Cody Peer, PhD, from the National Institutes of Health, is conducting a randomized research study comparing the dosing intervals of two drugs, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancers. The study aims to determine if these drugs can be administered less frequently than the currently approved dosing schedule. The primary outcome measure of the study is the noninferiority of extended interval dosing compared to standard dosing. The researchers will evaluate the drug trough levels in the blood and categorize patients as either successful or unsuccessful based on achieving drug trough levels above the target concentration of…
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Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, from the Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, conducted a study to evaluate the effectiveness of sacituzumab govitecan (SG) in patients with locally advanced (LA) or metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) based on the expression of trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop-2). The study aimed to determine if Trop-2 expression levels could predict response to treatment. Trop-2 is a glycoprotein that is often highly expressed in various cancers, including urothelial cancer. SG is an antibody-drug conjugate that specifically targets Trop-2. It has been approved by the FDA for use in patients with LA unresectable or mUC who have previously received…
KEYNOTE-716 trial brings to light the impressive efficacy of pembrolizumab as an adjuvant therapy for stage IIB or IIC melanoma. Pembrolizumab significantly reduces the risk of disease recurrence or death, offering a promising treatment strategy for high-risk melanoma patients. Despite some side effects, pembrolizumab presents a manageable safety profile, making it a viable long-term treatment option. These compelling findings bolster the potential role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in various stages and types of cancer. Melanoma cancer, a potentially deadly form of skin cancer, is a global concern, with its incidence rates steadily on the rise over the past decades. As…
Anthony Stein, MD, from the City of Hope, has conducted a first-in-human study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new treatment called CD123 NK Cell Engager SAR443579 in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML), B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or high-risk myelodysplasia. The study aimed to assess the drug’s ability to activate natural killer (NK) cells and target cancer cells expressing the CD123 antigen. SAR443579 is designed to engage both NKp46 and CD16a receptors on NK cells, forming a cytolytic synapse with CD123-positive tumor cells. This interaction leads to the activation of NK cells, resulting…
The Impact of ASCO 2022 on Oncology In the ever-evolving field of oncology, ASCO 2022 stands out as a landmark event, showcasing the latest advancements and research findings in cancer care. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting provides a global platform for researchers, practitioners, and patients alike to share insights, learn from each other, and push the boundaries of our understanding of cancer. ASCO is an internationally acclaimed congregation, highlighting cutting-edge scientific research and fostering collaboration among global oncology stakeholders. The ASCO 2022 meeting played host to a multitude of studies, spanning various aspects of cancer research.…
Majid Jaberi-Douraki, PhD from Kansas State University, and Shahzad Raza, MD from the Cleveland Clinic, conducted a study to evaluate global disparities in multiple myeloma (MM) through data mining of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). The study aimed to assess adverse events (AEs) associated with FDA-approved MM drugs from 2003 to 2022 and stratify patient data based on age, sex, and geographical regions. The researchers analyzed data from 381,378 MM patients across North America (NA), Europe (EU), Asia (AS), Africa (AF), Oceania (OC), and Latin America & the Caribbean (LA), sourced from 129 countries. They focused on AEs…
Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, from Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, conducted a safety analysis on cohort 1 of the TROPHY-U-01 phase 2 study. The study evaluated the use of sacituzumab govitecan (SG) in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC) who had experienced disease progression after receiving platinum-based chemotherapy and a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI). The safety analysis specifically focused on the UGT1A1 status of the patients. The study included a total of 113 patients who were administered SG as a treatment for mUC. UGT1A1 is a gene responsible for the metabolism of irinotecan, a component of SG. Variations in the UGT1A1 gene…
Ismael Rodriguez Rivera, MD, Medical Oncologist and Clinical Investigator from NEXT Oncology, has conducted a groundbreaking study on a novel therapeutic approach for patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The study, titled “CBX-12-101: A first-in-human study of CBX-12, an alphalex peptide drug conjugate (PDC) in patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors,” focuses on evaluating the safety and efficacy of CBX-12, an innovative alphalex peptide drug conjugate. The study conducted by Dr. Rodriguez Rivera represents the first time CBX-12 has been administered to human subjects. Alphalex peptide drug conjugates (PDCs) are a new class of targeted therapeutics designed to…
