Christina Bennett, MS

Christina Bennett, MS, is an independent medical journalist who writes about a variety of medical topics, including oncology, health care policy, and cell and gene therapies. She has a bachelor's degree in biomedical science and a master’s degree in science and technology journalism, both from Texas A&M University. She is a member of the Association of Healthcare Journalists and the National Association of Science Writers and was one of a dozen journalists selected for the 2017 National Cancer Reporting Fellowships.

All articles by Christina Bennett, MS

Lymphoma

Liso-Cel Shows Durable Activity in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Christina Bennett, MS

December 18, 2019

Lisocabtagene maraleucel appeared to have durable clinical activity in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

New cancer-specific designs are needed to balance out heart and cancer outcomes in the chronic disease setting of CLL.

Lymphoma

Older Patients With Follicular Lymphoma Benefit From Appropriate Therapy

Christina Bennett, MS

December 18, 2019

For older patients with follicular lymphoma, receipt of appropriate therapy for this disease was associated with a significant gain in overall survival.

A surprising finding led biosimilar manufacturer Samsung Bioepis to investigate trastuzumab, only to discover that lots given to patients had changed.

Breast Cancer

The Cancer Biologics Industry Gets a “Wake-Up Call”: Product Drift Can Occur

Christina Bennett, MS

December 18, 2019

A surprising finding led biosimilar manufacturer Samsung Bioepis to investigate trastuzumab, only to discover that lots given to patients had changed.

Over half of evaluable patients who received an infusion of tisagenlecleucel achieved response.

Lymphoma

Long-Term Disease Control With Dose-Intensified Regimen in Lymphoma

Christina Bennett, MS

December 16, 2019

For patients with early unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma, disease control was improved with a dose-intensified regimen, but no overall survival gain was seen.

KEYNOTE-054 may show whether some patients with resected disease can forego adjuvant therapy.

Hematologic Cancers

Skin Lesions May Precede a Diagnosis of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia

Christina Bennett, MS

December 16, 2019

The development of cutaneous macroglobulinosis may precede a diagnosis of Waldenström macroglobulinemia, according to a case report.

Emerging evidence suggests that a better understanding of T-cell behavior may help immune checkpoint inhibitors become more personalized.

Skin Cancer

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on Track for Better Personalization

Christina Bennett, MS

December 16, 2019

Emerging evidence suggests that a better understanding of T-cell behavior may help immune checkpoint inhibitors become more personalized.

The one criticism that has persisted is the concern that a portion of patients on the control arm of the BEACON trial did not previously receive oxaliplatin.

Gastrointestinal Cancers

BEACON May Not Be the “Worst” Trial Ever, but a Key Question Remains

Christina Bennett, MS

December 16, 2019

The one criticism that has persisted is the concern that a portion of patients on the control arm of the BEACON trial did not previously receive oxaliplatin.

Genetic variants associated with radiation-induced breast cancer include MYC-adjacent oncogene PVT1.

SABCS 2019

Oral Paclitaxel With Encequidar Deemed Effective in Metastatic Breast Cancer, but Toxicity Concerns Emerge

Christina Bennett, MS

December 13, 2019

Patients who received oral paclitaxel with encequidar had lower rates of neuropathy, but higher rates of neutropenia, anemia, and gastrointestinal adverse events.

Patients with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer who received neratinib had improved invasive a

SABCS 2019

Tumor Biopsy Does Not Improve Predictive Value of Trimodality Imaging

Christina Bennett, MS

December 13, 2019

Image-guided core-needle biopsy did not improve the predictive value of trimodality imaging after neoadjuvant therapy for patients with operable breast cancer.