Authors


Thomas W. Flaig, MD

Latest:

Pancreatic Metastases From Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy

In this edition of our ongoing series, the authors present two cases involving renal cell carcinoma patients treated with SBRT for pancreatic metastases.


Silvia Novello, MD

Latest:

Chemotherapy for Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer, Part I

Non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately80% of all lung tumors. Patients diagnosed with early-stage diseasegenerally undergo surgery, but up to 50% develop local or distantrecurrences. The benefit of chemotherapy in this disease is modest, butnew drugs and combined strategies offer hope of improved survivalrates. Because the disease recurs outside the chest in 70% of cases, oneof the foremost goals of therapy is to prevent distant dissemination. Tothis end, chemotherapy may be administered preoperatively or afterresection of the tumor. The first part of this article, which concludesnext month, will address adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy inearly-stage non–small-cell lung cancer.


Monica N. Fornier, MD

Latest:

Risk Models for Neutropenia in Patients With Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common noncutaneous malignancy inwomen in industrialized countries. Chemotherapy prolongs survival inpatients with early-stage breast cancer, and maintaining the chemotherapydose intensity is crucial for increasing overall survival. Manypatients are, however, treated with less than the standard dose intensitybecause of neutropenia and its complications. Prophylactic colonystimulatingfactor (CSF) reduces the incidence and duration of neutropenia,facilitating the delivery of the planned chemotherapy doses.Targeting CSF to only at-risk patients is cost-effective, and predictivemodels are being investigated and developed to make it possible forclinicians to identify patients who are at highest risk for neutropeniccomplications. Both conditional risk factors (eg, the depth of the firstcycleabsolute neutrophil count nadir) and unconditional risk factors(eg, patient age, treatment regimen, and pretreatment blood cell counts)are predictors of neutropenic complications in early-stage breast cancer.Colony-stimulating factor targeted toward high-risk patients startingin the first cycle of chemotherapy may make it possible for fulldoses of chemotherapy to be administered, thereby maximizing patientbenefit. Recent studies of dose-dense chemotherapy regimens with CSFsupport in early-stage breast cancer have shown improvements in disease-free and overall survival, with less hematologic toxicity than withconventional therapy. These findings could lead to changes in how earlystagebreast cancer is managed.


Clifford A. Hudis, MD

Latest:

Risk Models for Neutropenia in Patients With Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common noncutaneous malignancy inwomen in industrialized countries. Chemotherapy prolongs survival inpatients with early-stage breast cancer, and maintaining the chemotherapydose intensity is crucial for increasing overall survival. Manypatients are, however, treated with less than the standard dose intensitybecause of neutropenia and its complications. Prophylactic colonystimulatingfactor (CSF) reduces the incidence and duration of neutropenia,facilitating the delivery of the planned chemotherapy doses.Targeting CSF to only at-risk patients is cost-effective, and predictivemodels are being investigated and developed to make it possible forclinicians to identify patients who are at highest risk for neutropeniccomplications. Both conditional risk factors (eg, the depth of the firstcycleabsolute neutrophil count nadir) and unconditional risk factors(eg, patient age, treatment regimen, and pretreatment blood cell counts)are predictors of neutropenic complications in early-stage breast cancer.Colony-stimulating factor targeted toward high-risk patients startingin the first cycle of chemotherapy may make it possible for fulldoses of chemotherapy to be administered, thereby maximizing patientbenefit. Recent studies of dose-dense chemotherapy regimens with CSFsupport in early-stage breast cancer have shown improvements in disease-free and overall survival, with less hematologic toxicity than withconventional therapy. These findings could lead to changes in how earlystagebreast cancer is managed.


Kathryn F. Mileham, MD, FACP

Latest:

Targeted Therapy for Mutation-Driven Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Considerations for ALK-Rearranged Tumors

In this article, important concepts in the molecular testing of non–small-cell lung cancer are highlighted.


Naveed Saleh, MD, MS

Latest:

Extending Survival in Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer

In this phase III trial, investigators assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of durvalumab with or without tremelimumab with etoposide and carboplatin or cisplatin chemotherapy followed by durvalumab with or without tremelimumab maintenance therapy compared with EP alone as first-line treatment in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.


Yi Lin, MD, PhD

Latest:

Dr. Lin on CAR T-Cell Therapy–Related Toxicities in Multiple Myeloma

Yi Lin, MD, PhD, discusses CAR T-cell therapy–related toxicities in multiple myeloma.


Gary Owens, MS

Latest:

Gary Owens, MS, on the Potential of ARCUS–Mediated Gene Editing in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The associate director for gene therapy discovery at Precision Biosciences discussed preclinical research he presented at ASGCT’s 2023 conference.


Shalini Shenoy, MD, MBBS

Latest:

Shalini Shenoy, MD, MBBS, on Comparing Treatment Options for Sickle Cell Disease

The director of the Stem Cell Transplant & Cellular Therapy Program at St. Louis Children’s Hospital discussed when the choice should be made to transition from symptom management to curative therapies.