Advanced Urothelial carcinoma, primarily affecting the urinary system, is a typically aggressive cancer with limited treatment options. Pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, has shown promise as an effective monotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma. The KEYNOTE-045 and KEYNOTE-361 trials demonstrated the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab irrespective of the histological subtype of urothelial carcinoma. Despite the limitations in these trials, the findings hold substantial implications for the treatment of advanced urothelial carcinoma, potentially paving the way for personalized cancer therapy. Ongoing research and clinical trials are necessary to further establish the full potential of pembrolizumab and explore other emerging therapies. The complex…
Erika Hamilton, MD, a preeminent expert from the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, has recently conducted a study evaluating the efficacy and safety of adjuvant abemaciclib combined with endocrine therapy (ET) in patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer (EBC), with a focus on analyzing the results based on age groups. The study, known as monarchE, aimed to provide valuable insights into the treatment outcomes of this specific patient population. In the monarchE study, Dr. Hamilton and her team enrolled a diverse group of patients diagnosed with HR-positive, HER2-negative, node-positive EBC, which is considered a high-risk subtype. The patients…
Nadia Harbeck, MD, PhD, from the University of Münster, recently conducted a primary outcome analysis of the multicenter randomized PreCycle trial, evaluating the impact of CANKADO PRO-React eHealth support on patients with HR+ HER2- metastatic breast cancer receiving palbociclib and endocrine therapy. The primary objective of the study was to assess the effect of eHealth support on the time to deterioration of quality of life in these patients. The PreCycle trial included a total of 234 patients who were randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group. The intervention group received the CANKADO PRO-React eHealth support in…
Roy Herbst, MD, PhD, from the Yale Cancer Center and Yale School of Medicine, presented a groundbreaking abstract at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The abstract, titled “Final ADAURA OS Analysis Reinforces Adjuvant Osimertinib as a Standard of Care for Patients With Stage IB to IIIA EGFR-Mutated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer,” highlights the significant impact of adjuvant osimertinib in the treatment of patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in stages IB to IIIA. The study presented by Dr. Herbst is based on the results of the ADAURA trial, which is a randomized, double-blind,…
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is a complex and aggressive form of lung cancer, but developments in treatments and therapies provide a beacon of hope. The LUNAR Phase 3 Clinical Trial by Novocure has shown significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival for NSCLC patients when TTFields therapy is added to standard pharmacological therapies. Novocure’s Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is a ground-breaking approach in cancer treatment, using electric fields to selectively target and kill cancer cells, sparing healthy ones. Continuous research and clinical trials are key to better understanding NSCLC, improving treatments, and increasing life expectancy for patients.…
Brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) is a ground-breaking CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma. The ZUMA-2 trial demonstrated the high efficacy of brexucabtagene autoleucel, which led to its accelerated approval by the FDA. Real-world studies like the CIBMTR subgroup analysis continue to validate the efficacy of brexucabtagene autoleucel across diverse patient populations and treatment lines. Direct insights from leading experts like Dr. Swetha Kambhampati at ASCO 2023 provide an in-depth understanding of brexucabtagene autoleucel’s real-world outcomes. The use of brexucabtagene autoleucel in earlier lines of therapy may yield higher complete response rates. Ongoing research and…
Caicun Zhou, MD, PhD – Tongji University Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital Sunvozertinib established itself as the leading targeted therapy for NSCLC patients with EGFR Exon20ins mutations, demonstrating unprecedented response rates and potential for first-line treatment. Sunvozertinib, a targeted therapy, has emerged as a “Best-in-Class” treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR Exon20 insertion (Exon20ins) mutations, which typically have poor outcomes. The drug has shown remarkable efficacy, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 60.8% in the second-line setting and beyond. Additionally, sunvozertinib demonstrated a high ORR of 77.8% in treatment-naive patients, indicating its potential as a superior…
Ian Krop, MD, PhD – Yale University This study conducted an age-specific pooled analysis of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC) using data from the DESTINY-Breast01, -02, and -03 trials. The analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of T-DXd across different age groups. The results provide valuable insights into the use of T-DXd in HER2-positive mBC patients of varying ages.
