All Oncology News

Maurie Markman, MD

In the cancer arena, COVID-19 information problems highlight the critical role of clear, honest, and effective communication with the public, patients, and their families regarding the increasing complexity of a multitude of topics related to malignant disease and its management.

Nathan A. Pennell, MD, PhD

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic required that investigators, sponsors, and regulators adapt clinical trials to prioritize the safety of patients. Now momentum is gathering to make permanent the flexibilities introduced in regulations and procedures to improve access to clinical trials for patients with cancer.

Data from the phase 3 CheckMate-9ER trial has not only confirmed the advantage of cabozantinib plus nivolumab in terms of progression-free survival, overall survival, and responses vs sunitinib in the frontline treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, but it has served as additional incentive to push the needle even further with research aimed at evaluating triplet regimens in the frontline setting and response-guided sequencing strategies.

Michael V. Seiden, MD, PhD

The US Oncology Network, the largest organization of its kind dedicated to advancing local cancer care and better patient outcomes, continues to expand its reach into local communities while broadening its surgical expertise with the addition of physicians from Texas Colon & Rectal Specialists, a large colorectal practice in North Texas, as a part of Texas Oncology, a practice in The Network.

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has adopted a positive opinion recommending the approval of single-agent duvelisib for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia following at least 2 prior therapies, and follicular lymphoma that is refractory to at least 2 prior systemic treatments.