Ruxolitinib In Patients With Polycythemia Vera With Hydroxyurea Resistance Or Intolerance
Interferon alfa-2b is approved in treatment-naive patients and for patients with hydroxyurea resistance or intolerance, 3 and ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor is exclusively approved for second-line treatment.
KEY FINDINGS: Interferon alfa-2b is approved in treatment-naive patients and for patients with hydroxyurea resistance or intolerance, and ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor is exclusively approved for second-line treatment.
BACKGROUND: The clinical triumvirate of polycythemia vera include disease-related symptoms, vascular events, and transformation to myelofibrosis or blast phase.
DETAILS: Regulatory approval for polycythemia vera directed therapy is dependent on the achievement of a complete hematological response or phlebotomy associated goals (short-term clinical trial endpoints) that might not affect the most clinically relevant outcome measures of thrombosis, progression, and overall survival due to longer time to event, and lower incidence, which make polycythemia vera a challenging disease to evaluate in prospective trials. Although hydroxyurea is the mainstay of treatment in patients with polycythemia vera, approximately 15% of patients develop resistance or intolerance, which is deemed an adverse prognostic factor with higher risk for death (hazard ratio [HR] 5.6, 95% CI 2.7-11.9; p<0.001) and transformation to myelofibrosis or blast phase (HR 6.8, 3.0-15.4; p<0.001).
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Copyright © Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Source: Venugopal, S. and Mascarenhas, J. (2022). Ruxolitinib In Patients With Polycythemia Vera With Hydroxyurea Resistance Or Intolerance. The Lancet. Published: May 18, 2022. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3026(22)00139-9.
Comparison of Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Use According to Hospice Utilization Among Patients with Cancer at the End of Life in South Korea
Hospice involvement was associated with lower use and reduced exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics among patients with cancer near the end of life. These findings support the alignment of end-of-life treatment decisions with the comfort-oriented goals of hospice care.
KEY FINDINGS: Hospice involvement was associated with lower use and reduced exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics among patients with cancer near the end of life. These findings support the alignment of end-of-life treatment decisions with the comfort-oriented goals of hospice care.
BACKGROUND: Authors aimed to compare broad-spectrum antibiotic use between hospice and non-hospice patients with cancer at the end of life using nationwide data from Korea.
DETAILS: In this retrospective cohort study, authors analyzed the Korean National Health Insurance Service data of adult patients with cancer who died between 2018 and 2021. Hospice users were defined as patients who received inpatient, home-based, or consultation-based hospice care before death. Authors applied propensity score matching (1:2) to balance the baseline characteristics of the hospice and non-hospice groups. Broad-spectrum antibiotic use, including anti-pseudomonal penicillins, anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins, carbapenems, and glycopeptides, was assessed during the last 3 months of life using prescription proportions and days of therapy per 1,000 patient-days. After matching, 38,102 hospice and 75,736 non-hospice users were analyzed. During the last 3 months of life, 74.6% of hospice and 79.0% of non-hospice users received at least one broad-spectrum antibiotic (P<0.001). The proportion of patients receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics was generally lower among hospice users across all time intervals (P<0.001), and the number of days of therapy was also lower, with the largest differences observed during the final week and last 3 days of life. Subgroup analyses showed the highest antibiotic exposure among patients with hematologic and pancreatobiliary cancers, particularly in the non-hospice group.
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Copyright © Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care. All rights reserved.
Source: Jeung, Y. S., Kim, G. J., Yu, J., et al. Comparison of Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Use According to Hospice Utilization Among Patients with Cancer at the End of Life in South Korea: A Nationwide Analysis. v. 2026; 29(2): 41-50. Published: June, 2026. DOI: 10.14475/jhpc.2026.29.2.41
Incidence and Implications of Abstinence-Induced Recompensation in Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis
Hepatic recompensation reflects the potential to resolve decompensating events once the aetiological driver is removed. Alcohol abstinence enabled recompensation in one-third of patients with decompensated alcohol-related cirrhosis. The likelihood of recompensation increased with early abstinence and in the absence of further decompensation. Prognosis improved after recompensation, with a negligible risk of liver-related death and hepatocellular carcinoma.