Ian B. Walters, MD – Portage Biotech Inc The IMPORT-201 study investigates the use of IMM60, a novel iNKT agonist, in combination with pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Preclinical studies have shown promising results, including tumor regression and immune activation. Initial results from the phase 1 portion of the study demonstrate that IMM60, as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab, is well-tolerated and shows potential in inducing positive treatment responses, warranting further investigation in heavily pretreated patients.
Jonathan David Tward ,MD, PHD, FASTRO – University of Utah A study using the Prolaris test shows that it can accurately predict the personalized absolute benefit and number-needed-to-treat (NNT) for patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) added to radiation therapy (RT) in newly diagnosed prostate cancer. By assessing the clinical cell-cycle risk (CCR) score, the study determined that patients with CCR scores above a prespecified multimodality treatment threshold (MTT) had a higher absolute benefit of ADT treatment (8.2% with NNT=12) compared to those below the MTT (0.86% with NNT=116). These findings provide valuable insights for personalized decision-making regarding the use…
Nicholas Robert, MD – Chief Medical Officer of Ontada Nicholas J. Robert, the chief medical officer at Ontada, is responsible for enhancing the clinical focus and expertise of the organization, ensuring the highest scientific standards and clinical relevance in studies, real-world data offerings, and educational programs, building on his extensive experience as a practicing oncologist and his previous role as VP, Medical Affairs at Ontada overseeing the development of real-world evidence studies and consortium protocols. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is known to have a higher incidence in African American women compared to European American women and is associated with…
Majid Jaberi-Douraki, PhD -Kansas State University and Shahzad Raza, MD – Cleveland Clinic This study analyzed data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to evaluate global disparities in multiple myeloma (MM) and drug toxicity trends. The analysis of adverse events (AEs) associated with FDA-approved MM drugs revealed variations in AE incidence based on age, sex, and geographical regions. Disparities were observed in specific AEs such as cardiotoxicities, vascular toxicities, nephrotoxicity, peripheral neuropathies, secondary neoplasms, and respiratory tract neoplasms, which may be influenced by factors like genetics, dosing/regimen, comorbidities, age, and sex. These findings highlight the importance of further…
Scott T Tagawa, MD, MS, FASCO, FACP – Weill Cornell This study explores the use of a combination therapy, involving both alpha and beta radioligands, for prostate-specific membrane antigen-targeted radionuclide therapy (PSMA-TRT) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The preliminary phase I results indicate the feasibility and safety of combining the alpha-radiolabeled antibody 225Ac-J591 with the beta-radioligand 177Lu-PSMA I&T. Promising efficacy outcomes, such as PSA decline and favorable circulating tumor cell changes, are observed, and further evaluation will be conducted in the phase II portion of the study.
Qing Zhou, MD – Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute Preliminary data from a phase I/II study of KL590586, a next-generation selective RET inhibitor, show promising results in patients with RET-altered solid tumors. The drug demonstrated good tolerability and substantial clinical activity, including in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with resistance to first-generation inhibitors and those with brain metastases. These findings support the advancement of KL590586 to pivotal studies for further evaluation.
Ari Rosenberg, MD – University of Chicago The DEPEND trial investigated the use of neoadjuvant nivolumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin followed by response-stratified chemoradiation in locoregionally advanced HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The study aimed to determine the feasibility of this treatment approach and assess its impact on long-term toxicities. The results showed that neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy with nivolumab led to deep responses, and response-adapted chemoradiation was associated with favorable survival and locoregional control. Additionally, the expression of PD-L1 was found to be predictive of a deep response to neoadjuvant therapy.
by: Niels Van de Donk, MD, Amsterdam UMC Teclistamab, a B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) x CD3 bispecific antibody, continues to show promising results in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) based on long-term follow-up from the MajesTEC-1 study. After approximately 2 years of follow-up, patients treated with teclistamab achieved deep and durable responses, with a median progression-free survival of 12.5 months and a median duration of response of 24 months. These findings support teclistamab as a safe and effective off-the-shelf BCMA bispecific therapy for RRMM patients.
