Welcome to the News and Info section of the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group website. The materials posted in this section are intended to keep constituents informed about the latest news and ongoing activities of the organization. This section contains announcements, press releases, and e-newsletters. See below for news coverage.

We welcome inquiries from members of the press regarding the information posted on this website. To place a media inquiry, contact the Office of Communications.

In the News

The latest findings from the TAILORx trial for women with early breast cancer show that poor social and physical well-being, along with co-morbid depression, were significant risk factors for premature discontinuation of hormone therapy, as reported by trial participants. Betina R. Yanez, PhD (Northwestern University), first author. June 17, 20201. JAMA Oncology

 

For residual triple negative breast cancer, post-chemo, capecitabine should be offered. This commentary video by Kathy D. Miller, MD, discusses the results of the EA1131 phase III trial. June 15, 2021. Medscape

 

 

RSClin tool, validated with TAILORx data, uses clinicopathologic, genomic features to predict chemo benefit in early breast cancer. June 11, 2021. Clinical Oncology News

 

Do patients with mantle cell lymphoma require autologous stem cell transplant as consolidation therapy? Narendranath Epperla, MD, MS (Ohio State University) explains that the phase III trial EA4151 will help answer this question. June 11, 2021. OncLive

 

ECOG-ACRIN deputy chair, TAILORx lead investigator, and internationally renowned breast cancer and HIV-associated malignancy expert Joseph A. Sparano, MD, joins Mount Sinai. June 8, 2021. Read Press Release

 

E1411 lead investigator Mitchell R. Smith discusses the trial results at ASCO 2021. This trial focused on older patients with mantle cell lymphoma. June 9, 2021. OncLive

 

 

Platinum chemotherapy fails in the randomized phase III study EA1131. First author Ingrid Mayer, MD (Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center): “While platinum chemotherapy has been routinely adopted by many to treat basal-like triple-negative breast cancer still present after initial chemotherapy, these results show it should no longer be used in this setting.” June 8, 2021. Journal of Clinical Oncology

 

New research results for patients with breast and HPV-associated throat cancers are the highlights among 23 presentations at the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, June 4-8. ASCO will honor Joseph A. Sparano, MD. Read Press Release

 

A new study arm opens in NCI-MATCH, expanding patients’ potential to qualify for this precision medicine cancer clinical trial when they may not have other options. April 26, 2021 Read Press Release

 

 

Sara Hurvitz, MD, discusses the results of study E2108, which found that removal of the primary tumor in a person with de novo metastatic breast cancer did not improve survival. The E2108 data inform the use of systemic therapies. April 18, 2021. Cancer Network

 

 

Kevin Kalinsky, MD, discusses ways genetic assays such as those utilized in the TAILORx trial provide valuable insight to inform treatment decisions in patients with breast cancer. April 14, 2021. OncLive

 

ECOG-ACRIN public statement about new recommendations to modify the TMIST breast cancer screening trial. March 19, 2021 More Here

An ad hoc advisory group formed by the National Cancer Institute recommends streamlining the currently-enrolling TMIST breast cancer screening trial. March 19, 2021 The Cancer Letter (subscription required)

 

Read about the rationale for the currently enrolling EA5181 study. Will there be an improvement in overall survival in the group of patients with stage 3 non-small cell lung cancer that receives concurrent and consolidative therapy with durvalumab immunotherapy? February 17, 2021. The Oncologist

Results from E1412, a signal-finding randomized phase II trial, show that the addition of lenalidomide to R-CHOP improves outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Epub February 8, 2021. Journal of Clinical Oncology

 

Efficacy of capivasertib in treating mutated metastatic tumors, as shown in Arm Y of the NCI-MATCH trial. January 18, 2021. Physician’s Weekly

 

 

Capivasertib may be helpful against tumors with rare AKT mutation, as shown in the NCI-MATCH trial’s Arm Y.  January 11, 2021. Reuters Health Information via Medscape

 

 

Now Enrolling: EA3191 for head and neck cancer patients. January 08, 2021. More Here

 

 

 

