Sorafenib plus intensive chemotherapy in newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD AML: a randomized, placebo-controlled study by the ALLG.

Sorafenib maintenance improves outcomes after hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) for patients with FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Although promising outcomes have been reported for sorafenib plus intensive chemotherapy, randomized data are limited. This placebo-controlled, phase 2 study (ACTRN12611001112954) randomized 102 patients (aged 18-65 years) 2:1 to sorafenib vs placebo (days 4-10) combined with intensive induction: idarubicin 12 mg/m2 on days 1 to 3 plus either cytarabine 1.

Efficacy of preoxygenation administration in volunteers, in extending the end-expiration breath-hold duration for application to abdominal radiotherapy.

Background And Purpose: End expiration breath hold (EEBH) is the preferred motion management method for abdominal Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) treatments. However, multiple short EEBHs are required to complete a single treatment session. The study aimed to determine the efficacy of preoxygenation with hyperventilation in extending an EEBH duration.

Treatment patterns and long-term survival outcomes for patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer: A retrospective study.

Aim: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Australia with poor long-term survival outcomes. Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly heterogenous group with diverse tumor characteristics and multiple, possible treatment options. We present retrospective data on patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and long-term outcomes in stage III NSCLC patients treated at a single cancer center in New South Wales, Australia.

Safety culture and incident learning systems in radiation oncology: Staff perceptions across Australia and New Zealand.

Introduction: Radiation therapy has a highly complex pathway and uses detailed quality assurance protocols and incident learning systems (ILSs) to mitigate risk; however, errors can still occur. The safety culture (SC) in a department influences its commitment and effectiveness in maintaining patient safety.

Methods: Perceptions of SC and knowledge and understanding of ILSs and their use were evaluated for radiation oncology staff across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ).

Evaluating incident learning systems and safety culture in two radiation oncology departments.

Introduction: Radiation oncology patient pathways are complex. This complexity creates risk and potential for error to occur. Comprehensive safety and quality management programmes have been developed alongside the use of incident learning systems (ILSs) to mitigate risks and errors reaching patients.

Severe infusion reaction due to nivolumab: A case report.

Background: Nivolumab is an anti-PD1 immune checkpoint inhibitor commonly used for the treatment of solid organ and hematological malignancies. Severe infusion reaction due to nivolumab is quite rare.

Case: We report a case of severe infusion reaction due to nivolumab necessitating ICU admission and withdrawal of further nivolumab use in a patient with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Health-related quality of life associated with regorafenib treatment in refractory advanced gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: The INTEGRATE phase II multinational randomized controlled trial demonstrated the activity of regorafenib on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with refractory advanced gastric adenocarcinoma. We sought to evaluate whether these PFS gains had the potential to be offset by quality of life (QoL) impacts from treatment side effects and to thereby determine the appropriateness of continuing development to phase III.

Methods: QoL was assessed in INTEGRATE at baseline and at each 4 weeks thereafter, until discontinuation of study treatment, using the QLQ-C30, STO22, and EQ-5D questionnaires.