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Commentaries
Debunking the Delusion That Precision Oncology Is an Illusion
Vivek Subbiah, Razelle KurzrockMany of the major advances in oncology over the past 2 decades are attributable to precision medicine, defined as biomarker-driven treatment. Whether the results of precision medicine are real or an illusion is discussed here.
Curative, Life-Extending, and Palliative Chemotherapy: New Outcomes Need New Names
Alfred I. Neugut, Holly G. PrigersonImprecise terminology obscures the reasons why a cancer patient might be willing to endure the potential toxicities and side-effects of treatment. Renaming of the categories of chemotherapy is proposed here to clarify intended definitions.
Clinical Trial Results
Prolonged Pemetrexed Infusion Plus Gemcitabine in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Preclinical Rationale and Phase II Study Results
Alessandro Passardi, Francesca Fanini, Livia Turci, Flavia Foca, Paola Rosetti, Silvia Ruscelli, Andrea Casadei Gardini, Martina Valgiusti, Claudio Dazzi, Maurizio MarangoloA Phase II Multi-Center Study of Bevacizumab in Combination with Ixabepilone in Subjects with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Mauricio Burotto, Maureen Edgerly, Margarita Velarde, Sanjeeve Balasubramaniam, Harry Drabkin, Juan G. Gormaz, Ciara O'Sullivan, Ravi Madan, Tito FojoBreast Cancer
Association Study Confirmed Three Breast Cancer-Specific Molecular Subtype-Associated Susceptibility Loci in Chinese Han Women
Yihui Xu, Mengyun Chen, Chenchen Liu, Xiaowei Zhang, Wei Li, Huaidong Cheng, Jun Zhu, Mingjun Zhang, Zhendong Chen, Bo ZhangGenome-wide association studies have identified many susceptibility loci associated with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to further analyze according to molecular subtype, leading to validation of breast cancer-specific molecular subtype-associated susceptibility loci in Chinese Han women.
Male Breast Cancer as a Second Primary Cancer: Increased Risk Following Lymphoma
Deborah E. Farr, Alexandra Thomas, Seema Ahsan Khan, Mary C. SchroederThis study focuses on whether male breast cancer as a second primary cancer is increasing and what, if any, relationships this might have with the index malignancy and associated therapy. These findings might offer insights into surveillance interventions that could benefit male cancer survivors.
First-Line Palliative HER2-Targeted Therapy in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Is Less Effective After Previous Adjuvant Trastuzumab-Based Therapy
Hanah N. Rier, Mark-David Levin, Joost van Rosmalen, Monique M. E. M. Bos, Jan C. Drooger, Paul de Jong, Johanneke E. A. Portielje, Elisabeth M. P. Elsten, Albert-Jan ten Tije, Stefan Sleijfer, Agnes JagerThis retrospective study compares the efficacy of first-line HER2-targeted-containing chemotherapy between patients who did or did not undergo adjuvant trastuzumab-based treatment. Outcome in patients with metastatic breast cancer was investigated.
Community Outreach
The National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP): Sustaining Quality and Reducing Disparities in Guideline-Concordant Breast and Colon Cancer Care
Pamela Spain, Stephanie Teixeira-Poit, Michael T. Halpern, Kathleen Castro, Irene Prabhu Das, Brenda Adjei, Rebecca Lewis, Steven B. ClauserThis study builds on analyses performed as part of an original comprehensive National Cancer Institute Community Cancer Centers Program evaluation and examines improvements in quality of care. The following research questions are addressed: (a) have improvements in concordance rates with the five quality of care measures been sustained since 2010 and (b) how does the change in concordance for minority/underserved patients compare to the change for nonminority/nonunderserved patients through 2013?
Social Network Structures of Breast Cancer Patients and the Contributing Role of Patient Navigators
Christine M. Gunn, Victoria A. Parker, Sharon M. Bak, Naomi Ko, Kerrie P. Nelson, Tracy A. BattagliaDisparities in breast cancer care in the U.S. are multifactorial, arising from differences in income, education, cultural beliefs, and social support. This article describes the social networks of newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and explores the contributing role of patient navigators.
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Patterns of Chemotherapy Use in a U.S.-Based Cohort of Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
Thomas A. Abrams, Gary Meyer, Jeffrey A. Meyerhardt, Brian M. Wolpin, Deborah Schrag, Charles S. FuchsThe aim of this study was to understand factors influencing treatment decisions for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Data from a nationwide, commercially available chemotherapy order entry system, including tumor stage, disease status, and treatment indication, was analyzed. Temporal trends were identified for prescribing patterns across the continuum of metastatic pancreatic cancer therapy, as well as patient and provider characteristics influencing treatment selection across multiple lines of therapy.
Geriatric Oncology
Geriatric Assessment Predicts Survival and Competing Mortality in Elderly Patients with Early Colorectal Cancer: Can It Help in Adjuvant Therapy Decision-Making?
Maite Antonio, Juana Saldaña, Alberto Carmona-Bayonas, Valentín Navarro, Cristian Tebé, Marga Nadal, Francesc Formiga, Ramon Salazar, Josep Maria BorràsThis prospective study evaluated the efficacy of comprehensive geriatric assessment in predicting survival and discriminating between causes of death in elderly patients with high-risk stage II and stage III colorectal cancer who underwent curative resection to support the decision-making process related to adjuvant therapy.
