TAP Vol 2 Issue 17

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Treating pNET 22

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Biosimilars in cancer treatment 37

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VOLUME 2, ISSUE 17

Younger women with breast cancer 56

NOVEMBER 15, 2011

ASCOPost.com

Editor-in-Chief, James O. Armitage, MD

2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress

Aflibercept Improves Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer By Caroline Helwick

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he novel fusion Aflibercept/FOLFIRI in Colorectal Cancer protein aflibercept added to standard chemo■■ Aflibercept is a new fusion protein of key domains of the human vascular therapy led to an overall endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors 1 and 2. It blocks all VEGF-A survival benefit in a global isoforms, VEGF-B, and placental growth factor. phase III trial of second■■ The global phase III VELOUR trial evaluated adding aflibercept to FOLFIRI line metastatic colorectal in the second-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. cancer, reported at the ■■ The primary endpoint, overall survival, was improved with aflibercept 2011 European Multidisover FOLFIRI alone; median overall survival was 13.5 and 12.1 months, ciplinary Cancer Congress respectively, and median progression-free survival was 6.9 and 4.7 1 in Stockholm. months. “Adding aflibercept to FOLFIRI [leucovorin, fluorouracil (5-FU), irinotecan] in patients with D’Hebron University Hospital in Barcelona, Spain, metastatic colorectal cancer previously treated with who presented the findings at a Presidential Session. oxaliplatin-based regimens reAflibercept is a new fusion protein of key dosulted in overall survival and promains of the human vascular endothelial growth facgression-free survival benefits that tor (VEGF) receptors 1 and 2. It blocks all VEGF-A are both statistically significant isoforms, as well as VEGF-B and placental growth and clinically meaningful,” said factor, and binds with high affinity. SEE PAGE 60 continued on page 15 Josep Tabernero, MD, of Vall Expert’s Corner

Important Lessons for Oncology from the Front Lines of the AIDS Pandemic

Chemotherapy Drug Shortages: A Preventable Human Disaster By Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD

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he issue of chemotherapy drug shortages continues with no end in sight. Many heartfelt human interest stories have been told on television, in newspapers, and even to Congress, but the bottom line is that little, if any, action has been taken.

Uniquely American Problem News of the generic chemotherapy drug crisis hit the airwaves in April, when the shortage of cytarabine, an irreplaceable chemotherapy drug essential to the cure of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), was used to highlight the issue of inadequate supplies of mostly generic drugs. The problem is unique to the United States. Cytarabine-containing chemotherapy regimens cure 40% of patients with AML; without continued on page 63

Hagop M. Kantarjian, MD, is Professor and Chairman, Department of Leukemia, and Associate Vice President for Global Academic Programs, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.

By Ronald Piana

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n June 5, 1981, the CDC issued a warning about a rare type of pneumonia discovered among a small group of young gay men in Los Angeles, later determined to be AIDS-related, ushering in the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. Early on, AIDS-related malignancies brought the oncology community into this formidable socio-clinical puzzle. One of the first oncologists on the front lines of the nascent AIDS phenomenon,

internationally regarded AIDS/lymphoma expert, Alexandra Levine, MD, MACP, shared her experiences with The ASCO Post.

Early AIDS Era

What prompted your introduction into HIV/AIDS research and treatment? In 1982, a young man came to my University of Southern California county hospital office with enlarged lymph nodes. I A small piece of thought he had Hodgkin disease, so I arinformation or a major ranged a lymph node biopsy. I remember breakthrough in one scientific looking at the tissue under a microscope with Dr. Robert Lukes, Head of Hematodiscipline can translate logic Pathology at USC. Dr. Lukes had a magnificent eye, seeing things that othvaluable information into ers could not. To my surprise, he said another scientific area. this pathology was something he’d never seen before. —Alexandra Levine, MD, MACP

November Is Lung Cancer Awareness Month

MORE IN THIS ISSUE Oncology Meetings Coverage 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress ����������������15, 24, 41, 49 53rd ASTRO Annual Meeting ����������������������������� 8–11, 14, 30 AACR Basic Cancer Research Meeting ������������������������������������� 39 AACR Conference on Cancer Health Disparities ������������������������������������� 52 Direct from ASCO ��������������������������������������� 27

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