Showing posts with label immunotherapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label immunotherapy. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

June 12, 2024 Gyn Cancer Research News

Tonight the #gyncsm community discussed Gynecologic Cancer Research News presented at the SGO (Society of Gynecologic Oncology) and ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) annual meetings. You may find our transcript here and analytics here. 

Highlights from our chat: 

T1: What #SGOmtg presentations/posters did you find most interesting?

  • I attended #SGOmtg virtually this year and found a large number of studies focused on endometrial cancer and immunotherapies >> Combo’s like dostarlimab + chemo in the ENGOT-EN6-NSGO/GOG-3031/RUBY Trial showed improved OS
  • One Recurrent OC study with Antibody drug conjugates (ADC)s the CDH6 directed Raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd) showed promising response in early studies Duration of response was 11 months #gyncsm #

T2: Which #ASCO24 studies do you think may be of most interest to patients?


  • ASCO, one Trial for recurrent OC, AGO-OVAR 2.29 using Atezolizumab showed OS atezo arm 14.2 months vs 13.0 placebo arm, No better than without atezo , AE's higher in Atezo arm too. #ASCO24 #gyncsm
  • ASCO published these notable studies for 2024 including: advanced epithelial ovarian cancer may safely avoid having their lymph nodes removed during cancer surgery without it impacting survival. https://society.asco.org/practice-patients/patient-resources/breaking-cancer-news-patients#CARACO
  • T2 or this study People vaccinated for HPV have lower chances of developing HPV-related cancers, especially head and neck cancer in men and cervical cancer in women 
T3: In the last year, have there been any practice-changing gyn cancer studies patients should know about? Combo treatment studies, immunotherapy and antibody drug conjugate studies? Rare cancer therapies?

  • Use of biomarkers to target the best therapies to treat women with gyn cancer was talked about repeatedly at SGO.> Repair Assisted Damage Detection (RADD) as a potential predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response in ovarian cancer reported on by Dr Rocconi 
  • T3 Use of ctDNA was also a topic of interest at SGO and ASCO 1 study for cervical cancer Circulating #HPV 16/18 DNA detectable with 100% sensitivity in higher stage and 50% in low stage cervical cancer & at time of recurrence

T4: What are some of the "hot topics" in gynecologic cancer research currently? Will AI play a role? 

  • AI to predict homologous recombination deficiency in OC from histopathological images. #5578 deep neural networks (DNN), can provide a rapid/ scalable solution for HRD prediction, …model could significantly enhance efficiency, reduce the turnaround time and cost” #gyncsm
  • T4 Machine learning used in a study cfDNA fragmentomics - New Classification test for endometrial ca, reported sensitive even for early stage cancer
  • more emerging data and use in ongoing trials and practice in Her2 low endometrial with trastuzumab deruxtecan
  • T4 It was good to see research for low grade serous OC treatments: MAPK assoc tumors better outcomes. Endocrine treatment studies, MEk inhibitors and CDK 4/6 inhibitors being researched. #gyncsm
T5: Once again, cancer drug shortages were highlighted at both #SGOmtg and #ASCO24. What resources for health care providers and patients are available?
T6: Are there recent studies surrounding palliative care, survivorship, and psychosocial research that could help gyn cancer survivors?

Thanks to everyone who joined us. Remember you can continue our discussion about research on @smart_patients by joining Smart Patients at https://www.smartpatients.com/partners/gyncsm.

Our next Chat will be on September 11, 2024 at 8pm ET. See you then!

Dee and Christina


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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

March 13, 2024 Using Immunotherapies to Treat Gyn Cancers

We were pleased to have Dr. Katie Kurnit (@KatieKurnit) a gynecologic oncologist from the University of Chicago (@UCCancerCenter) join us for our chat on Using Immunotherapies to Treat Gyn Cancers. 

Below is a sampling of the responses to our topic questions. You may find the transcript here and analytics here. 

T1: What is immunotherapy? How is it different from other gyn cancer treatments (surgery, chemo, radiation)? How many types of immunotherapy are there? 

