Editorial

We are shocked and horrified by the recent spate of violence and hate crimes against people of Asian and Pacific Islander  descent across the United States.

The likelihood that a patient walking through the doors of a radiation oncology clinic has advanced disease has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a survey from the American Society for Radiation Oncology found.

In his upcoming budget proposal, President Joe Biden is expected to announce plans for a new, DARPA-like federal entity with a mission of accelerating cures for cancer and other diseases.

Lisa M. Coussens was elected president-elect of the American Association for Cancer Research for 2021-2022.

In the Archives

Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO began her term as the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s 57th president on June 1, 2020, making her ASCO’s first African American woman to hold this prestigious title.

In Brief

• Matthew Vander Heiden named director of the Koch Institute
• Lucile Adams-Campbell, Carolyn “Bo” Aldigé receive top 2021 ASPO awards
• Narjust Duma named associate director of the Cancer Care Equity Program at DFCI, Harvard Medical School
• Neeraj Agarwal named senior director of clinical research innovation at Huntsman

Funding Opportunities

FY21 Ovarian Cancer Research Program Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the Omics Consortium Award are posted on the Grants.gov website.

Clinical Roundup

• Pancreatic Cancer Convergence Dream Team to study pancreatic cancer tumor traits
• UCLA study: Percutaneous image guided thermal ablation safe, effective therapy for metastatic gynecologic cancers
• Low-dose aspirin use prior to diagnosis of colorectal cancer is associated with better survival outcomes

Drugs & Targets

• Abecma receives FDA approval for multiple myeloma
• Sarclisa in combination with carfilzomib, dexamethasone receives FDA approval for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma
• Futibatinib receives Breakthrough Designation from FDA for advanced cholangiocarcinoma
• FDA issues Complete Response Letter on Keytruda in TNBC indication
• Huyabio International and BMS to collaborate on melanoma clinical
• European Commission approves Cabometyx + Opdivo for first-line advanced renal cell carcinoma
• Copiktra receives Positive CHMP Opinion for relapsed and refractory CLL and refractory FL

NCI Trials

The National Cancer Institute approved the following clinical research studies last month.