KEY FINDINGS: Alcohol abstinence enabled hepatic recompensation in approximately one-third of patients with decompensated alcohol-related cirrhosis, particularly when abstinence was achieved early and in the absence of further decompensation. Recompensation was associated with a substantial survival benefit under sustained abstinence, with a negligible residual risk of liver-related death and hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND: Alcohol abstinence enables hepatic recompensation in patients with decompensated alcohol-related cirrhosis. This study investigated the incidence, predictors, and impact of abstinence-induced recompensation.
DETAILS: This multicentre study included patients with decompensated alcohol-related cirrhosis recruited at the time of abstinence up to December 2022. Recompensation was defined by Baveno VII criteria: (i) sustained abstinence (>=3 months), (ii) resolution of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy off therapy, (iii) absence of variceal bleeding for 1 year, and (iv) restored liver function (Child-Pugh A or MELD <10). A total of 633 patients from 17 centres were included (71.7% male; median age 55 years). Alcohol-associated hepatitis superimposed on cirrhosis was present in 40.8%. Median MELD was 19 (13-24), and 47.2% had progressed to further decompensation at abstinence. Median time from index decompensation to abstinence was 0.2 (0.0-7.6) months. Over a follow-up of 36.3 (19.2-63.2) months, 197 patients (31.1%) achieved recompensation (cumulative incidence: 12.3% at 1 year, 23.4% at 2 years, 33.8% at 5 years). Early abstinence (within 1 month of decompensation; adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio [aSHR] 2.042), higher aspartate aminotransferase (aSHR per 10 U/L increase: 1.011) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (aSHR per 10 U/L increase: 1.004) (all p <0.001) increased recompensation likelihood in both supervised and machine-learning models, while the presence of further decompensation decreased it (aSHR 0.650, p = 0.013). During follow-up, 123 patients died (56.1% liver-related). Recompensation was independently associated with lower all-cause mortality (aHR 0.255, p = 0.001). No recompensated patient who remained abstinent died of liver-related causes or developed hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Corrective and Restorative Dermatology in Cancer Survivors
Advances in cancer therapies have resulted in a growing population of long-term cancer survivors with chronic dermatological sequelae, such as persistent alopecia, nail abnormalities, pigmentary disorders, telangiectasias, scarring, mucosal alterations, and chronic radiation-induced skin changes. Dermatological sequelae may cause functional impairment, psychological distress, altered body image, and reduced quality of life.
KEY FINDINGS: Supportive oncodermatology, originally focused on the acute treatment phase, must evolve to address the long-term needs of the growing cancer survivor population. Preventive strategies, such as scalp cooling during chemotherapy, are vital, as existing treatments for established sequelae like PCIA and radiation-induced scarring have limited efficacy. While topical minoxidil and, more recently, oral minoxidil have shown promise for hair density improvements, and lasers are effective for telangiectasias, the management of many chronic dermatological sequelae remains largely extrapolated from other dermatological conditions rather than specifically validated for cancer survivors. Multidisciplinary follow-up programs are essential to address the complex functional, cosmetic, and psychological needs of these patients.
BACKGROUND: With the increasing effectiveness of modern oncological treatments, the population of cancer survivors is rapidly expanding. Consequently, clinical focus is shifting from the management of acute treatment-related toxicities to the long-term or late sequelae of cancer therapy. Among these, dermatological conditions—such as persistent alopecia, nail disorders, scarring, pigmentary alterations, and chronic radiation-induced skin changes—are highly visible, often persistent, and can significantly impair the quality of life, body image, and psychological well-being of survivors. While supportive oncodermatology is well-established for active treatment settings, structured care during the survivorship phase remains significantly underdeveloped.
