White patients with commercial insurance receiving care in a community setting are most likely to receive systemic anticancer therapy at the end of life, researchers reported in study findings published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. 

On November 20, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted healthcare providers and facilities not to use Cardinal Health Monoject syringes with syringe pumps and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps while the agency further evaluates a reported issue. FDA classified it as a class I recall, the most serious type of recall, where use of the product or device may result in serious injury or death.

Located on chromosome 2 with 11 exons, BRCA1-associated ring domain (BARD1) is part of the BRCA1/BARD1 protein complex and associated with breast cancer susceptibility. The protein complex enhances ubiquitin ligase activity, which helps regulate centrosome function, repair DNA, and regulate cell cycles to maintain genetic stability. BARD1 interacts with and stabilizes BRCA1 in the repair of double-strand DNA breaks as part of the homologous recombination pathway.

On November 17, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that B. Braun Medical, Inc., is recalling its Infusomat Space Volumetric Infusion Pump System because of faulty occlusion alarms, causing the pump to stop delivering medications, including high-risk medications such as vasopressors. Interrupting the infusion of high-risk medications may lead to hemodynamic instability, which may be life-threatening or lead to death in some cases. FDA is aware of 51 reports, one injury, and one death related to the recall.

On November 16, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved enzalutamide (Xtandi^®) for non-metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer with biochemical recurrence at high risk for metastasis.

On November 16, 2023, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda^®) with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

On November 16, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved capivasertib (Truqap™) with fulvestrant for adult patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with one or more PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN alterations, as detected by an FDA-approved test, following progression on at least one endocrine-based regimen in the metastatic setting or recurrence on or within 12 months of completing adjuvant therapy.

People aged 50–80 years who are current smokers or have quit and have a smoking history of 20 or more pack-years should be screened annually with low-dose computed tomography, according to the American Cancer Society’s 2023 updated lung cancer screening guidelines.

ONS engaged in a new collaboration with City Cancer Challenge Foundation that will transform and improve access to quality cancer care at the local, regional, and global levels. The two organizations signed a collaborative agreement in October 2023 to support and sustain their joint work.  

On November 15, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved repotrectinib (Augtyro™) for locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This is the first FDA approval for treatment of patients with ROS1-positive NSCLC who have previously received a ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), in addition to patients who are TKI naïve.