3D Mammography in Dense Breasts 16 | Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
22
| Pioneers in Oncology: Vincent T. DeVita, Jr, MD
112
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 20
DECEMBER 15, 2014
Editor-in-Chief, James O. Armitage, MD | ASCOPost.com
Transplants for AML in First Remission: A Great Leap Forward, Sideways, or Backward?
ASH Annual Meeting
PD-1 Blockade Moves Into Hematology By Caroline Helwick
T
he promise of the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors seen in solid tumors, especially melanoma, may hold true for at least one hematologic malignancy, according to studies presented at the 56th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition. At a press briefing, data from phase I studies were presented for nivolumab1 and pembrolizumab (Keytruda)2 in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma who had shown disease progression on prior treatment. Response rates were 87% to single-agent nivolumab and 66% to pembrolizumab. The results provide strong evidence that drugs that enhance the ability of the immune system to fight cancer may work well in hematologic malignancies. Press briefing moderator Catherine M. Bollard, MBChB, MD, bone and marrow transplant specialist at Children’s National Health System and the George Washington University in Washington, DC, commented, “Strategies that target tumor cells using the immune system are extremely exciting. I see this
as a way forward in how we will revolutionize treatments in hematology.”
By Robert Peter Gale, MD, PhD, DSc(hc), FACP, Hillard M. Lazarus, MD, FACP, and Peter H. Wiernik, MD, FACP, FASCO
Nivolumab The findings for nivolu mab were presented by Philippe Armand, MD, PhD, of the Dana-Farber Philippe Armand, MD, PhD Cancer Institute in Boston. They were simultaneously published in The New England Journal of Medicine.3 “Nivolumab could be safely administered to patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Treatment resulted in a response rate of 87%, which is quite high for patients who were heavily pretreated,” Dr. Armand said at the press briefing. The phase I study included 23 patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma, almost all of whom had undergone at least three lines of therapy, including stem continued on page 3
Health-Care Policy
CMS Issues Preliminary Decision to Cover Annual Lung Cancer Screening
U
ntil about 15 years ago, persons with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) were considered candidates to receive a blood cell or bone marrow allotransplant in first remission only if they had had an HLA-identical sibling donor. However, advances using alternative donors such as an HLA-matched unrelated person, HLA haplotype–matched relative, or HLA-matched umbilical cord blood cells from an unrelated donor have changed the transplant landscape. Currently more than half of all allotransplants for persons with AML in first remission use a donor other than an HLA-identical sibling. Many see this as a giant leap forward, perhaps akin to Mao’s Cultural Revolution. continued on page 60
Disclaimer: This commentary represents the views of the authors and may not necessarily reflect the views of ASCO.
By Ronald Piana
I
“All great truths begin as blasphemies.” —George Bernard Shaw (Annajanksa, 1918)
n a long-awaited decision, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a preliminary proposal to cover annual lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography for appropriate beneficiaries following counseling and a shared–decision-making visit with a qualified provider. CMS is seeking comments on the proposed decision for a 30-day period and is expected to issue
a final decision in February 2015. Reacting to the CMS announcement, Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA), told The ASCO Post, “CMS got it right by acknowledging there is sufficient evidence to add lung cancer screening as a preventive service benefit under the Medicare Program. As a result, we will save tens of thousands of lives as this moves forward. During the comment period CMS got it right by acknowledging we will again reinforce what the American College there is sufficient evidence to add lung of Radiology (ACR), Socicancer screening as a preventive service ety of Thoracic Surgeons benefit under the Medicare Program. As (STS), Lung Cancer Alliance, and ASCO, among a result, we will save tens of thousands others, have put forth for the U.S. Preventive Servicof lives as this moves forward. es Task Force (USPSTF)—Laurie Fenton Ambrose
MORE IN THIS ISSUE Oncology Meetings Coverage Thoracic Oncology Symposium ������������ 4, 5 Quality Care Symposium ����������������� 11, 14 RSNA 2014 ���������������������������������������� 16, 61 Cutaneous Malignancies Congress �������������������������������������������� 17, 20 Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium ��������������������������������������� 22, 23 ASCO Expert Statement on Cancer Survivorship ���������������������������24 Tony S.K. Mok, MD, on Crizotinib in NSCLC ���������������������������������35 Direct From ASCO �������������������������� 54–57
continued on page 52
Next Issue of The ASCO Post Coming January 25, 2015
A Harborside Press® Publication