Sandra Kear

Articles

Immunotherapy Shows Early Promise in Advanced Sarcomas

December 7th 2015

Phase Ib/II research has shown promise for adoptive cellular therapy combined with ipilimumab in patients with advanced sarcomas.

Adding Novel Antibody to Pazopanib Shows Promise in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

December 4th 2015

Combining the investigational antibody TRC105 with Votrient showed promising antitumor activity in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

Nanotechnology May Lead to Tumor-Priming Strategy in Pancreatic Cancer

November 3rd 2015

Researchers from United States and Ireland have formed a partnership to advance nanoparticle-based delivery systems that would not only drive sustained-release of cytotoxic agents, but also could improve penetration of these treatments within the tumor and allow them to continue working for days or weeks.

Novel Therapies in Hodgkin Lymphoma Coming to Clinics

February 21st 2015

Although treatments and cure rates have increased significantly over the past 60 years for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, it is crucial that practitioners stay up-to-date on research that can affect outcomes for their patients with this uncommon form of cancer.

FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Pembrolizumab for NSCLC

October 27th 2014

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to pembrolizumab (Keytruda), an anti-PD-1 therapy, for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are EGFR mutation- or ALK rearrangement-negative and whose disease has progressed on or following platinum-based chemotherapy.

Patient Decisions About Bilateral Mastectomy Influenced by Anxiety, Worry About Recurrence

September 2nd 2014

One of the first studies to prospectively examine women's breast surgery preferences has revealed that newly diagnosed women with breast cancer who decide to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM), may be making this decision as result of high anxiety and fear of recurrence, rather than relying on evidence-based information.

Follow-up of Concurrent Immunotherapies Shows Unprecedented Survival Rate in Melanoma

June 3rd 2014

Long-term follow-up results demonstrated nearly doubled median OS with the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab compared with either agent alone.

Practice-Changing Data Revealed for Premenopausal HR+ Breast Cancer

June 2nd 2014

A joint analysis of two phase III trials involving a total of 4690 premenopausal women with hormone-receptorâ€“positive (HR+) breast cancer demonstrated that adjuvant use of the aromatase inhibitor (AI), exemestane, reduced relative risk of developing subsequent invasive cancer by 28% compared with tamoxifen when both agents were combined with ovarian function suppression (OFS).

Investigational Immunotherapy Granted First Breakthrough Therapy Designation in Bladder Cancer

June 1st 2014

MPDL3280A reduced tumors in 43% of patients with previously treated PD-L1-positive metastatic bladder cancer, resulting in the first breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA for a treatment in this setting.

Reducing Pills From the Cup: Discontinuing Statins in Late-Stage Cancer Patients

May 31st 2014

For patients with less than a year to live, the discontinuation of statins may increase the median time-to-death and improve quality of life.

Immunotherapies Promising But Still Challenging in CRPC

March 17th 2014

Increasing efficacy with immunotherapies in some cancers led to the strategy being deemed Breakthrough of the Year by Science magazine in 2013

ASIs Demonstrate OS Benefit in mRCC, Appear Synergistic with Anti-VEGF Therapies

January 28th 2014

A vast, pooled retrospective analysis has demonstrated that the use of ASIs may significantly improve survival outcomes in patients with mRCC.

High Response Rates Observed With CAPTEM in Chemo-Resistant Neuroendocrine Tumors

January 14th 2014

Data from an interim analysis of an ongoing phase II study suggest that patients with carcinoid and pituitary NETs, who have been traditionally chemo-resistant, may obtain "extraordinary responses" with capecitabine and temozolomide.

Adjusting Chemotherapy in Octogenarians With NSCLC

November 21st 2011

In the United States, the incidence of lung cancer has increased in those aged >74 years and will likely continue to rise.

The National Lung Screening Trial: Where Do We Go From Here?

November 14th 2011

A conversation with Denise R. Aberle, MD, on the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) at the 12th International Lung Cancer Congress.

Study Shows Estrogen Not the Only Hormone Feeding Tumors in Breast Cancer

July 13th 2011

Although researchers know that estrogen plays a role in most cases of breast cancer, they don't fully understand how.

Immunotherapies: Avoiding Collisions Once the Brake Is Released

June 11th 2011

Immunotherapies made headlines in oncology last month when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) decided that the anticancer vaccine sipuleucel-T (Provenge) will be a payable expense for prostate cancer.

Bone-Targeted Therapeutics

June 10th 2011

Therapies that target bone metastases have been developed for more than a decade.

Study Confirms Extending Testing to Every 3 Years in Women Who Test Negative for the HPV Virus

May 18th 2011

A large-scale study of HPV testing and Pap smear for cervical cancer screening confirms that women can safely extend screening intervals from 1 to 3 years.

Cancer Cells Outsmarting Smart Bombs: Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)

May 12th 2011

Certain patients whose cancer cells form mutations and build up a resistance to drugs, drive the need for second- and third-line therapies