison with pegfilgrastim (Neulasta) in the phase III ADVANCE study, according to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the biotechnology company developing the agent.

Jhanelle E. Gray, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions she makes when treating patients with non–small cell lung cancer, with a special focus on immunotherapy. Gray, associate member, Director of Thoracic Clinical Research, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida, explained her treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Treatment with lomustine plus bevacizumab provided a slightly improved progression-free survival, but did not demonstrate an overall survival advantage over treatment with lomustine alone in patients with progressive glioblastoma, according to results of a randomized phase III trial published in the<em> New England Journal of Medicine</em>.

Madappa Kundranda, MD, PhD, recently discussed the cases of 2 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and the treatment considerations and decisions he would make when treating these patients. Dr. Kundranda, Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center, Phoenix discussed these cases during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Benjamin P. Levy, MD, discusses some of the ongoing trials exploring osimertinib in NSCLC and how the FLAURA data have impacted treatment decisions.

Jane N. Winter, MD, discusses recent updates in the field of follicular lymphoma, the importance of finding ways to identify patient populations, and challenges that still lie ahead.

C. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with multiple myeloma. Landgren, chief of the Myeloma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in New York, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Hope S. Rugo, MD, discusses findings of the CALGB 40502/NCCTG N063H study, which was a randomized phase III trial of paclitaxel compared with nab-paclitaxel or ixabepilone with bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy for locally recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

Hussein A. Tawbi, MD, discusses the considerations he makes when choosing between immunotherapy and targeted therapy for patients with melanoma and how long-term targeted therapy data can influence treatment decisions.<br />

George P. Kim, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Kim, a medical oncologist at 21st Century Oncology in Jacksonville, Florida, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Alan P. Venook, MD, recently discussed 2 cases of patients with colorectal cancer, and the treatment treatment considerations and decisions he would make when treating these patients. Venook, Shorenstein Associate Director for Program Development, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, discussed these cases during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives dinner.<br />

Richard Kim, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, including the role of mutation testing and location of the tumor. Kim, associate professor of oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Mike Cusnir, MD, co-director of gastrointestinal malignancies, Mount Sinai Medical Center, recently discussed the cases of 2 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).<br />

As an experienced medical oncologist and clinical researcher specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, Pamela Kunz, MD, says the upcoming 2017 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Annual Symposium offers her a chance to not only expand her own knowledge of neuroendocrine tumor research, but also allows her to share her past experience with professionals just starting out in the field.

The 2017 North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) Annual Symposium is kicking off tomorrow, October 19, in Philadelphia with a 3-day lineup of presentations sure to leave professionals in the neuroendocrine community with a better understanding of ongoing neuroendocrine tumor research efforts, a look at what is on the horizon, and an abundance of networking opportunities with a variety of specialists throughout their field.

Robert Z. Orlowski, MD, PhD, recently discussed 2 cases of patients with multiple myeloma, and the treatment considerations and decisions he would make when treating these patients. Orlowski, chairman, ad interim, director of myeloma, and professor of medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discussed these cases during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives dinner.

Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, recently discussed treatment considerations and decisions in the cases of 2 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms. Verstovsek, professor of medicine, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discussed the case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives dinner.