Neo-adjuvant therapy for triple-negative breast cancer: Insights from a network meta-analysis.

Background: The best regimen of neo-adjuvant therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is unknown. Recent studies have shown promising data that adding carboplatin or pembrolizumab improves the rate of pathologic complete response (pCR) in TNBC. Therefore, we performed a network meta-analysis to define the overall, most effective, neo-adjuvant systemic therapy for TNBC.

Risk factors for skeletal-related events in patients with bone metastasis from breast cancer undergoing treatment with zoledronate.

Background: Skeletal-related events (SREs) are significant contributors to the morbidity and mortality in patients with bone metastasis from breast cancer. Thus, bone-modifying agents (BMAs) are recommended in this population. However, the baseline risk factors of SREs in patients with bone metastasis from breast cancer receiving BMAs are not well understood.

Effects of a Communication Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial to Enable Goals-of-Care Discussions.

Purpose: Patients with advanced cancer often have a poor understanding of cancer incurability, which correlates with more aggressive treatment near the end of life (EOL). We sought to determine whether training oncologists to elicit patient values for goals-of-care (GoC) discussions will increase and improve these discussions. We explored its impact on use of aggressive care at EOL.

Bone modifying agents for bone loss in patients with aromatase inhibitor as adjuvant treatment for breast cancer; insights from a network meta-analysis.

Purpose: The data of head-to-head comparisons of the anti-fracture efficacy of bone modifying agents (BMAs) in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer receiving aromatase inhibitor (AI) are not available. Therefore, we conducted a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of different BMAs in patients with breast cancer receiving adjuvant AI.

Methods: We performed a network meta-analysis to compare the change of bone mineral densities (BMDs) and the risk of fracture in the selected studies using a random effect model.

Pentostatin, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab Followed by Alemtuzumab for Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Phase 2 Trial of the ECOG-Acrin Cancer Research Group (E2903).

Patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may benefit from salvage chemoimmunotherapy (CIT). To explore further the use of CIT in the pre-novel agent era, ECOG-ACRIN undertook a phase 2 trial (E2903) for R/R CLL utilizing pentostatin, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (PCR) followed by a consolidation course of alemtuzumab. This trial enrolled 102 patients with a median age of 64 years.

Randomized Phase II Trial of Fulvestrant Plus Everolimus or Placebo in Postmenopausal Women With Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Resistant to Aromatase Inhibitor Therapy: Results of PrE0102.

Purpose The mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus targets aberrant signaling through the PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, a mechanism of resistance to anti-estrogen therapy in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. We hypothesized that everolimus plus the selective ER downregulator fulvestrant would be more efficacious than fulvestrant alone in ER-positive metastatic breast cancer resistant to aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy. Patients and Methods This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study included 131 postmenopausal women with ER-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, AI-resistant metastatic breast cancer randomly assigned to fulvestrant (500 mg days 1 and 15 of cycle 1, then day 1 of cycles 2 and beyond) plus everolimus or placebo.

Update on the Use and Treatment of Targeted Molecular Inhibitors for Locally Advanced and Metastatic Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers.

Background: Targeting specific molecular pathway inhibitors has provided a successful approach to the management of selected patients with advanced non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Clinical trials and case studies have provided a rationale for their use in clinical settings.

Objective: To review the current approaches to the use of targeted molecular inhibitors for locally advanced and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

Social Work Practice with LGBT Elders at End of Life: Developing Practice Evaluation and Clinical Skills Through a Cultural Perspective.

This article focuses on culturally sensitive clinical issues related to best practices with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) elder patients at end-of-life (EOL) at key points in the therapeutic relationship. Vital concepts, including practice evaluation and clinical skills, are presented through a cultural and oncology lens. There is a paucity of LGBT research and literature as well as a shortfall of MSW graduate school education specific to social work palliative and end-of-life care (PELC) practice with LGBT elders.

Variation in symptom distress in underserved Chinese American cancer patients.

Background: Cancer is prevalent in the rapidly growing Chinese American community, yet little is known about the symptom experience to guide comprehensive treatment planning. This study evaluated symptom prevalence and patient subgroups with symptom distress in a large sample of Chinese American cancer patients.

Methods: Patients were consecutively recruited from 4 oncology practices, and they completed a translated cancer symptom scale.

Activity and safety of nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, for patients with advanced, refractory squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (CheckMate 063): a phase 2, single-arm trial.

Background: Patients with squamous non-small-cell lung cancer that is refractory to multiple treatments have poor outcomes. We assessed the activity of nivolumab, a fully human IgG4 PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody, for patients with advanced, refractory, squamous non-small-cell lung cancer.

Methods: We did this phase 2, single-arm trial at 27 sites (academic, hospital, and private cancer centres) in France, Germany, Italy, and USA.

Extrascleral extension of choroidal melanoma: post-enucleation high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy of the orbit.

Purpose: To investigate if orbital extension of uveal melanoma can be treated with high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy.

Methods And Materials: This study is a retrospective analysis of the results of a clinical case series was performed on 10 patients. Each underwent primary enucleation for uveal melanoma, was discovered to have orbital extension, and consented for HDR brachytherapy.

Systemic therapy for small cell lung cancer.

Small cell lung cancer is an aggressive tumor characterized by genetic complexity, rapid doubling time, and early development of disseminated disease. Unfortunately, few chemotherapeutic advances have been made in the treatment of extensive-stage disease, and cisplatin/etoposide has remained the standard of care for more than 30 years. Other regimens with comparable efficacy include cisplatin/irinotecan and carboplatin/etoposide.

Update on chronic lymphocytic leukemia: overview of new agents and comparative analysis.

Treatment options for lymphoproliferative disorders, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), increasingly are based upon molecular targets, taking advantage of the immense research output over the past several years elaborating genetic abnormalities, downstream signaling, cell-surface immunobiochemistry, and microenvironmental stimuli. The latter targets have been particularly useful for the treatment of multiple myeloma, transforming a previously uniformly, fatal disease to one of a more chronic and potentially curable disorder. Subsequently, new treatment approaches are less likely to be based on the more classic types of cytocidal therapy, which, although successful and essential for the more aggressive disorders that are immediately life-threatening, tend to be less so, with respect to quality of life, risk versus benefit ratio and overall curability for the indolent diseases.