TODAY'S CONFERENCE NEWS!

One thing is for sure: current clinical practice of Oncology is miles away from the cutting edge science advancing before it and there is a reason to this fact, only what is clearly established and approved by national institutions reaches the practicing Oncologist.  And clearly, it is important that speakers during Oncology conferences reinvent themselves deep enough to understand the flow of information coming through.  It is easy to tell who knows fully and who is trying to keep up among speakers.   Navigating the world of research while keeping up with clinical studies is the challenge our speakers face.

1.  In lung cancer
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*In Adenocarcinoma:  Pemetrex +Cisplatin based treatment is still King prior to gene Mutation determination, in Metastatic setting and first line
*But when EGFR and positive is known, Erlotinib came on top! And when progression occurs,
continuing ERLOTINIB, but adding a chemotherapy doublet won!
*Despite great achievements by Target therapy in lung cancer, most of the time it is hard to prove survival benefits because most studies allow cross-over of those failing the chemotherapy-alone arm.
*Afatinib was superior to Cisplatin-Pemetrex in those with Del 19/L858R (EGFR mutation positive)
with Progression free survival 13.6 months Vs 6.9 months in metastatic setting.
*Increasingly, re-biopsy at recurrence is occurring to reassess the status of common Mutations.
It has noted that tumors which were EGFR positive, once they become resistant, they adopt small cell features and respond to Small cell regimens.
* When using a EGFR, continue the drug beyond resistance because in a limited MSKCC series, up to 25% of cancers experience a "FLARE" when TKI (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors) were discontinued.  So, while considering options for 2nd line therapy, do not stop TKI.

*Currently tested Mutations:
EGFR, EML4-ALK fusion, MET amplification by FISH (not so much by IHC), ROS-1, PIK3CA (sometime FGFR1)
*"PROXIMITY" TO ROS1 WITH INSULIN RECEPTOR discussed
*IF EGFR positive, rarely you will find KRAS (exclusivity rule discussed)
*in lung cancer :
you find ROS1 in 1.5% of cases,
             ALK + in 5% of cases
             RET + in 2% of cases
             EGFR + in 18% of cases
             HER-2 in 2 % of cases
*Acinar Morphology a cue for ALK positive? and CRIZOTINIB is the answer!

*Now comes OR HAS ARRIVED THE PRACTICE OF "MULTIPLEX TESTING" FOR IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFIC MUTATIONS.
*Of note: the study showing Taxotere equivalent to Gefitinib in lung cancer cases unscreened for EGFR mutation at onset of trial are challenging the notion of Early EGFR identification!

NEW GANETESPID (+TAXOTERE), THIS IS AN INHIBITOR OF HSP90, A CHAPERONE MOLECULE AND PD-L1   BMS936558

WITH THIS FRAME OF INFORMATION - GO TO WORK!

NEXT: METASTATIC MELANOMA