Colorectal Cancer

Management of Metastatic Colon Cancer

Considering data from the real-world setting is becoming increasingly important with the use of anticancer agents, as there is likely a big difference between patients in a clinical trial and patients in the real world, said Juan Manuel O’Connor, MD. During the 2018 ESMO Congress, O'Connor presented real-world dosing findings for regorafenib in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

During a presentation at the 2018 International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology Annual Meeting,&nbsp;Dustin Deming, MD, discussed treatment options showing promise for patients with&nbsp;<em>BRAF</em> V600E&ndash;mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.

Anthony F. Shields, MD, PhD, discusses pivotal data from the IDEA pooled analysis, consisting of 6 international, noninferiority, phase III colon cancer studies.

Al B. Benson III, MD, FACP, FASCO,&nbsp;discusses the treatment landscape for advanced and metastatic CRC and how molecular profiling can play a vital role in selecting the optimal treatment plan for each patient. He also emphasizes the importance of participation in clinical trials to further understand these patients.

Hendrik-Tobias Arkenau, MD, PhD, discusses the rationale for using TAS-102 (trifluridine/tipiracil; Lonsurf) as a treatment for patients with gastric cancers.

James L. Wade III, MD, FACP, FASCO, discusses the importance of clinical trials in the community.

Colorectal Cancer

I think one of the most important advancements in biomedical technology that has improved our understanding of the complexities of cancer is the ability to sequence the cancer genome for any individual patient, in a rapid and cost-effective manner, to help us make treatment decisions in the clinic.

Groundbreaking developments in cancer therapies can change lives, extending survival and sending patients who previously thought their chances were slim into remission. But these therapies come at a cost, and many patients reel at the prospect of heavy financial burdens. To help patients and programs meet the challenges of affording cancer treatments, community cancer centers are expanding the role of financial advocates in their organizations.

Thomas A. Gallo, MS, MDA, president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers, discusses his mission as president to &ldquo;reflect, renew, and reignite&rdquo; in order to create a more resilient oncology team for the community.

Among patients with advanced solid tumors associated with <em>NTRK</em> gene fusions, more than half had responses to&nbsp;the small-molecule inhibitor entrectinib, according to an integrated analysis of 3 clinical trials presented at the 2018 ESMO Annual Congress.

Larotrectinib induced an objective response rate of 80% in patients with advanced solid tumors who harbored&nbsp;<em>NTRK&nbsp;</em>gene fusions, according to results pooled from 3 small trials of the TRK inhibitor. Results were presented during the 2018 ESMO Congress.

Rising prescription drug prices continue to add to the burden of paying for quality healthcare. In an effort to confront such costs, the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services has rescinded a prohibition on step therapy for Medicare Advantage plans. But some contend such a policy will reduce patient access to optimal medication.

Cathy Eng, MD, discusses how the PRODIGE 7 trial, though negative, provided valuable evidence to the field for treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Axel Grothey, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with colon cancer. Grothey, a medical oncologist at the West Cancer Center, explained how he would treat these patients based on case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

Pontchartrain Cancer Center was founded in 2005 to serve an area of Louisiana that lacked the necessary resources for cancer care. This community cancer center, with 2 locations in Southeast Louisiana, accommodates any patient to walk through its doors, filling a major unmet need for the community in this rural area.

Ronit Yarden, PhD, MHSA, has joined the Colorectal Cancer Alliance as its new director of medical affairs, where she will work to develop the organization&rsquo;s funding initiatives and act as liaison to its medical scientific advisory committee with the goal of promoting patient education and disease prevention.

Scott Kopetz, MD, PhD, FACP, discusses recent data in <em>BRAF</em>-mutant colorectal cancer and the importance of molecular subtyping.

Adding selective internal radiation therapy to chemotherapy improved overall survival by 5 months compared with &nbsp;chemotherapy alone for patients with liver-only or liver-dominant right-sided primary metastatic colorectal cancer, according to results from a post hoc analysis of 2 randomized, controlled trials.