Anita T. Shaffer

Associate Director of Editorial, Print
Anita T. Shaffer is your lead editorial contact for OncologyLive®, a twice monthly clinical news publication. A 10-year veteran of MJH Life Sciences™, she has been at the helm of the publication since shortly after joining the company in 2010. Before becoming an oncology journalist, she held a variety of editorial positions at The Times of Trenton, including metro editor. Email: anitashaffer@onclive.com

Articles

Nab-Paclitaxel Paired With Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapies in TNBC Studies

February 8th 2017

Combination regimens that pair nab-paclitaxel with PD-L1 checkpoint blockade immunotherapy agents are emerging as a robust area of investigation in triple-negative breast cancer, bolstered by clinical trial results that establish the chemotherapeutic agent as an effective partner for other therapies.

Liquid Biopsies Making Impact in Lung Cancer, Other Tumor Types

February 5th 2017

The noninvasive testing that has long been the goal of solid tumor analysis is making its presence felt in lung cancer, and other malignancies likely will not be far behind, experts say. Although many potential uses for liquid biopsies are envisioned, much work remains to be done to establish the clinical utility of these tests.

The Big Picture for 2017: 6 Experts Weigh In

January 1st 2017

Two of the most noteworthy developments in the oncology field during 2016 were the continued expansion of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy agents into more cancer types and the federal government’s plans for funding and remaking the research paradigm.

Tepotinib Takes Aim at Novel MET Mutation in Lung Cancer Trial

December 12th 2016

Tepotinib, an investigational small molecule that targets a recently identified aberration in the MET gene, is moving forward rapidly in clinical development for patients with non–small cell lung cancer who harbor the mutation, raising hopes that a more specific attack on the signaling pathway will lead to a new therapy for a significant subgroup of individuals with the disease.

AI Therapy May Pose Cardiovascular Risk for Breast Cancer Survivors

December 10th 2016

Aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy may pose a risk of cardiovascular disease to postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer, raising the possibility of a long-term complication in an era of growing survivorship when patients are treated with estrogen-targeting drugs for years.

Neoadjuvant Estrogen Attack Falters in High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients

December 9th 2016

An attempt to strengthen neoadjuvant treatment of patients with locally advanced HR-positive and HER2-positive breast cancer by adding estrogen deprivation therapy to a standard regimen failed to significantly improve response rates but did illustrate the extensive toxicity of the chemotherapy agents used in this setting.

Genomic Study Uncovers Resistance Mutations in ER+ Breast Cancer

December 8th 2016

The genomic landscape of recurrent metastatic estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer differed significantly from the mutational profile of primary disease in a study that sheds light on acquired resistance mechanisms to anticancer therapies.

Novel Agent Anchors Triplet Regimen in Ovarian Cancer Trial

December 1st 2016

A multipronged attack on the tumor vasculature network is at the heart of a recently launched clinical trial aimed at developing new therapeutic options for women with advanced, recurrent, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Emerging Immune Checkpoint Holds Promise for Blockade Strategies

November 30th 2016

A novel immune checkpoint called PVRIG is currently in development.

Novel Agent Aims to Improve HCT Outcomes in High-Risk AML

November 23rd 2016

A clinical trial that utilizes a novel radiolabeled antibody–drug conjugate to pretreat older patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia as part of a stem cell transplantation regimen is aimed at creating improved outcomes for a high-risk population with limited therapeutic alternatives.

Pembrolizumab's Big Win in Immunotherapy Battle for Frontline in Lung Cancer

November 17th 2016

It has been about 18 months since the first immunotherapy checkpoint agent was approved for patients with non–small cell lung cancer. Now there are 3 monoclonal antibodies that target the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway on the market for the tumor type and the focus has shifted rapidly to establishng immunotherapy as a new frontline standard.

Pembrolizumab OS Benefit Sets New Benchmark in Second-Line Bladder Cancer

November 13th 2016

Pembrolizumab monotherapy reduced the risk of death by 27% compared with chemotherapy for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma whose disease progressed after prior treatment.

TP53 Mutations Loom Large in Lung Cancer Study

October 25th 2016

Although there are no drugs that target TP53 mutations in any tumor type, a recent analysis of a non–small cell lung cancer sample set raises the prospect that a more detailed understanding of this aberration eventually could help direct therapy.

Entinostat Anchors New Combo in HR+ Breast Cancer Study

October 13th 2016

A dual approach to overcoming resistance to endocrine therapy in patients with advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer is under investigation in a phase III trial that adds the novel drug entinostat to standard exemestane therapy after disease progression.

Conflicting Evidence Surfaces on Anti-HCV Drugs for Liver Cancer

September 12th 2016

A new generation of drugs has proved highly effective against the hepatitis C virus but there is conflicting evidence about whether the therapies promote cancer recurrence in infected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who already have responded to curative treatment.

New Roles May Evolve for Competing Embolization Techniques in HCC

September 12th 2016

Two competing methods of delivering locoregional therapy to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma both have advantages and may be most successful in subgroups of individuals with intermediate-stage disease.

Nivolumab Maintains Positive Results in Latest HCC Findings

September 11th 2016

Nivolumab continues to post durable responses in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma regardless of whether they had hepatitis B or C or whether they had received prior treatment with sorafenib.

Regorafenib Moves Ahead of Field With Success in Advanced HCC

September 11th 2016

After 9 years of failed trials for once-promising drugs, regorafenib (Stivarga) has emerged as the clear choice for second-line therapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after demonstrating survival improvements for patients whose disease has progressed after systemic treatment.

Early Signals Positive for Immunotherapy Plus Standard Therapy in HCC

September 10th 2016

Early evidence suggests that the combination of locoregional therapy with an immune checkpoint inhibitor is a safe and effective strategy to pursue for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver Cancer Experts Mark a Decade of Milestones in HCC

September 10th 2016

Although it has been nearly 10 years since a new drug was approved for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the past decade has been marked by advances on the scientific and radiology fronts and the prospects for the development of new therapies are bright.