DETAILS: This review defines "restorative oncodermatology" as the management of dermatological manifestations persisting for at least six months after the completion of anticancer therapy. Such conditions include both persistent toxicities that are slow to regress and true long-term sequelae resulting from treatment-induced tissue damage. Epidemiological data indicates that these issues are prevalent; for example, up to 59% of adult survivors of childhood cancer report chronic skin-related problems, and approximately 30% report visible scarring or disfigurement. Specific conditions addressed include persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (PCIA), which affects between 1% to approximately 40% of patients depending on the regimen , and radiation-induced scarring alopecia, where a threshold of approximately 36 Gy is associated with a 50% probability of severe alopecia. The article also explores the management of chronic nail changes, pigmentary alterations, hair growth disorders like hirsutism and hypertrichosis, and mucosal sequelae. Despite the high prevalence and impact of these dermatological sequelae, dedicated survivorship-oriented dermatological care is rarely implemented. There is an urgent requirement to improve knowledge in this field and provide specialized care, particularly for childhood and adolescent cancer survivors, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of these conditions on their physical appearance and identity development. Dermatologists must play a central role in long-term survivorship by performing surveillance for secondary skin cancers and delivering restorative treatments that help patients navigate life after cancer.
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Enhanced Travel Restrictions Implemented Following Ebola Outbreak
U.S. travelers from DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda must undergo enhanced Ebola screening at Dulles Airport. Travel restrictions prevent foreign nationals who visited these countries in the past three weeks from entering the U.S. The Ebola outbreak in the DRC has caused over 600 suspected cases and 148 deaths, with transmission possibly starting in early April. No Ebola cases have been reported in the U.S., and the CDC considers the domestic risk to be low. Efforts are focused on containment, transmission chain tracing, and public education, as there is no available vaccine or treatment for the current strain.
KEY FINDINGS: A primary challenge in this specific outbreak is the nature of the causative agent, the Bundibugyo virus. Unlike the more common Zaire ebolavirus, there is currently no licensed vaccine or specific, FDA-approved treatment effective against the Bundibugyo strain. Consequently, the public health response relies entirely on traditional containment strategies. These include rapid case detection, patient isolation, meticulous contact tracing, the promotion of infection prevention and control practices, safe burial procedures, and robust community education to curb transmission chains. Researchers are currently evaluating whether existing therapeutic candidates or vaccine platforms could be adapted for emergency use, though clinical implementation remains under investigation.
BACKGROUND: In response to a burgeoning outbreak of Ebola virus disease caused by the Bundibugyo strain, the United States government has enacted new travel and entry protocols. The current outbreak, centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and involving cases in South Sudan and Uganda, has prompted international health authorities to declare a public health emergency. As global travel remains a potential vector for the international spread of the virus, the U.S. government has taken proactive measures to bolster domestic defense against the introduction of the pathogen.
DETAILS: Effective May 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Homeland Security have implemented stringent travel requirements. Foreign nationals who have visited the DRC, South Sudan, or Uganda within the 21 days prior to their arrival are temporarily suspended from entry into the United States. Furthermore, all U.S. citizens, nationals, and lawful permanent residents returning from these three countries must route their travel through specifically designated entry points, including Washington-Dulles International Airport, where they are subject to enhanced public health screening. These measures include health questionnaires, temperature checks using non-contact technology, and verification of contact information to facilitate monitoring for symptoms over a 21-day period following departure from the affected regions. While the current outbreak is significant—with reports indicating nearly 500 suspected cases and more than 130 deaths since the official declaration on May 15—the domestic risk to the United States is currently assessed by the CDC as low. As of late May 2026, no suspected, probable, or confirmed cases of Ebola have been reported within the United States. Authorities are maintaining a state of high readiness, with regional hospitals and state health departments prepared to manage and isolate any potential symptomatic travelers identified through the screening process.
