The NCCN Guidelines for Melanoma: Cutaneous provide strategies for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with cutaneous melanoma, which is among the most common cancers in the United States. The outcome of cutaneous melanoma is significantly influenced by stage at initial presentation. Generally, localized disease and smaller primary tumors have been associated with more favorable prognosis. Thus, the select content featured in this issue focuses on risk factors associated with cutaneous melanoma development and which should be considered during an initial assessment. These include (1) phenotypic predispositions, (2) personal medical history or comorbidities, (3) genetic predispositions, and (4) environmental factors.
Zorevunersen Demonstrates Potential as a Disease-modifying Therapy in Patients with Dravet Syndrome Through Durable Seizure Reduction and Improvements in Cognition, Behavior, and Quality of Life Through 36 Months of Treatment in Open-label Extension Studie
Abstract Background Black women are more likely to develop and die from early‐onset breast cancer. Hereditary breast cancer (HBC) is strongly associated with early age of onset. Accordingly, HBC characteristics in young Black women were evaluated. Methods Black women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at age 50 years or younger between 2005 and 2018 were recruited through the state cancer registries in Florida and Tennessee. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire, sign medical records releases, and donate a saliva sample for free genetic testing to identify HBC germline pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant (GPV). Women with sporadic versus hereditary breast cancer were compared, based on age distribution, clinical characteristics, and family cancer history. Results Among 686 participants with confirmed genetic testing, 15.3% had GPVs in breast and/or ovarian cancer predisposition genes, including BRCA1 (7.7%), BRCA2 (4.5%), PALB2 (0.9%), and ATM (0.7%), with 1.5% in other genes. Compared to the sporadic group, triple‐negative breast cancers were overrepresented among BRCA1 carriers (23.6% vs. 75.5%; p < .001), and family history of breast cancer was significantly more frequent among BRCA1 , BRCA2 , and PALB2 carriers (all p < .05). The majority of breast cancers occurred by age 40 years in BRCA1 carriers (52.8%), compared to other genes, where age was more evenly distributed. Conclusion Among unselected young Black women with breast cancer, our findings demonstrate that the highest frequency of HBC GPVs are in BRCA1 , BRCA2, and PALB2, with identification of distinct histopathologic and demographic characteristics across HBC genes, underscoring the critical need for genetic testing in all populations.
ABSTRACT Inpatient, acute care clinical pharmacists have contributed to many notable improvements in patient outcomes. Several studies have shown a reduction in mortality and other clinical markers when pharmacists are integrated within the care team. Economic analyses of inpatient clinical pharmacy services (CPS) generally demonstrate cost savings related to specific medication classes, prevention of adverse drug events, decreased length of stay, and decreased rehospitalization. Studies also show high satisfaction from other health care professionals, noting improvements in medication‐related patient safety. Finally, studies conducted in tertiary care hospital settings report high levels of patient satisfaction with CPS. As such, the ECHO framework, based on economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes, is used herein to organize the summary of literature associated with CPS. Given the growing body of evidence, numerous health professional and government organizations recognize the role of pharmacists as an integral part of the inpatient team. Yet implementation of CPS has not been fully realized by hospitals and health systems. This paper briefly describes inpatient CPS, highlights many benefits of and endorsements for clinical pharmacist participation on interdisciplinary teams, and provides high‐level recommendations for health system administrators and the profession of pharmacy to further encourage broader integration of CPS into patient care teams. Effectively positioning inpatient clinical pharmacists as indispensable team members will require intentional work and strategic planning with a focus on high‐impact value, visibility, and leadership.
Silver nitrate as a mimicker of melanocytic lesions
CCTG BR.38: Consolidative use of radiotherapy to block (CURB2) oligoprogression in patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer—A randomized phase III trial.
