Vol. 19/No. 17

Quizartinib, a small molecule receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting FLT3, is currently being evaluated in combination with chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD–positive AML.

Amid a pressing need to identify patients most likely to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor mutational burden has emerged as a highly promising and clinically validated biomarker.

Anthracyclines widely used for a variety of malignancies cause cardiotoxic effects that manifest as cardiomyopathy. Maya E. Guglin, MD, PhD, discusses supportive therapy for these patients.

Technological advancements in molecular tumor profiling are starting to make a difference in pediatric oncology, where the search for new therapies is challenging and frustrating.

Joseph V. Simone, MD, is best known for leading the research efforts that resulted in the first curative combination treatment for certain pediatric patients with acute lymphoid leukemia. Under his leadership, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, was designated the first and only National Cancer Institute cancer center dedicated to children. He was honored in the Pediatric Oncology category with a 2017 Giants of Cancer Care® award.

In the setting of advanced non–small cell lung cancer, the choice of up-front immunotherapy or chemotherapy, or combinations of both, is aided by findings from several trials.

Some rural clinics are finding ways to successfully raise the level of cancer care for their patients, and methods vary according to the amount of time and other resources available.

In an effort to address strategies that many patients with cancer are adopting, ASCO has endorsed recommendations regarding the use of complementary therapies to manage symptoms and adverse effects of breast cancer treatment.

In recent years there has been much discussion about the serious limitations of the conduct and interpretation of randomized trials examining the utility of antineoplastic drug therapy.

In recent years, tyrosine kinase inhibitors that specifically target RET have entered the pipeline. Although none have yet received FDA approval, the promise of these agents has spurred interest in diagnostic assays.

As investigators continue to look for ways to improve outcomes for the growing number of patients with CML, the primary goal has shifted from improving overall survival to helping patients achieve treatment-free remission.