Christina Izzo

Articles

New Treatment Strategies Emerge for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

October 19th 2014

The treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who harbor an actionable mutation in EGFR or ALK continues evolve, as clinical trials begin exploring next-generation agents and combination strategies.

New Method Explored for Personalized Vaccines for Ovarian Cancer

October 16th 2014

A new method to identify protein mutations in cancer cells may help researchers create a personalized vaccine to treat patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

Ibrutinib/Nivolumab Combination on Horizon in NHL

October 14th 2014

The combination of the investigational PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo) and the oral BTK inhibitor ibrutinib (Imbruvica) will be evaluated in a phase I/II trial as a treatment for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

'Death With Dignity' Hits the Mainstream

October 10th 2014

Death with Dignity Acts have gained national attention, as the result of a recent initiative by a 29-year-old terminally ill cancer patient.

FDA Approves New Oral Combo Drug for CINV

October 10th 2014

The FDA has approved NEPA (Akynzeo) to treat nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy as part of their cancer treatment.

Multiple Factors Impact BRCA Testing Decision

September 23rd 2014

More than one-third of patients with breast or ovarian cancer or a family history of those diseases who also saw a genetic counselor did not pursue genetic testing for BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutations.

Novel Treatment Strategy Could Overcome Resistance

September 22nd 2014

A preclinical study has shown promising steps toward tackling drug resistance in hematologic malignancies using sequential dosing of drugs targeted against vulnerabilities that emerge as a result of tumor evolution

Most Breast Cancer Patients Forgo Reconstruction Surgery Without Regret

September 22nd 2014

Although universal insurance coverage for postmastectomy breast reconstruction has been mandated since 1998, a new study has found that the persistently high rates of American women who choose not to undergo reconstruction surgery are due primarily to patient preferences and not a lack of awareness.

FDA Grants Special Protocol Assessment to Phase III Ublituximab/Ibrutinib Study

September 21st 2014

TG Therapeutics has reached an agreement with the FDA regarding a Special Protocol Assessment for a phase III clinical trial exploring ublituximab in combination with ibrutinib for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Potentially Curative Surgery Achievable With Chemo/SABR Combination for Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

September 16th 2014

The combination of chemotherapy and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) may allow patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer to undergo surgery, a procedure that might not have otherwise been an option

Radiation Therapy Improves Survival in Hodgkin's Lymphoma

September 15th 2014

Despite a recent decline in utilization, consolidated radiation therapy has been shown to improve 10-year survival rates for patients with stage I/II Hodgkin's lymphoma following treatment with chemotherapy

ASCO Issues New Guideline for Advanced HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

September 3rd 2014

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released a new clinical practice guideline on the treatment of patients with advanced HER2-negative breast cancer.

Tripathy Offers Perspective on HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

August 13th 2014

The ever-evolving treatment landscape for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer leaves several questions unanswered regarding therapeutic sequences and whether an optimal standard of care exists.

Eribulin Does Not Improve OS in Advanced NSCLC

August 11th 2014

A preliminary analysis has shown that eribulin mesylate failed to meet its primary endpoint of improving overall survival in pre-treated patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Promising Findings for Afatinib-Cetuximab Combo in Previously Treated EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer

July 29th 2014

Results of an early-phase study have shown the combination of afatinib (Gilotrif) and cetuximab (Erbitux) has utility in EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients who have developed resistance to gefitinib (Tarceva) and erlotinib (Iressa).

Gel, Oral Routes Equivalent for Tamoxifen in DCIS

July 18th 2014

A gel formulation of tamoxifen is equally as effective with fewer side effects when compared with oral tamoxifen in women with ductal carcinoma in situ.

Trastuzumab-Associated Cardiac Events Reversible, Outweighed by Benefits

July 14th 2014

Cardiac events associated with trastuzumab are mostly reversible and outweighed by significant extensions in OS and PFS for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, according to analyses from several clinical trials exploring the drug.

Ofatumumab Misses PFS Endpoint in Bulky CLL

June 30th 2014

Ofatumumab (Arzerra) failed to meet its primary endpoint of improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) in a phase III study of the drug versus physicians' choice for bulky fludarabine-refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL),

Ramucirumab Misses Primary Endpoint in Phase III HCC Trial

June 11th 2014

The phase III REACH trial, which examined ramucirumab (Cyramza) for the second-line treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), failed to meet its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS), as announced by Eli Lilly and Company, the sponsor of the study and developer of the drug.

Nab-Paclitaxel Explored as Adjuvant Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer

June 4th 2014

While the combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) has demonstrated survival benefits for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, oncologists are interested in knowing whether the regimen will transfer well into the adjuvant setting