Glenn Hanna, MD – Dana-Farber The combination of BCA101 and pembrolizumab as first-line therapy in patients with recurrent, metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) shows promising anti-tumor activity, especially in HPV-negative patients, with manageable side effects. These dose expansion results highlight the potential of this combination treatment and support the need for further investigation. The study, funded by Bicara Therapeutics and conducted in collaboration with Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, demonstrates the clinical potential of BCA101 and pembrolizumab in this patient population (Clinical trial information: NCT04429542).
Omid Hamid, MD – The Angeles Clinic This phase 1/2 study evaluated the combination therapy of retifanlimab, INCAGN02385 (Anti–LAG-3), and INCAGN02390 (Anti–TIM-3) in patients with advanced solid tumors. The study aimed to determine the optimal doses, safety, and efficacy of these monoclonal antibody combinations. Initial results showed that the doublet and triplet regimens were well tolerated, with no significant new side effects observed. Further evaluation of the optimal doses is ongoing, with a focus on first-line treatment for melanoma. Clinical trial information can be found under NCT04370704.
Laure-Anne Teuwen, MD, PhD from Antwerp University Hospital, and Joanna Young, DO, FACP from Blue Ridge Cancer Care examined the endpoints evaluated in phase 3 randomized clinical trials (RCTs). The objective of phase 3 RCTs is to demonstrate clinically meaningful benefits for patients. The researchers conducted a systematic analysis of ASCO22 abstracts from phase 3 RCTs, focusing on primary, secondary, interim, updated, and subgroup analyses. They excluded posthoc, exploratory, biomarker, and retrospective analyses of RCTs. The analysis identified a total of 166 RCTs, with 93 trials involving 50,781 enrolled patients and 73 trials expected to enroll 52,098 patients. The majority…
Patrizia Giannatempo, MD, from the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, has conducted extensive research on the impact of histology on the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab (pembro) monotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC) in the phase 3 KEYNOTE-045 and KEYNOTE-361 trials. Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer, and advanced cases are challenging to treat. The KEYNOTE-045 trial was a landmark study evaluating the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab compared to chemotherapy as a second-line treatment for advanced UC. The results of this trial demonstrated that pembrolizumab significantly improved overall survival and had a favorable safety…
Prof. Arun Azad, MBBS, PhD from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, has recently conducted a Phase 3 clinical trial called TALAPRO-2. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a combination therapy consisting of talazoparib (TALA) and enzalutamide (ENZA) as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene alterations. Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is an advanced form of prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and no longer responds to hormonal therapies. Homologous recombination repair gene alterations are genetic mutations that impair the ability of cancer…
Monique Hartley-Brown, MD, MMSc, from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, conducted a significant clinical study called “SUCCESSOR-2” that focused on the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). This Phase 3 study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of a combination therapy called MeziKd (mezigdomide, carfilzomib, and dexamethasone) versus the standard therapy of carfilzomib and dexamethasone (Kd). Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. While there have been significant advancements in treatment, RRMM remains a challenging condition to manage. Therefore, exploring new therapeutic options is crucial to improving patient outcomes. The SUCCESSOR-2 study utilized…
Karan Dixit, MD, from Northwestern Medicine, delivered a compelling presentation during the Plenary Session at the recent conference on glioma research. His talk centered around the highly anticipated LBA1 INDIGO phase 3 trial, which holds significant promise for the treatment of glioma, a type of brain tumor. Glioma is a challenging and aggressive form of brain cancer that poses substantial difficulties in treatment and management. Existing treatment options often fall short in providing long-term benefits, highlighting the critical need for novel therapeutic strategies. The INDIGO phase 3 trial aims to address this issue by investigating the efficacy and safety of…
Rona Yaeger, MD, an eminent oncologist from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, is currently involved in a significant clinical trial called A022004, conducted by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of consolidation-targeted adjuvant therapy using encorafenib and cetuximab compared to usual care for patients diagnosed with stage II/III BRAF V600E colon cancer. Stage II/III colon cancer refers to cancer that has spread beyond the inner lining of the colon into the surrounding tissues or nearby lymph nodes. BRAF V600E is a specific mutation found in the BRAF gene, which is associated with…
Ticiana Leal, MD, from the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, has conducted a randomized, phase 3 study called LUNAR, investigating the efficacy of Tumor Treating Field (TTFields) therapy combined with standard of care (SOC) in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) who have experienced platinum failure. The study aimed to evaluate whether the addition of TTFields therapy to SOC could improve overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to SOC alone in this patient population. TTFields therapy is a novel treatment modality that involves the use of electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division, thereby inhibiting…
Petros Grivas, MD, PhD, an expert in urothelial carcinoma (UC) research at the University of Washington, has made significant contributions to the understanding of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) alterations in the context of PROOF 302, a phase III clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of infigratinib (BGJ398) as adjuvant therapy for invasive UC patients. Invasive UC is a type of bladder cancer that has spread beyond the inner layer of the bladder. The treatment landscape for UC has evolved rapidly in recent years, with the discovery of FGFR3 alterations offering new therapeutic opportunities. FGFR3 is a receptor protein that…
