Ariela Katz

Articles

An Explorer's Mentality Leads to Novel Treatments in Prostate and Bladder Cancer

December 10th 2018

Although he held a longtime fascination with space exploration to the moon and Mars, Daniel P. Petrylak, MD, took a different path and broke new ground in another frontier: genitourinary oncology.

San Diego Urology Group Enjoys Growth in a Tough Market

November 30th 2018

Genesis Healthcare Partners, the region’s largest independent urology practice, is challenged by regulatory changes and the dominance of the regional managed care market, which has huge control of patient flow and payment structures.

Triplet Therapy With Novel PD-1 Inhibitor Holds Promise in Melanoma

November 28th 2018

The addition of a novel PD-1 inhibitor to a combination of BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib (Tafinlar) and MEK inhibitor trametinib (Mekinist) is being tested to determine whether the triplet is safe and effective for patients with metastatic or unresectable melanoma.

Novel Oral Paclitaxel Formulation Aims to Overcome Drawbacks of IV Version

November 12th 2018

Investigators are assessing whether Oraxol, an oral formulation of paclitaxel, will be safer and more efficacious than the widely used chemotherapy drug administered by traditional intravenous infusion.

Starving Tumors of Important Amino Acid May Extend Survival in Pancreatic Cancer

October 8th 2018

Investigators are evaluating whether eryaspase (Graspa), an L-asparaginase-based therapy that triggers tumor cell death, can extend survival for patients with pancreatic cancer.

FDA Grants Rucaparib Breakthrough Designation for mCRPC

October 2nd 2018

The FDA has granted the PARP inhibitor rucaparib a breakthrough therapy designation for single-agent use in adult patients with BRCA1/2-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer following at least 1 androgen receptor–directed therapy and taxane-based chemotherapy.

Novel Agent Stimulates T-Cell Activity in Tumor Microenvironment

October 2nd 2018

Investigators are hopeful that M7824, a bifunctional fusion protein that inhibits the PD-L1 and TGF-β pathways, will improve immune system responses across tumor types.

Patient-Centered Focus Drives Growth at Virginia Urology

September 19th 2018

Virginia Urology, a practice with specialists in surgery, radiation, and oncology, has grown steadily over 75 years by remaining patient focused. Centered in Richmond, Virginia Urology has always prioritized quality care.

Testing for RET Alterations Gains Traction Across Tumor Types

August 30th 2018

In recent years, tyrosine kinase inhibitors that specifically target RET have entered the pipeline. Although none have yet received FDA approval, the promise of these agents has spurred interest in diagnostic assays.

Potency of CAR T-Cell Therapy Investigated in Relapsed/Refractory MCL

August 22nd 2018

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; Yescarta) is being evaluated in patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma—a rare B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that contributes 4200 new patients in the United States each year.

TAILORx Findings Augur Less-Toxic Treatment for Patients With Breast Cancer

August 20th 2018

Results from the phase III TAILORx study will enable physicians to reduce the toxicity of treatment for many patients with early stage breast cancer.

ASCO Adds New Combos for Metastatic Noncastrate Prostate Cancer

July 31st 2018

Use of androgen deprivation therapy in combination with docetaxel or abiraterone in newly diagnosed cases of metastatic noncastrate prostate cancer is recommended in recently updated ASCO guidelines.

Agent That Starves Tumor Cells May Improve Survival in Metastatic RCC

July 24th 2018

A novel glutaminase inhibitor CB-839, may provide a survival benefit in combination with cabozantinib (Cabometyx) by cutting off the energy supply to tumor cells in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

MDM2 Inhibitor May Improve Response in AML

July 9th 2018

Investigators are hopeful that idasanutlin, a novel small molecule that targets the MDM2 protein, can improve the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia.

Marshall Makes the Case for Molecular Sorting in Gastrointestinal Disease

July 3rd 2018

Oncologists have been slow to introduce targeted and immune therapies into the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, but that is changing, and poor patient survival statistics call for a continuation of this trend, according to John L. Marshall, MD.

Choose the Right Organizational Model for Oncology Practice Success

July 1st 2018

Many pressures on independent oncology practices have contributed to regionalization of services, in which practices merge or establish relationships with larger health systems. The forms that these larger systems have taken are diverse, but they do fall into several basic categories.

Novel Cancer Vaccine May Improve Survival in Synovial Sarcoma

June 26th 2018

Investigators are hopeful that CMB305, a vaccine that boosts the immune response to tumor cells expressing the antigen NY-ESO-1, can improve survival outcomes for patients with synovial sarcoma.

Potent Hypomethylating Agent Is Tested in 2 Hematologic Malignancy Trials

June 11th 2018

ASTRAL-2 and ASTRAL-3, are designed to determine whether guadecitabine (SGI-110), a potent second-generation hypomethylating agent, could answer the unmet medical needs for AML, MDS, and CMML.

DNA Repair Defects Are Strong Targets for Therapeutic Development in Prostate Cancer

June 11th 2018

The use of PARP inhibitors in patients with a variety of tumor types is backed by a growing body of research, and there is now strong justification for clinical trials of these agents in patients with prostate cancer.

Moving Radium-223 Forward in the Treatment Timeline for Prostate Cancer With Bone Metastases

June 10th 2018

Moving radium-223 (Xofigo) up in the treatment paradigm for patients with prostate cancer could provide better outcomes and longer survival, according to Richard G. Stock, MD.