News

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Thomas E. Stinchcombe, MD, professor, Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, discussed resistance testing to aid treatment of patients with lung cancer. He also discussed the shift from tissue to liquid biopsy.

Mobocertinib was granted a Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for the treatment of patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer harboring EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, William Dale, MD, discussed his experience with caring for geriatric oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also shared best practices for using telemedicine during this time.

"Our team has done an excellent job continuing to advance our clinical programs, operations and business objectives during the COVID-19 pandemic. March was one of the higher enrolling months in the SIERRA trial with multiple patients enrolled after the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in full force with active screening continuing."

“While we’re in very tough times, this crisis presents an opportunity to improve the quality and resiliency of cancer care. To maximize that potential, we’ll be drawing on the expertise of the full cancer community, action by policymakers, and data to proactively transition to post-crisis cancer care and achieve the best outcomes for patients in the months and years ahead.”

“Overall survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer has remained extremely challenging to achieve. We are thrilled by these results for Lynparza and we are working with regulatory authorities to bring this medicine to patients as soon as possible.”

"We are delighted to add the first FDA approval of this important companion diagnostic on Dako Omnis."

"We are seeing clinically meaningful monotherapy activity of DKN-01 in heavily pre-treated endometrial cancer and carcinosarcoma populations, including a complete response, a partial response, and durable tumor reductions in many patients. In combination with paclitaxel, DKN-01 is generating durable responses and disease control in paclitaxel-experienced patients."

"We know that, in general, patients with this particular subset of hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers should get chemotherapy, but all the studies showing the benefits of chemotherapy included patients with large cancers."

“These new data from REACH2 showing superiority of Jakavi over current standard-of-care therapies add to a growing body of evidence on how targeting the JAK pathway can be an effective strategy in this difficult-to-treat condition."

"The oncology community is rapidly adapting cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to minimize exposure and keep cancer patients as safe as possible. Now more than ever, we believe it is critical to pursue a six-week dosing schedule for Keytruda."

"The third independent safety review has once again confirmed the favorable safety profile of our lead product candidate eryaspase, and the trial has now surpassed 75% of the planned target enrollment."

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Jeffrey S. Weber, MD, PhD, discussed the role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for the treatment of patients with melanoma. He also highlighted the role of immunotherapy, as well as other types of therapy, in this treatment landscape.

"The approval of sacituzumab govitecan, the first ADC approved specifically for metastatic TNBC, an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis and few effective therapies, will give clinicians a novel tool for treating patients with this disease."

“We don’t have a good understanding of why some patients have a robust response to immunotherapy and others do not. That’s important, not only in terms of selecting patients but also in terms of the therapy approach. This is one reason why clinical trials are incredibly important.”

“The launch of Ontrucant to deliver our first oncology biosimilar in the US marks an important milestone for Samsung Bioepis, and more importantly, for the patients who are in need of this proven treatment."

The FDA granted approval to the combination of ibrutinib plus rituximab for the frontline treatment of adult patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic leukemia.

"The clinical benefit suggested for these anti-PD-1 refractory melanoma patients with limited treatment options includes stabilization of disease and even responses, which is creating hope that this combination might be of benefit to patients in the PD-1 refractory setting."

“There is an unprecedented unmet medical need for treatments that prevent or reduce severe COVID-19 related complications to improve outcomes for patients and alleviate the overwhelming pressure on the global healthcare system."

"We made the decision to prioritize this NDA submission and potentially accelerate the availability of an oral treatment option for men with advanced prostate cancer...”

"The approval of our HPV test for the cobas 6800 and 8800 Systems enables molecular laboratories to achieve the efficiency and scale they need to meet the demands of high-volume cervical screening programs..."

"In the era of COVID-19, the optimal management of patients with lung cancer remains unknown and the oncology community should have increased awareness to prevent the emergence of an increase in cancer-related and infectious mortality."

“These topline results from the CheckMate 743 trial demonstrate the potential of Opdivo plus Yervoy in previously untreated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, and is another example of the established efficacy and safety of the dual immunotherapy combination seen in multiple tumor types.”

“The results from the pivotal CheckMate-9ER trial clearly demonstrate the combination of cabozantinib plus nivolumab provides a clinically meaningful benefit in the key efficacy measures of progression-free survival and overall survival for previously untreated kidney cancer patients.”

Safety data from the phase III EMBRACA trial were recently published. Talazoparib appears to be safe with manageable toxicities in patients with germline BRCA-mutated HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Sonali M. Smith, MD, discussed the treatment landscape for patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In particular, she highlighted the data supporting the use of rituximab plus lenalidomide in patients with follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma.

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the American Oncology Network has launched telehealth services across all of its sites. The use of telehealth technology will allow for patients to continue to receive convenient access to care and still help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The FDA has approved pemigatinib for the treatment of adult patients with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma harboring an FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement.

The FDA granted two Fast Track designations to surufatinib for the treatment of both advanced and progressive pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and extra-pancreatic NETs in patients who are not amenable for surgery, according to a press release from the developer, Chi-Med. The agent was previously granted Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA for this indication.

A liquid biopsy test with the ability to screen for a panel of biomarkers rather than just one can reportedly detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common form of pancreatic cancer, in the early stages of disease.