The results of NCI-MATCH Arm Y show that the drug capivasertib had a clinically significant objective response rate of 28.6% in 35 patients with  AKT1 E17K-mutated metastatic tumors. December 30, 2020. JAMA Oncology

 

 

A new publication prospectively assesses the effects of chemoradiation on quality of life, especially swallowing and voice function, in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer in the E2399 trial. December 22, 2020. Cancers of the Head and Neck 

 

New data from the CHAARTED trial (E3805) shows that reliance on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) alone is an inadequate strategy to monitor patients undergoing treatment for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. December 3, 2020. European Urology Oncology

 

Video: Roisin M. Connolly, MD, lead investigator for study E2112, discusses the trial results. Entinostat addition failed to improve aromatase inhibitor-resistant breast cancer outcomes. December 14, 2020. Medicine Matters Oncology

 

The new RSClin^TM tool integrates clinical-pathological and genomic risk to guide adjuvant chemotherapy in node-negative breast cancer and provides more individualized information than clinical-pathological or genomic data alone, according to Joseph Sparano, MD, and colleagues. December 11, 2020, Journal of Clinical Oncology

 

Better Together: Clinical and Genomic Data to Inform Shared Decision Making. An editorial accompanying RSClin^TM validation analysis. December 11, 2020. Journal of Clinical Oncology

 

 

First-ever phase III clinical trial opens for patients with advanced, inoperable anal cancer. November 16, 2020, Press Release

 

In a survey of 204 sites in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), only 40% had a process to identify and document cancer caregivers. November 2, 2020 (epub ahead of print). Cancer

 

‘Tour de force’ NCI-MATCH study reveals therapeutic targets in 38% of cancer patients. October 27, 2020, MDEdge

 

 

 

ECOG-ACRIN names Bonnie Ky, MD our young investigator of the year. October 22, 2020. Video Tribute

 

 

 

 

Video: Keith T. Flaherty, MD, on NCI-MATCH supporting next-generation sequencing to triage patients to investigational therapy. October 20, 2020, Cancer Network

 

 

NCI-MATCH data shows the value of platform trials for patients with rare genomically-driven cancers. Interview with lead investigator Keith T. Flaherty, MD. October 14, 2020, Precision Oncology News/GenomeWeb

 

 

 

NCI-MATCH precision medicine cancer trial makes a major contribution to tumor gene testing for cancer treatment selection. Journal of Clinical Oncology publishes a molecular analysis of 6000 NCI-MATCH patients. October 13, 2020, Press Release

 

The impact of fear of cancer recurrence on healthcare utilization among long‐term breast cancer survivors recruited through ECOG‐ACRIN trials. October 06, 2020, Psycho-Oncology

 

 

Cancer care providers show varying attitudes, knowledge of LGBTQ patients, according to a survey by Matthew B. Schabath, PhD, and colleagues. October 6, 2020, Healio

 

 

ECOG-ACRIN’s new trial, EA2185, aims to settle the debate on the intensity of pancreatic cyst surveillance, October 1, 2020, Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons

Kathy S. Albain, MD (Loyola U) and colleagues report final results of TAILORx substudy of race, ethnicity, and clinical outcomes in early breast cancer. September 30, 2020, Journal of the National Cancer Institute

 

 

 

Comparing the clinical impact of pancreatic cyst surveillance programs: EA2185. September 10, 2020, Contemporary Clinical Trials (subscription required)

 

TAILORx trial provides new insights into cancer-related cognitive impairment in early breast cancer, per Lynne Wagner, PhD (Wake Forest School of Medicine). September 1, 2020, MedPage Today

 

 

ENDURANCE trial results: There was no improvement in progression-free survival by replacing bortezomib with carfilzomib in the current standard initial treatment of patients with newly diagnosed standard- or intermediate-risk myeloma. August 28, 2020, The Lancet 

 

 

In the latest NCI-MATCH news, April K.S. Salama, MD, and colleagues report on Arm H. The combination of dabrafenib and trametinib elicited favorable response rates. This promising activity warrants more investigations in BRAF^V600-mutated tumors outside of currently approved indications. August 13, 2020, OncLive

 

 

