OncoPharm

This week brings critical updates in oncology. There are significant safety concerns regarding venetoclax in multiple myeloma trials, leading to an FDA enrollment hold. The discussion emphasizes troubling findings related to death rates and infections. Meanwhile, atezolizumab is expected to receive FDA approval for small cell lung cancer, showcasing its benefits over traditional chemotherapy. The episode also touches on new guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology for managing brain tumors.

Brief background on metastatic pancreatic cancer is provided, followed by a brief discussion of the main landmark clinical trials (and one not-so-landmark study) in this difficult disease state.

Coming to a P & T committee meeting near you....it's subcutaneous (S.C.) monoclonal antibodies. We discuss the two currently FDA-approved formulations: rituximab + hyaluronidase and trastuzumab + hyaluronidase.

Providing some clinical pearls learned in the last week regarding patient education for ruxolitinib & alectinib. Then (11:50) we recap follow-up publications from Keynote-24 & the BRIGHT studies, before finishing up the week's journal scan with a discussion of the optimal dose of nivolumab + ipilimumab in melanoma and who may NOT benefit from palbociclib.

Axitinib studies presented at ASCO-GU '19 with simultaneous NEJM publication are discussed, followed by a brief overview (18:50) of darolutamide, a new anti-androgen, and its drug interaction potential.

The Landmarks in Oncology Pharmacy series returns to discuss the International Randomized Study of Interferon vs. STI571 (imatinib) aka IRIS.

CBD use is becoming more widespread in society, including in cancer patients. Potential, and significant, drug interaction concerns should be considered.

Mucositis & stomatitis are basically interchangeable terms for one of the hallmark chemotherapy toxicities. We discuss its pathophysiology, prevalent, and prevention/treatment.

Olaratumab received accelerated approval in 2016 under the condition a phase III study would confirm its benefit. It didn't. We explore some possible explanations why a seemingly promising drug for a tough disease hasn't panned out...

It's always enlightening to talk to a cancer survivor and is an essential part of the patient care process. This conversation touches on chemo-induced toxicities (e.g. ifosfamide neurotoxicity), supportive care advances (olanzapine!), and the anxiety of survivors live with while living scan-to-scan. Brought to you by the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy.