Mary Caffrey

Drugs targeting FGFR mutations, which are seen in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), have generated particular excitement; the authors note that prior to the approval of pemigatinib, the first targeted therapy approved by FDA, only 15% to 25% of patients with CCA were “fit enough to receive second-line chemotherapy.”

Purva Rawal, PhD, senior advisor and chief strategy officer, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, addressed attendees at the Association for Accessible Medicines' Access! annual meeting, held in Orlando, Florida, February 15-16.

A new study in the Annals of Surgical Oncology finds that recurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarinoma after hepatectomy can be 50% to 70%, and about half these recurrences happen within 2 years. The review sought to identify the factors that can predict the return of cancer within a 2-year span.

Kenneth Cohen, MD, FACP, executive director of clinical research at UnitedHealth Group Research and Development and senior national medical director at OptumCare, discusses areas where low-value care is more prevalent and the shift to high-value care.

Lessons from the early days of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy remain fresh as Kite Pharma prepares for the FDA to act on its supplemental biologics license application for use of axi-cel as second-line therapy in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. A target action date is set for April 1, 2022.

Rajini Katipamula-Malisetti, MD, a medical oncologist and hematologist with Minnesota Oncology who practices in Coon Rapids, has seen telehealth’s usefulness up close. During a pandemic, it can increase the number of touch points in areas such as survivorship care and nutrition, which would otherwise require a separate visit to the office.

AccessHope is a program that allows patients and community oncologists to tap into the expertise of City of Hope, often through electronic sharing of records so the patient does not have to travel.

The changes come as Tennessee Oncology must now plan for a gap between the Oncology Care Model and a future alternative payment model from CMS.

A statement from NCCN’s Advisory Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis said that the panel “endorses vaccination for all eligible persons based on FDA-approved indications or emergency use authorization” and emphasized the need for everyone to be fully vaccinated—including third doses.

The presence of FGFR2 alterations occurs almost exclusively in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) and is seen in 10% to 16% of patients. A question examined in abstracts over the past year has been whether FGFR2 alterations affect survival in those patients who receive systemic chemotherapy for iCCA.

A study published on World Cholangiocarcinoma Day outlines characteristics of disease subtypes and the strong links to lifestyle factors, such as obesity and alcohol use.

Physician and patient resistance to switching from an innovator or reference product to a biosimilar—or from one biosimilar to another—constitutes one of the major barriers to biosimilar adoption, despite the cost savings that can be achieved.

Kenneth Cohen, MD, FACP, executive director of clinical research at UnitedHealth Group Research and Development and senior national medical director at OptumCare, discusses evidence-based education and other tools to address low-value care.

Steven Pergam, MD, MPH, director of infection prevention at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and infectious disease physician at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses delayed booster vaccines and potential fourth doses for people who are immunosuppressed.

Cardinal Health's report, “2022 Biosimilars Report: The U.S. Journey and Path Ahead,” outlines how biosimilars will move beyond their comfort zones in oncology and rheumatology and more boldly into therapeutic areas such as ophthalmology and diabetes care.

Sunil Verma, MD, senior vice president and global head of oncology, medical at AstraZeneca, explains the background and results of the TOPAZ-1 study.

Sunil Verma, MD, senior vice president and global head of oncology, medical at AstraZeneca, summarizes the benefits and safety findings discovered in the HIMALAYA study.

The Oncology Care Model (OCM) is set to expire June 30, 2022. With no successor on the horizon, respondents to a recent survey by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) say features such as dedicated navigators and weekend appointments could be reduced or lost if revenues that supported them are eliminated.

Sunil Verma, MD, senior vice president and global head of oncology, medical at AstraZeneca, explains the design of the HIMALAYA study, including the dosing strategy used.

A presentation at the 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting explored the collection of real-world data.

The 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition featured leading experts who discussed research on multiple myeloma.

Ongoing and new developments in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies were covered at the 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting.

Clinical trial results in the leukemia and lymphoma space were covered at the 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting.

Disparities and inequities in care were topics of interest at the 63rd American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting.

Featuring abstracts from the Association of Community Cancer Centers, US Oncology, City of Hope, and Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute.

Zanubrutinib is a second-generation Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that has fewer off-target effects and less cardiotoxicity than ibrutinib, a first-generation BTK inhibitor.

There has not been a change in the standard of care in this type of cancer in a decade, according to an expert from ASCO.

Merck had previously received accelerated approval for pembrolizumab for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); an FDA panel left the approval in place while waiting on results from KEYNOTE-394.

Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, and Natalie Dickson, MD, discuss their new roles as chief medical officer (CMO) and chief strategy officer (CSO), respectively, at Tennessee Oncology.

Kenneth Cohen, MD, FACP, executive director of clinical research at UnitedHealth Group Research and Development and senior national medical director at OptumCare, explains why low-value care still exists and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the issue.