Precision Medicine in Oncology®

Combining the investigational PD 0332991 with letrozole as first-line therapy extended progression-free survival in women with advanced estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer.

Richard Finn, MD, from the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, describes results from a phase II study that examined PD 0332991 in combination with letrozole for women with metastatic ER-positive breast cancer.

Results of the phase III MISSION trial showed that third- or fourth-line treatment with sorafenib did not improve overall survival in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer.

The pace of discovery in breast cancer research has been brisk in the past year, leading not only to the approval of several new therapies but also to clinical trial results with the potential to change practice.

Over the past decade, there has been an explosion of knowledge regarding the fundamental drivers of the malignant phenotype.

Jeffrey N. Weitzel, MD, from City of Hope, discusses the need to develop combination strategies for patients with breast cancer, in order to overcome the resistance.

Targeted antineoplastic therapy based on the presence of a well-defined molecular target should be recognized as a standard-of-care approach in an increasing number of clinical settings.

In September 2012 the new joint Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medical College and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital was established, bringing together basic, translational, and clinical researchers to operate within a vast, collaborative infrastructure.

Novel combinations of hormonal therapies with targeted agents show promise for improved outcomes and are likely to become part of a new paradigm for managing patients.

Stakeholders weigh in on evidence-based pathway approach designed to decrease practice variation, improve outcomes, and reduce cost.

Aleksandar Sekulic, MD, PhD, from the Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, discusses the administration of vismodegib for the treatment and prevention of basal-cell carcinoma in patients with basal-cell nevus syndrome.

The goal in treating newly diagnosed multiple myeloma is to achieve deep remission and prevent relapse, which is best achieved by targeted combination therapy very early in the course of disease.

Suzanne L. Topalian, MD, has led clinical development of monoclonal antibodies to treat patients with melanoma and other solid tumors, including those targeting the PD-1 T cell co-receptor.

The development of targeted agents aimed at aurora kinases has proceeded slowly, and the future may lie in combination therapies.

Researchers have identified a potential predictive marker for survival in cases of metastatic colorectal cancer treated with bevacizumab.

The latest research on several investigational cancer therapies was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology 2012 Congress.

David R. Gandara, MD, University of California, Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, provides his opinion on some of the most exciting research currently taking place for patients with NSCLC.

In order to help community oncologists optimize patient outcomes, this review summarizes clinical issues associated with specific therapies and the background pivotal data.