Vax Hesitancy and Cancer; Second Surgery Benefits Ovarian Cancer; Workplace Safety

More than 40% of a group of high-risk patients with cancer had not received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, many because of unfounded fears about the vaccine. (Mays Cancer Center)

Women with relapsed ovarian cancer lived significantly longer if they had surgery in addition to chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone. (New England Journal of Medicine)

City of Hope announced plans to acquire Cancer Treatment Centers of America, which has a nationwide network of cancer hospitals and outpatient centers.

An overwhelming majority of working cancer survivors favor workplace safety measures to protect against COVID-19, including vaccination requirements (78%), clean work areas (65%), availability of sanitizing/cleaning supplies (62%), and mask mandates (58%), according to a survey of 876 working survivors. Complete survey results are available here. (Cancer and Careers)

Bayer announced that darolutamide (Nubeqa), in combination with docetaxel and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), significantly improved overall survival in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, as compared with docetaxel and ADT.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology has appealed to Congress to pass legislation to “prevent devastating reimbursement cuts to Medicare services” scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2022.

Brazilian soccer legend Pelé has begun chemotherapy for colon cancer. (CNN)

A laboratory model provided new insights into the process of CAR T-cell exhaustion, which limits the effectiveness of the treatment. (Penn Medicine)

Merck announced FDA approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as adjuvant therapy for adults and certain pediatric patients with completely resected melanoma.

FDA also expanded approval of rituximab (Rituxan), in combination with chemotherapy, for treating children with previously untreated CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, Burkitt-like lymphoma, or mature B-cell acute leukemia in advanced stages.

Meanwhile, Secura Bio said it was voluntarily withdrawing duvelisib’s (Copiktra) indication for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.

Breast implants for reconstruction after breast cancer surgery can affect the accuracy of diagnostic studies for cardiovascular disease, and more research is needed to characterize the frequency and nature of imaging artifacts. (Massachusetts General Hospital, JAMA Cardiology)

Foundation Medicine announced FDA approval of the FoundationOne CDx genomic profiling test as a companion diagnostic for certain therapies that target BRAF mutations in melanoma.