  • via@AmericanCancer Immunotherapy is treatment that uses a person's own immune system to fight cancer. Immunotherapy can boost or change how the immune system works so it can find and attack cancer cells.
  • T1: Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that works with the person’s immune system to fight cancer. This makes it different from chemotherapy which focuses more on killing cancer cells directly. (1/2)
  • T1: Both immunotherapy and chemo can travel throughout the body, rather than focusing on a specific area of the body like radiation or surgery. And there are lots of different immunotherapy treatments emerging now! (2/2) #gyncsm
  • This graphic from the @AACR Cancer Progress Report shows the different types of immunotherapies


T2: Which gyn cancers have immunotherapy treatments approved by the FDA? Are there immunotherapies in trials now that show promise? 
  • T2: Currently, both #cervicalcancer and endometrial cancer have tumor type-specific @FDA approvals. Each of these indications requires some molecular testing on the tumor to help determine which regimen would be best. (1/2) 
  • T2: There are also broader approvals that are based on a molecular test result, such as mismatch repair deficiency or high tumor mutational burden, that have immunotherapy approvals for any type of cancer . (2/2) 
  • Excellent review of immunotherapies in this @ASCO publication  ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/ED Immunotherapy in Gynecologic Cancers: What We Know Now and Where We Are Headed  
  • Here's another excellent one specific to #ovariancancer #gyncsm ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.12 Cervical Cancer immunotherapies include vaccines like Gardasil-9® for HPV , ADC like Tisotumab vedotin and ICI Pembrolizumab  cancerresearch.org/cancer-types/c
  •  Immune response very critical given #cervicalcancer and other #hpvcancers are viral mediated! Would just clarify the #hpv vaccine is available for primary prevention but not tx but others are for therapy of recurrent disease currently

T3: How is it determined if immunotherapy is an appropriate treatment option for an individual?

  • Your general health is considered. What kind of cancer; size of tumor; stage. Have you had prior treatment?
  • T3: The individual and doctor would discuss the pros/cons of both the immunotherapy and the other treatment choices. Certain medical conditions, like some autoimmune diseases, may make it less safe to use immunotherapy.
  • T3: There is a need to improve access to molecular tests, especially in developing countries. This limits the decision to use immunotherapy.
  • T3: Even if no immunotherapy is approved, remember that many other immunotherapies are being tested in clinical trials 
  • T3: currently FDA approval in #gyncsm is in endometrial and cervical depends on specific molecular testing; testing can also help clarify immunotherapy alone vs with other drugs ex. Pembro/lenvima vs Pembro only in #endometrialcancer recurrence

T4: What is the immunotherapy treatment experience like? What are the common side effects with immunotherapy and how do they differ from other gyn cancer treatments?

  • T4: In general, I've found that many people feel well while receiving treatment with an ICI, and may end up staying on this treatment for several yrs if it works well. Side effects are different than chemo
  • T4 One different one that I heard of was blurry vision on Mirvetuximab soravtansine. Certain eye drops were prescribed for use during the treatment. But it was not a long term effect.
  • yes! being aware of side effects seen in #clinicaltrials of these newer drugs allows us to be prepared and have a plan in place to treat symptoms when they arise 
  • T4: Like any cancer treatment, side effects vary widely between individuals. It important to stay in communication with your healthcare team about side effects and there are many options to try to mitigate various side effects. 
  • T4: Side effects are different from traditional chemo, and are often due to inflammation by the immune system; so-called “-itis” es. Ex colitis (inflammation of the colon), thyroiditis (of the thyroid), hepatitis (liver), etc.

T5/6: What advice would you give to others considering an immunotherapy treatment or trial? What are some resources for learning more about immunotherapy in treating gyn cancers? 

Remember you can continue our discussion about immunotherapy treatments on Smart Patients by joining Smart Patients at https://www.smartpatients.com/partners/gyncsm. 

We are chatting quarterly this year. See you June 12, 2024 at 8PM ET as we discuss the latest research news from the #ASCO24 and #SGOmtg . 

The Society for Gynecologic Oncology @SGO_org is hosting their meeting March 16-18. So stay tuned over the next few days to #SGOMtg for updates on immunotherapy and all things gyn cancer related. We'll do a #gyncsm research update chat this summer.

Dee and Christina
#gyncsm Co-founders

Additional Resources 
Cancer Research Institute resources on immunotherapy 
Cervical cancer https://www.cancerresearch.org/cancer-types/cervical-cancer
Ovarian cancer https://www.cancerresearch.org/cancer-types/ovarian-cancer
Uterine Endometrial https://www.cancerresearch.org/cancer-types/uterine-endometrial-cancer

CancerDotNet Side Effects
https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/immunotherapy-and-vaccines/side-effects-immunotherapy

American Cancer Society - Side Effects 
Monoclonal Antibodies 
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/immunotherapy/monoclonal-antibodies.html
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/managing-cancer/treatment-types/immunotherapy/immune-checkpoint-inhibitors.html

NCI general immunotherapy page 
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy


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Friday, March 8, 2024

Immunotherapies to Treat Gyn Cancers - March13, 2024

We invite you to join us at 8pm ET (7pm CT, 5pm PT) on Wednesday, March 13th as the #gyncsm community chats about Using Immunotherapies to Treat Gyn Cancers. The last time we chatted about immunotherapy treatments was 2018. We've seen the treatment landscape for gynecologic cancer change as new immunotherapy treatments have received FDA approvals. 

