This review highlights key topics related to the use of imetelstat in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, including its mechanism of action, clinical efficacy and safety data, dosing and administration, management of adve...
Mark Reid, APRN-CNP, MS, AOCNP, Bethany A. Fedutes Henderson, PharmD
Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare type of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) distinct from warm antibody AIHA. This article provides advanced practitioners with a background in CAD and a focus on an important therapeutic option, su...
Justin Arnall, PharmD, BCOP, Lindsey Lyle, MS, PA-C, Donald C. Moore, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, DPLA, FCCP et al.
This article reviews the pharmacology, efficacy, safety, dosing, administration, and implications for advanced practitioners of newer JAK inhibitors (fedratinib, pacritinib, and momelotinib) in the treatment of myelofibrosis.
Gwen Hua,(1) PharmD, BCOP, Ryan Scanlan,(2) PharmD Candidate, Rachael Straining,(1) PharmD, BCOP, and Daniel S. Carlson,(3) DO
Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable malignancy originating from plasma cells. Despite significant advances in treatment, relapses remain inevitable, and novel therapies continue to be needed. Teclistamab-cqyv is a first-in-class, ...
Sara M. Tinsley-Vance,(1) PhD, APRN, AOCN®, Mark Davis,(2) MPAS, PA-C, and Olalekan Ajayi,(3) PharmD, MBA
Treatment options are limited for patients with anemia associated with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS). The recent approval of luspatercept for the treatment of anemia associated with very low- to intermediate-risk MDS with...
Gwen Hua,(1) PharmD, Daniel Carlson,(2) DO, and Jacqueline R. Starr,(1) PharmD, BCOP
Uveal melanoma is the most common intraocular cancer in adults. Metastatic uveal melanoma has a poor prognosis. Tebentafusp-tebn is the first drug in the new immune mobilizing monoclonal T-cell receptors against cancer (ImmTAC) class of ...
Alisha Desai,(1) PharmD, and Sandra Cuellar,(2) PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, FASHP
Capmatinib and tepotinib received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 (METex14) skipping alteration in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Capmatinib was FDA approved in May 2020 un...
Jessica Davis,(1) PharmD, BCOP, CPP, and Megan Wayman,(2) PharmD
The treatment landscape for metastatic melanoma has changed dramatically over the past few years as new medications have been developed. Encorafenib, a B-Raf protein kinase inhibitor, and binimetinib, a MEK inhibitor, were approved by th...
Rachael Straining, PharmD, and William Eighmy, PharmD
Epigenetic regulation is a novel approach to cancer treatment. Inhibition of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a method to provide targeted epigenetic regulation. Tazemetostat is a first-in-class targeted epigenetic regulator that sp...
Emily Behren Ketchum, PharmD, Andrea Clarke, PharmD, BCOP, and Amber B. Clemmons, PharmD, BCOP
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by proliferation of plasma cells with or without production of monoclonal immunoglobulins. Management of patients with MM begins with induction therapy, typically a proteaso...
Patrick J. Fleming Jr., PharmD, BCOP, Sylvia Karpio, PharmD candidate, and Nicholas Lombardo, PharmD candidate
Sacituzumab govitecan was initially approved in April 2020 under accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who received at least two prior therapies for metastatic disease. A confirm...
Christopher Selby,(1) PharmD, BCOP, Breanne Peyton-Thomas,(2) PharmD, BCOP, and Parnian Eslami,(3) PharmD
In 1991, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved rmetHuG-CSF for human use. This recombinant methionyl human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, or filgrastim, saw use in over 1 million patients in its first 5 years on ...
Donald C. Moore,(1) PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, DPLA, and Daniel Thompson,(2) PharmD
The B-cell receptor signaling pathway plays an integral role in the proliferation and survival of malignant B cells. Targeting the B-cell receptor pathway via the inhibition of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) has evolved the treatment of a ...
Katherine V. Katsivalis, PharmD, and Jamie Thomas, PharmD
Acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) is a rare microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Standard of care currently includes plasma exchange and immunosuppressive agents, including glucocorticoids, vincristine, and rituximab. Even w...
The treatment landscape of hormone receptor–positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2–) metastatic breast cancer has been modernized by the identification of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibito...
Avani Yenamandra,(1) PharmD, and Dennis Marjoncu,(2) PharmD, BCOP
Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects millions of people throughout the world. Hemoglobin S (HbS) polymerization is the fundamental cause of SCD pathophysiology, which leads to hemolysis, increased viscosity, and acute vaso-occlusive episode...
Tori Wilhoit, PharmD, Jeannie M. Patrick, PharmD, BCOP, and Megan B. May, PharmD, BCOP
In the United States, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Breast cancer death rates are higher for women in the United States than any other cancer, followed by lung cancer (National Cancer Institu...
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although 5-year survival rates in the first-line setting can range from 60% to 70%, up to 50% of patients become refractory or relapse after treatment (Cru...
The treatment paradigm for urothelial carcinoma (UC), a common genitourinary cancer, has significantly expanded in recent years. Enfortumab vedotin, a Nectin-4–targeted antibody-drug conjugate, was recently approved by the U.S. Food &...
Two new targeted agents have been approved for pediatric and adult patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors with neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusion without an acquired resistance mutation. Larotrectinib and...
Daniel L. Thompson,(1) PharmD Candidate, and Donald C. Moore,(2) PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, DPLA
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive myeloid disorder that is associated with a generally poor prognosis. Effective treatment options have been limited for older patients with AML who are not able to undergo intensive remission ...
Dennis Marjoncu,(1) PharmD, BCOP, and Benjamin Andrick,(2) PharmD, BCOP
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common adult leukemia, with an overall poor prognosis. New agents targeting various receptors may improve treatment outcomes and overall survival. FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a targetable...
