Blood & Cancer

How do patients with thoracic cancers fare when they develop COVID-19? The researchers behind the TERAVOLT registry are trying to find out. TERAVOLT investigator Alessio Cortellini, MD, of the University of L’Aquila (Italy), joined host David Henry, MD, to discuss the TERAVOLT registry and its findings, which were recently presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020. What is TERAVOLT? TERAVOLT is an international registry of patients with thoracic cancers and COVID-19 that was launched in March 2020 by Marina Garassino, MD, of the National Cancer Institute of Milan. The registry enrolls patients with any solid thoracic cancer – small cell and non–small cell lung cancer, mesothelioma, thymic epithelial tumors, and other pulmonary neuroendocrine neoplasms. Patients are deemed to have COVID-19 if they test positive by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction or serology or if they have radiologic or clinical characteristics of COVID-19 and known interaction with a COVID-

Hematology-Oncology News:  Radiotherapy planning scans reveal breast cancer patients’ CVD risk (https://bit.ly/2FeoJiH) FDA OKs combination immunotherapy for first-line mesothelioma treatment (https://bit.ly/2Ff77mS) Apatinib plus gefitinib: Better PFS but more toxicity (https://bit.ly/34IyVsn) Atezolizumab strikes out in ovarian cancer (https://bit.ly/3iPjXG1) Email Blood & Cancer at podcasts@mdedge.com and learn more at https://www.mdedge.com/podcasts/blood-cancer        

Lorenzo Norris, MD, host of Psychcast, joins Blood & Cancer host David Henry, MD, to discuss steps clinicians can take to alleviate the distress associated with receiving a diagnosis of cancer. Dr. Norris is director of consult liaison psychiatry at George Washington University, Washington. Dr. Henry is clinical professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Both doctors have no disclosures. A full transcript of this episode is available here: A conversation on mental health and cancer https://bit.ly/2Fgat9k   Take-home points Cancer patients have always been susceptible to developing depression and anxiety after receiving their distressing diagnoses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk for depression and anxiety are even greater because patients face separation from their oncology treatment teams and for some, delays in treatment. Major depressive disorder (MDD) occurs in up to one-third of cancer patients, and any depressive disorder can be seen in about half. Another concern

Hematology-Oncology News:  Divergent findings with paclitaxel and nab-paclitaxel in TNBC (https://bit.ly/33vemjS) Palbociclib plus letrozole improves PFS in advanced endometrial cancer (https://bit.ly/2GIUl08) Global stomach cancer deaths decline as colorectal cancer deaths stagnate, rise (https://bit.ly/33zBVs1) You can email the show at podcasts@mdedge.com and you can learn more about the show at https://www.mdedge.com/podcasts/blood-cancer    

There were a number of practice-changing and ground-breaking studies presented at the ESMO 2020 Virtual Congress, according to our guest in this episode. Alan P. Lyss, MD, subprincipal investigator for Heartland Cancer Research NCORP, joined host David H. Henry, MD, to review highlights from ESMO 2020. The pair discussed studies on gynecologic, breast, lung, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary cancers, as well as studies of anemia and COVID-19 in cancer patients. COVID-19 and cancer LBA77: Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in patients with cancer and oncology healthcare workers: A multicenter, prospective study. https://bit.ly/3cNNkar This study suggests SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody response is not different between cancer patients (n = 61) and subjects without cancer (n = 105). Overall, 83.8% of subjects were IgG-positive, and there was no significant difference in IgG positivity between the cancer patients and the health care workers (P = .39). LBA83: Outcomes of the 2019 novel coronavirus in patien

Hematology-Oncology News: No benefit with postoperative radiotherapy in stage IIIA2 NSCLC (https://bit.ly/3i1196r) First-in-class ADC ups survival in mTNBC (https://bit.ly/2GaoVQ2) Sotorasib is a 'triumph of drug discovery' in cancer (https://bit.ly/2FQwpIt) TKI choice key for fit/unfit patients with Ph+ALL (https://bit.ly/3kLdmOs) Email Blood & Cancer at podcasts@mdedge.com  

How do patients fare when they have cancer and COVID-19? Researchers developed the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) and the National Cancer Institute COVID-19 in Cancer Patients Study (NCCAPS) to gain some insight. In this episode, Brian Rini, MD, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn., and host of The Uromigos podcast, explains what CCC19 and NCCAPS are. He also discusses findings from CCC19 that were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020. NCCAPS (NCT04387656) NCCAPS is a natural history study of COVID-19 in patients with active cancer. It is a prospective study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, that is open at more than 500 centers. The study is open to U.S. adults who are receiving active cancer treatment and either have COVID-19 or are awaiting a SARS-CoV-2 test result. Researchers collect blood samples and other data from patients enrolled. Blood is collected at baseline and at regular intervals incorporated