From Cancer-dot-net we learn that:

"Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment. It uses substances made by the body or in a laboratory to boost the immune system and help the body find and destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy can treat many different types of cancer. It can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy and/or other cancer treatments."

Join us as we describe and share how monoclonal antibodies, CAR-T therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines and cytokines are used to treat gynecologic cancers. 

The video from the National Cancer Institute describes how the immune system fights cancer. 


Guiding our discussion will be the following Topic Questions (T#:)

T1: What is immunotherapy? How is it different from other gyn cancer treatments (surgery, chemo, radiation)? How many types of immunotherapy are there?
T2: Which gyn cancers have immunotherapy treatments approved by the FDA? Are there immunotherapies in trials now that show promise?

T3: How is it determined if immunotherapy is an appropriate treatment option for an individual? 

T4: What is the immunotherapy treatment experience like? What are the common side effects with immunotherapy and how do they differ from other gyn cancer treatments?

T5: What advice would you give to others considering an immunotherapy treatment or trial? What are some common patient concerns? How do patients contribute to research?  

T6: What are some resources for learning more about immunotherapy in treating gyn cancers, keeping up with what's new, and finding what trials are open?

 

We look forward to seeing you on March 13th!

Dee and Christina

Co-founders #gyncsm 

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Friday, July 14, 2023

July 12, 2023 Gyn Cancer Research News

At this month’s chat, the #gyncsm community discussed gynecologic cancer research presented at the #SGOmtg and #ASCO23 meetings. We had eleven participants and you may find the transcript HERE and additional analytics HERE.

Below are some responses to our topic questions.

T1: What #SGOMtg presentations did you find most interesting? [Acronym buster: SGO = Society of Gynecologic Oncology]

T2: Which #ASCO23 studies do you think may be of most interest to patients? [Acronym buster: ASCO = American Society of Clinical Oncology]

T3: In the last year, have there been any practice-changing gyn cancer studies patients should know about? (cervical, endometrial/uterine, ovarian. vaginal, vulvar, or other)

T4: What are some of the "hot topics" in gynecologic cancer research currently?

T5: Both #ASCO23 and #SGOmtg held sessions on disparity and equity in cancer care. What was highlighted and how can we work to decrease disparities in gynecologic cancer care?

  • We can point out all the voices that are missing from conversations. 
  • It also feels like we've been talking about disparity and equity for years, but I do see more and more studies taking deep dives and it is great to see gyn-specific studies that are fully about disparities or at least have incorporated it into the research. #gyncsm
  • Disparity and Equity are complicated to study, but it is entirely possible to not only study but design practical interventions to address. It can seem daunting but when we include more voices we can go far
  • Should we treat Pacific Islanders the same as Asian population? https://twitter.com/dholakiamd/status/1640733888988213258

T6: Cancer drug shortages were highlighted at both #SGOMtg and #ASCO23. What resources for health care providers and patients are available?


Note there is no #gyncsm chat in August. Stay tuned for information about our next chat which will be held in September during Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month / Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.



See you in September,

Dee and Christina
Co-Moderators

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Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Gyn Cancer Research News - July 12, 2023


We are happy to once again be sharing the latest Gynecologic Cancer Research News as we cover studies from this year's #SGOmtg and #ASCO23 Annual Meetings. Join us on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 8pm ET (7pm CT, 5pm PT) as we discuss findings that may impact how gynecologic cancers are treated in the future.

We will discuss topics in gyn cancer research presented at both meetings, presentations that oncologists and patients who attended found most interesting, which research may make the greatest impact on patient lives, and cancer equity topics. What studies were of most interest to you - Gynecologic cancer screening, treatment and research with regard to antibody drug conjugates? PARP inhibitors? Immunotherapy? We will also touch on the impact of drug shortages on patients and on clinical trials.

The Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer (SGO)
News Round-up from Cancer Network: https://www.cancernetwork.com/conference/sgo

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting
GYN Cancer News from Cancer Network: https://www.cancernetwork.com/clinical/gynecologic-cancer

We'll use the following topic prompts (T#) to guide our discussion:
T1: What #SGOMtg presentations did you find most interesting?

T2: Which #ASCO23 studies do you think may be of most interest to patients?

T3: In the last year, have there been any practice-changing gyn cancer studies patients should know about? (cervical, endometrial/uterine, ovarian. vaginal, vulvar, or other)

T4: What are some of the "hot topics" in gynecologic cancer research currently?

T5: Both #ASCO23 and #SGOmtg held sessions on disparity and equity in cancer care. What was highlighted and how can we work to decrease disparities in gynecologic cancer care? 

T6: Cancer drug shortages were highlighted at both #SGOMtg and #ASCO23. What resources for health care providers and patients are available?

(Bonus if time) T7: Are there recent studies surrounding palliative care, survivorship, and psychosocial research that could help gyn cancer survivors?

We hope to see you on Wednesday July 12th! 

Dee and Christina 
Co-founders #gyncsm 
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Wednesday, August 8, 2018

"What is OK During Treatment" August 8, 2018 Chat


Tonight we had the chance to learn "What is OK during treatment?". We covered what is OK in terms of exercise, food, sexual intimacy and vitamins. We also allowed our participants to ask their own "Is it OK to..." question at the end of the chat. It was a pleasure for us to have Sangeeta Agarawal RN, Ms, CAS (@sanHelpsy), founder of Helpsy join us as a guest for this evening's chat and provide valuable information on a number of topics. 

 You may find our transcript here and analytics here. 

 We are happy to share a few highlights from tonight's chat below. Resources may be found at the bottom of this post. 
T1: Is it OK to… take supplements and vitamins during chemotherapy? How about during radiation therapy?
  • It is important to let your MD know any vitamins/supplements you are taking to ensure that they will not counteract your chemo
  • For example, antioxidants can counteract the effect of chemotherapy by clearing out the free radicals that damage the cancer
  • We recommend a simple multivitamin during treatment for cancer
  • You can find more information about herb supplements on NCCIH's HerbList App and Memorial Sloan Kettering's About Herbs app
  • Avoid taking high doses of antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy and radiation treatments as they may interfere with treatment
T2: Is it OK to… exercise during treatment? Are there specific exercises that are good to do after abdominal surgery?
  • We absolutely encourage exercise during treatment for cancer - it can help reduce stress and manage symptoms such as fatigue
  • Start with light exercises - slow with yoga, walking or stretching, work your way up to cycling, swimming, aerobic exercise once you feel ready. Talk to your oncologist and care team to design the right fitness routine for you
  • After abdominal surgery, it's important to avoid anything that strains your core/abdomen, stick w walking & low impact exercise
  • Supervised resistance training is good during and after treatment as it helps maintain muscle and bone mass
  • Try exercises like finger rolls, finger taps to help with neuropathy in your hands and fingers; exercises like calf raises, ankle circles, standing heel to toe for neuropathy in feet
  • There are even tutorials for seated yoga - you can get in your movement in many different ways.
  • Maintain a diary to record exercise sessions. Plan exercise for good and bad days, days when you experience intense symptoms
  • And exercise (appropriate for your current level of health) is excellent for your mental health, too
  • Exercise reduces fatigue at 40-50%, provides muscle strength, flexibility & general conditioning, control weight. Avoid swimming if on R/T chlorine irritate radiated skin as per reading
T3: Is it OK to… eat raw fruits and vegetables during treatment?
  • Try to include colorful fruits and vegetables, at least 2.5 cups every day, be sure to wash them thoroughly
  • Include citrus fruits like grapefruits and oranges and deep yellow and dark green vegetables
  • very imp to wash them thoroughly before eating. Check any warnings about breakout of disease
  • Vegetable sprouts such as mung bean, alfalfa, broccoli and radish should not be eaten raw, only consume pasteurized juices
  • Do not consume from outside - fresh salsa or salad dressings found in refrigerated sections of the grocery store; shelf-stable salsa and dressings are okay
  • In case of loss of appetite or desire to eat, talk to your health care team about nutrition consult so they can suggest recommendations to help improve taste and appetite
  • No need to avoid raw food completely! Avoid outside raw food. Avoid raw sushi
  • I also tell patients that beware of coffee and soda. You don't get proper hydration from those products.
T3 cont'd - What about soy and soy products?
  • Soy products contain phytoestrogens and not estrogen, soy contains essential amino acids, magnesium, potassium, fiber, and other vitamins. Try picking organic sources of soy
  • Soy dietary supplements may not be a healthy choice, consult your physician 
  • No harm in eating soy. Just ensure your body can digest it. Eat organic soy products.

