Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With R-CHOP in a Resource-Limited Setting in South Africa: A Real-World Study.

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma worldwide and particularly in Africa, where the incidence of HIV is the highest in the world. R-CHOP is the standard of care regimen for DLBCL, but access to rituximab is limited in developing countries.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that included all HIV-negative patients with DLBCL who received R-CHOP at a single institution from January 2012 to December 2017.

Supreme Court and the Practice of Oncology.

The past and future Editors-in-Chief of The Oncologist offer thoughts on the recent U.S. Supreme Court leak and its significance for other areas of medical practice.

Financial Toxicity, Symptom Burden, Illness Perceptions, and Communication Confidence in Cancer Clinical Trial Participants.

Purpose: Cancer clinical trial (CCT) participants are at risk for experiencing adverse associations from financial toxicity, but these remain understudied.

Methods: From July 2015 to July 2017, we prospectively enrolled CCT participants referred for financial assistance and a group of patients matched by age, sex, cancer type, trial, and trial phase. We assessed financial burden of cancer care, cost concerns about CCTs, physical (Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale [ESAS]) and psychologic (Patient Health Questionnaire-4 [PHQ-4]) symptoms, illness perceptions (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire), and communication confidence (Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions).

Stepping Down, Looking Forward.

Dr. Chabner, Editor-in-Chief of , announces his retirement, with a look back at the origins of the journal and a look forward to the future.

Phase II trial of veliparib and temozolomide in metastatic breast cancer patients with and without BRCA1/2 mutations.

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of poly-(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) 1 and 2 inhibitor veliparib and temozolomide in metastatic breast cancer patients with and without germline BRCA1/2 mutations.

Methods: In this single-arm phase II trial, patients with metastatic breast cancer received veliparib 30 to 40 mg twice daily on days 1 to 7 with concurrent temozolomide 150 mg/m on days 1 to 5 of a 28-day cycle. The primary cohort was unselected for BRCA mutation status, and an expansion cohort enrolled only BRCA1/2 carriers.

The Occasional Reader.

The editors of offer suggestions for summer reading of books that provide insight into our field of endeavor, our civil discourse, and our personal lives.

Remembering José.

In memory of José Baselga

A Medical Pearl Harbor: Pandemic Uncovers Societal Fissures and Leadership Breaches.

The Editors of remark on recent national events and call for new strategies for the New Year.

Rising Circulating Tumor DNA As a Molecular Biomarker of Early Disease Progression in Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Accurate monitoring of therapeutic response remains an important unmet need for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Analysis of tumor genomics obtained via circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can provide a comprehensive overview of tumor evolution. Here, we evaluated ctDNA change as an early prognostic biomarker of subsequent radiologic progression and survival in MBC.

The Corruption of Science.

This editorial focuses on the current state of science and public health in the U.S. during the 2020 presidential election season.

Pemetrexed in Recurrent or Progressive Central Nervous System Lymphoma: A Phase I Multicenter Clinical Trial.

Lessons Learned: The findings from this study using monotherapy with pemetrexed in a pretreated patient population are, overall, encouraging. Unlike high-dose methotrexate, which requires several days of inpatient hospitalization, pemetrexed is relatively easy to administer in the outpatient setting and remains a viable treatment option in this patient population. The maximum tolerated dose of pemetrexed administered (900 mg/m every 2 weeks) was generally well tolerated and showed activity in patients with relapsed or refractory CNSL.

A Phase II Trial of Cabozantinib in Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer with Bone Metastases.

Background: We assessed the antitumor activity of cabozantinib, a potent multireceptor oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer with bone metastases.

Patients And Methods: In this single-arm multicenter phase II study, patients received an initial starting dose of 100 mg, later reduced to 60 mg, per day. The primary endpoint was the bone scan response rate.

Taking the Longer View of COVID-19.

What are the prospects for dealing with COVID‐19 more effectively in the future? This editorial addresses the question from the perspective of long‐term control of coronavirus infection.

The Finding of N-Nitrosodimethylamine in Common Medicines.

The FDA has ordered the withdrawal of all ranitidine products from the marketplace based on recent findings of increased and unacceptable levels of N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). This commentary reviews the sources and properties of NDMA, assesses the dangers it poses, and suggests measures to mitigate contamination.

Twenty-Five Years of The Oncologist.

In tribute to the origins of the Journal and to those who made, and continue to make, it possible, this editorial looks back at the past 25 years since the first issue of The Oncologist was published.

POETIC (Program for Enhanced Training in Cancer): An Initial Experience of Supporting Capacity Building for Oncology Training in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is simultaneously facing a rising incidence of cancer and a dearth of medical professionals because of insufficient training numbers and emigration, creating a growing shortage of cancer care. To combat this, Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center partnered with institutions in South Africa, Tanzania, and Rwanda to develop a fellowship exchange program to supplement the training of African oncologists practicing in their home countries.

Methods: In its initial year, 2018, the Program for Enhanced Training in Cancer (POETIC) hosted a pilot cohort of seven fellows for 3-week observerships in their areas of interest.