Results of the EA5161 trial are “striking ASCO 2020 data” and significant for patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer because adding nivolumab improved progression-free and overall survival. August 5, 2020, OncLive

 

Black Scientists Still Face an Uphill Battle in Securing NIH Research Grants: an interview with Edith P. Mitchell, MD (Thomas Jefferson U). “What we have to do is work in all areas and that’s what we’re doing in the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, where I am a member of the executive committee.” July 15, 2020, Philadelphia Magazine

 

 

Taofeek Owonikoko, MD, PhD, MSCR (Emory U) on the results of trial EA5161: “Could there be unique differences between anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 drugs? Possibly, however, I don’t think we can claim that such unique differences are significant enough to impact the efficacy of each in small-cell lung cancer.” July 15, 2020, Physician’s Weekly

 

For untreated follicular lymphoma, study E2408 shows that neither bortezomib added to bendamustine/rituximab (BR) induction nor lenalidomide added to rituximab maintenance immediately post-BR induction is recommended, per Andrew M. Evens, MD (Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey) and colleagues. July 10, 2020, Clinical Cancer Research

 

 

Surprising Results from the PALLAS Trial: a discussion with Kathy D. Miller, MD (Indiana U). “More than anything else, this trial reminds us of the absolute necessity of putting our ideas to the test and doing appropriately powered, appropriately controlled, and well-conducted randomized trials.” July 1, 2020, Medscape

 

Study Shows Better Option for Treatment of Inoperable Anal Cancer: an article featuring Cathy Eng, MD (Vanderbilt U), lead investigator for InterAAct (EA2133), the first international prospective, randomized trial for advanced anal cancer. June 24, 2020, Science Magazine

 

Results from InterAAct (EA2133), the first randomized trial for inoperable anal cancer, are published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Cathy Eng, MD (Vanderbilt U), Al B. Benson, III, MD (Northwestern U) and colleagues. June 18, 2020, Press Release

 

Patients with tumors harboring aberrations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) pathway were treated with AZD4547, an oral FGFR1-3 inhibitor, in Arm W of the NCI-MATCH precision medicine trial. May 28, 2020, Journal of Clinical Oncology

 

Our latest Advocacy Blog is out. This issue explores the concept of de-escalation, which is an effort to reduce the intensity of cancer treatment without sacrificing efficacy. We also remember Valerie Guild, a tireless advocate for patients with melanoma. June 12, 2020, Advocacy Blog 

 

There is little chance of palbociclib reducing the risk of recurrence for women with HR+, HER2- early breast cancer, according to an update from PALLAS, the international breast cancer study. May 29, 2020, Press Release

 

VIDEO: Surgery and radiation do not extend survival in women who present with a diagnosis of breast cancer that is already in an advanced stage. Lead investigator Seema A Khan, MD (Northwestern University) presented the results of the E2108 randomized phase 3 trial at the ASCO 2020 plenary session, May 31, 2020, The ASCO Post Newsreels 

 

 

VIDEO: Carfilzomib does not improve outcomes in newly diagnosed myeloma compared to bortezomib. Lead investigator Shaji Kumar, MD (Mayo Clinic) presented data from the ENDURANCE (E1A11) randomized phase 3 trial at the ASCO 2020 plenary session, May 31, 2020, The ASCO Post Newsreels

 

 

Surgery and radiation do not extend survival in women who present with a diagnosis of breast cancer that is already in an advanced stage (stage IV). Lead investigator Seema A Khan, MD (Northwestern University) will present the results of the E2108 randomized phase 3 trial at the ASCO 2020 plenary session. May 28, 2020, Press Release

 

 

Carfilzomib does not improve outcomes in newly diagnosed myeloma compared to bortezomib. Data from the ENDURANCE (E1A11) randomized phase 3 trial will be presented at the ASCO 2020 plenary session by lead investigator Shaji Kumar, MD (Mayo Clinic). May 28, 2020, Press Release

 

The phase 2 trial PrE0505 shows durvalumab added to standard chemotherapy improved overall survival in mesothelioma. Lead investigator Patrick Forde, MD (Johns Hopkins University) will present the results in an oral presentation at ASCO 2020. May 20, 2020, Press Release on PrECOG website 

