News

Based on data from 2 clinical trials, nilotinib (Tasigna) has been approved by the FDA for the first- and second-line treatment of pediatric patients aged 1 year and older with Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase. 

Internationally renowned expert, Johanna C. Bendell, MD, has been promoted to chief development officer at Sarah Cannon. Her title responsibilities include developing and expanding physician, site, and Pharma relationships across the Sarah Cannon Network, thereby expanding the organization’s efforts to bring more qualitative treatment options to its patients.

The combinations of atezolizumab and cobimetinib induced a 31% disease control rate in patients with heavily-pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer. Results from a 2-stage phase Ib study presented at the 2018 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium demonstrated an overall response rate of 8% (n = 7). All responses were partial responses. 

Kornelia Polyak, MD, PhD, discusses several exciting advancements in the field of breast cancer, including immunotherapy, PARP inhibitors, and liquid biopsies.

Patients with oligodendroglioma developed pseudoprogression earlier after treatment with proton therapy compared with after photon therapy, according to the results of a retrospective study comparing the rates of pseudoprogression that occurred in patients with anaplastic gliomas following treatment with different radiation therapy modalities.

The combination of TTFields and temozolomide has been added by the NCCN to its guidelines for Category 1 treatment for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, following maximal safe resection and completion of radiation therapy.

Based on findings from the phase III ECHELON-1 trial, brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with chemotherapy as a frontline treatment for adult patients with stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a statement from Seattle Genetics, the manufacturer of the CD30-targeted antibody-drug conjugate.

In a national coverage determination issued March 16, CMS announced that it will cover diagnostic laboratory tests using next-generation sequencing for patients with advanced cancer.

According to topline findings from the phase III IMpower131 trial, the addition of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) to frontline carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel delayed progression or death compared with chemotherapy alone for patients with advanced squamous non–small cell lung cancer. These results were released by Genentech, the manufacturer of the anti–PD-L1 agent.

Based on data from the phase III PROSPER trial, a supplemental new drug application for enzalutamide for the treatment of men with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer has been granted a priority review by the FDA, according to Pfizer and Astellas, the companies developing the antiandrogen agent.

Tumor reduction for patients with ER-positive breast cancer can be achieved with endocrine therapy and can possibly avoid the need for chemotherapy or even surgery in some patients. Hyman B. Muss, MD, who presented at the 2018 Miami Breast Cancer Conference, said that deciding how long to continue this therapy can be tricky, however.

Uttara Nayar, PhD, shares the findings of recent studies in patients with ER+ breast cancer. Findings have shown that acquired HER2 mutations lead to endocrine resistance, the most frequent cause of breast cancer mortality in the country.

John Marshall, MD, recently discussed the treatment options and decisions he makes when treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Marshall explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology </em>live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

External beam radiation therapy can be effective when integrated in a multimodality treatment strategy for patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma, according to findings from a small, retrospective study.&nbsp;

Based on the phase II study BLC2001, erdafitinib has been granted a breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA for the treatment of&nbsp;metastatic urothelial carcinoma,&nbsp;according to Janssen, the manufacturer of the oral pan-FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Agne Paner, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions she makes when treating patients with multiple myeloma. Paner, an assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, explained her treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

C. Ola Landgren, MD, PhD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Landgren, chief of the Myeloma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, explained how he would treat these patients based on the review of a case scenario during a <em>Targeted Oncology </em>live case-based peer perspectives dinner discussion.

The use of immunotherapy agents for the treatment of gynecologic cancers is currently a hot topic in the field, with various clinical trials ongoing. The success of PARP inhibitors has also exploded over the past year, translating to improvements in progression-free survival and quality of life for some patients, says Erin K. Crane, MPH, MD.

The FDA has placed a clinical hold on a phase I/II study of&nbsp;axalimogene filolisbac and durvalumab, according to an announcement by Advaxis, the manufacturer of axalimogene filolisbac, in a quarterly earnings report.The study is evaluating the combination&nbsp;in patients with advanced, recurrent or refractory HPV-associated cervical cancer and HPV-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Edward M. Wolin, MD, has been named the director of the Center for Carcinoid and Neuroendocrine Tumors at The Tisch Cancer Institute of Mount Sinai Health System. He will also serve as a professor of medicine (hematology and medical oncology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) has been granted a priority review by the FDA for&nbsp;the treatment of advanced cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy.

Denise. L. Pereira, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions she makes when treating patients with multiple myeloma. Pereira, assistant professor of clinical medicine, University of Miami, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, Florida, explained her treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology</em> live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

David O&#39;Malley, MD,&nbsp;discusses the excitement surrounding PARP inhibitors for patients with ovarian cancer.

David M. Ashley, MBBS, FRACP, PhD, has been named director of the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University. His position began March 1, 2018, and he succeeded Darell Bigner, MD, PhD.

Abemaciclib, the only CDK4/6 inhibitor approved as a single-agent, has amassed several clinical indications for patients with metastatic breast cancer. The findings from the phase III MONARCH2 and 3 trials, as well as the phase II MONARCH1 study led to these approvals. Each trial showed improvements in progression-free survival, especially in patients with visceral disease and endocrine therapy resistance.

Presented at the 2018 Miami Breast Cancer Conference, results from the phase III OlympiAD trial demonstrated improvements in progression-free survival with olaparib over treatment of physician&#39;s choice. These results were consistent regardless of the baseline tumor burden for patients with HER2-negative breast cancer with a germline <em>BRCA</em>1/2 mutation.

The results of the phase III PALOMA-2 study were presented at the 2018 Miami Breast Cancer Conference. According to the deep analysis, the CDK 4/6 inhibitor palbociclib showed significant efficacy in combination with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole in the frontline setting of estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, postmenopausal metastatic breast cancer.

After reviewing data from a decade of clinical research, a joint panel from ASCO and the College of American Pathologists concluded that circulating tumor DNA testing should be used only to screen for participation in, or during, a clinical trial.

Lilly Oncology has hired Maura Dickler, MD, to serve as vice president of late phase development, beginning May 7, 2018. She will report to Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, senior vice president of global development and medical affairs of Lilly Oncology.

According to results from the phase III MONALEESA-7 trial presented at the 2018 Miami Breast Cancer Conference, the progression-free survival benefit for ribociclib in pre- or perimenopausal women with hormone receptor&ndash;positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer had been sustained across patient subgroups.