Sara Tolaney, MD, a renowned researcher from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has recently conducted a groundbreaking study that has been recognized by our editorial team for its significant contribution to the field of breast cancer treatment. The study focuses on the final overall survival (OS) analysis from the phase 3 TROPiCS-02 trial, which evaluated the efficacy of sacituzumab govitecan (SG) in patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2–) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Metastatic breast cancer, characterized by the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body, remains a challenging condition to treat effectively. In recent years, targeted therapies have shown…
Jason Luke, MD, FACP, a renowned medical professional affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), recently conducted a comprehensive analysis of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-716 study, focusing on the comparison between pembrolizumab and placebo as adjuvant therapy in stage IIB or IIC melanoma patients. The study’s final analysis examined distant metastasis-free survival, a crucial endpoint in evaluating the efficacy of adjuvant therapies. Melanoma, a type of skin cancer, can progress to advanced stages, leading to distant metastasis and reduced survival rates. Adjuvant therapies aim to prevent or delay cancer recurrence after surgical removal of the primary tumor, potentially…
Swetha Kambhampati, MD from the City of Hope talks about the ASCO 2023 abstract about Mantle Cell Lymphoma Real-World Outcomes of Brexu-cel A CIBMTR Subgroup Analysis by Prior Treatment.
The phase 3 FRESCO-2 study evaluated the efficacy and safety of fruquintinib, a novel targeted therapy, in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. As part of the study, an analysis was conducted to assess the adverse events of special interest associated with fruquintinib treatment. Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, FASCO, from Vanderbilt Health, played a pivotal role in this analysis. The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the safety profile of fruquintinib and its potential as a treatment option for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. The FRESCO-2 study enrolled a large cohort of patients with advanced colorectal cancer who had…
Ferdinandos Skoulidis, MD, PhD, from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, presented the results of biomarker subgroup analyses from the phase 3 CodeBreaK 200 trial. The study evaluated the efficacy of sotorasib compared to docetaxel in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring the KRAS G12C mutation, a common genetic alteration in lung cancer. The CodeBreaK 200 trial enrolled patients with previously treated KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC, which represents a subset of patients with limited treatment options. The study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of sotorasib, a targeted therapy designed to inhibit the abnormal signaling caused by the…
J. Randolph Hecht, MD from UCLA Health is conducting a phase 3 clinical trial called STELLAR-303 to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel multi-kinase inhibitor (MKI) called XL092 in combination with atezolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), compared to regorafenib in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The trial aims to address the limited treatment options available for patients who have progressed after front-line chemotherapy. The prognosis for patients with mCRC is generally poor, with a 5-year survival rate of only 14%. While regorafenib and trifluridine-tipiracil are approved for third-line or later treatment, the survival benefit…
Corina Dutcus, MD from Eisai Inc provided a summary of the findings from a clinical trial evaluating the combination of KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) and LENVIMA (lenvatinib) as a first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The primary analysis of the study demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival and a meaningful improvement in overall survival, response rate, and complete response rate compared to the standard treatment, Sunitinib. These positive results led to the approval of the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA combination as an established standard of care option for first-line RCC. With an additional two years of follow-up, the final pre-specified…
This is a deep dive into the groundbreaking NAPOLI-3 Trial, a study that has generated significant interest and discussion in the medical community. Particularly among oncologists specializing in pancreatic cancer. In this article, we will delve into the complexities and outcomes of this notable study, shedding light on its potential implications for the future of pancreatic cancer treatment. The NAPOLI-3 Trial’s focus is on advanced pancreatic cancer, a disease notorious for its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. The study compared the efficacy and safety of three different treatment regimens (each with their own distinct benefits and drawbacks): NALIRIFOX FOLFIRINOX…
Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD from the University of Pittsburgh discussed the higher risk of recurrence in certain breast cancer patients and the need for additional therapies beyond hormonal therapy and chemotherapy. He highlighted that hormone receptor-positive (HR-positive), HER2-negative breast cancer represents about 60-70% of all breast cancer cases, and approximately 20% of all breast cancer patients would be considered for additional therapies. The NATALEE trial evaluated the addition of Ribociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, to hormonal therapy for adjuvant treatment in patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer. The study included patients with stage 2 and stage 3 breast cancer who…
Omid Hamid, MD from The Angeles Clinic & Research Institute reports on the best Cutaneous Treatments from ASCO 2023 and the future of this disease state.
