November 2017

The disruption of chromatin modulation has been shown to be an important step in the development of certain cancers. A variety of cancer types exhibit chromatin-modifying mutations, which often correlate with cell fate decisions. Specifically, mutations in EZH2 (enhancer of zeste homolog 2) have been frequently observed in cancer, and small molecule inhibitors have been developed against the enzymatic activity of EZH2, with evidence of clinical activity in early-phase trials. 

An acuity tool developed at the Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) at the University of South Alabama offers a comprehensive portrait of a patient’s condition that assists oncology nurse navigators in allocating their time and resources efficiently. It also provides managers with a way to determine caseload size in order to provide better patient care. The Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) recognized the value of the analytical instrument at its recent conference with a 2017 Innovator Award.

Hyperprogressive disease (HPD) after immunotherapy treatment may not be as rare of a phenomenon as previously thought. A recent multicenter, retrospective analysis of 242 patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) found that 16% of patients developed hyperprogression during anti–PD-1/ PD-L1 treatment.¹ The study, which was presented at the 2017 ESMO Annual Congress, is one of the latest to highlight the risk of hyperprogression.

One of the most important effects of the positive findings for entrectinib in patients with ROS1 fusion–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the potential impact on patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases, according to Robert C. Doebele, MD, PhD.

Promising clinical trial results have been seen with the exploration of new and existing treatment approaches for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) on several fronts, including chemotherapy,&nbsp;immunotherapy, novel antibodies, and agents targeting the PI3K/mTOR/AKT pathway, according to David W. Miles,&nbsp;MB BS, BSc, MD. During a presentation at the <em>1st Annual </em>Paris Breast Cancer Conference hosted by the Physicians Education Resource&reg;, LLC, Miles, a consultant medical oncologist at West Hertfordshire Hospitals in England, provided his perspective on potential new treatment options for patients with TNBC.

The use of targeted therapies in colon cancer has become increasingly important, with several options available for clinicans to choose between. In a review of recent updates incorporating molecularly targeted therapy use in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, the evidence for these new recommendations are detailed in support of their use in patients with colon cancer.