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Why Don’t Checkpoint Inhibitors Work for More Bladder Cancer Patients?
The FDA's approval of the first checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic bladder cancer in 2014 ushered in a new era of treatment. This was the first class of new drugs to be approved for this indication in decades. Yet despite initial optimism about checkpoint inhibitors, they only produce response rates of 15 to 25% in any setting -- chemorefractory, metastatic, BCG-unresponsive.
Learn MoreShould Surgery Be Considered for Oligometastatic Bladder Cancer?
Treatment for metastatic bladder cancer is well established. The majority of patients receive systemic therapies such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy. But for patients in the transitional oligometastatic bladder cancer state, the consideration may also include radical cystectomy.
Learn MoreWithdrawal of Durvalumab for Advanced Bladder Cancer “a Disappointing Loss”
On February 22, 2021, AstraZeneca announced that it was voluntarily withdrawing the checkpoint inhibitor durvalumab (brand name: Imfinzi) indication for previously treated patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer.
Learn MoreIdentifying Ovarian Cancer Patients for PARP Inhibitors
How to determine which ovarian cancer patients will benefit most from PARP inhibitors such as olaparib (brand name: Lynparza) is still a big question in oncology. “If you're going to use a selective strategy to identify patients for PARP inhibitors, there are different approaches, different pathways,” says Dr. Stephanie Wethington, gynecologic oncologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Learn MoreEvaluating Risks versus Benefits of PARP Inhibitors for Ovarian Cancer Patients
Prescribing any medication or course of treatment involves weighing the risks versus the benefits to the patient, but balancing this equation is particularly crucial with cancer drugs which carry significant side effects and toxicity. As the data on treating ovarian cancer with PARP inhibitors becomes more promising and their use becomes more widespread, oncologists are looking for information on patient tolerance.
Learn MoreWhich Ovarian Cancer Patients Should Get PARP Inhibitor Maintenance Therapy?
PARP inhibitors are becoming an increasingly important part of the care for ovarian cancer. Professional medical societies have started to weigh in on how these drugs should be incorporated into clinical care, but providers still have many unanswered questions about their use.
Learn MoreProgression-Free Survival With Olaparib (Lynparza) in SOLO-1 Study “Dramatic and Impressive”
Over the last few years, we have been more strategically targeting ovarian cancer treatment based on a patient’s BRCA or homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status. “We’ve seen a complete transformation in how we think about ovarian cancer,” says Dr. Stephanie Wethington, gynecologic oncologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Learn MoreIndividualizing Treatment for Asymptomatic Oligometastatic Bladder Cancer
Chemotherapy is the generally recognized frontline treatment for metastatic bladder cancer. But for patients who are in the transitional oligometastatic state between localized and metastatic cancer and are asymptomatic, what comes next can be somewhat unclear.
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