Conference Recap

Sirisha Manyam, DO, eagerly looks forward to attending Association of VA Hematology and Oncology (AVAHO) 2023 and participating in discussion concerning two central topics: women's health and clinician wellness. Recognizing and meeting the distinctive stressors faced by healthcare workers, which have produced alarming rates of burnout, is an apt priority for Veterans Affairs systems, Dr Maryam suggests, and one which is paralleled by the need to engage the unique challenges faced by women, specifically the cluster of considerations surrounding breast cancer treatment.

Sirisha Manyam, DO, eagerly looks forward to attending Association of VA Hematology and Oncology (AVAHO) 2023 and participating in discussion concerning two central topics: women's health and clinician wellness. Recognizing and meeting the distinctive stressors faced by healthcare workers, which have produced alarming rates of burnout, is an apt priority for Veterans Affairs systems, Dr Maryam suggests, and one which is paralleled by the need to engage the unique challenges faced by women, specifically the cluster of considerations surrounding breast cancer treatment.

Sirisha Manyam, DO, eagerly looks forward to attending Association of VA Hematology and Oncology (AVAHO) 2023 and participating in discussion concerning two central topics: women's health and clinician wellness. Recognizing and meeting the distinctive stressors faced by healthcare workers, which have produced alarming rates of burnout, is an apt priority for Veterans Affairs systems, Dr Maryam suggests, and one which is paralleled by the need to engage the unique challenges faced by women, specifically the cluster of considerations surrounding breast cancer treatment.

Timothy O'Brien, MD, shares his expectations for the upcoming 2023 AVAHO conference. Dr O'Brien highlights four key areas of interest: networking with providers from other VA systems; creating more clinical trial opportunities; exploring educational sessions on topics like AI in oncology and geriatric oncology; and fostering team building within the local VA group. With an area of focus in malignant hematology, particularly multiple myeloma, Dr O'Brien sees learning opportunities within the education sessions on geriatric oncology. Considering that the average age of patients with multiple myeloma at his institution is 70 years, he looks forward to gaining valuable strategies for geriatric assessment.

Timothy O'Brien, MD, shares his expectations for the upcoming 2023 AVAHO conference. Dr O'Brien highlights four key areas of interest: networking with providers from other VA systems; creating more clinical trial opportunities; exploring educational sessions on topics like AI in oncology and geriatric oncology; and fostering team building within the local VA group. With an area of focus in malignant hematology, particularly multiple myeloma, Dr O'Brien sees learning opportunities within the education sessions on geriatric oncology. Considering that the average age of patients with multiple myeloma at his institution is 70 years, he looks forward to gaining valuable strategies for geriatric assessment.

Timothy O'Brien, MD, shares his expectations for the upcoming 2023 AVAHO conference. Dr O'Brien highlights four key areas of interest: networking with providers from other VA systems; creating more clinical trial opportunities; exploring educational sessions on topics like AI in oncology and geriatric oncology; and fostering team building within the local VA group. With an area of focus in malignant hematology, particularly multiple myeloma, Dr O'Brien sees learning opportunities within the education sessions on geriatric oncology. Considering that the average age of patients with multiple myeloma at his institution is 70 years, he looks forward to gaining valuable strategies for geriatric assessment.

Soo Park, MD, discusses her expectations for the upcoming 2023 AVAHO meeting in Chicago. Two items on the agenda particularly stand out: the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology and the importance of cancer patient navigation. Dr Park acknowledges AI's potential to transform cancer diagnostics and drug discovery, particularly in aiding molecular profiling. Additionally, she highlights the value of cancer patient navigators in optimizing veteran care, particularly in the setting of geriatric oncology.

Soo Park, MD, discusses her expectations for the upcoming 2023 AVAHO meeting in Chicago. Two items on the agenda particularly stand out: the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology and the importance of cancer patient navigation. Dr Park acknowledges AI's potential to transform cancer diagnostics and drug discovery, particularly in aiding molecular profiling. Additionally, she highlights the value of cancer patient navigators in optimizing veteran care, particularly in the setting of geriatric oncology.

