BREAST CANCER

Complex drug trials that use a single protocol to test either 1 agent against multiple cancers or multiple agents against 1 cancer can make drug testing faster, cheaper, and more informative, particularly when those trials use the data to constantly improve protocols.

Recurrent HR+ Breast Cancer

A Case of Estrogen-Driven Metastatic Breast Cancer

A supplemental biologics license application for the frontline combination of atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel has been granted a priority review by the FDA for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic PD-L1–positive triple-negative breast cancer, based on data from the phase III IMpassion130 trial.

According to findings of a systematic literature review presented at the 2018 ESMO Congress, the neoadjuvant and metastatic breast cancer settings are appropriate areas to evaluate the equivalence of biosimilars and originator products.

Joseph A. Sparano, MD, the current role of liquid biopsy and the ongoing challenge of improving survival for patients with metastatic disease.

Steven J. Katz, MD, MPH, discusses the benefits and challenges with genetic testing in patients with breast cancer.

James L. Wade III, MD, FACP, FASCO, discusses the importance of clinical trials in the community.

Sherene Loi, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, FAHMS, discusses the current status of immunotherapy research in HER2-positive breast cancer.

I think one of the most important advancements in biomedical technology that has improved our understanding of the complexities of cancer is the ability to sequence the cancer genome for any individual patient, in a rapid and cost-effective manner, to help us make treatment decisions in the clinic.

Groundbreaking developments in cancer therapies can change lives, extending survival and sending patients who previously thought their chances were slim into remission. But these therapies come at a cost, and many patients reel at the prospect of heavy financial burdens. To help patients and programs meet the challenges of affording cancer treatments, community cancer centers are expanding the role of financial advocates in their organizations.

Thomas A. Gallo, MS, MDA, president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers, discusses his mission as president to “reflect, renew, and reignite” in order to create a more resilient oncology team for the community.

Among patients with advanced solid tumors associated with <em>NTRK</em> gene fusions, more than half had responses to&nbsp;the small-molecule inhibitor entrectinib, according to an integrated analysis of 3 clinical trials presented at the 2018 ESMO Annual Congress.

Larotrectinib induced an objective response rate of 80% in patients with advanced solid tumors who harbored&nbsp;<em>NTRK&nbsp;</em>gene fusions, according to results pooled from 3 small trials of the TRK inhibitor. Results were presented during the 2018 ESMO Congress.

Lead investigator Fabrice Andr&eacute;, MD, PhD, said findings from the SOLAR-1 trial are the first to show benefit in a genomic subgroup of patients with breast cancer and could open the door for genomic testing in breast cancer.