The edition · Oncology
Three weeks of postmastectomy radiotherapy holds up at ten years
CHN HYPOPMRT finds durable locoregional control and no excess late toxicity with 15 fractions; ivonescimab adds progression-free time after EGFR TKI failure.
The edition in brief
In CHN HYPOPMRT, 810 women with mostly stage III breast cancer after mastectomy and axillary dissection received chest wall and supraclavicular radiotherapy as 43.5 Gy in 15 fractions or 50 Gy in 25. At a median 11.5 years, locoregional recurrence was 12.0% against 10.3% (HR 1.19, 95% CI 0.79–1.82), and grade 3 late effects were rare and similar, with no brachial plexopathy. HARMONi randomised 438 patients with EGFR-mutated non-squamous NSCLC progressing on a third-generation TKI to ivonescimab or placebo with pemetrexed–carboplatin: progression-free survival improved (6.8 vs 4.4 months, HR 0.52), overall survival did not reach significance (16.8 vs 14.0 months, HR 0.79, 0.62–1.01), and serious treatment-related events were commoner (28% vs 15%). A worldwide analysis attributed 2.3 million new cancers in 2024 — 12% of the total — to infection, led by H. pylori and HPV. The FDA lists an approved supplement to the abemaciclib application dated 18 September; the record does not state what changed. The pearl covers early management of abemaciclib diarrhoea.
Ivonescimab with chemotherapy after EGFR TKI failure: longer progression-free survival, overall survival not yet significant
Ivonescimab improved progression-free but not significantly overall survival after EGFR TKI failure; platinum–pemetrexed remains standard meanwhile.
One in eight new cancers worldwide is attributable to infection
Use the cancer consultation to prompt infection testing and vaccination in patients' families.
FDA lists an approved supplement to the abemaciclib (Verzenio) application
Check the current abemaciclib label for changes; a supplement approval alone does not signal a new indication.
Abemaciclib diarrhoea: treat at the first loose stool
Give loperamide with the first abemaciclib prescription and tell patients to start it at the first loose stool.
Hypofractionated postmastectomy radiotherapy: durable control and no excess late toxicity at ten years
Hypofractionated postmastectomy radiotherapy over three weeks is a durable, safe option for chest wall and supraclavicular treatment.
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