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

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

Journal of the National Cancer Institute publishes final results of TAILORx substudy of race, ethnicity, and clinical outcomes in early breast cancer; Kathy S. Albain, MD (Loyola U), is the lead author. September 30, 2020, Read Article

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. Journal of Clinical Oncology May 28, 2020, Read Article

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 Read More

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 Read More

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. Read press release on PrECOG website May 20, 2020

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) Healio, May 12, 2020

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 NPR All Things Considered February 25, 2020

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 in a February 20, 2020, feature article in MedPage Today/ASCO Reading Room February 02, 2020

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, with MedPage Today. February 18, 2020

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 Healio HemOnc Today January 27, 2020

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. Journal of the National Cancer Institute January 10, 2020

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.” The ASCO Post January 15, 2020

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

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