Project Oncology®

Recent studies have examined the implications of ESR1 mutations in metastatic breast cancer and found that ESR1 mutations predict poor response to subsequent endocrine therapy. These acquired mutations also correlate with aggressive disease and, by extension, worse prognosis. Dive further into these findings from various studies and how they might impact the way we treat patients with metastatic breast cancer with Dr. Pavani Chalasani and Dr. Marcela Mazo Canola, Assistant Professor at UT Health San Antonio’s Mays Cancer Center.

When treating patients with metastatic breast cancer, it’s important to repeatedly conduct liquid biopsies to look for acquired ESR1 mutations when patients progress after endocrine therapy, even if initial testing was done. That’s why Dr. Charles Turck is breaking down best practices for utilizing liquid biopsies to detect ESR1 mutations with Drs. Stephanie Graff and Pavani Chalasani. Dr. Graff is the Director of Breast Oncology at the Lifespan Cancer Institute in Providence, Rhode Island, and Dr. Chalasani is the Division Director of Hematology-Oncology at the GW Cancer Center in Washington, DC.

A recent study sought to determine whether CNS treatment or prophylaxis combined with systemic tagraxofusp therapy for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) impacts patient prognosis and the efficacy of tagraxofusp. According to the results presented as a poster at the 2022 European Hematology Association Annual Congress, treatment with tagraxofusp and intrathecal chemotherapy was associated with promising efficacy in patients with CNS disease, with no unexpected safety events. Joining Dr. Charles Turck to share the key findings and how they may impact the way we approach treating patients with BPDCN is Dr. Justin Taylor, Assistant Professor of Hematology at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

While intrinsic mutations, like PIK3CA, are present at the outset and can be identified upfront in patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, acquired mutations, like ESR1, cannot be detected on baseline tumor profiling. That’s why longitudinal monitoring with liquid biopsies over the course of treatment is required. Learn more about these key differences in testing for acquired versus intrinsic mutations with Dr. Megan Kruse, a breast medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Breast cancer is the second most common cause of brain metastases. Given this prevalence, how can we identify the early signs and symptoms and treat patients with metastatic breast cancer accordingly? Here to dive further into this topic with Dr. Pavani Chalasani is Dr. Jose Pablo Leone, Director of the Program for Breast Cancer in Men at Dana-Farber.

Not only can biosimilars impact the health of our patients with cancer, but they can also contribute to cost savings for the healthcare system as a whole. Here to dive further into the economic impacts of biosimilars in the oncology space with Dr. Mary Katherine Cheeley is Dr. Sophia Humphreys, Director of System Pharmacy Formulary Management and Clinical Programs at Sutter Health.

Bone metastases are the most frequent site of metastatic spread for breast cancer, especially for the luminal subtypes, which are the most frequent types of breast cancer. Here to dive further into these therapies with Dr. Pavani Chalasani is Dr. Gabriel Hortobagyi, Professor of Medicine in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology in the Division of Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

How can ribociclib plus endocrine therapy help reduce recurrence in early breast cancer? That’s the exact question the NATALEE trial sought to answer, and here to discuss the results with Dr. Pavani Chalasani is Dr. Nicholas McAndrew, Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.

In a recent study, investigators conducted a randomized trial to compare the efficacy and tolerability of a fixed dose of an oral chemotherapy drug on a 7/7 schedule. Here with Dr. Pavani Chalasani to discuss the results from the X-7/7 trial is Dr. Colleen Bohnenkamp, Oncology Clinical Pharmacist who specializes in women’s cancers at the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia in adults. Immuno-oncologic agents have changed the treatment landscape for non-small cell lung cancer. Listen as Drs. Harry Erba and Courtney DiNardo discuss advances in molecular profiling and classification of AML, as well as the newest approved treatments.