Dr. Monica Niger, from Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, provided a summary of the NALIRIFOX vs FOLFIRINOX vs gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel study. Pancreatic cancer is known for its aggressive nature and limited effective treatment options. The standard first-line chemo therapies have been FOLFIRINOX and nab-paclitaxel. The NAPOLI-3 trial, the first positive Phase 3 trial since 2013, demonstrated that NALIRIFOX, a triple regimen, outperformed gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel in improving overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for pancreatic cancer patients. However, since NALIRIFOX is similar to FOLFIRINOX in terms of regimen and potential effects, the researchers wanted to understand the comparative…
Dr. Katherine Peters from Duke University Medical Center discussed the current treatments and their limitations for low-grade glioma patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations. These treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, but they can cause neurologic injury, bone marrow suppression, toxicities, fertility issues, and cognitive dysfunction, leading to a decline in quality of life. IDH1 and IDH2 mutations were discovered in 2009 and were found to confer a prognostic advantage and drive the development of gliomas. The latest World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in 2021 incorporated these mutations into the integrated diagnosis for patients, considering their impact on outcomes…
High-grade gliomas represent a significant burden in neuro-oncology, affecting thousands of individuals worldwide each year. Gliomas, a form of brain cancer, have been the subject of intense research, with scientists and clinicians striving to improve survival rates and patient outcomes. Now, there is a game-changer in the field: Ruxolitinib. With the advent of innovative therapeutic strategies such as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, like Ruxolitinib, there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. As David M. Peereboom, MD, explained in his recent interview at ASCO 2023, “the JAK/STAT pathway, when it’s dysregulated, stimulates the growth of lots of different types…
“Correction: The mPFS is not 34 months but 34%.” Carolina Schinke, MD from the UASM Health provided insights into the MonumenTAL-1 study, focusing on the bispecific antibody talquetamab as a potential treatment option for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Talquetamab has two domains—a GPRC5D-targeting domain for myeloma cells and a CD3 receptor for T-cells, connecting the two and enabling T-cell recognition and attack against myeloma cells. The inclusion criteria for the study required patients with pre-treated relapsed multiple myeloma who had at least three prior lines of treatment, including exposure to an IMIT protosome inhibitor and CD38 antibody. The study consisted of…
Introduction to Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. It’s a condition that comes in many forms and stages, each with its own set of characteristics, treatment options, and prognoses. One such stage that requires our attention and understanding is locally advanced breast cancer. The term LABC or locally advanced breast cancer is a term used to describe cancer that is larger in size, generally greater than 5 cm, and may have spread to nearby tissues such as the skin or chest wall, or to lymph nodes within…
Dr. Timothy Cloughesy, a prominent physician from UCLA Health, conducted the INDIGO clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of Vorasidenib, an IDH inhibitor, in patients with IDH mutant low-grade glioma. The primary endpoint of the trial was progression-free survival (PFS). The results of the trial demonstrated a significant difference in PFS between the placebo and treatment groups. In the placebo group, tumors started to grow significantly within 11 months, while the treatment group experienced a median PFS of 27 months. This stark contrast indicated the effectiveness of Vorasidenib, supported by the P-values and hazard ratios. The trial also underwent…