Home – Page 14 – The Cancer Letter

Issue 16 - Apr 17, 2020

TCL46-16 (788 downloads)

Lowy: “Our patients are counting on us, and we must not let them down”
NCI Frederick Lab takes aim at COVID-19
NCI’s Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research has launched three initiatives focused on SARS-CoV-2.
Doroshow: NCI to accrue patients for COVID-19 longitudinal cohort
Ongoing trials see significant decrease in accrual
NCI is building a nationwide cohort of cancer patients with COVID-19 at over 1,000 sites across the institute’s clinical trials networks and at NCI-designated cancer centers.
NCI Director’s Report
Sharpless: NCI is fully operational, we have a moral obligation to help in the COVID-19 pandemic response
In spite of disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, NCI continues to review grants, disburse funds, and support extramural research, said NCI Director Ned Sharpless.
As treatments get cancelled because of COVID-19, patients worry about adequacy of care
To prevent the spread of COVID-19, oncologists are either limiting or canceling adjuvant care, in effect staging a population-level experiment.
American Cancer Society announces a wave of furloughs and layoffs as COVID-19 constricts fundraising
The American Cancer Society earlier this week announced immediate furloughs and layoffs of its staff citing “a significant financial hardship” triggered by the novel coronavirus.
Guest Editorial
Amid COVID-19 pandemic, cancer community responds to fill data gap
As clinicians in a medical specialty that relies on evidence to guide treatment plans for individuals with cancer, we face an unfortunate dearth of data to help steer us during the coronavirus pandemic.
Guest Editorial
Cancer care continues during COVID-19 pandemic—with new tools and old challenges
While the news these days is rightly focused on hospitals and the government fighting public enemy number one, aka COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus), independent community oncology practices continue to treat and comfort patients who are at war with that insidious disease we call cancer.
Conversation with The Cancer Letter
Lichtenfeld: COVID-19 exposed weaknesses in the U.S. health care system
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected oncology?
What will the long-term impact be?
COVID-19 Updates
- AstraZeneca trial to test Calquence in COVID-19 patients
- Clinical trial accruals at OneOncology increase in the face of COVID-19
- American Cancer Society opens COVID-19 tracking study
- Research!America urges Congress to modify budget caps, increase FY21 funding for health agencies
- NAS, NAE, and NAM presidents: U.S. funding for WHO should not be interrupted during COVID-19 pandemic
- White House expands coverage for essential diagnostic services
- Bipartisan bill proposes telehealth expansion
- Nebraska Medical Center develops infectious aerosol capture mask to protect health care workers
- FDA authorizes blood purification device to treat COVID-19
- Adolescent, young adult cancer non-profits provide guidance on COVID-19
- FAQs and Guidances
In Brief
- J. Alan Diehl named deputy director and chief operating officer of Case CCC
- Andres F. Correa joins Fox Chase Cancer Center
- Esther Welkowsky named VP, clinical operations, at Elicio Therapeutics
Clinical Roundup
- Elicio Therapeutics and NCI study ELI-002 mutant KRAS targeting mechanism
- ACS study: JUUL sales bounced back within weeks of self-imposed flavor ban
- Chronic stress can impact response to radiation therapy
Drugs & Targets
- FDA approves Koselugo for neurofibromatosis type 1
- FDA approves mitomycin for low-grade upper tract urothelial cancer
- Ontruzant, biosimilar of Herceptin, introduced in the U.S.

Issue 15 - Apr 10, 2020

TCL46-15 (772 downloads)