TPS8124 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)–based regimens are standard first-line therapy for metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without actionable driver mutations; however, most patients experience disease progression within 12 months. A subset develop oligoprogression, defined by progression at a limited number of metastatic sites with otherwise controlled disease. Oligoprogression represents a therapeutic window in which local ablative therapy could be used to prolong disease control. In the prior phase II CURB trial, SBRT was shown to significantly prolong progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with oligoprogressive NSCLC. Methods: CCTG-BR38 is an international, multicenter, open-label, randomized phase III trial conducted through the NCI National Clinical Trials Network. Adults with stage IV NSCLC receiving first-line ICI ± chemotherapy who develop ≤5 extracranial oligoprogressive lesions are randomized 1:1 to: (1) switch to second-line standard systemic therapy or (2) SBRT (30 Gy in 3 fractions) to all oligoprogressive sites followed by continuation of the same first-line systemic therapy. Randomization is stratified by type of first-line systemic therapy (ICI alone vs ICI + chemotherapy), number of oligoprogressive lesions (1–2 vs 3–5), and ECOG performance status (0-1 vs 2). Patients with treated, stable brain metastases are eligible. Primary Endpoints: Dual primary endpoints are PFS and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints include safety (CTCAE v5.0), patient-reported adverse events (PRO-CTCAE), quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30/LC13), and cost-effectiveness (EQ-5D-5L; Canadian sites). Optional blood and tissue collection for exploratory biomarker analyses are planned. Statistical Considerations: A total of 320 patients (160 per arm) will be enrolled. The sample size is based on detecting a HR of 0.7 for OS (an improvement in median OS from 10 to 14.3 months) with 80% power using a 1-sided 2% level test (the overall 1-sided 2.5% type I error will be assigned 2% to OS and 0.5% to PFS). Interim analyses for futility and efficacy are planned. Current Status: The trial was centrally activated on April 3, 2025. Accrual is ongoing across Canadian and US NCTN sites. Clinical trial information: NCT06686771 .
A phase 1b study of xaluritamig (a STEAP1 x CD3 T-cell engager) in pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) Ewing sarcoma.
TPS10057 Background: Ewing sarcoma (EWS) is an aggressive tumor of the bone and soft tissue primarily affecting adolescents and young adults. For patients with recurrent disease, outcomes remain poor with 5-year survival rates of 10%–15%, highlighting the need for novel approaches. STEAP1 is highly expressed in EWS cell lines, xenograft models, and patient tumor samples 1 and is transcriptionally regulated by EWSR1::FLI1 , the main oncogenic driver in EWS. Xaluritamig, a humanized bispecific XmAb 2+1 T-cell engager targeting STEAP1 and CD3, has demonstrated potent, antigen-dependent T-cell–mediated lysis of STEAP1-expressing EWS cell lines 1 and induced robust in vivo antitumor activity in EWS xenograft models with concomitant CD8+ T-cell activation. In metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, another STEAP1-expressing solid malignancy, xaluritamig has shown meaningful antitumor activity and a manageable safety profile 2 supporting its clinical evaluation in R/R EWS. Methods: This ongoing, phase 1b, single-arm, open-label, two-part, multicenter study (NCT07297979) is evaluating xaluritamig in pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients with a histologic diagnosis of EWS and an EWSR1 :: ETS fusion gene locally confirmed by next-generation sequencing. Patients must have R/R EWS following ≥1 line of systemic therapy and Karnofsky or Lansky performance status ≥70. Part 1 (dose confirmation) consists of cohort 1 (age ≥12 years) and cohort 2 (age ≥2 to <12 years), and part 2 (dose expansion) includes patients aged ≥2 years with no upper age limit at enrollment. This study includes a 21-day screening period, a treatment period, a safety follow-up period, and a long-term follow-up period. Patients receive xaluritamig every 2 weeks once reaching the target dose until radiographic disease progression per RECIST v1.1, clinical disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, initiation of other anticancer therapy not permitted per protocol, withdrawal of consent, death, or end of study as determined by the sponsor, whichever is earlier. Primary endpoints are safety, tolerability, and determination of recommended dose(s) for expansion. Secondary endpoints are pharmacokinetics, preliminary antitumor activity, and immunogenicity. Biomarker evaluation as an exploratory endpoint includes assessment of serum cytokines, other pro-inflammatory markers, immune-cell subsets, circulating tumor DNA, STEAP1 protein expression, and tumor genomic profile and their association with safety and efficacy. CRS mitigation plan includes step-up dosing, steroid premedication, and administration of interleukin-6 inhibitors as needed. Site activation commenced in January 2026 and enrollment is ongoing. 1. Nolan-Stevaux O. Cancer Res. 2020;80(16_Suppl):DDT02–03. 2. Kelly WK, Danila DC, Lin CC, et al. Cancer Discov . 2024;14(1):76-89. Clinical trial information: NCT07297979 .
Meeting Report: The 2025 Annual Meeting of the Society of Pediatric Liver Transplantation