Lisa Astor is the Associate Editorial Director for Targeted Oncology. Astor received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from New York University.
FDA to Review sBLA for Axi-Cel in R/R Follicular Lymphoma and Marginal Zone Lymphoma
September 5th 2020The FDA has accepted a supplemental Biologics License Application for axicabtagene ciloleucel for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma or marginal zone lymphoma after 2 or more prior lines of systemic therapy.
Targeted Approach Considered for the Treatment of Accelerated/Blast Phase MPNs
August 31st 2020Standard treatment for accelerated or blast phase myeloproliferative neoplasms consists of hypomethylating agents or intensive induction chemotherapy and transplant. However, newer studies have suggested that accelerated or blast phase MPNs, such as acute myeloid leukemia, can be treated with molecularly driven targeted therapies.
Cerebrospinal Fluid CTCs May Help Predict Outcomes in Leptomeningeal Disease
August 14th 2020Quantification of circulating tumor cells in cerebrospinal fluid can be used to predict survival outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed leptomeningeal disease, according to the results of a retrospective analysis presented during the Society of Neuro-Oncology’s 2020 Virtual Conference on Brain Metastases .
FDA Accepts NDA for Umbralisib in Lymphomas, Grants Priority Review for MZL
August 13th 2020The FDA has accepted a New Drug Application for umbralisib as treatment of patients with previously treated marginal zone lymphoma who have received at least 1 prior regimen with anti-CD20 therapy and for patients with follicular lymphoma who have received at least 2 prior systemic therapies.
Frontline Sintilimab Triplet Improves PFS for Advanced Nonsquamous NSCLC
August 11th 2020Sintilimab in combination with platinum and pemetrexed chemotherapy as frontline treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer improved survival and responses with durable responses observed, according to findings from the ORIENT-11 trial.
Salles Speaks to the Potential Benefit of the Tafasitamab Combo in the R/R DLBCL Setting
August 10th 2020In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Salles, explained the unmet needs in DLBCL that may be filled by this new option in the treatment armamentarium and the findings that led to the approval of the combination.
FDA Approves Guardant360 CDx as Companion Diagnostic for Osimertinib
August 10th 2020The FDA has approved the Guardant360 CDx liquid biopsy for tumor mutation profiling in patients with any solid malignant neoplasm. This represents the first liquid biopsy companion that is FDA-approved for comprehensive tumor mutation profiling across all solid tumors.
FDA Approves Tafasitamab/Lenalidomide for R/R DLBCL
August 1st 2020The FDA has approved tafasitamab-cxix in combination with lenalidomide for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specific, including DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma, and patients who are not eligible for autologous stem cell transplant.
Pivotal Phase 3 Trial Initiated to Study Promising Cabozantinib/Atezolizumab Combo in Advanced RCC
July 22nd 2020A pivotal phase 3 trial has been initiated to explore the combination of cabozantinib and atezolizumab for the treatment of patients with inoperable, locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma who progressed during or after treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor immediately following initial therapy.
Sorafenib Maintenance May Prevent Recurrence After Transplant in FLT3-ITD+ AML
July 21st 2020The risk of relapse or death was reduced by 61% with sorafenib maintenance compared with placebo following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with FLT3-ITD–positive acute myeloid leukemia.
FDA Holds Off on Approval of Pembrolizumab/Lenvatinib for Frontline Unresectable HCC
July 8th 2020The FDA has issued a complete response letter in regard to the applications for potential accelerated approval of pembrolizumab in combination with lenvatinib as treatment of patients with previously untreated, unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
FDA Approves Burosumab for Treatment of Tumor-Induced Osteomalacia
June 23rd 2020"As the first FDA-approved therapy to treat this debilitating disease, today’s action is an important step in finding treatment options for patients living with tumor-induced osteomalacia whose tumor cannot be found or removed."
FDA Approves Selinexor for R/R Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
June 22nd 2020Selinexor is now the only single-agent, oral therapy approved for the treatment of patients with R/R DLBCL, and the only nuclear export inhibitor approved by the FDA for use in 2 hematologic malignancies, multiple myeloma and DLBCL.
Disparities Seen in Hematologic Cancer Incidence and Survival for Hispanic Patients in Texas
June 22nd 2020“[This] report on the diagnosis of blood cancers in the US/Mexico border inure the different frequency of leukemia subtypes and their outcomes, highlighting important health disparities due to different access to diagnosis and care due to a series of factors."