Oncology and Therapy

INTRODUCTION: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a chronic disease with treatment-free remission (TFR) increasingly regarded as a feasible goal of treatment. However, various factors may influence adherence to international guidelines for CML management. This study aimed to compare the reporting of care between patients with CML and their treating doctors. METHODS: Parallel patient and physician online surveys were conducted between September 22, 2021, and March 15, 2022, which focused on the perceptions of 1882 adult patients with CML and 305 physicians regarding tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment options, monitoring and toxicities, TFR, and challenges faced...

INTRODUCTION: There has been a growing recognition on the importance of diversity in clinical trials. Existing research has highlighted a significant demographic imbalance. Amidst this renewed focus on diversity, it is crucial to acknowledge that Asia comprises over half of the world's population. Given the region's demographic significance, we sought to compare various characteristics and growth rates for trials with sites in Asia against those without any sites in Asia. METHODS: We performed comprehensive analyses of industry-sponsored phase 2 and 3 oncology trials registered at Clinicaltrials...

INTRODUCTION: Patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) face considerable challenges in disease management and often require caregiver support. Reports on the burden of caring for patients with advanced cancer suggest that caregivers receive insufficient support. Our research aimed to identify key challenges for caregivers of patients with higher-risk MDS. METHODS: Online bulletin board is a qualitative research methodology which enables data collection via a web-based platform...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The formidable impact of breast cancer extends globally, with South Africa facing pronounced challenges, including significant disparities in breast cancer screening, treatment and survival along ethnic and socioeconomic lines. Over the last two decades, breast cancer incidence has increased and now accounts for a substantial portion of cancers in women. Ethnic disparities in terms of screening, incidence and survival exacerbate the issue, leading to delayed diagnosis among Black patients and highlighting healthcare inequities...

INTRODUCTION: It is unclear how soon after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection it is safe to resume systemic anti-neoplastic treatment in patients with cancer. We assessed the risk of admissions or postponed treatment cycle in vaccinated patients with breast cancer receiving early systemic anti-neoplastic treatment following SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted during Omicron SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Israel, January-July 2022...

INTRODUCTION: Patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) receiving third-line or later (3L +) therapy have long survival, which can make estimating long-term overall survival (OS) from trial data challenging. The objective of this study was to estimate long-term OS for mosunetuzumab from the GO29781 trial (NCT02500407) using multiple real-world databases (RWDs) in a Bayesian framework. METHODS: Seven RWD sources for patients with FL receiving 3L + therapy and the expansion cohort in the GO29781 trial for mosunetuzumab were used...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the overall surgical outcomes of infranotch T4b oral cancers and compare them with T4a oral cancers. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases from 2000 to 2022 were systematically searched. Clinical studies reporting at least one outcome following curative surgery and adjuvant therapy for comparison of patients with either infranotch T4b (IN-T4b) or T4a tumour. The heterogeneity of the included studies was determined using Tau-squared, Chi-squared, and the Higgins I2 test...

Shared decision-making involves patients engaging with their physicians to make informed decisions regarding treatment selection, a process that empowers patients and ensures that treatment decisions reflect their individual values and preferences. However, shared decision-making can be challenging to implement for various reasons, including time, staffing, or resource limitations at community practices and differences in patients' cultural backgrounds or health literacy. In this podcast, we discuss how to ensure that individual patients' needs and concerns are addressed, including an overview of different approaches for initial consultations, strategies for tailoring conversations based on a patient's background or health literacy, and trustworthy resources that can help improve patients' understanding...

This podcast, for healthcare professionals (HCPs), patients, and patient advocates, is a discussion among a panel of two patients (and co-founders of the patient advocacy group EGFR Resisters, https://egfrcancer.org/ ) and two oncologists. The objective of the podcast is to explain the importance of biomarker testing for patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment landscape for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer is evolving, and biomarker testing has become central to determining the best therapies for individual patients...

BACKGROUND: Deleterious germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are associated with a high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. In many developing countries, including Egypt, the prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutations among women with breast cancer (BC) is unknown. AIM: We aimed to determine the prevalence of deleterious germline BRCA mutations in Egyptian patients with breast cancer. METHODS: We report the results of a cohort study of 81 Egyptian patients with breast cancer who were tested for germline BRCA1/2 mutations during routine clinical practice, mostly for their young age of presentation, BC subtype, or presence of family history...

INTRODUCTION: Many patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive metastatic breast cancer (HER2+ mBC) require subsequent lines of therapy (LOTs) after being treated with pertuzumab and trastuzumab-based regimens in the first line (1L). Although the efficacy of the second-line (2L) therapies has been demonstrated in clinical trials, the real-world effectiveness of these treatments is understudied. This retrospective cohort study assessed the real-world treatment patterns and outcomes for patients with HER2+ mBC following 1L therapy with pertuzumab and trastuzumab-based regimens in the United States (US) during 2015-2019...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

This podcast highlights the importance of genetic testing in patients with metastatic breast cancer, with a specific focus on germline or inherited breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) mutations. In the USA, national guidelines recommend that all patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer should be offered genetic testing for germline breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 or 2 (BRCA1 or 2) mutations to identify patients potentially suitable for treatment with a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor...

This article was co-authored by a patient's relative describing their experiences of receiving a diagnosis and subsequent clinical management of a rare form of prostate cancer, neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). The difficulty of receiving this diagnosis, particularly as this was terminal with no options for systemic treatment, and experiences throughout this process are detailed. The relative's questions regarding the care of her partner, NEPC and clinical management are answered. The treating physician's perspective regarding clinical management is enclosed...

INTRODUCTION: The immunomodulatory impact of corticosteroids and concurrent chemotherapy is poorly understood within triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). On a biochemical level, steroids have been linked to the signaling of chemotherapy-resistant pathways. However, on a clinical level, steroids play an essential role in chemotherapy tolerance through the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and hypersensitivity reactions. Given these conflicting roles, we wanted to evaluate this interplay more rigorously in the context of early-stage TNBC...

INTRODUCTION: Biomarker testing is increasingly crucial for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (eNSCLC). We explored biomarker test utilization and subsequent treatment in eNSCLC patients in the real-world setting. METHODS: Using COTA's oncology database, this retrospective observational study included adult patients ≥ 18 years old diagnosed with eNSCLC (disease stage 0-IIIA) between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2021...

In this plain language podcast, highlights from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress are discussed for a second year in a row, from the perspective of both a patient advocate and a healthcare professional. The patient advocacy track at the congress included two patient-focused sessions each day on a variety of topics. Here, the authors discuss the importance of involving patients in the design of clinical trials, as well as strategies to improve dialogue and connections between clinicians, researchers and patients...

INTRODUCTION: There is a dearth of evidence to document treatment of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3)-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in real-world settings before the introduction of FLT3 inhibitors. A retrospective cohort study was conducted to understand treatment practices prior to the availability of FLT3 inhibitors in patients with FLT3-mutated AML from two registries in France. METHODS: Patient data from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2017 were collected from the Hauts-de-France and Midi-Pyrénées registries...