Soo Park, MD, discusses her expectations for the upcoming 2023 AVAHO meeting in Chicago. Two items on the agenda particularly stand out: the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in oncology and the importance of cancer patient navigation. Dr Park acknowledges AI's potential to transform cancer diagnostics and drug discovery, particularly in aiding molecular profiling. Additionally, she highlights the value of cancer patient navigators in optimizing veteran care, particularly in the setting of geriatric oncology.

Dr Harold J. Burstein, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, highlights key abstracts on early breast cancer from the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. 

Dr Burstein first reports on exciting results from the phase 3 NATALEE trial, which compared adjuvant use of CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib plus endocrine therapy (ET) vs ET alone in patients with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer and found that the combination lowered risk for recurrence.  

The results of NATALEE, together with the recent findings of the monarchE trial, provide strong evidence that the addition of a CDK4/6 inhibitor to ET is useful in the adjuvant setting. Dr Burstein suggests that these findings may point to an emerging treatment paradigm in HR+/HER2- patients, particularly those with higher-risk breast cancers. 

Dr Burstein next discusses important data from the Early Breast Cancer Trialists Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Their meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials on ovarian ablation in premenopausal women showed that ovarian ablation provided a substantial reduction in 15-year risk for recurrence and death. 

Finally, Dr Burstein reports on data from an analysis of patients enrolled in the PENELOPE-B trial to assess the value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in predicting clinical relapse. Dr Burstein reports that the results indicated that ctDNA was a strong prognostic factor for disease recurrence. 

--

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Institute Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. 

Dr Harold J. Burstein, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, highlights key abstracts on early breast cancer from the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. 

Dr Burstein first reports on exciting results from the phase 3 NATALEE trial, which compared adjuvant use of CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib plus endocrine therapy (ET) vs ET alone in patients with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer and found that the combination lowered risk for recurrence.  

The results of NATALEE, together with the recent findings of the monarchE trial, provide strong evidence that the addition of a CDK4/6 inhibitor to ET is useful in the adjuvant setting. Dr Burstein suggests that these findings may point to an emerging treatment paradigm in HR+/HER2- patients, particularly those with higher-risk breast cancers. 

Dr Burstein next discusses important data from the Early Breast Cancer Trialists Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Their meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials on ovarian ablation in premenopausal women showed that ovarian ablation provided a substantial reduction in 15-year risk for recurrence and death. 

Finally, Dr Burstein reports on data from an analysis of patients enrolled in the PENELOPE-B trial to assess the value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in predicting clinical relapse. Dr Burstein reports that the results indicated that ctDNA was a strong prognostic factor for disease recurrence. 

--

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Institute Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. 

Dr Harold J. Burstein, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, highlights key abstracts on early breast cancer from the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. 

Dr Burstein first reports on exciting results from the phase 3 NATALEE trial, which compared adjuvant use of CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib plus endocrine therapy (ET) vs ET alone in patients with HR+/HER2- early breast cancer and found that the combination lowered risk for recurrence.  

The results of NATALEE, together with the recent findings of the monarchE trial, provide strong evidence that the addition of a CDK4/6 inhibitor to ET is useful in the adjuvant setting. Dr Burstein suggests that these findings may point to an emerging treatment paradigm in HR+/HER2- patients, particularly those with higher-risk breast cancers. 

Dr Burstein next discusses important data from the Early Breast Cancer Trialists Collaborative Group (EBCTCG). Their meta-analysis of 25 randomized trials on ovarian ablation in premenopausal women showed that ovarian ablation provided a substantial reduction in 15-year risk for recurrence and death. 

Finally, Dr Burstein reports on data from an analysis of patients enrolled in the PENELOPE-B trial to assess the value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in predicting clinical relapse. Dr Burstein reports that the results indicated that ctDNA was a strong prognostic factor for disease recurrence. 

--

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Institute Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. 

Dr Harold J. Burstein, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, presents key abstracts on metastatic breast cancer (mBC) from the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. 

Dr Burstein first highlights results from the SONIA study, which compared endocrine therapy followed by a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the second-line with the use of a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the first line. Although the CDK4/6 inhibitor in first-line improved progression-free survival, overall survival remained unchanged.  

