On August 6, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that Baxter International Inc. is voluntarily recalling one lot of heparin sodium in 0.9% sodium chloride injection to the consumer level because of the potential for elevated endotoxin levels. 

On August 6, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved vorasidenib (Voranigo®), an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) and isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (IDH2) inhibitor, for adult and pediatric patients aged 12 and older with grade 2 astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with a susceptible IDH1 or IDH2 variant, following surgery including biopsy, subtotal resection, or gross total resection.

More than 7% of patients participate in cancer clinical research trials, a new study shows—higher than the 5% historically reported. The findings, which were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, are the first to use national accreditation information from the Commission on Cancer to more accurately estimate participation rates.

If you’re interested in identifying best practices and finding new and better ways to support patient care, scientific study and clinical research need nurses to serve in a variety of roles, including PhDs, DNPs, nurse researchers, and direct-care clinical nurses. In fact, all nursing roles contribute to the research cycle, speakers said during a 2024 ONS Congress^® session about the integration of and collaboration between nursing researcher roles.

When my mother died 10 years ago, I found an index card on which she had written a saying she titled “A High Calling.” It described parents’ important role in raising the next generation, their children. That message also applies to the preparation of the next generation of a profession, such as oncology nursing—beyond formal prelicensure education.

On August 2, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to afamitresgene autoleucel (Tecelra^®), a melanoma-associated antigen A4 (MAGE-A4)–directed genetically modified autologous T-cell immunotherapy, for adults with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma who have received prior chemotherapy, are HLA-A*02:01P, -A*02:02P, -A*02:03P, or -A*02:06P positive and whose tumor expresses the MAGE-A4 antigen as determined by FDA-approved or -cleared companion diagnostic devices.

On August 1, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli) with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by single-agent dostarlimab-gxly, for adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer (EC). Dostarlimab-gxly previously was approved with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by single-agent dostarlimab-gxly, for primary advanced or recurrent EC that is mismatch repair deficient or microsatellite instability-high.

Increasing clinical study enrollment of participants from historically underrepresented populations helps improve the quality of data used to approve a medical product, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a June 2024 press release. To achieve that goal, the agency released draft guidance for medical product sponsors to submit required diversity action plans for phase III and other types of clinical trials.

Over the past two decades, the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer has dramatically evolved with the introduction of targeted therapies and immunotherapy. These advancements require predictive molecular tests to determine which treatments are suitable for patients. Biomarker testing has become vital in lung cancer care, enabling personalized diagnosis and treatment by identifying specific genetic variants. 

Basing lung cancer screening eligibility decisions on pack-year history misses about 27% of Black patients and 8% of White patients who should otherwise qualify for screening, researchers reported in study findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. They found that total smoking duration history was a more accurate indicator of individuals who should be offered lung cancer screening.