We are currently in an era where we’re shifting from traditional chemotherapies to leveraging the body’s immune system. CAR-T and bispecific antibodies are two innovative approaches to achieve this.
In the realm of oncology trials, we employ a severity rating system known as the Grade scale to assess toxicities. This scale helps us gauge whether a patient should modify or discontinue their treatment. The Grade scale consists of five points, ranging from mild toxicities to life-threatening ones.
Uveal melanoma, a rare and aggressive form of eye cancer, has just witnessed a groundbreaking development in its treatment landscape. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted approval to the HEPZATO KIT, an innovative liver-directed therapy that offers new hope to adult patients with uveal melanoma and unresectable hepatic metastases.
The choice to participate in a clinical trial may sound scary or it may sound exciting but if you are considering it, the real question is what happens next? Below I will help you navigate through the process of getting onto a clinical trial by answering some of the questions that I get from patients who are going through this process.
Intratumoral therapies is another class of immunotherapeutics that I often consider especially for folks with limited skin or nodal disease or perhaps deeper oligometastatic disease. I have cutaneous malignancies patients with Melanoma, Cutaneous SCC, Merkel cell and Kaposi sarcomas that have responded to local intratumoral therapies. We’ve seen viral agents like FDA approved TVEC, RP1, …
Myelodysplasia (MDS) is a bone marrow syndrome characterized by the presence of unhealthy (dysplastic) stem cells that displace the healthy ones, disrupting their ability to mature and develop properly. These healthy stem cells are responsible for generating essential components like red blood cells (which transport oxygen), white blood cells (crucial for fighting infections), and platelets (important for clotting). However, the unhealthy cells can suppress the function of the healthy ones, leading to various dysfunctions.
In terms of cancer diagnoses, the more common ones we hear of are cancers such as Leukemia, Lymphoma, melanoma, and breast cancer. But what about Leiomyosarcoma?
Leiomyosarcoma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that develops in the smooth muscles of the body (i.e. intestines, stomach, uterus, blood vessels).
Navigating the complex realm of oncology often involves a blend of clinical expertise, investigative curiosity, and intuitive sensitivity. A recent encounter with a patient, previously diagnosed with a sizable axillary adenopathy considered “benign”, reinforces the necessity of approaching medical puzzles with an open mind and meticulous attention to detail. Earlier this year, a patient was …
Hematologists play a pivotal role in addressing various non-cancerous hematological conditions, alleviating patient concerns about being associated solely with cancer care. Many patients are unaware that hematologists are involved in treating a range of benign conditions, including: 1. Anemia: Anemia, characterized by low hemoglobin levels, can stem from various causes such as iron deficiency, inadequate …
One of the most vivid metaphors for chemotherapy is that of a bomb: it obliterates both good and bad cells, with the hope that only the good ones regenerate. While traditional chemotherapy remains a significant tool in cancer treatment, there’s been a recent shift towards more precise therapies that selectively target cancer cells. In the …