Global Health and Cancer
Attitudes Toward Cancer and Cancer Patients in an Urban Iranian Population
Shervin Badihian, Eun-Kyung Choi, Im-Ryung Kim, Aidin Parnia, Navid Manouchehri, Negin Badihian, Jila M. Tanha, Eliseo Guallar, Juhee ChoPrevious studies have shown that cancer awareness and screening rates in Iran did not improve despite of the Comprehensive National Cancer Control Program launched in 2007. To better understand the public’s attitude towards cancer, we conducted a general population survey for evaluating public attitudes toward cancer and cancer patients in Isfahan, Iran as the first report in Middle East.
Health Outcomes and Economics of Cancer Care
Health Care Resource Utilization and Associated Costs Among Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma Patients Treated with Ipilimumab (INTUITION Study)
Grant A. McArthur, Peter Mohr, Paolo Antonio Ascierto, Ana Arance, Ana Banos Hernaez, Peter Kaskel, Michael Weichenthal, Reshma Shinde, Kendall StevinsonThe objective of this study was to describe health care resource utilization and health care costs associated with the management of advanced melanoma patients receiving ipilimumab.
Melanoma and Cutaneous Malignancies
Impact of Age on Outcomes with Immunotherapy for Patients with Melanoma
Allison S. Betof, Ryan D. Nipp, Anita Giobbie-Hurder, Romany A. N. Johnpulle, Krista Rubin, Samuel M. Rubinstein, Keith T. Flaherty, Donald P. Lawrence, Douglas B. Johnson, Ryan J. SullivanGiven the age-related disparities in cancer care and the expanding role of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, it is critical to determine whether patient age impacts the effectiveness and toxicity of these treatments in the geriatric oncology population. In this retrospective study, data from 254 patients, treated at two academic cancer centers with anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 therapy, was analyzed. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and immune-related toxicity was compared between older and younger patients with melanoma.
Radiation Oncology
Prospective Evaluation of the Relationship Between Mechanical Stability and Response to Palliative Radiotherapy for Symptomatic Spinal Metastases
Joanne M. van der Velden, Anne L. Versteeg, Helena M. Verkooijen, Charles G. Fisher, Edward Chow, F. Cumhur Oner, Marco van Vulpen, Lorna Weir, Jorrit-Jan VerlaanThis study investigated the relationship between the degree of spinal instability, as defined by the Spinal Instability Neooplastic Score, and response to radiotherapy in patients with symptomatic spinal metastases in a multi-institutional cohort.
Sarcomas
Efficacy of Trabectedin in Patients with Advanced Translocation-Related Sarcomas: Pooled Analysis of Two Phase II Studies
Mitsuru Takahashi, Shunji Takahashi, Nobuhito Araki, Hideshi Sugiura, Takafumi Ueda, Tsukasa Yonemoto, Hideo Morioka, Hiroaki Hiraga, Toru Hiruma, Toshiyuki Kunisada, Akihiko Matsumine, Masashi Shimura, Akira KawaiThis analysis updates the results of two phase II studies of translocation-related sarcomas to evaluate the efficacy of trabectedin against histological subtype and analyze overall survival.
Symptom Management and Supportive Care
Hepatosplenic Candidiasis Without Prior Documented Candidemia: An Underrecognized Diagnosis?
Joffrey van Prehn, C. Willemien Menke-van der Houven van Oordt, Madelon L. de Rooij, Ellen Meijer, Marije K. Bomers, Karin van DijkHepatosplenic candidiasis (HSC) often occurs without prior documented candidemia. Underrecognized HSC can be mistaken for metastases and can have serious consequences for patients, especially when additional, inappropriate treatment, such as surgery and chemo- or immunotherapy, is initiated. To emphasize the importance of diagnosing HSC without prior documented candidemia, three illustrative cases and a review of the literature on HSC and candidemia are presented.
Implementation of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System for Symptom Distress Screening at a Community Cancer Center: A Pilot Program
David Hui, Annie Titus, Tiffany Curtis, Vivian Trang Ho-Nguyen, Delisa Frederickson, Curtis Wray, Tenisha Granville, Eduardo Bruera, Donna K. McKee, Alyssa RieberA better understanding of how the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) can be used for distress screening may facilitate its use to improve patient care. In 2015, the General Medical Oncology Outpatient Clinic at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital implemented a pilot project with ESAS for distress screening. The impact of ESAS screening on access to psychosocial care before and after program implementation is reported here.
Brief Communications
Data Linkage to Improve Geriatric Oncology Research: A Feasibility Study
Jennifer L. Lund, Anne-Marie Meyer, Allison M. Deal, Bong-Jin Choi, YunKung Chang, Grant R. Williams, Mackenzi Pergolotti, Emily J. Guerard, Hyman B. Muss, Hanna K. SanoffThe development of a more robust observational research data infrastructure would help to address gaps in the evidence base regarding optimal approaches to treating cancer among the growing and complex population of older adults. To demonstrate the feasibility of building such a resource, information from a sample of older adults with cancer was linked using three distinct but complementary data sources. Results are reported to highlight the potential for data linkage to improve the characterization of health status among older adults with cancer and the possibility to conduct passive follow-up for outcomes of interest over time.
Narratives in Oncology
What's the Harm?
Don S. DizonThis article focuses on the use of alternative cancer therapies and was previously published in “Discussions with Don S. Dizon”, on January 31, 2017.
The Best Thing I Saw at ASCO
Mark A. LewisAn off‐site meeting during the 2017 ASCO annual meeting proves to be the high point of one clinician's time at the conference.
Letters to the Editor
The Harm in Kratom
Joshua Z. Drago, Bennett Lane, Jonathan Kochav, Bruce ChabnerA case of severe hepatic toxicity associated with the use of kratom, a plant derivative increasingly used as a psychostimulant, is discussed.
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