- Center on Health Equity and Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
Integrating Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer
Immunotherapy has demonstrated efficacy in lung cancer, for which there are drugs approved as second-line therapies, states Andrew L. Pecora, MD. First-line doublet chemotherapy is given for metastatic non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). If the patient has an ALK or EGFR mutation, treatment would include a targeted therapy.
Chemotherapy is never curative in metastatic NSCLC, says Pecora. An anti-PD-1 agent can be given once chemotherapy fails, although there is some debate regarding whether to give immuno-oncology agents up front in order to stimulate the immune system earlier in the disease process.
When nivolumab is added to ipilimumab, there is an increase in the rate of response, adds Pecora. The combination has the potential to improve survival. One issue with combining a PD-1 inhibitor with an anti-CTLA4 agent is toxicity. Once the immune system is stimulated, it can produce adverse effects that must be addressed quickly, says Pecora. Using these agents at a lower dose and/or altering the sequencing could, in theory, help reduce these effects.
New Insights on Breast Cancer Outcomes Among Sexual, Gender Minorities
December 7th 2023Despite there being a great demand for data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity in the cancer space, individuals who identify as a sexual and gender minority remain poorly represented.
Read More
Patients With HFrEF, HFpEF See Different Functional Capacity Benefits With Dapagliflozin
December 7th 2023The DETERMINE-Reduced and DETERMINE-Preserved trials demonstrated varying benefits of dapagliflozin on Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Total Symptom Score and Physical Limitation Scale as well as 6-minute walk distance.
Read More
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Thyme Care CEO and Cofounder Robin Shah
October 2nd 2023Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.
Listen
Black Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Less Likely to Undergo IPAA Than White Patients
December 7th 2023Overall, the number of patients discharged from hospitals with an ulcerative colitis diagnosis increased between 2009 and 2018, but the number of patients opting for ileal pouch–anal anastomosis (IPAA) decreased.
Read More
Prediction Model Identified Risk Factors for ED Visits in Patients With Lung Cancer
December 7th 2023A risk prediction model that was based on machine learning could help to make resource utilization more efficient by correctly predicting emergency department (ED) visits in patients with lung cancer.
Read More
