Rachel Narozniak, MA

Poziotinib is being tested in a biomarker-driven trial of patients with non–small cell lung cancer in both second-line and treatment-naïve settings.

Seeking to explore an apparent synergy between agents, investigators are evaluating the PARP inhibitor olaparib in combination with the hormone blocker abiraterone in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received no prior cytotoxic chemotherapy or new hormonal agents.

By the end of 2018, the 57 oncology drugs launched from 2014 to 2018 had gained 89 indications across 23 cancer types. These new agents included numerous checkpoint inhibitors, which saw tremendous uptake based on their ability to dramatically improve patient outcomes.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) increases the risk of subsequent Alzheimer disease and dementia among men ≥66 years with prostate cancer, according to findings of a large retrospective study that examined the link between ADT treatment and later cognitive dysfunction.

With the recent publication of an inaugural set of guidelines for treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network seeks to introduce standards to a branch of care long dominated by clinical trial protocols.

Investigators hope to expand frontline treatment options for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma via the phase III IMbrave150 study, which is exploring the synergistic potential of immunotherapy and the immunomodulatory potential of a VEGF inhibitor in locally advanced, metastatic or unresectable HCC.

In the phase III PROSPER trial, investigators will attempt a novel approach in localized renal cell carcinoma: priming the immune system prior to nephrectomy with neoadjuvant nivolumab and continuing with adjuvant blockade. The study will be the first to combine neoadjuvant and adjuvant immunotherapy with standard of care nephrectomy.

Until now, radiation oncology (RO) has remained largely untouched by the valuebased initiatives of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The federal agency aims to change that with a proposed RO Model of care that would promote site-neutral payment and take away incentives for volume-based billing.

Investigators see potential in adding targeted therapy to dual immunotherapy for intermediate- and poor-risk patients with renal cell carcinoma. In the phase III COSMIC-313 trial, investigators aim to evaluate cabozantinib, nivolumab, and ipilimumab in patients with untreated advanced RCC.