Amber C. King, PharmD, BCOP, and Jennifer S. Orozco, PharmD
Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) is an anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy that has demonstrated efficacy in relapsed and refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients who have had suboptimal responses to conventional therapies. Th...
Sutton Watson,(1) PharmD, and Justin Bradley Marx,(2) PharmD, BCPS
Mogamulizumab-kpkc provides a novel mechanism of action for the treatment of mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. The efficacy and safety of mogamulizumab-kpkc for the treatment of relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides and Sézary sy...
Laura Cannon,(1) PharmD, MPH, Emmeline C. Academia,(2) PharmD, and Ashley E. Glode,(2) PharmD, BCOP
The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway plays a primary role in cellular proliferation and metabolism. Inhibition of the PI3K pathway is an emerging area of drug development and cancer research. Idelalisib, copanlisib, and duvelisib...
Kori Daniels, PharmD, and Amber Clemmons, PharmD, BCOP
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a double-stranded DNA virus that infects (seropositive on screening) more than half of adults by age 40. However, reactivation of detectable viral load (CMV reactivation) typically occurs only in immunocompromise...
Shelby L. Merchant, PharmD, Kathryn Culos, PharmD, BCOP, and Houston Wyatt, PharmD, CSP
Abstract
There is no standard therapy for refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but several salvage therapies are available (National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN], 2018). Recently, there have been major developments in the tre...
Urvi J. Patel, PharmD, MPH, and Sarah Caulfield, PharmD, BCOP
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer in the United States. Treatment of this oncologic disease involves a variety of different modalities including surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy. Systemic therapy is ...
Abstract
Rucaparib and niraparib are two of the newest U.S. Food and Drug Administration–approved PARP inhibitors, joining olaparib with indications in ovarian cancer. Both drugs have led to meaningful responses when used as monotherapy...
Sarah E. Caulfield, PharmD, BCOP, Christine C. Davis, PharmD, BCOP, and Kristina F. Byers, PharmD, BCOP
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women globally. Genetic mutations can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Inherited germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 tumor suppressor genes (gBRCAm) account for 5% ...
Abstract
Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common adverse effect associated with opioid therapy, with many patients never developing tolerance to this effect. There are many traditional laxatives available to help patients combat t...
Chris Selby,(1) PharmD, BCOP, Lisa R. Yacko,(2) PharmD, BCPS, and Ashley E. Glode,(3) PharmD, BCOP
Abstract
Despite the recent onslaught of approved medications in oncology, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been a disease state bereft of pharmaceutical development for decades. The long-standing first-line regimen, 7 + 3, was develope...
Abstract
Trametinib is a MEK inhibitor approved both as a single agent and in combination with dabrafenib for the treatment of BRAF V600E or V600K mutated melanoma. It is a once-daily oral medication that was approved based on progressi...
Abstract
The treatment of breast cancer has been revolutionized by the development of HER2-targeted treatments for patients who are HER2 positive. The HER2 protein is present at high levels in about 30% of breast cancer patients. These ...
Sherry Williams, PharmD, BCOP, and Miryoung Kim, PharmD, BCOP
Abstract
Despite initial complete remission rates of up to 90%, long-term, disease-free survival remains poor in patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Response to salvage chemotherapy is suboptimal; therefore...
Abstract
Rituximab and hyaluronidase human is a new subcutaneous formulation of rituximab that was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adults with follicular lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymph...
Abstract
Tisagenlecleucel is a first-in-class chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for relapsed/refractory (RR) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in patients up to 25 ye...
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy that affects predominantly older patients, with a median age of diagnosis around 67. Overall prognosis is poor; however, novel targeted therapies that can potentially im...
Abstract
Olaratumab is a monoclonal antibody that recently received accelerated approval for the treatment of advanced soft-tissue sarcomas in combination with doxorubicin for a histologic subtype in which anthracycline-containing regim...
The treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been revolutionized by the discovery of genetic driver mutations and associated targeted therapies. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutations are present in about 5% of NSCLC cases...
The FDA approval of ixazomib for use in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy signalled the arrival of the first oral proteasome inhibitor, allowin...
The FDA approval of belinostat provides APs with an additional option for heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma who did not achieve a desirable response to traditional chemotherapy agents. Read a...
Research into the PD-1 pathway has been shown to be valuable in the immune system’s ability to control cancer. Blocking this pathway with targeted therapies such as nivolumab has led to tumor response and control in some patients with no...
Bosutinib (Bosulif), a new second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting the Bcr-Abl protein, was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of select CML patients with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy. Read about t...
In August 2012, ziv-aflibercept (Zaltrap) was approved by the FDA for use in combination with FOLFIRI in certain oxaliplatin-refractory patients with mCRC. Read about the mechanism of action, key trials, and management strategies associa...
Recently, the FDA approved omacetaxine mepesuccinate (Synribo) for use in adult patients with chronic- or accelerated-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia with resistance and/or intolerance to two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Learn ...
The development of disease resistance to current drugs underlies the need for additional treatment options in metastatic prostate cancer. Learn the key facts about enzalutamide (Xtandi), recently approved for use in patients with castrat...
In late 2012, regorafenib (Stivarga), a novel oral multikinase inhibitor, was approved by the FDA for certain previously treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Even more recently, regorafenib received another approval for us...
Pazopanib (Votrient), an oral, multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor that was previously approved by the FDA for advanced renal cell carcinoma, recently gained FDA approval for select patients with soft-tissue sarcoma as well. Learn mo...
Pertuzumab (Perjeta) is indicated in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Read about key trials that led to its approval, its adverse event profile, and other implications f...
Data presented at the June 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting reaffirmed the use of axitinib (Inlyta), a potent and selective second-generation inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, for ...