Dr Burstein next discusses results from the CANKADO trial, which randomized patients with mBC to report symptoms via a smartphone app. The app users reported fewer adverse events and better quality of life. 

Dr Burstein reports on the potentially practice-changing results of the X-7/7 trial comparing a fixed dose of capecitabine (7/7) with the standard dose (14/7). Although both dosing schedules showed similar overall survival results, the fixed dose was better tolerated.  

Finally, Dr Burstein turns to advances in the use of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), starting with an update from the TROPiCS-02 study comparing sacituzumab govitecan (SG) with standard chemotherapy. The 12.75-month follow-up showed an overall survival benefit when using SG in third- or fourth-line treatment.  

He also highlights phase 2 trial results with another ADC, HER3-DXd (patritumab deruxtecan), which showed significant response rates across a broad range of HER3 expression levels. 

--

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Institute Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. 

Dr Harold J. Burstein, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, presents key abstracts on metastatic breast cancer (mBC) from the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. 

Dr Burstein first highlights results from the SONIA study, which compared endocrine therapy followed by a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the second-line with the use of a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the first line. Although the CDK4/6 inhibitor in first-line improved progression-free survival, overall survival remained unchanged.  

Dr Burstein next discusses results from the CANKADO trial, which randomized patients with mBC to report symptoms via a smartphone app. The app users reported fewer adverse events and better quality of life. 

Dr Burstein reports on the potentially practice-changing results of the X-7/7 trial comparing a fixed dose of capecitabine (7/7) with the standard dose (14/7). Although both dosing schedules showed similar overall survival results, the fixed dose was better tolerated.  

Finally, Dr Burstein turns to advances in the use of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), starting with an update from the TROPiCS-02 study comparing sacituzumab govitecan (SG) with standard chemotherapy. The 12.75-month follow-up showed an overall survival benefit when using SG in third- or fourth-line treatment.  

He also highlights phase 2 trial results with another ADC, HER3-DXd (patritumab deruxtecan), which showed significant response rates across a broad range of HER3 expression levels. 

--

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Institute Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. 

Dr Harold J. Burstein, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, presents key abstracts on metastatic breast cancer (mBC) from the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting. 

Dr Burstein first highlights results from the SONIA study, which compared endocrine therapy followed by a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the second-line with the use of a CDK4/6 inhibitor in the first line. Although the CDK4/6 inhibitor in first-line improved progression-free survival, overall survival remained unchanged.  

Dr Burstein next discusses results from the CANKADO trial, which randomized patients with mBC to report symptoms via a smartphone app. The app users reported fewer adverse events and better quality of life. 

Dr Burstein reports on the potentially practice-changing results of the X-7/7 trial comparing a fixed dose of capecitabine (7/7) with the standard dose (14/7). Although both dosing schedules showed similar overall survival results, the fixed dose was better tolerated.  

Finally, Dr Burstein turns to advances in the use of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), starting with an update from the TROPiCS-02 study comparing sacituzumab govitecan (SG) with standard chemotherapy. The 12.75-month follow-up showed an overall survival benefit when using SG in third- or fourth-line treatment.  

He also highlights phase 2 trial results with another ADC, HER3-DXd (patritumab deruxtecan), which showed significant response rates across a broad range of HER3 expression levels. 

--

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Institute Physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 

Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships. 

Conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS) and a novel drug to prevent it are among the MS highlights from the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, as reported by Dr Fred Lublin of the Icahn School of Medicine in New York. 

Dr Lublin starts with three studies examining radiologic isolated syndrome (RIS), the first of which looked at MRI and spinal fluid factors associated with conversion to MS. The study indicated that less stringent criteria for RIS may have to be considered. 

The second study, again using data obtained via MRI, showed that the presence of pragmatic rim lesions may be an indicator of more severe disease. The third study was a clinical trial of teriflunomide. This suggested that the drug reduced conversion rates to MS by almost two thirds compared with placebo. 