 

 

TAILORx sheds light on cognitive decline in early-stage breast cancer. MedWire News May 19, 2020

 

Trial validates a less intense treatment for HPV-related throat cancer. Article on the randomized phase 2 trial E3311. Medical Xpress May 14, 2020

 

New insights into cancer-related cognitive impairment help dispel notion of ‘chemo brain’ An interview with Lynne I. Wagner, PhD (Wake Forest). May 12, 2020, Healio, 

 

 

Vitaly Margulis, MD (U Texas Southwestern) and colleagues report on the phase two study EA8141. The results support the use of four cycles of chemotherapy consisting of methotrexate, vinblastine, doxorubicin, and cisplatin (aMVAC) prior to surgery in patients with high-grade upper urinary tract cancer, a rare but treatable disease. April 4, 2020, The Journal of Urology 

 

MRI Outperforms 3-D Mammograms In Detecting Cancer In Women With Dense Breasts. February 25, 2020, NPR All Things Considered

 

The results of Arm Z1D in the NCI-MATCH trial continue to attract media attention. Nilofer Azad, MD (Johns Hopkins) talks about the activity of nivolumab in MMR-deficient cancers. February 20, 2020, MedPage Today/ASCO Reading Room

 

 

Progress in Breast Cancer: What would Bill think? At a recent medical meeting, Joseph Sparano, MD (Albert Einstein/ Montefiore) asked what the late pioneer, William McGuire, MD, might have thought of the newest research advancements. Daniel Hayes, MD (University of Michigan) remarks in a video interview. February 18, 2020, MedPage Today.

 

Brian P. Schneider, MD (Indiana University) and fellow ECOG-ACRIN researchers aim to personalize chemotherapy for black women with breast cancer in a new trial, EAZ171, which is evaluating ways to reduce neuropathy, a painful side effect of chemotherapy treatments.January 27, 2020, Healio HemOnc Today

 

What have we learned lately about precision medicine? Read more about how the NCI-MATCH (EAY131) trial is helping researchers and physicians navigate the complexities of molecular profiling for targeted therapies. January 10, 2020, Journal of the National Cancer Institute 

 

Ahmad Tarhini, MD (Moffitt Cancer Center) on the results of the E1609 study: “For the first time in our knowledge in melanoma adjuvant therapy, this study has demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival against an active control regimen.” January 15, 2020, The ASCO Post

 

Al B. Benson III was appointed deputy chair for policy and implementation. January 17, 2020, The Cancer Letter 

 

 

Bapsi Chakravarthy, MD (Vanderbilt) and colleagues report final results from study E5204. This phase three trial tested whether the addition of bevacizumab to mFOLFOX6, following neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgery, could improve overall survival in patients with stage II/III rectal adenocarcinoma. At 17% of its planned accrual, E5204 did not meet its primary endpoint. Published results inform the use of adjuvant therapy following neoadjuvant therapy. The Oncologist December 18, 2019

San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium honors ECOG-ACRIN vice chair Joseph A. Sparano, MD with its prestigious William L. McGuire Memorial Lecture Award More Here December 01, 2020

 

 

Results from E1305, a randomized phase III trial, are published online by the Journal of Clinical Oncology on October 16, 2019. The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy did not improve overall survival in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck but improved the response rate and progression-free survival with increased toxicities. These results encourage biomarker-driven studies of angiogenesis inhibitors with better toxicity profiles in select patients.

ASCO updates guidelines for early breast cancer based on TAILORx, MINDACT trials Cancer Network July 1, 2019

One Year Post-TAILORx: Attitudes Shift and Questions Linger in Breast Cancer Recurrence Testing GenomeWeb May 31, 2019 (requires free registration)

Using Genomic Profiling to Guide Treatment Decisions for ER-Positive Breast Cancers, by Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD CancerNetwork May 28, 2019

New TAILORx Data Provide Treatment Guidance for Women Under 50 With Early Breast Cancer The ASCO Post June 13, 2019

No benefit from pazopanib in advanced kidney cancer after surgery to remove metastases Medical Xpress June 3, 2019