OREANDA-NEWS. June 02, 2016. At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, leading investigators affiliated with The US Oncology Network and US Oncology Research will showcase detailed findings from 30 studies. These presentations cover novel approaches to numerous types of cancer including breast cancer, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, solid tumors and more. The 52nd ASCO Annual Meeting will be held June 3-7 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

“Research is paramount to the advancement of cancer care, and I am proud to be part of an organization that values and supports cutting-edge trials in the community setting,” said Michael Seiden, MD, PhD, chief medical officer for The US Oncology Network and US Oncology Research. “Having numerous affiliated physicians participate in groundbreaking studies being presented at ASCO is an honor and highlights the commitment they have to current patients as well as future ones.” 

Nicholas Robert, MD, medical oncologist and cancer researcher with Virginia Cancer Specialists (VCS), a practice in The US Oncology Network, and former ASCO community research forum chairman, co-authored a trial study titled, “Patient-reported outcomes from MA.17R: A randomized trial of extending adjuvant letrozole for 5 years after completing an initial 5 years of aromatase inhibitor therapy alone or preceded by tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.” This oral presentation will occur on Monday, June 6 from 1:15pm to 4:15pm in Hall D1.

“This is an important study for patients who are at higher risk for late recurrence,” said Dr. Robert. “The results of this study can help postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer decide whether to continue treatment with an aromatase inhibitor past the standard five years. This is the first study to address this question.”

Two US Oncology Research affiliated physicians also co-authored studies chosen as Best of ASCO oral presentations. Thomas Hutson, DO, PharmD, medical oncologist with Texas Oncology and co-chair of genitourinary research for US Oncology Research, co-authored a study titled, “Overall survival (OS) in  METEOR, a randomized phase 3 trial of cabozantanib (Cabo) versus everolimus (Eve) in patients (pts) with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC),” which will be presented Sunday, June 5 from 8:00am to 11:00am in Hall D2. Joanne Blum, MD, PhD, FACP, medical oncologist with Texas Oncology at the Baylor-Sammons Cancer Center in Dallas, specializing in breast cancer, co-authored a study titled, “Interim joint analysis of the ABC (anthracyclines in early breast cancer) phase III trials (USOR 06-090, NSABP B-46I/USOR 07132, NSABP B-49 [NRG Oncology]) comparing docetaxel + cyclophosphamide (TC) v anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy regimens (TaxAC) in women with high-risk, HER2-negative breast cancer,” which will be presented Saturday, June 4 from 1:15pm to 4:15pm in Hall D2.

Additionally, a study in the category of Health Services Research will be presented during this year’s ASCO. Marcus Neubauer, MD, medical director of Oncology Services for The US Oncology Network and McKesson Specialty Health, will give an oral presentation titled, “A disease management pilot program in a Medicare-age population with cancer,” on Monday, June 6 from 9:45am to 12:45pm in S100a.

Nicholas Vogelzang, MD, medical oncologist with Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada (CCCN) and former ASCO board of directors member, will chair an education session titled, “Tumor Board on Systemic Therapies for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Induction, Maintenance, and Sequencing,” on Sunday, June 5 from 8:00am to 9:15am in E253B. Also, Dr. Hutson will chair an education session titled, “Renal Cell Carcinoma: Systemic Treatment, Evolving TKIs, and Immunotherapy,” on Monday, June 6 from 11:30am to 12:45pm in S406.

“It’s only through research that we can improve,” said Dr. Robert. “The way to achieve our goals toward developing better treatments and higher quality of care is by asking questions and going through the research process.” 

Find the complete list of affiliated studies being featured at ASCO on the US Oncology Research presentation brochure.

About US Oncology Research

Supported by McKesson Specialty Health and The US Oncology Network, US Oncology Research draws from a network of experienced investigators and dedicated clinical staff who specialize in oncology clinical trials. US Oncology Research serves approximately 60 research sites and nearly 165 locations managing about 300 active trials at any given time. Physicians in the research network have enrolled nearly 63,000 patients in close to 1,500 trials since inception in 1992 and have played a role in nearly 60 FDA-approved cancer therapies, about one-third of all cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date. For more information call (800) 482-6700 or visit www.usoncology.com/oncologists.

About The US Oncology Network

The US Oncology Network is one of the nation’s largest networks of integrated, community-based oncology practices dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based cancer care. A physician-led organization, The US Oncology Network unites like-minded physicians and clinicians around a common vision of improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Leveraging healthcare information technology, shared best practices, evidence-based guidelines and quality measurements, physicians within The US Oncology Network are pioneering new ways to achieve this vision. The US Oncology Network is committed to strengthening patient access to integrated care in local communities across the nation, including collaboration with a variety of payers, hospitals and academic institutions. The US Oncology Network is supported by McKesson Specialty Health, a division of McKesson Corporation focused on empowering a vibrant and sustainable community patient care delivery system. For more information, visit www.usoncology.com.