Dr Lublin then turns to an investigation of the impact of assisted reproductive technologies on relapse risk in women with MS. Reassuringly, women who continued with disease-modifying therapy during reproductive assistance were less likely to relapse. 

Finally, he discusses a study showing that women with MS who followed a Mediterranean diet had better cognition scores. 

--

Fred Lublin, MD, Saunders Family Professor of Neurology; Director, The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 

Fred D. Lublin, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Biogen; EMD Serono; Novartis; Teva; Actelion/Janssen; Sanofi/Genzyme; Acorda; Roche/Genentech; Viela Bio/Horizon 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Sanofi; Biogen 

Received research grant from: Biogen; Novartis; Actelion; Biogen; Sanofi; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics; National Institutes of Health 

Conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS) and a novel drug to prevent it are among the MS highlights from the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, as reported by Dr Fred Lublin of the Icahn School of Medicine in New York. 

Dr Lublin starts with three studies examining radiologic isolated syndrome (RIS), the first of which looked at MRI and spinal fluid factors associated with conversion to MS. The study indicated that less stringent criteria for RIS may have to be considered. 

The second study, again using data obtained via MRI, showed that the presence of pragmatic rim lesions may be an indicator of more severe disease. The third study was a clinical trial of teriflunomide. This suggested that the drug reduced conversion rates to MS by almost two thirds compared with placebo. 

Dr Lublin then turns to an investigation of the impact of assisted reproductive technologies on relapse risk in women with MS. Reassuringly, women who continued with disease-modifying therapy during reproductive assistance were less likely to relapse. 

Finally, he discusses a study showing that women with MS who followed a Mediterranean diet had better cognition scores. 

--

Fred Lublin, MD, Saunders Family Professor of Neurology; Director, The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 

Fred D. Lublin, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Biogen; EMD Serono; Novartis; Teva; Actelion/Janssen; Sanofi/Genzyme; Acorda; Roche/Genentech; Viela Bio/Horizon 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Sanofi; Biogen 

Received research grant from: Biogen; Novartis; Actelion; Biogen; Sanofi; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics; National Institutes of Health 

Conversion to multiple sclerosis (MS) and a novel drug to prevent it are among the MS highlights from the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, as reported by Dr Fred Lublin of the Icahn School of Medicine in New York. 

Dr Lublin starts with three studies examining radiologic isolated syndrome (RIS), the first of which looked at MRI and spinal fluid factors associated with conversion to MS. The study indicated that less stringent criteria for RIS may have to be considered. 

The second study, again using data obtained via MRI, showed that the presence of pragmatic rim lesions may be an indicator of more severe disease. The third study was a clinical trial of teriflunomide. This suggested that the drug reduced conversion rates to MS by almost two thirds compared with placebo. 

Dr Lublin then turns to an investigation of the impact of assisted reproductive technologies on relapse risk in women with MS. Reassuringly, women who continued with disease-modifying therapy during reproductive assistance were less likely to relapse. 

Finally, he discusses a study showing that women with MS who followed a Mediterranean diet had better cognition scores. 

--

Fred Lublin, MD, Saunders Family Professor of Neurology; Director, The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 

Fred D. Lublin, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Biogen; EMD Serono; Novartis; Teva; Actelion/Janssen; Sanofi/Genzyme; Acorda; Roche/Genentech; Viela Bio/Horizon 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Sanofi; Biogen 

Received research grant from: Biogen; Novartis; Actelion; Biogen; Sanofi; National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics; National Institutes of Health 

Clinical advances in myasthenia gravis from the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting include the association between fatigue and disease severity and promising results from three ongoing trials of novel therapies, as reported by Dr Nicholas Silvestri, from the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York. 

Dr Silvestri begins by discussing a study of autoantibodies in patients with seronegative disease, which highlighted the potential for impaired B-cell tolerance, and goes on to examine research underscoring the association between fatigue and disease severity, as well as anxiety and depression. 

Moving on to novel therapies, Dr Silvestri reviews a combined analysis of three trials of rozanolixizumab, which demonstrated the drug's encouraging efficacy and favorable safety profile. 