Guest Editorial
NCTN group chairs: Cancer trials take backseat to clinical care amid COVID-19 pandemic
While the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) groups remain open for business during the pandemic, it’s not business as usual. For good reason, clinical trials are taking a backseat to clinical care. Leadership and members themselves face significant challenges treating oncology patients, as attention and resources are diverted to minister to those with COVID-19.
Guest Editorial
Chernobyl doctor’s view of COVID-19: Trump threatens 267 years of progress in biomedical research
Governments respond differently to crises which threaten the health of their citizens. For example, during the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, some countries instituted an immediate lockdown whilst others have not restricted social activities, or have done so too late to be maximally effective.
NCI to distribute IL-6 inhibitor for cancer patients with COVID-19 lung inflammation
NCI is finalizing plans to use its clinical trials networks to administer a compassionate use protocol for distribution of tocilizumab, a drug that blocks the inflammatory protein IL-6.
Conversation with The Cancer Letter
Libutti: Rutgers studies COVID-19 while bracing for its surge
As he manages the logistics of running Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and cancer services throughout RWJBarnabas Health, Steven K. Libutti has to worry about providing cancer care in a massive health system in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conversation with The Cancer Letter
COVID-19 lesson from Spain: Like the U.S., we failed to take this seriously before it came to us—we have to learn
While the world watched the pandemic unfold in China and Italy, SARS-Cov-2 spread exponentially in Spain, killing more people faster and earlier within a month, relative to many outbreaks in other Western countries.
Conversation with The Cancer Letter
A view from the plateau: As Italy’s cases drop, oncologists plan post-COVID-19 agenda
In Italy, the number of people dying from COVID-19 has dropped to about 500 per day—a decrease from the 900 to 1,000 patients who had been dying daily when the disease spread was at its peak.
COVID-19 Updates
- ASCO publishes guidance on allocation of limited resources
- COVID-19 cancer registry aims to track impact on patients during pandemic, inform care
- AACR to split virtual annual meeting into two parts
- FDA approves first generic of commonly used albuterol inhaler to treat and prevent bronchospasm
- COA establishes practice referral service for patients seeking cancer treatment during COVID-19 pandemic
- COA opposes home infusion for cancer, citing safety concerns
- GO2 Foundation for Lung Cancer: COVID-19 patients with pre-existing conditions should receive same treatment as those without
- Algorithm aims to protect surgical team members against infection with COVID-19 virus
- Karyopharm to evaluate low-dose Xpovio as potential COVID-19 treatment
- GSK and Vir Biotechnology collaborate to find COVID-19 solutions
- OncoSec collaborates with Providence Cancer Institute to conduct phase I study of COVID-19 vaccine
- FAQs and Guidances
Funding Opportunities
DOD Ovarian Cancer Research Program FY20 funding opportunity
The FY20 Defense Appropriations Act is anticipated to provide funding to the Department of Defense Ovarian Cancer Research Program to support patient-centered research to prevent, detect, treat, and cure ovarian cancer.
Clinical Roundup
- Phase III TNBC ASCENT study to be stopped for compelling efficacy
- Roswell Park reports extended survival among breast cancer survivors who exercise regularly
- Drug combination fights resistance to lung cancer treatment
Drugs & Targets
- FDA approves Braftovi + cetuximab for BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic CRC indication
- FDA approves luspatercept-aamt for anemia in adults with MDS
- Myriad receives reimbursement for the BRACAnalysis Diagnostic System in Japan

Issue 14 - Apr 3, 2020

TCL46-14 (790 downloads)

Guest Editorial
Friending viral foes:
The Zika story and (perhaps) lessons for COVID-19
On a recent call with directors of cancer centers, NCI Director Ned Sharpless reminded us that quarantines present opportunities for scientists to think deeply.
Letter from the editor & publisher
We are in this together
As the leading independent source of news in oncology, The Cancer Letter has decided that it is our moral imperative to provide coverage of COVID-19 free of charge until this crisis is resolved.
Guest Editorial
What cancer immunologists are doing about COVID-19
It’s hard to fathom the number of scientific discoveries that are exploding from the COVID-19 disaster. Though there may be tumbleweeds on every street around the globe and impotent silence in the shuttered stores of every town, the scientists at the frontline of this epidemic are busier and more energized than they’ve been in a long time.
Conversation with The Cancer Letter
A COVID-19 update from New York:
“The only thing I hear at night now is the wail of ambulances”
It’s a jump that’s hard to fathom:
Two weeks ago, there were 600 detected COVID-19 cases in the state of New York. At this writing, there are over 100,000 confirmed cases, a 170-fold increase that has filled hospitals and depleted medical supplies at an unprecedented scale.
Conversation with The Cancer Letter
As Italy’s COVID-19 incidence curve flattens, Curigliano sees lessons for the U.S.
Social isolation and containment have begun to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases in Italy, Giuseppe Curigliano said to The Cancer Letter.
COVID-19 Updates
- AACR to Congress: Act on PPE, ventilator and testing shortages
- Advocacy organizations: Stop threatening health care workers who speak out about lack of PPE
- American College of Surgeons: Health care workers need PPE
- CPRIT suspends first cycle of awards for FY21
- Scott Gottlieb: A road map for navigating COVID-19 in the U.S.
- CMS addresses surge of COVID-19 patients
- COA thanks CMS for telehealth expansion
- LLS, partners commit $4.5M for blood cancer patients impacted by COVID-19
- PharmaMar submits phase II clinical trial of Aplidin treatment of COVID-19 to the Spanish Medicines Agency
- Study: Patients with new-onset digestive symptoms after possible COVID-19 contact should be suspected for the illness
- Convalescent plasma donations to be collected by Versiti Blood Centers to treat COVID-19 patients
- Metastatic breast cancer patient tests negative for COVID-19
- FAQs and Guidances
Trials & Tribulations
COVID-19 and cancer: Ethical dilemmas in immune checkpoint blockade
As oncologists, we are all too familiar with making treatment recommendations and advising on end-of-life care in the absence of robust data. In ethical conundrums, we rely on guidance from our colleagues in the field, institutions, and national/international leadership bodies.
Clinical Roundup
- Keytruda significantly improves PFS as first-line treatment in colorectal cancer indication
- Phase III cancer vaccine trial meets primary endpoint
- Caris Life Sciences develops AI-powered predictor of chemotherapy sensitivity in MCC
Drugs & Targets
- FDA approves Imfinzi for ES-SCLC
- EMA grants positive opinion to Adcetris combination in lymphoma indication
NCI Trials
NCI Trials for April 2020
The National Cancer Institute Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program approved the following clinical research studies last month.

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