This week in Hematology and Oncology news: Large waistline linked to higher risk of prostate cancer death (https://bit.ly/3iRxmya) FOLFOXRI tops doublets as bevacizumab backbone for mCRC (https://bit.ly/32QpTKi) AI algorithm on par with radiologists as mammogram reader (https://bit.ly/35WnAXV) How I Treat: For low-risk MDS, treat 'what bugs patients most' (https://bit.ly/2ZU5TEU)   *  *  * Find more Blood & Cancer at https://www.mdedge.com/podcasts/blood-cancer Email the show at podcasts@mdedge.com

How has COVID-19 impacted medical students? Two students from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), Dublin, describe their experiences in this episode. Evani Patel and Sarah Chen, both second-year medical students at RCSI, tell host David H. Henry, MD, how the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped their educational experience thus far. Now, the pandemic has shifted the students’ education to a mix of virtual and in-person learning at RCSI, but COVID-19 also impacted the pair’s summer studentships at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Typically, the studentships involve seeing patients, attending lectures, and completing projects. This year, however, the students were unable to travel to Philadelphia in person, so they completed their projects and attended lectures virtually. Disclosures: Ms. Chen, Ms. Patel, and Dr. Henry have no disclosures relevant to this episode. *  *  * For more MDedge Podcasts, go to mdedge.com/podcasts Email the show: podcasts@mdedge.com Interact with us on Twitter: @MDedgehemonc

Hematology/Oncology News: Study supports multigene panel testing for all breast cancer patients with second primary cancers: https://bit.ly/3m6RyOGSource: https://bit.ly/2ZKXund Atezolizumab TNBC indication ‘in jeopardy’ because of phase 3 results: https://bit.ly/35rqzrl Alert: https://bit.ly/2Reh1HMTrial: https://bit.ly/2ZqqIqX Pralsetinib: Second drug for RET+ NSCLC approved in U.S.: https://bit.ly/3bTdGaz Unexpected results in new COVID-19 ‘cytokine storm’ data: https://bit.ly/3k8fIGL JAMA research letter: https://bit.ly/35ubxB4 You can email the show at podcasts@mdedge.com    

Treatment strategies for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) vary widely depending upon patients’ prognosis. In this episode, Shannon R. McCurdy, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, joined host David H. Henry, MD, to discuss how she treats patients with MDS. To start, Dr. McCurdy evaluates patients using the revised International Prognostic Survival Scale (IPSS-R), which can predict the aggressiveness of MDS. Low IPSS-R scores (6) are associated with high-risk MDS, which has a median survival of 0.8 years. Dr. McCurdy also performs molecular testing to assess risk. A poor-risk molecular profile can increase the IPSS-R by 1 point, she said. Dr. McCurdy went on to explain how she approaches treatment according to risk. Asymptomatic, low-risk MDS Monitor patients’ complete blood count, typically every 3-6 months, and intervene if there is progression. Low-risk patients who require treatment Those who have deletion 5q with anemia should receive lenalidomide first. Patients without 5q deletion a

Blood & Cancer News:   Delaying RT for higher-risk prostate cancer found safe: https://bit.ly/2F1cKoQ Source: https://bit.ly/2FaaMCr RTOG 9413: https://bit.ly/2DL2FM4 RTOG 9910: https://bit.ly/2F8itJe HOME-PE trial clarifies which pulmonary embolism patients to treat at home: https://bit.ly/3ibNTN9 Melanoma experts say ‘no’ to routine gene profile testing: https://bit.ly/2Zka10p Source: https://bit.ly/2ZkzerB  VTE, sepsis risk increased among COVID-19 patients with cancer: https://bit.ly/2DL2Wi4 You can learn more about Blood & Cancer at https://www.mdedge.com/podcasts/blood-cancer

Episode 94 features the best of ASCO 2020, and we'll see you all with new content for episodes 95 and 96.  *  *  * Best of: How did it go? Nick Andrews and David Henry, MD, discuss how Dr. Henry thought the meeting went from episode 73.  Top five abstracts. Dr. Henry and Alan Lyss, MD, discuss their top five abstracts each from episode 74.  Preview/review. Howard "Skip" Burris, III, MD, joined Dr. Henry to talk about how ASCO was changing amid the COVID-19 pandemic from episode 68.  *  *  * Email the show: podcasts@mdedge.com Follow us on Twitter: @MDedgeHemOnc Follow Dr. Henry on Twitter: @DavidHenryMD  

MDedge Hematology-Oncology news for the first week of September 2020.  Aspirin may accelerate cancer progression in older adults: https://bit.ly/2ENHRUc ASPREE trial: https://bit.ly/2QAsMYW Meta-analysis: https://bit.ly/2D6rXnl AsCaP: https://bit.ly/2G06X2I Black/White gap gone: ‘The only cancer where this has happened’: https://bit.ly/3jm8PBm Source: https://bit.ly/3lv4u0m Selpercatinib 'poised to alter the landscape' of RET+ cancers: https://bit.ly/34PYSbs Lung cancer results: https://bit.ly/3gB1FY7 Thyroid cancer results: https://bit.ly/2EHhCz5 Study confirms it's possible to get COVID-19 twice: https://bit.ly/3bd4wWg Email the show: podcasts@mdedge.com Learn more about MDedge and Blood & Cancer: https://www.mdedge.com/podcasts