Next, he turns to the ADAPT+ trial, which showed that efgartigimod continued to have an improved clinical response after patients rolled over from the initial ADAPT trial to ADAPT+, with no new safety signals apparent. 

Finally, Dr Silvestri looks at data from the postmarketing registry of eculizumab, which revealed how a significant proportion of patients were able discontinue or reduce their other medications once they started the drug. 

--

Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 

Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: argenx; Alexion; Immunovant; UCB 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: argenx; Alexion 

Clinical advances in myasthenia gravis from the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting include the association between fatigue and disease severity and promising results from three ongoing trials of novel therapies, as reported by Dr Nicholas Silvestri, from the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York. 

Dr Silvestri begins by discussing a study of autoantibodies in patients with seronegative disease, which highlighted the potential for impaired B-cell tolerance, and goes on to examine research underscoring the association between fatigue and disease severity, as well as anxiety and depression. 

Moving on to novel therapies, Dr Silvestri reviews a combined analysis of three trials of rozanolixizumab, which demonstrated the drug's encouraging efficacy and favorable safety profile. 

Next, he turns to the ADAPT+ trial, which showed that efgartigimod continued to have an improved clinical response after patients rolled over from the initial ADAPT trial to ADAPT+, with no new safety signals apparent. 

Finally, Dr Silvestri looks at data from the postmarketing registry of eculizumab, which revealed how a significant proportion of patients were able discontinue or reduce their other medications once they started the drug. 

--

Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 

Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: argenx; Alexion; Immunovant; UCB 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: argenx; Alexion 

Clinical advances in myasthenia gravis from the 2023 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting include the association between fatigue and disease severity and promising results from three ongoing trials of novel therapies, as reported by Dr Nicholas Silvestri, from the University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York. 

Dr Silvestri begins by discussing a study of autoantibodies in patients with seronegative disease, which highlighted the potential for impaired B-cell tolerance, and goes on to examine research underscoring the association between fatigue and disease severity, as well as anxiety and depression. 

Moving on to novel therapies, Dr Silvestri reviews a combined analysis of three trials of rozanolixizumab, which demonstrated the drug's encouraging efficacy and favorable safety profile. 

Next, he turns to the ADAPT+ trial, which showed that efgartigimod continued to have an improved clinical response after patients rolled over from the initial ADAPT trial to ADAPT+, with no new safety signals apparent. 

Finally, Dr Silvestri looks at data from the postmarketing registry of eculizumab, which revealed how a significant proportion of patients were able discontinue or reduce their other medications once they started the drug. 

--

Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 

Nicholas J. Silvestri, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: argenx; Alexion; Immunovant; UCB 

Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: argenx; Alexion 

Notable advances in breast cancer, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023, are discussed by Dr Kathy Miller, Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis. 

She begins with two studies looking at PARP inhibitors in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. 

The TALAVE study suggested that talazoparib induction followed by talazoparib plus avelumab could enhance the benefits of PARP inhibition. In contrast, a study of olaparib vs olaparib plus atezolizumab suggested that the combination offered few clinical improvements at the cost of additional toxicities. 

Dr Miller next discusses the combination of olaparib and the novel agent sapacitabine in BRCA-mutated breast cancer. Although hematologic toxicities were an issue in this small trial, some patients experienced prolonged benefits. 

Finally, she presents early results with a whole tumor cell therapeutic vaccine, before examining some of the future challenges around antibody-drug conjugates. 

--

Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana 

Kathy D. Miller, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serves on independent Data Monitoring Committees for ongoing trials for: Merck; Genentech/Roche; AstraZeneca; Celcuity 

Notable advances in breast cancer, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023, are discussed by Dr Kathy Miller, Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis. 

She begins with two studies looking at PARP inhibitors in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. 

The TALAVE study suggested that talazoparib induction followed by talazoparib plus avelumab could enhance the benefits of PARP inhibition. In contrast, a study of olaparib vs olaparib plus atezolizumab suggested that the combination offered few clinical improvements at the cost of additional toxicities. 

