On March 18, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw (Opdualag™) for adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years or older with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw is a fixed-dose combination of the LAG-3–blocking antibody relatlimab and the programmed death receptor-1–blocking antibody nivolumab.
Janice is an oncology nurse in a rural community cancer center. Only one of the three oncologists in the practice discusses clinical trials with their patients and typically not until after patients complete two to three lines of therapy. Also, the practice does not have a process for when to order next generation sequencing (NGS). Janice feels it is not ethical that the patients coming to the clinic do not have equal access to those important services.
On March 11, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved olaparib (Lynparza®) for adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA variant (gBRCAm) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative high-risk early breast cancer who have been treated with neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients are selected for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for olaparib.
On February 28, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti™) for adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after four or more prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI), an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. Ciltacabtagene autoleucel is a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed genetically modified autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.
On March 4, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nivolumab (Opdivo®) with platinum-doublet chemotherapy for adult patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the neoadjuvant setting, representing the first FDA approval for neoadjuvant therapy for early-stage NSCLC.
For the past two years, patients and providers have turned their attention to combatting a global health threat. We’ve nearly crumbled amid the chaos, but carried on through acts of comfort and innovation. However, as we pled for an end to this nightmare, for heard immunity through vaccination, another health threat took a backseat. Cancer screening rates plummeted, particularly among communities of color. Oncology nurses can use evidence-based interventions to increase screening rates for all patients with cancer.
Systemic racism persists throughout today’s society, presenting barriers to basic human rights and services, including quality health care for millions of people. Overcoming those disparities and achieving social justice require advocacy from all—but especially nurses.
As many as 71% of patients with advanced cancer—most of whom have healthcare insurance—experience major financial hardship because of their disease, according to study findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
PALB2 refers to partner and localizer of BRCA2. The gene was isolated in 2007 and is the third most common gene associated with breast cancer risk. Both men and women are at increased risk for developing multiple cancers if they have a pathogenic PALB2 variant (see sidebar).
On March 3, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported B. Braun Medical’s voluntary recall of five lots of 0.9% sodium chloride for injection USP 250 ml in Excel within the United States at the hospital and user levels after receiving reports of fluid leakage or low fill volumes.