ASCO 2015 Highlights

Updated results from a large clinical trial confirm that, for some patients with bladder cancer that can be removed with surgery, receiving immunotherapy immediately afterwards is an effective treatment.

Biomarker testing is a necessary tool in the advancing world of precision cancer treatment. According to a new survey released by CancerCare, a leading national cancer support organization, biomarker testing helped physicians tailor therapy for nearly all the respondent patients (93%) whose cancers were tested over the past 3 years.

Results from a new study add to the evidence that programs aimed at reducing the financial burden of cancer treatment can save money and improve the quality of life of people with cancer and their loved ones.

Health insurance coverage mediated racial and ethnic inequities among patients with advanced-stage cervical cancer, according to findings from a recent retrospective, cross-sectional, population-based study.

An analysis from the ARASENS trial showed that the addition of darolutamide to androgen-deprivation therapy and docetaxel significantly improved overall survival in subgroups of patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer with high-volume and high-risk disease and should be considered the new standard of care for this patient population.

First-line standard of care for patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma has evolved from a chemotherapy-only regimen with gemcitabine/cisplatin to include the immune checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab based on results from TOPAZ-1 showing that the addition of durvalumab improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared with GemCis alone.

The results of a recent survey commissioned by AccessOne, which focused on healthcare affordability and the impact of rising costs of living, revealed that the majority (71%) of consumers feel that inflation is having a significant effect on their healthcare purchasing decisions or their ability to pay medical bills.

On March 22, 2023, the FDA granted accelerated approval to retifanlimab-dlwr (Zynyz; Incyte Corporation), a programmed cell death 1–blocking antibody, for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced Merkel-cell carcinoma.

On March 16, 2023, the FDA approved dabrafenib (Tafinlar; Novartis) in combination with trametinib (Mekinist; Novartis) for the treatment of pediatric patients aged ≥1 year with low-grade glioma that harbors a BRAF ^V600E mutation and who require systemic therapy.

On March 3, 2023, the FDA approved abemaciclib (Verzenio; Eli Lilly) plus endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor) for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive, early breast cancer at high risk for recurrence.