Dr Miller next discusses the combination of olaparib and the novel agent sapacitabine in BRCA-mutated breast cancer. Although hematologic toxicities were an issue in this small trial, some patients experienced prolonged benefits. 

Finally, she presents early results with a whole tumor cell therapeutic vaccine, before examining some of the future challenges around antibody-drug conjugates. 

--

Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana 

Kathy D. Miller, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serves on independent Data Monitoring Committees for ongoing trials for: Merck; Genentech/Roche; AstraZeneca; Celcuity 

Notable advances in breast cancer, presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023, are discussed by Dr Kathy Miller, Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis. 

She begins with two studies looking at PARP inhibitors in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. 

The TALAVE study suggested that talazoparib induction followed by talazoparib plus avelumab could enhance the benefits of PARP inhibition. In contrast, a study of olaparib vs olaparib plus atezolizumab suggested that the combination offered few clinical improvements at the cost of additional toxicities. 

Dr Miller next discusses the combination of olaparib and the novel agent sapacitabine in BRCA-mutated breast cancer. Although hematologic toxicities were an issue in this small trial, some patients experienced prolonged benefits. 

Finally, she presents early results with a whole tumor cell therapeutic vaccine, before examining some of the future challenges around antibody-drug conjugates. 

--

Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana 

Kathy D. Miller, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serves on independent Data Monitoring Committees for ongoing trials for: Merck; Genentech/Roche; AstraZeneca; Celcuity 

Dr Kathy Miller of Indiana University Health in Indianapolis discusses key takeaways in early breast cancer from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023. 

She begins with a novel imaging agent that allows surgeons to visualize residual disease during lumpectomy and reduce the risk for positive margins. It is now being investigated in patients who undergo neoadjuvant therapy. 

Next, Dr Miller focuses on a study of skin toxicity in patients undergoing fractionated radiotherapy, which found that rates varied widely by race/ethnicity. 

She also examines the implications of these findings and other research presented at AACR addressing the effect of genetic ancestry on the biology of breast cancers. 

Finally, Dr Miller looks at a study of disease progression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which found that 80% of cases were the result of clonal recurrences of residual cells left behind at the time of treatment. 

--

Kathy D. Miller, MD, Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana 

Kathy D. Miller, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve on independent Data Monitoring Committees for ongoing trials for: Merck; Genentech/Roche; AstraZeneca; Celcuity 

Dr Kathy Miller of Indiana University Health in Indianapolis discusses key takeaways in early breast cancer from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023. 

She begins with a novel imaging agent that allows surgeons to visualize residual disease during lumpectomy and reduce the risk for positive margins. It is now being investigated in patients who undergo neoadjuvant therapy. 

Next, Dr Miller focuses on a study of skin toxicity in patients undergoing fractionated radiotherapy, which found that rates varied widely by race/ethnicity. 

She also examines the implications of these findings and other research presented at AACR addressing the effect of genetic ancestry on the biology of breast cancers. 

Finally, Dr Miller looks at a study of disease progression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which found that 80% of cases were the result of clonal recurrences of residual cells left behind at the time of treatment. 

--

Kathy D. Miller, MD, Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana 

Kathy D. Miller, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve on independent Data Monitoring Committees for ongoing trials for: Merck; Genentech/Roche; AstraZeneca; Celcuity 

Dr Kathy Miller of Indiana University Health in Indianapolis discusses key takeaways in early breast cancer from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023. 

She begins with a novel imaging agent that allows surgeons to visualize residual disease during lumpectomy and reduce the risk for positive margins. It is now being investigated in patients who undergo neoadjuvant therapy. 

Next, Dr Miller focuses on a study of skin toxicity in patients undergoing fractionated radiotherapy, which found that rates varied widely by race/ethnicity. 

She also examines the implications of these findings and other research presented at AACR addressing the effect of genetic ancestry on the biology of breast cancers. 

Finally, Dr Miller looks at a study of disease progression in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which found that 80% of cases were the result of clonal recurrences of residual cells left behind at the time of treatment. 

