At Sunday’s Plenary Session, a landmark study provided new data that have implications for changing clinical practice. Steven O’Day, MD, of the Angeles Clinic and Research Institute, reported that ipilimumab alone or in combination with vaccine increased overall survival (OS) in patients with unresectable stage III/IV melanoma for whom previous treatment had failed (Abstract 4). “This is an historic first — the first phase III randomized study showing improvement in median and long-term survival in patients with metastatic melanoma,” Dr. O’Day said. Ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), is an immune therapy directed against T-cells. The... Continue reading

The American Society of Clinical Oncology kicks off today. The world's best oncologists gather to share new innovations and clinical results in the search to improve cancer treaments. This year should prove to be exciting. Who will be the big winners? I can't wait to find out! Blog posted here. Continue reading

I first witnessed "email" in 1982. A computer about the size of single wide trailer was hooked to a brief case size box, and the old dial-up phone (with a cord) was set on top of the box and magically connected to the same set-up on the other end. The computers talked to each other over a phone line, and when I was 11 years old, that seemed amazing. I was actually using real email in 1989, a mere 7 years later on a desk top computer that you admittedly had to boot up with a floppy disk, but I... Continue reading

If you plan on traveling to Boston and want to have a meal that tingles the taste buds, you must go to Casa Romero in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood. Chef Carlos brings the flavors of Mexico to a whole new level and has made some very subtle, but significant improvements to the traditional Casa Romero dishes . Last night was especially tasty as I experienced a habanero salsa combined with a special queso dip made with white wine and herbs. The latter is not normally something you would expect in just any old Mexican joint, but then Casa Romero is... Continue reading

A cadet moves through smoke onto an objective during Cadet Leader Development Training at Camp Buckner on May 27. CLDT is a three-week field problem which puts the cadets in leadership positions and forces them to solve tactical problems under stressful conditions. During CLDT, the cadets conduct operations similar to what they will lead as platoon leaders in Iraq and Afghanistan, to include convoys, cordon and search missions and air assault raids. Continue reading