 T4: Is it OK to… have sexual relations while in treatment?
  • No reason to avoid sexual relations, it is not sexually transmitted or contagious and won't cause the cancer to return
  • You can absolutely have sex during treatment - there is no risk as long as you have the energy for it!
  • If you are in the mood or have energy for it! Go for it! Sex releases happy chemicals and builds closer bond with partner. 
  • Fatigue, pain, and discomfort after surgery could interfere with sexual relations, use vaginal lubricants to alleviate the pain
  • Radiation may cause vaginal swelling and bladder inflammation, sexual relations may be comfortable after a short healing period of about 2-4 weeks 
  • Cuddling, kissing and other forms of intimacy feel good too! :)
  • It's very important to bring up this topic and discuss any questions. Many times providers and patients both avoid it, but it's an important part of our life that needs discussion and clarity 
T5: We’ll now open the floor to allow our participants to ask other “Is it OK to...” questions. What haven't covered? 

 Question: How about getting your flu shot? I think it is ok with chemo and radiation but they aren't sure about getting it with immunotherapy and other new kinds of treatment....
  • Usually it's given, but based on some treatments like immunotherapy - it may be held for a bit. Important to check with oncologist 

 Question: Is it ok to be around kids or adults ( shingles ) who have had vaccines?
  • Most are safe, but when WBC is very low, better to avoid contact during days of nadir/lowest white blood cell count
Question: For nutrition and exercise... any different recommendations for immunotherapy vs. more standard treatments? Or is there not much studies on that yet?
  • so far, our recommendations for nutrition and exercise don't change for immunotherapy - we are still learning though
Thank you everyone who took part in our discussion. Remember if you are a patient or caregiver you may continue this discussion on the Smart Patients Platform ( https://www.smartpatients.com/gyncsm ). 

We hope you will join us for the next #gyncsm chat: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 where in addition to chatting about on We need support - Where do we find it?.  We will also be celebrating the #gyncsm Community's 5th Anniversary. 

 See you in September. 

 Dee
#gyncsm co-founder


RESOURCES

Taking vitamins/supplements:

Supplement Showdown : A Look at Vitamins and the Fight Against Cancer
https://www.curetoday.com/articles/supplement-showdown-a-look-at-vitamins-and-the-fight-against-cancer-

Dietary Supplements During Cancer Treatment: Yes or No?
https://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/07/01/dietary-supplements-during-cancer-treatment-yes-or-no

ACS @AmericanCancer website
https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/dietary-supplements.htm
Exercise:



pelvic exercises via @PelvicGuru1
 https://pelvicguru.com/2013/12/28/what-is-pelvic-physical-therapy-and-why-doesnt-everyone-know-about-it/

Eating raw fruits and vegetables:



Savor Health blog
http://savorhealth.com/blog/

Health Care System Eliminates Neutropenic Diet in Patients with Cancer with no Rise in Infection
https://www.curetoday.com/articles/health-system-eliminates-neutropenic-diet-in-patients-with-cancer-with-no-rise-in-infections

Eating soy: 

Tamar Rothenberg, RDN Is Soy Helpful or Harmful for Cancer Patients
https://www.tamarrothenbergrd.com/single-post/2018/01/10/Is-soy-helpful-or-harmful-for-cancer-survivors

@fredhutch Soy Is it Safe for Cancer Survivors
https://www.fredhutch.org/en/treatment/survivorship/survival-strategies/soy-safe-for-cancer-survivors.html

Having sexual relations during treatment:


Guide to Sexuality During & After Cancer Treatment
https://www.oncolink.org/support/sexuality-fertility/sexuality/women-s-guide-to-sexuality-during-after-cancer-treatment

Foundation For Womens Cancer
http://www.foundationforwomenscancer.org/wp-content/uploads/Sexuality-Brochure_Final.pdf

Mindy Schiffman, PhD. Sexuality and Intimacy after Cancer in this video
https://t.co/8bw9Lr79Zc

Be around children who are recently vaccinated: 

Eating cake and sugary foods:

Miscellaneous:
The Chemotherapy Survival Guide Authors Judith McKay, RN, OCN and Tamera Schachen, RN, OCN, MSN
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