Trending News on Targeted Oncology, Week of March 27, 2020

Experts such as Randall A. Oyer, MD, from Penn Medicine Lancaster General, and Kashyep Patel, MD, of the Carolina Blood and Cancer Center, spoke withTargeted Oncologyon the impact seen in their practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) also brought attention to concerns in the community.

Although the focus remains on COVID-19 and its impacts on oncology practice as a whole, the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer demonstrated declines in cancer rate deaths and highlighted the importance of clinical advances.

These updates and others were trending this week:

Challenges for Clinical Trials and Treating Patients With Cancer in Light of the Coronavirus

In an interview withTargeted Oncology, Oyer discussed how his institution is handling the COVID-19 pandemic while still accommodating patients who are already enrolled on clinical trials. The opening of new trials and enrollment has been suspended at this time, but new patients may be enrolled on trials if the treatment is necessary. Precautions have been taken to keep both staff and patients safe during this time.

South Carolina Oncology Practice Continues Cautious Operation Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

The spread of COVID-19 has impacted practices across the country, but Carolina Blood and Cancer Care has made adjustments to ensure the safety of their patients and staff while COVID-19 remains an issue. In an interview withTargeted Oncology, Patel discussed the implementation of new precautions in his practice as the number of COVID-19 cases rises in South Carolina.

Death By Cancer Shows Decline in the 2020 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer

According to the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, which was published inCancer, cancer death rates continued to decline in the United States from 2001 to 2017 across all major racial and ethnic groups, as well as in males, females, adolescents, young adults, and children. However, the rates of cancer incidence for all cancers slightly increased in females from 2012 to 2016.

Additional data from the report related tothe Healthy People 2020 Initiativedemonstrated the importance of monitoring trends in cancer risk, screening test use, and mortality.

COA President Urges White House to Waive Prior Authorization Requirements for Cancer Treatment

In an open letter to the President of the United States, COA brought attention to the critical needs of patients with cancer, requesting all private health insurance companies immediately waive all “prior authorization” requirements for cancer treatments, which pose a threat to cancer treatment, particularly in patients who are elderly and among the most vulnerable in the United States to contract COVID-19.

Novel Immunotherapy Strategy Demonstrates Favorable Toxicity in Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Patients with early-stage breast cancer who received pelareorep demonstrated consistent findings with that of the safety run-in data and had a favorable toxicity profile, according to a cohort analysis from the window-of-opportunity study, AWARE-1 (NCT04102618).

Videos:

Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Studied in Patients With Metastatic RCC

Bradley McGregor, MD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discussed a trial investigating atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and variant histologies and/or sarcomatoid features.

Case Studies: A 56-Year-Old Female With Recurrent Ovarian Cancer