Barbara Burtness, MD

Articles

Toripalimab in Practice: Takeaways and Future Directions in NPC

July 3rd 2025

Panelists discuss how PD-1 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy have become the standard for recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the importance and challenges of using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as a biomarker, emerging therapies such as vaccines and CAR T cells, and the need for novel treatments as more patients receive up-front immunotherapy.

Perspectives on Treatment Choices - From Clinical Evidence to Decision-Making

July 3rd 2025

Panelists discuss the cautious use of PD-1 inhibitors in recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with preexisting autoimmune diseases or organ transplants due to high risks of severe toxicity and graft rejection, emphasizing individualized treatment decisions based on disease burden, symptoms, and patient frailty to balance efficacy and safety.

Examining the Landscape: PD-1 Inhibitors in R/M NPC

July 3rd 2025

Panelists discuss the efficacy of multiple PD-1 inhibitors studied in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), noting similar overall outcomes despite differences in trial designs and adverse effect profiles, challenges in direct comparisons due to crossover and varying chemotherapy backbones, and how limited US approvals impact clinical choice—yet collectively these data affirm the integral role of PD-1 blockade as a cornerstone of treatment.

Clinical Perspectives on Toripalimab in Practice

June 26th 2025

Panelists discuss the critical role of patient education and vigilant monitoring to manage immune-related toxicities during treatment, emphasizing the challenges of distinguishing the adverse effects from chemotherapy from immunotherapy, strategies for safely adjusting therapies, and the continued importance of radiation in select cases to enhance outcomes.

Long-Term Outcomes and Tolerability From JUPITER-02

June 26th 2025

Panelists discuss the 4-year JUPITER-02 data confirming that adding PD-1 inhibitors to chemotherapy significantly improves long-term survival with manageable safety in recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC), supporting this combination as the new standard of care and highlighting strategies for local consolidation in limited metastatic disease.

Initial Insights From JUPITER-02 - Toripalimab Efficacy in R/M NPC

June 19th 2025

Panelists discuss the phase 3 JUPITER-02 trial, which showed that adding PD-1 blockade to chemotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival in recurrent/metastatic (R/M) Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), with biomarker analyses suggesting greater benefit in patients with high EBV DNA levels and PD-L1 expression.

The Rationale for Immunotherapy in R/M NPC

June 19th 2025

Panelists discuss the biological rationale and consistent clinical data supporting PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors—such as toripalimab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab—as active and meaningful treatments in recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC), particularly given the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven, immune-infiltrated nature of the disease.

Treating NPC - Strategies for Recurrent and Metastatic Disease

June 12th 2025

Panelists discuss the standard management of recurrent/metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), emphasizing surgery or re-irradiation when feasible, and gemcitabine-cisplatin chemotherapy as the systemic backbone, while highlighting the need for more effective therapies to improve long-term outcomes.

An Overview to NPC: From Disease Biology to Treatment Approaches

June 12th 2025

Panelists discuss the distinct Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven biology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the role of plasma EBV DNA as a biomarker, and the strong evidence supporting gemcitabine-based induction chemotherapy followed by chemoradiotherapy as standard treatment for locally advanced disease.

Clinical Scenario: Metastatic EBV-Positive NPC

September 25th 2024

The panel provides clinical insights on the treatment of a patient with metastatic EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Clinical Scenario: Locally Recurrent NPC

September 18th 2024

Shravan Kandula, MD, presents the case of a patient with locally recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Integrating PD-1 Inhibitors into Standard NPC Treatment: Potential Benefits and Future Prospects

September 18th 2024

Victoria M. Villaflor, MD, discusses the integration of PD-1 inhibitors into standard treatment practices for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Future Research Needs for Neoadjuvant/Adjuvant PD-1 Blockade in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

September 11th 2024

The panel provides clinical insights on nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment practices and outlines unmet needs in the current therapeutic landscape.

Strategies to Mitigate Adverse Events in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Treatment

September 11th 2024

Victoria M. Villaflor, MD, highlights ways to mitigate adverse events for patients receiving treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Tailoring NPC Treatment: Patient Populations, EBV Titer Monitoring, and Key External Factors

September 4th 2024

Experts on nasopharyngeal carcinoma outline the role of immunotherapy and discuss external factors that inform treatment decisions.

Phase 3 DIPPER Trial: Adjuvant PD-1 Blockade with Camrelizumab

September 4th 2024

Shravan Kandula, MD, reviews findings from the DIPPER trial, which is investigating adjuvant PD-1 blockade with camrelizumab in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Value of PD-L1 Biomarker in NPC

August 28th 2024

A medical oncologist discusses the value of PD-L1 as a biomarker in the treatment of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Overview of the JUPITER and POLARIS-2 Trials

August 28th 2024

Victoria M. Villaflor, MD, provides insights on the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in treating nasopharyngeal carcinoma, focusing on the JUPITER and POLARIS-2 clinical trials.

Current Guidelines for Managing Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

August 21st 2024

Shravan Kandula, MD, reviews the current guidelines for the treatment of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Differentiating Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma from Other Head & Neck Cancers: The Value of a Multidisciplinary Approach

August 21st 2024

Experts on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) provide an overview of the disease, highlighting its incidence, how it’s differentiated from other head and neck cancers, and the benefits of multidisciplinary care.