From clinical updates across cancer types to advances in supportive care, 2025 delivered key insights for oncology nurses and advanced practice providers. Oncology Nursing News’ top articles of the year:
5. Patient-Centered Communication Drives Supportive Care Needs in Incurable Cancer
A pilot study presented at the 50th Annual ONS Congress evaluated the Primary Palliative Care Communication Intervention (PRECURSOR) for outpatients with incurable gynecologic cancer and their caregivers. Overall acceptability (defined as at least 80% of respondents answering “agree” or “completely agree” to each item) was 70% among patients and 78% among caregivers; patients rated the free-listing exercise and handouts at 70%, while caregivers rated them at 89% and 78%, respectively.
4. Rx Road Map: Subcutaneous Daratumumab in Multiple Myeloma
A nurse’s guide from Sylwia Zielinska, RN, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, outlines practical administration steps, key approval data, mechanism of action, recommended dosing, safety signals, and patient-education points for subcutaneous daratumumab (Darzalex Faspro) in multiple myeloma. The piece emphasizes practical nursing considerations for outpatient delivery and managing anticipated adverse events.
3. Opinion: Targeted Therapy Plus Immunotherapy Is Promising for ATC
Amanda Brink, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, AOCNP, reviewed combination regimens for anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) in patients without BRAF V600E mutations, a group with few approved options. Treatment assignments included vemurafenib plus cobimetinib with atezolizumab, cobimetinib plus atezolizumab, bevacizumab plus atezolizumab, or paclitaxel-based chemotherapy with atezolizumab; patients with BRAF mutations showed higher overall survival and objective response rates than those with RAS or NF1/2 mutations.
2. Onc Nurse On Call: Immunotherapy With Kristin Daly
The inaugural episode of the new podcast Onc Nurse On Call features Kristin Daly, MSN, ANP-BC, AOCNP, discussing the evolution of immunotherapy and the evolving role of oncology nurses and APPs. Daly addressed common immunotherapy agents, outpatient management of adverse effects including premedication and steroid use, analogies to aid patient education, and a practical “head tilt test” she uses to prompt patients to report new symptoms.
1. Making Breast Cancer Treatment Decisions After Endocrine Therapy
Survivorship expert Michelle Kirschner, MSN, RN, ACNP, APRN-BC, outlined considerations for deciding whether to continue endocrine therapy beyond five years. She highlighted the Breast Cancer Index (BCI) as a tool to estimate potential benefit from extended therapy and stressed that integrating patients’ experiences and concerns is essential to weighing clinical benefits against the burden of adverse effects.
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