GI CANCERS

The European Union has approved PF-05280014 (Trazimera), a biosimilar for trastuzumab (Herceptin), to treat patients with HER2 overexpressing metastatic or early breast cancer and HER2 overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

The FDA issued several approvals in July, including in colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia. Here’s a look back on the FDA happenings for the month of July 2018.

Therapeutic Approach for Stage 4 Gastric Cancer

Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) has been granted a breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA for use in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin) as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Richard Kim, MD, recently shared his treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer. Kim explained his treatment decisions based on 2 gastrointestinal case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives program.

Advancing Outcomes in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

The PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has been granted a priority review designation by the FDA for use in previously treated patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma,&nbsp;according to Merck, the manufacturer of the agent.