This week in oncology news, the FDA granted Priority Review designation to 4 therapies. The Priority Review designations were across multiple malignancies and cancer-related conditions, including for patients with post-transplant complications, gastric/gastroesophageal junction and esophageal adenocarcinoma, as well as with squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal.

In addition, the American Cancer Society released an update on the cancer mortality rate, and new data were reported from the 2021 Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium.

These updates and others were trending:

FDA Grants Priority Review to Narsoplimab for Treatment of Post-Transplant Complications

The FDA has accepted a Biologics License Application for narsoplimab and granted it Priority Review for use as treatment of hematopoietic stem cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy.

FDA Grants Priority Review to 1L Nivolumab Combination in Gastric/GEJ/Esophageal Cancers

The FDA has granted a Priority Review to the combination of nivolumab with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, which is a potential treatment option for patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Adjuvant Nivolumab for Resected Esophageal/GEJ Cancer

The FDA accepted a supplemental Biologics License Application for nivolumab as adjuvant treatment of patients with resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and granted it Priority Review.

Cancer Mortality Rate Declines as Advances in Cancer Treatment and Management Arise

Cancer mortality has been on a continuous decline since its peak in 1991, resulting in an overall reduction of 31% in the mortality rate and approximately 3.2 million fewer cancer deaths in the United States.

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Brings HER2 Therapy to 3L HER2+ Advanced Gastric/GEJ Cancers

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, provided important highlights from the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial and explained the overall impact of the FDA approval of trastuzumab deruxtecan for oncologists treating patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer or GEJ cancers.

Pembrolizumab Monotherapy May Play Role in Treatment-Naive HCC

Pembrolizumab monotherapy demonstrated durable antitumor activity and encouraging effects on survival in an evaluation of patients with previously untreated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Evaluating the Toxicity Profile of Parsaclisib in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Amitkumar Mehta, MD, discusses the toxicity profile of parsaclisib in the phase 2 CITADEL-205 clinical trial of relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma.

Finding the Optimal Dose of Regorafenib in Colorectal Cancer

John H. Strickler, MD, discusses dosing of regorafenib in patients with colorectal cancer.

Special Feature: COVID-19

Complications of Coagulopathy Caused by COVID-19 Puts Patients With Cancer at Risk

Subsequent observations related to the COVID-19 have led to the discovery cardiac manifestations, gastrointestinal complications, and hematological manifestations associated with this virus.