Vol. 22/No. 21

The use of a routine blood test to assess and monitor patients with cancer, especially in a longitudinal manner, has long been the holy grail of cancer research.

Several leading experts discussed a variety of tumor types set to influence the next wave of investigative directions and change the standard of care for patients in abstracts at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2021.

Telemedicine solidified its role as a new standard in patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the launching or expansion of in-home cancer therapy infusion programs at several oncology centers around the United States, drawing a surge of interest throughout the field as well as opposition from oncologists who are concerned about the implications for patient safety and the potential impact on community practices that provide in-house infusion services.

In a recent OncLive Peer Exchange® program, an expert panel of oncologic hematologists discussed the latest developments and future of BCMA in multiple myeloma.

Novel approaches with highly active, minimally toxic agents are needed to improve upon traditional chemotherapy and possibly eliminate chemotherapy altogether in the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Joel Neal, MD, PhD, discusses the evolving treatment landscape for patients with EGFR exon 20–mutant non–small cell lung cancer.

Investigators aim to expand the treatment portfolio with the phase 3 TROPION-LUNG01 trial, which is designed to examine datopotamab deruxtecan vs docetaxel in patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC without actionable genomic alterations who have previously received platinum-based chemotherapy and immunotherapy. 

Maurie Markman, MD, discusses the need for peer-reviewed publications to encourage further discussion and debate, challenge existing ideas or dogma, or provide support for current biological concepts or in the clinical realm for treatment of patients.