Leveraging BCMA-Directed Therapies for Improved Patient Outcomes in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma
STATEMENT OF NEED
Multiple myeloma is a disease that remains incurable for most patients, many of whom become refractory to the majority of available treatments (Kumar et al, 2022). It is estimated that 35,730 new cases of multiple myeloma are diagnosed in the United States annually, and 12,590 people die of the disease (Siegel et al, 2023). Agents targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA), including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, and bis... |
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Hitting the Target in HER2-Positive Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
STATEMENT OF NEED
An estimated 153,020 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) are diagnosed annually, and 52,550 people die of the disease (Siegel et al, 2023). Approximately 22% of patients present with metastatic disease, which is associated with a dismal 5-year survival rate of 15% (SEER, 2022). Targeting biomarkers is a key strategy for expanding therapeutic options and improving outcomes in metastatic CRC. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification status and treatment... |
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Expert Guidance on Current Standards and New Directions in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
STATEMENT OF NEED
An estimated 35,730 new cases of multiple myeloma are diagnosed in the United States annually, and 12,590 people die of the disease (Siegel et al, 2023). Characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow, multiple myeloma is associated with anemia, renal insufficiency, bone destruction, and hypercalcemia, all of which significantly impact patients’ quality of life. The development of novel therapies and combinations in recent years, inclu... |
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Leveraging the Growing Arsenal of Adjuvant Therapies for Early-Stage NSCLC
In this activity, Dr. Helena A. Yu, Associate Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, will provide insights into strategies for leveraging the growing arsenal of adjuvant therapies for early-stage non"small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including treatment selection and adverse event management. Start the activity now!
STATEMENT OF NEED
Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death for men and women worldwide. In the Unite... |
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Pathology and Oncology Expert Perspectives in the Management of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Case Explorations and Answers to FAQs
STATEMENT OF NEED
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive disease that accounts for approximately 10% to 15% of breast cancer diagnoses and is characterized by the absence of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). TNBC is more common in Black women and in women under the age of 40 (ACS, 2023). Compared with other subtypes of invasive breast cancer, TNBC has high rates of metastasis and a poor prognosis. Due to the lack ... |
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Virtual Tumor Board: Multidisciplinary Management of Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma
STATEMENT OF NEED
Sarcomas, which represent 1% to 2% of adult cancers, are a rare, heterogeneous group of neoplasms originating in the connective tissue. Soft tissue sarcomas, which begin in the muscle, tendons, fat, lymph, blood vessels, and nerves, encompass more than 80 histological subtypes. Approximately 25% of patients develop metastatic disease after curative-intent surgery, and for these patients, treatment options are limited and prognosis is very poor. In recent decades, the ident... |
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Putting the Freeze on Cold Agglutinin Disease
STATEMENT OF NEED
Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare subtype of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in which antibodies cause hemolysis at cold temperatures, generally between 37º to 39º Fahrenheit. Approximately 1 in a million people are affected by CAD annually, with onset usually occurring between the ages of 40 and 80 years. Individuals commonly experience fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, and shortness of breath caused by the anemia; jaundice caused by degradation of hemoglobin i... |
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Managing Immune Related Adverse Events to Ensure Optimal Cancer Immunotherapy Outcomes: The Nurse’s View
STATEMENT OF NEED
Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which alter immune regulatory pathways and promote cell-mediated destruction of tumor cells, have revolutionized the treatment of cancer in recent years, with numerous therapeutic agents approved and several targets under investigation (Chennamadhavuni et al, 2022). However, up to 90% of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors experience immune-related adverse events, which can affect a wide variety of organ systems and can occur at any ... |
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Exploring New Treatment Advances for Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency in Adults
STATEMENT OF NEED
Acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (ASMD) is a rare, hereditary lysosomal storage disease with multisystemic manifestations, including splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, interstitial lung disease, dyslipidemia, bone marrow and lymph node involvement, and sometimes neurological and peripheral nerve involvement. While the most severe form of ASMD, infantile neurovisceral ASMD, results in death in early childhood, chronic forms of ASMD have more prolonged survival but are associated w... |
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Current Standards and New Directions in the Treatment of Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
STATEMENT OF NEED
Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) is a rare, life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathy with a rapid onset and progression and a mortality rate of 10% to 20% with prompt treatment. Onset of aTTP is characterized by severe thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and a constellation of associated symptoms including hemorrhage, neurologic and renal manifestations, cardiac abnormalities, and mesenteric ischemia (Joly et al, 2017). Survivors of f... |
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Recurrent and Metastatic HNSCC: New Insights and Real-World Evidence for Improved Patient Outcomes
STATEMENT OF NEED
Head and neck cancers represent a heterogeneous group of tumors that originate in the lip/oral cavity, hypopharynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, and larynx. An estimated 66,470 new cases are diagnosed in the United States annually, and 15,050 people die of the disease (Siegel et al, 2022). Approximately 90% of cases are classified as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Treatment of HNSCC is complicated by numerous factors, including differing therapeutic strategies ... |
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Exploring Novel Treatments for Rett Syndrome
STATEMENT OF NEED
Rett syndrome is a rare, debilitating neurodevelopmental disorder almost always associated with a spontaneous mutation in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene on the X-chromosome. Affected individuals experience loss of purposeful hand skills, abnormalities in gait, loss of spoken language, and stereotypic hand movements, with more severe manifestations including seizures, autistic features, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, breathing abnormalities, sleep dist... |
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Best Practices in Nursing Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
STATEMENT OF NEED
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a complication of cancer treatment that may impair quality of life and lead to dose reductions or discontinuation of treatment. In one study, among 105 patients receiving paclitaxel for breast cancer, 36.2% needed dose reductions due to CIPN (Timmins et al, 2021). Whereas in some patients the symptoms improve with time, in others, there is progression with permanent nerve damage (Zajączkowska et al, 2019). At present, the... |
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Nursing Management of Tumor Lysis Syndrome
STATEMENT OF NEED
Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) is an oncological emergency that occurs when massive tumor lysis causes the rapid release of intracellular components into the bloodstream. Electrolyte imbalances characterized by hyperuricemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hypocalcemia may be severe enough to cause acute renal failure, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and even death. Current advances in cancer therapies can increase the incidence of TLS; therefore, identification of patien... |
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Exploring Advances in the Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Alzheimer Disease
STATEMENT OF NEED
Alzheimer disease, the most common form of dementia among older adults, is a slowly progressive neurogenerative disease that affects approximately 6 million Americans aged 65 and older (Rajan et al, 2021). Symptoms of Alzheimer disease include memory loss, confusion, impulsive behavior, difficulty with language, mood and personality changes, hallucinations, and increased anxiety or aggression, with severe symptoms such as physical decline, difficulty swallowing, and inabil... |