News

In an attempt to better understand the critical unmet needs of young survivors of and patients with colorectal cancer, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance launched an annual survey. These latest findings indicate the unique challenges of young-onset CRC and the need to continue improving this treatment landscape.

“We found that the genomic alterations with smoldering multiple myeloma are essentially the same as full-fledged myeloma. This suggests that by the time smoldering multiple myeloma is diagnosed, most of the molecular abnormalities found in myeloma have already occurred.”

“Due to a lack of efficacy observed with lenvatinib monotherapy in anaplastic thyroid cancer, further investigation of lenvatinib in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor may be warranted rather than pursuing further lenvatinib as a single agent.”

In the treatment landscape for advanced cervical cancer, no approved options exist for patients after first-line treatment. Based on phase 2 data, camrelizumab plus apatinib is showing promise.

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Robert M. Jotte, MD, PhD, discussed the results of the exploratory analysis of patients with NSCLC from the IMpower150 who had bulky disease.

"I am encouraged by these initial results but further research is necessary to better understand the role of acalabrutinib in treating COVID-19."

“In this case the detection of an expressed CCDC6-RET gene fusion in a tumor metastasis by RNA-based NGS suggested that RET inhibition might be an effective treatment option."

Compelling objective responses and safety results were demonstrated with the combination of cirmtuzumab and ibrutinib in cohorts of patients with mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, who were treated in the phase 1b/2 clinical trial.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy lead to poor overall survival outcomes it patients who were 75 years or older with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma compared with patients aged 70 to 74 years, but progression-free survival was comparable between the 2 groups.

The FDA has granted margetuximab an orphan drug designation for the treatment of patients with gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Targeted Oncology reviews trending news online for the week of June 5, 2020, including recent news from the FDA, updates in oncology, and new information regarding COVID-19.

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Aberdeen Mehta, MD, MPH, discussed his experiences practicing palliative care in patients with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic and how new care plans may continue even after the curve flattens.

Following the 2020 ASCO Virtual Scientific Program, Targeted Oncology spoke with oncologists from various fields to hear their insights on what data they found most impactful in this year’s meeting.

Amivantamab (JNJ-61186372) induced durable responses and demonstrated a manageable safety profile in patients with EGFR exon 20-mutant non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to results from the phase I CHRYSALIS study (NCT02609776) presented during the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology Virtual Scientific Program.

"Selpercatinib had marked intracranial anti-tumor activity in RET fusion–positive patients with [NSCLC and] CNS metastases. Tumor responses were durable, independently confirmed, and observed in patients with prior systemic chemotherapy."

In a subgroup analysis of cohort 1 of the phase 2 ZENITH20 study, patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer and EGFR exon 20 insertions demonstrated clinical activity when receiving poziotinib, including those with central nervous system metastatic disease, which was not impacted by prior lines of therapy.

"..These findings may be susceptible to selection bias since patients with more aggressive disease may be more likely to start dabrafenib and trametinib in the first line."

"We believe ropeginterferon alfa-2b could become an important new therapeutic tool and look forward to engaging with the regulators in our efforts to introduce this option to the underserved PV community in the United States."

“Nivolumab monotherapy represents an alternative frontline approach, particularly for the ipilimumab or VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor averse and possible for those with IMDC favorable risk."

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Sarah C. Rutherford, MD, discussed the phase 1 findings for the combination of venetoclax plus standard chemoimmunotherapy as treatment of patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas.

Anlotinib appeared safe with a manageable toxicity profile as treatment of patients with recurrent advanced cervical cancer in a phase 2 study.

“With demonstration of efficacy in biomarker-selected BRCA-like phenotype triple-negative breast cancer, the results of this trial are a very positive step toward expanding the role of PARP inhibitors beyond germline BRCA in breast cancer."

MGD013 showed encouraging activity as a single agent as well as in combination with margetuximab as treatment of multiple tumor types in the MDG013 dose-escalation phase 1 study.

"Our data suggests similar activity of infigratinib in patients receiving it in the first-line setting versus subsequent lines for advanced urothelial carcinoma."

A daily dose of osimertinib at 160 mg was well-tolerated with clinical activity observed in patients with EGFR exon 20-mutant non–small cell lung cancer, according to results from the phase 2 ECOG-ACRIN 5162 trial.

Treatment with high-dose osimertinib showed positive survival and central nervous system progressive disease control in a real-world cohort of patients with EGFR-mutant non–small cell lung cancer, but these results were not statistically significant.

Although many of the patients in the study had heavy tumor burden, were in poor physical condition, or had highly aggressive characteristics, they were still able to achieve a satisfactory overall response rate and complete response rate with the tandem CD19/CD20 CAR-engineered T-cell therapy.

Here’s a look back on the FDA happenings from the month of May 2020.

"We are very pleased to announce our pivotal cohort 4 early data from the C-144-01 clinical study in advanced melanoma today."

"The overall response rate and progression-free survival were significantly improved with pyrotinib plus capecitabine."