--

Kathy D. Miller, MD, Ballvé Lantero Professor of Oncology, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana 

Kathy D. Miller, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve on independent Data Monitoring Committees for ongoing trials for: Merck; Genentech/Roche; AstraZeneca; Celcuity 

The latest research on disease-modifying therapies presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) 2023 annual meeting is reported by Dr Jennifer Graves from the University of California, San Diego. 

Dr Graves first discusses a small study exploring the effects of an intermittent calorie restriction (ICR) diet on adipokine levels, metabolic and immune/inflammatory biomarkers, and MRI measurements. Researchers found that short-term ICR can improve metabolic and immunologic profiles in patients with MS.  

Next, Dr Graves discusses a trial that successively measured changes in proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients treated with tolebrutinib and ocrelizumab as evidence of therapeutic efficacy. This study provides early evidence of the impact of these medications directly in the central nervous system. 

She then details a study evaluating autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) as an MS treatment. The study found that aHSCT has a durable effect for up to 5-10 years compared to our current available regimens.  

Finally, Dr Graves highlights the National MS Society Barancik Prize winner Dr Ruth Ann Marrie. Dr Marrie is a pioneer for her research in comorbidities and their effect on MS treatment decisions, especially in choosing disease-modifying therapies.  

--

Jennifer S.O. Graves, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Director Neuroimmunology Research, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego  

Jennifer S.O. Graves, MD, PhD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) on an advisory board for: TG Therapeutics; Bayer 

Received research grant from: Sanofi; EMD Serono; Biogen; ATARA; Octave 

The latest research on disease-modifying therapies presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) 2023 annual meeting is reported by Dr Jennifer Graves from the University of California, San Diego. 

Dr Graves first discusses a small study exploring the effects of an intermittent calorie restriction (ICR) diet on adipokine levels, metabolic and immune/inflammatory biomarkers, and MRI measurements. Researchers found that short-term ICR can improve metabolic and immunologic profiles in patients with MS.  

Next, Dr Graves discusses a trial that successively measured changes in proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients treated with tolebrutinib and ocrelizumab as evidence of therapeutic efficacy. This study provides early evidence of the impact of these medications directly in the central nervous system. 

She then details a study evaluating autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) as an MS treatment. The study found that aHSCT has a durable effect for up to 5-10 years compared to our current available regimens.  

Finally, Dr Graves highlights the National MS Society Barancik Prize winner Dr Ruth Ann Marrie. Dr Marrie is a pioneer for her research in comorbidities and their effect on MS treatment decisions, especially in choosing disease-modifying therapies.  

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Jennifer S.O. Graves, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Director Neuroimmunology Research, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego  

Jennifer S.O. Graves, MD, PhD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) on an advisory board for: TG Therapeutics; Bayer 

Received research grant from: Sanofi; EMD Serono; Biogen; ATARA; Octave 

The latest research on disease-modifying therapies presented at the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) 2023 annual meeting is reported by Dr Jennifer Graves from the University of California, San Diego. 

Dr Graves first discusses a small study exploring the effects of an intermittent calorie restriction (ICR) diet on adipokine levels, metabolic and immune/inflammatory biomarkers, and MRI measurements. Researchers found that short-term ICR can improve metabolic and immunologic profiles in patients with MS.  

Next, Dr Graves discusses a trial that successively measured changes in proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients treated with tolebrutinib and ocrelizumab as evidence of therapeutic efficacy. This study provides early evidence of the impact of these medications directly in the central nervous system. 

She then details a study evaluating autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (aHSCT) as an MS treatment. The study found that aHSCT has a durable effect for up to 5-10 years compared to our current available regimens.  

Finally, Dr Graves highlights the National MS Society Barancik Prize winner Dr Ruth Ann Marrie. Dr Marrie is a pioneer for her research in comorbidities and their effect on MS treatment decisions, especially in choosing disease-modifying therapies.  

--

Jennifer S.O. Graves, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Director Neuroimmunology Research, Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego  

Jennifer S.O. Graves, MD, PhD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships: 

Serve(d) on an advisory board for: TG Therapeutics; Bayer 

Received research grant from: Sanofi; EMD Serono; Biogen; ATARA; Octave