The 2020 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium took place last weekend, and today, we’ll take a deeper dive into findings in pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer. We’ll also review the FDA approval of tazemetostat in epithelioid sarcoma.

Coverage of stories discussed this week on ascopost.com:

‘Unprecedented’ Responses to Cisplatin/Gemcitabine in BRCA-Mutated Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

FDA Approves Tazemetostat for Epithelioid Sarcoma

We’ll begin with a study that focused on elevations in cancer incidence among responders to the World Trade Center site after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. We’ll then turn to an analysis evaluating the effect of proton pump inhibitor use on decreased cognitive functioning among breast cancer survivors. Lastly, we’ll look at a trial that compared detection and grading of prostate cancer with a novel artificial intelligence system vs seasoned experts.

Coverage of stories discussed this week on ascopost.com: 

Cancer Incidence in World Trade Center Responders to the September 11 Attacks

Does Proton Pump Inhibitor Use Affect Cognition in Breast Cancer Survivors?

Use of Artificial Intelligence for Diagnosing and Grading Prostate Cancer

On this episode, we’ll hear about a study that examined the impact of the time of day that a patient with advanced melanoma receives an immune checkpoint inhibitor infusion on overall survival. Then, we’ll hear about two recent approvals from the FDA—one in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, and one for identification of ovarian cancer lesions during surgery.

Coverage of stories discussed this week on ascopost.com:

Impact of Time of Day of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Infusion on Overall Survival in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma

FDA Approves Triplet Therapy for Previously Treated Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

FDA Approves Pafolacianine to Help Identify Ovarian Cancer Lesions

To listen to more podcasts from ASCO, visit asco.org/podcasts.

The FDA certainly had a busy December, and this week, we’ll be reviewing some recent approvals: olaparib for germline BRCA-mutated metastatic pancreatic cancer; fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki for patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer; enfortumab vedotin-ejfv for previously treated advanced urothelial cancer; enzalutamide for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer; and atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adults with metastatic nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer.

Coverage of stories discussed this week on ascopost.com:

FDA Approves Olaparib for Patients With Germline BRCA Mutated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

FDA Approves Fam-Trastuzumab Deruxtecan-nxki for Patients With Unresectable or Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

FDA Approves Enfortumab Vedotin-ejfv for Previously Treated Advanced Urothelial Cancer

FDA Approves Enzalutamide for Patients With Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer

FDA Approves PD-L1 Inhibitor Plus Chemotherapy for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Nonsquamous Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

In this episode, we’ll cover three important presentations from the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. The first reports results from the HER2CLIMB trial on tucatinib, capecitabine, and trastuzumab for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer; the second discusses phase II findings on the activity of a novel HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugate in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer; and the third focuses on a postoperative treatment regimen for hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative primary breast cancer.

On this episode, we hear from the authors of three high-impact abstracts presented at the 2019 ASH Annual Meeting Exposition. The first paper investigated immunotherapy vs standard chemotherapy for pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; the second focused on the efficacy of oral azacitidine for acute myeloid leukemia; and the third looked at a triplet regimen for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

This week, we summarize two studies presented at the recent ESMO Asia Congress—one on a novel combination therapy for unresectable liver cancer, and the second on the activity of a Chinese-manufactured trastuzumab biosimilar. We’ll also discuss last week’s FDA approval of acalabrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma.

Coverage of stories discussed this week on ascopost.com:

ESMO Asia 2019: Combination of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma

ESMO Asia 2019: Trastuzumab Biosimilar HLX02 Shows Activity in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

FDA Approves Acalabrutinib for CLL/SLL as Part of Project Orbis

According to findings from a phase II trial, the combination of nivolumab and bevacizumab has shown activity in relapsed ovarian cancer—we discuss those findings reported in JAMA Oncology.

Next, we’ll move on to a session from CHEST 2019 which outlined palliation techniques that may be of use to oncologists and pulmonologists in treating patients with end-stage lung cancer. Finally, we’ll discuss two recent FDA drug approvals for patients with hematologic disorders.

Coverage of stories discussed this week on ascopost.com:

Nivolumab Plus Bevacizumab in Relapsed Ovarian Cancer

What Is the Best Palliation for End-Stage Lung Cancer?

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Zanubrutinib for Pretreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma

FDA Approves Luspatercept-aamt for Anemia in Patients With Beta Thalassemia

Coverage of stories discussed this week on ascopost.com:

Dietary Fiber, Yogurt Consumption, and Lung Cancer Risk

This week, we’ll review an interim analysis of the CASPIAN trial, which evaluated the addition of durvalumab to etoposide plus platinum chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Then, we’ll talk about two recently issued guidelines on screening for colorectal cancer. Lastly, we’ll summarize some recent FDA approvals and announcements.

Coverage of stories discussed this week on ascopost.com:

CASPIAN Trial: Addition of Durvalumab to Platinum/Etoposide for First-Line Treatment of Extensive-Stage SCLC

Colorectal Cancer Screening With Fecal Immunochemical Testing, Sigmoidoscopy, or Colonoscopy for Patients Aged 50 to 79 Years Old

American College of Physicians Issues Guidance on Colorectal Cancer Screening for Average-Risk, Asymptomatic Adults Aged 50 to 75 Years

FDA Approves Pegfilgrastim Biosimilar

FDA Approves Niraparib for Patients With Homologous Recombination Deficiency–Positive Advanced Ovarian Cancer

FDA Approves Daratumumab Combination for Transplant-Eligible Patients With Multiple Myeloma

Stephen Hahn, MD, to Be Nominated FDA Commissioner