NEJM This Week NEJM This Week — July 17, 2025
Jul 16, 2025
Recent advancements in treating gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer highlight the potential of combining immunotherapy with traditional chemotherapy. Innovative approaches in pulmonary sarcoidosis and ex vivo heart resuscitation techniques spark fascinating discussions about ethics in medical care. The impact of AI on breast cancer detection raises questions about its clinical benefits, while a heartfelt narrative of a woman’s resilience after a heart transplant showcases the profound journey of transformation. Perspectives on evolving vaccine policies add another layer of depth to the conversation.
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Dervalumab Improves Cancer Survival
- Adding dervalumab to perioperative FLOT therapy in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer significantly improves event-free survival.
- This combination marks a pivotal advance in curative treatment by enhancing long-term disease control.
Methotrexate as First-Line Option
- Consider methotrexate as first-line treatment for pulmonary sarcoidosis to reduce side effects compared to prednisone.
- Tailor treatment choice by weighing rapid symptom relief versus long-term side effect profiles together with the patient.
Improved GVHD Prophylaxis Method
- Post-transplant cyclophosphamide with a calcineurin inhibitor improves graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis outcomes over standard care.
- This combination extends GVHD-free, relapse-free survival after matched-related donor stem cell transplantation.