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Safety and Antitumour Activity of Ipatasertib Combined With Endocrine Therapy and A CDK4/6 Inhibitor in HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer (TAKTIC)
The combination of fulvestrant, ipatasertib, and palbociclib showed preliminary signs of clinical activity and showed expected adverse events in heavily pretreated patients with HR+/HER2 metastatic breast cancer, warranting further evaluation in those with CDK4/6 inhibitor-refractory disease.
KEY FINDINGS: The combination of fulvestrant, ipatasertib, and palbociclib showed preliminary signs of clinical activity and showed expected adverse events in heavily pretreated patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer, warranting further evaluation in those with CDK4/6 inhibitor-refractory disease.
BACKGROUND: PI3K/AKT pathway activation is implicated in CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance. The use of AKT inhibition with continued CDK4/6 blockade after CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance remains unexplored. We evaluated the safety of ipatasertib and an antioestrogen with or without palbociclib in patients with treatment refractory HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
DETAILS: This single-centre, open-label, phase 1b trial was conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA, USA). Eligible patients were women older than 18 years with biopsy proven HR+/HER2- locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic breast cancer; an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2; disease progression on at least one previous therapy for metastatic disease; and measurable disease or bone lesions. Patients received 400 mg oral ipatasertib with standard 500 mg intramuscular fulvestrant dosing (ipatasertib and fulvestrant group) or with an aromatase inhibitor (oral anastrozole 1 mg per day, exemestane 25 mg per day, or letrozole 2.5 mg per day; ipatasertib and aromatase inhibitor group) on days 1-28 of each cycle. The ipatasertib and fulvestrant plus palbociclib group included a dose-escalation phase with patients assigned sequentially to escalating doses of ipatasertib and palbociclib using a standard 3 + 3 design starting at the recommended dose of palbociclib (125 mg on days 1-21) and the lowest dose of ipatasertib (200 mg on days 1-21). The primary endpoint was safety and progression-free survival was a key secondary endpoint. Safety was analysed in all patients who received at least one dose of ipatasertib and progression-free survival was assessed in all enrolled participants. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03959891 (active, not recruiting). Between June 5, 2019, and Feb 16, 2022, 77 patients were enrolled (19 assigned to ipatasertib and fulvestrant, 16 to ipatasertib and aromatase inhibitor, and 42 to ipatasertib and fulvestrant plus palbociclib). All patients were female (77 [100%]); 75 were White (97%) and two (3%) were Asian. The median age was 62 years (range 32-88) and 66 (86%) of 77 patients received previous CDK4/6 inhibitor (median number of previous lines was 3 [range 1-13]). The median follow-up was 12.5 months (IQR 7.6-19.7). The recommended phase 2 dose was established at 400 mg ipatasertib on days 1-21 with 100 mg palbociclib on days 8-28 and standard fulvestrant 500 mg. Median progression-free survival was 5.5 months (95% CI 3.8-7.4). Serious adverse events related to study treatment occurred in seven (17%) patients in the ipatasertib and fulvestrant plus palbociclib group and one (5%) in the ipatasertib and fulvestrant group, which were related to neutropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hyperglycaemia. Common grade 3-4 adverse events related to study treatment (occurring in >5% of patients) were neutropenia (30 [39%] of 77), leukopenia (15 [19%]), diarrhoea (14 [18%]), rash (seven [9%]), lymphopenia (three [4%]), and anaemia (four [5%]). Four deaths occurred during the study (one possibly treatment-related due to grade 5 hyperglycaemia in the ipatasertib and fulvestrant group and two due to infectious issues and one due to pulmonary complications in the ipatasertib and fulvestrant plus palbociclib group), deemed unrelated to study treatment.
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Source: Wander, S., Lloyd, M., Keenan, J. C., et al. Safety and Antitumour Activity of Ipatasertib Combined With Endocrine Therapy and A CDK4/6 Inhibitor in HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer (TAKTIC): A Single-Centre, Open-Label, Phase 1b Trial. Lasers Oncology. 2026; 27(5), 580-591. Published: May, 2026. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00059-8.
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