OncoPharm

Discussing one of the more intriguing studies of the year looking at whether metastatic melanoma survival is effected by what time of day immunotherapy is administered. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00546-5

What is a medical science liaison (MSL) and what do they do? Our 1st episode in a series highlighting different career options for oncology pharmacists featuring Dr. Christan Thomas.

Asciminib is now FDA approved and it's not just another TKI for CML

From IMPOWER 010 to NIFTY to CONFIRM to SOLO, there's lots to discuss on this episode. Adjuvant atezolizumab for select NSCLC patients now FDA approved. 5-year f/u of olaparib maintenance in mBRCA ovarian cancer smells funny: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00531-3 CONFIRM: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00471-X NIFTY: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00486-1 Palbociclib-PPI Inte...

We return to our Landmarks of OncoPharm series to dive deep into an article that provided some of our foundational understanding of how anthracycline cardiotoxicity risk is influenced by rate of administration. Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2910423/

FDA approves 2-years of abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy for high-risk HR+, HER2(-) patients. Quite a bit to discuss about this. Also, FDA expands indications for pembrolizumab (of course) and brexucabtagene autoleucel. NOTE: A 5cm breast tumor is a T3 lesion, not a T2 as misstated in this episode.

Dr. Ali McBride joins the Pod to spar over same-day vs. next-day pegfilgrastim. (There is some audio feedback early in the Pod that we clean up after a few minutes. Apologies!) Bibliography: Burris et al: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20808556/ AOC: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4819939/ McBride et al (CHOP): https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/fon-2021-0532 McBride et al (...

An oversimplified approach to thinking about sarcomas.

Lots to discuss from ESMO 2021 to new drug approvals. First, we discuss the updates in cervical cancer from ESMO (pembrolizumab with chemo) and the newly approved tisotumab-vedotin. Then, we discuss another new agent, mobocertinib and its scary QT prolongation profile as well as cabo-confusion in thyroid cancer. Finally, we discuss the potentially practice changing, but preliminary, data from ESMO...

Discussing the updated results after the 2nd randomization of CASSIOPEIA looking at daratumumab maintenance following ASCT. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00490-3

Discussing the use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for ITP (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2100596) as well as regulatory updates on atezolizumab and zanubrutinib.

Foundations of OncoPharm: Hypercalcemia of Malignancy (in under 10 minutes)

Belzutifan, the 1st hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) inhibitor is FDA-approved. Plus, expanded indication approvals for nivolumab, dostarlimab, lenvatinib/pembrolizumab, & Ivosidenib. Finally, my Top 5 Rolling Stones Songs (14:30).

Looking into the data behind the FDA & CDC's allowance for a booster mRNA vaccine for immunocompromised patients.

A recent patient experience serves as a reminder than TKIs, like cabozantinib, can produce many "minor" toxicities that can really add up and affect QOL.

Two recent publications to discuss: 1. The publication of a study discussed on our ASCO '21 Pod on acalabrutinib vs. ibrutinib and patient implications (https://ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1200/JCO.21.01210) 2. A good illustration of the "crossing of the curves" and interpreting Kaplan-Meier curves using alloHSCT vs. 5-aza in MDS patients. https://ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1200/JCO.20.02724

Two breast cancer updates (pembrolizumab in TNBC and adjuvant AI duration) and two cGVHD updates (belumosudil and ruxolitinib).

The almost-award winning* Landmarks in OncoPharm series returns to discuss the landmark Armstrong et al 2006 NEJM paper on using intraperitoneal chemotherapy in stage III ovarian cancer. Link: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa052985 *not really

A case study in misbranding promotional materials and how to help FDA regulate them.

Foundations of OncoPharm: capecitabine

A foundational topic in oncology - managing toxicities of tamoxifen and AI's in breast cancer patients. An excellent evidence-based review was recently published, and is worth our time on the Pod. Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(20)30666-5

So-called negative trials still offer information. We discuss ECOG-ACRIN EA1131 in breast cancer and TOURMALINE-MM1 in myeloma in this epidose. EA1131: https://ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1200/JCO.21.00976 TOURMALINE-MM1 (final OS analysis): https://ascopubs.org/doi/pdf/10.1200/JCO.21.00972

Why is learning oncology so hard? To get the students perspective I ask a few pharmacy students why in hopes of learning how to better teach and precept oncology trainees.

Highlighting results presented at ASCO's 2021 annual meeting.

Two new drugs approved in the last week: 1. sotorasib, a drug for a specific KRAS mutation (G12C) in 2nd line metastatic NSCLC 2. infigratinib, basically a "me too" FGFR inhibitor approved for metastatic cholangiocarcinoma We all discuss the latest adjuvant CHECKMATE study (nivolumab in urothelial carcinoma) and a recent study of seropositivity in cancer patients following COVID vaccination.