The SECURE-SCD registry was designed to collect and disseminate information on patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) who develop COVID-19. Two of the registry’s organizers are Amanda Brandow, DO, and Julie Panepinto, MD, both of the Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee. In this episode, Dr. Brandow and Dr. Panepinto discuss SECURE-SCD and its findings with host David H. Henry, MD. SECURE-SCD is an online registry that was launched in March 2020. On the registry’s website (https://covidsicklecell.org/), health care providers can submit deidentified data on patients with COVID-19 and SCD. The submitted data are then published on the website. Updates are made regularly, usually every Friday. The following information from SECURE-SCD was current as of recording this episode. SECURE-SCD includes data on nearly 300 SCD patients with COVID-19. Eight countries and more than 25 U.S. states are represented in the registry. The average patient age is 25.5 years, with the largest population

News for the week of August 24, 2020.  Beyond baseline, DBT no better than mammography for dense breasts: https://bit.ly/2FTRnpp Study source: https://bit.ly/2FTLkkI Lead author: https://bit.ly/3graAv0 Subgroups predict adjuvant chemoradiotherapy benefits in low-grade glioma: https://bit.ly/31oHkkr Source: https://bit.ly/3aSVe1j Diabetes plus weight loss equals increased risk of pancreatic cancer: https://bit.ly/2Etmbws Source: https://bit.ly/2EyRBkV For more MDedge podcasts: htttps://www.mdedge.com/podcasts Email the show: podcasts@mdedge.com

Dr. David Henry welcomes NBA power forward Mason Plumlee. Plumlee, who is now participating in the NBA's controlled COVID-19 environment, affectionately referred to as the "bubble," tested positive for COVID-19 before we knew that loss of taste and smell was a symptom.  In a wellness and intellectual change-of-pace episode, Plumlee joins Dr. Henry to talk about his background in medicine and biology, his experiences in the NBA bubble, and his time playing for Duke University.  Mason Plumlee on Twitter: @masonplumlee https://bit.ly/2FBSQ3r David Henry on Twitter: @DavidHenryMD http://bit.ly/2HXI6Lw You can find more MDedge podcasts at https://www.mdedge.com/podcasts/  

Hematology-Oncology news: Chemo-free management of mesothelioma on horizon: https://bit.ly/2CyL6xY CheckMate 743: https://bit.ly/2CBy6HX INITIATE trial: https://bit.ly/3axxdg8 MAPS2: https://bit.ly/32hWCa0 FDA approves first liquid biopsy/NGS test for lung cancer: https://bit.ly/3258jRn Swallowable 'sponge on a string' to diagnose esophageal cancer: https://bit.ly/3iUbLFb Source: https://bit.ly/2Q0T6en COVID-19 impact: Less chemo, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and steroids: https://bit.ly/2Ebwmpq Survey: https://bit.ly/3h14S4h Email Blood & Cancer: podcasts@mdedge.com    

Hanny Al-Samkari, MD, joins the podcast to discuss thrombosis in COVID-19 and lung cancer patients as well as the use of bevacizumab in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Dr. Al-Samkari, of Massachusetts General Hospital, presented three studies on these topics at the virtual ISTH 2020 Congress. In this episode, Dr. Al-Samkari describes these studies to host David H. Henry, MD. Thrombosis, Bleeding, and the Effect of Anticoagulation on Survival in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19 in the United States This 67-center study included 3,239 critically ill adults with COVID-19. The 14-day incidence of radiographically confirmed venous thromboembolism (VTE) was 6.3%. The 14-day incidence of strictly defined major bleeding was 2.8%. Patients who received therapeutic anticoagulation in the first 2 days of ICU admission had a similar risk of death at 28 days as patients who did not receive anticoagulation. Al-Samkari H et al. ISTH 2020, Abstract LB/CO01.2. https://bit.ly/3alvquE. An I

Subscribe to Blood & Cancer: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts This week in HemOnc news: Study: Immune checkpoint inhibitors don't increase risk of death in cancer patients with COVID-19: https://bit.ly/2PEttQa System provides 'faster, less invasive' method for breast cancer detection: https://bit.ly/3achral Source: https://bit.ly/3gN507j FDA approves belantamab in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: https://bit.ly/3ksQtQu FDA approves new drug for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: https://bit.ly/3kvoIXn For more MDedge Podcasts, click this link: http://bit.ly/2CfnY52 Email the show: podcasts@mdedge.com Follow Dr. David Henry on Twitter @DavidHenryMD