Jennifer Morganroth, MD

Latest:

Jennifer Morganroth, MD, MBA, on the Importance of Preparing Clinical Resources for Genetic Medicines

The neurology resident at Penn Medicine spoke about the preparations taken in the lead up to tofersen’s PDUFA date, which is set for April 25, 2023.


Amar Kelkar, MD

Latest:

Amar Kelkar, MD, on Assessing Price and Value for Cell and Gene Therapies

The stem cell transplantation physician at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute discussed how to look at the value therapies provide and how to improve the cost-effectiveness of their use.


Gilles Salles, MD

Latest:

The Need for New Therapies in DLBC Lymphoma: Gilles Salles, MD

The lymphoma service chief at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center discussed the need for new therapies to treat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.


Erin Lopata, PharmD, MPH

Latest:

Improving Patient Access to Cell Therapy Through Decentralized Manufacturing

Decentralized manufacturing could transform cell therapy delivery by reducing delays, costs, and logistical hurdles to improve patient outcomes.


Paul Melmeyer, MPP

Latest:

Gene Therapy Will Be a Major Area of Interest for Attendees at MDA’s 2025 Conference

Paul Melmeyer, MPP, the executive vice president of public policy & advocacy at MDA, discussed the growing interest in gene therapy for the annual meeting.


Magdalena Cichewicz, PhD

Latest:

Magdalena Cichewicz, PhD, on Improving AAV Gene Therapy With Synthetic Promoters

The scientist II at Senti Biosciences discussed the potential of synthetic promoters to improve target specificity in AAV vector-based gene therapies in retinal diseases and beyond.


Clive Svendsen, PhD

Latest:

Clive Svendsen, PhD, on Unlocking the Potential of Astrocyte Cell Therapy

The director of the Regenerative Medicine Institute at Cedars Sinai discussed research being conducted with CNS10-NPC-GDNF in multiple indications.


Emilie Aschenbrenner, PharmD, BCOP

Latest:

Emilie Aschenbrenner, PharmD, BCOP, on CAR-T Versus Bispecific Antibodies for the Treatment of LBCL

The hematology coordinator for pharmacy at Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin discussed the advantages of each of the 2 modalities in the third and second line settings.


Lucas Harrington, PhD

Latest:

Delivering Ultracompact CRISPR Systems With AAV

Lucas Harrington, PhD, the cofounder and chief scientific officer of Mammoth Biosciences, discussed the company’s mouse model research on treating hypertriglyceridemia.



David Weinstein, MD

Latest:

David Weinstein, MD, on Delivering Gene Therapy Directly to the Brain

The senior vice president of clinical development at Passage Bio discussed intracisternal magna administration of PBGM01.


Frank Borriello, MD, PhD

Latest:

Frank Borriello, MD, PhD, on Next Steps for SUPLEXA-101 for Solid Tumors

The scientific cofounder and chief executive officer of Alloplex Biotherapeutics discussed progress of the phase 1 trial and possible future evaluations of the therapy.


Marty Giedlin, PhD

Latest:

Marty Giedlin, PhD, on Advantages of Allogeneic NK Cell Therapy Approaches

The senior vice president of Technical Operations at Senti Biosciences discussed the company’s NK cell logic-gating platform and allogeneic approach.


Caroline Diorio, MD, FRCPC, FAAP

Latest:

Noninflammatory Neurotoxicity Events in Patients Receiving CAR-T

Caroline Diorio, MD, FRCPC, FAAP, an attending physician at the Cancer Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, discussed a study she coauthored that was recently published in Blood.


Fotis Topouzis, MD, PhD

Latest:

Unraveling the Genetics of Glaucoma

Details enhance knowledge of biological pathways that contribute to disease pathogenesis.


Dimitrios Giannoulis, MD

Latest:

Unraveling the Genetics of Glaucoma

Details enhance knowledge of biological pathways that contribute to disease pathogenesis.


Patrick Hwu, MD

Latest:

Dr. Hwu on the Uptake of Cellular Therapy in Oncology

Patrick Hwu, MD, discusses the uptake of cellular therapy in the treatment of patients with cancer.


Binod Dhakal, MD

Latest:

Binod Dhakal, MD, on Benefit of Cilta-Cel in Earlier Lines of Multiple Myeloma Treatment

The associate professor at Medical College of Wisconsin discussed current studies evaluating cilta-cel and ongoing research.


Masahito Kawabori, MD, PhD

Latest:

Stem Cell Therapy for TBI: Masahito Kawabori, MD, PhD

The associate professor at Hokkaido University and investigator of STEMTRA also discussed other efforts in stroke, Alzheimer disease, and Parkinson disease.


Larry Hanover

Latest:

Gene Transfer Therapy Requires Further Investigation Despite Potential Approval, Review Says

After a more than 35-year pursuit, the licensing of a gene therapy product for treating hemophilia may be available within 2 years.


Thomas E. Hutson, DO, PharmD

Latest:

Dr. Hutson on Challenges With Targeted Therapy in Non-Clear Cell RCC

Thomas Hutson, DO, PharmD, discusses challenges with targeted therapy in non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

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