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Integrating Olaparib into Clinical Practice Represents Important Step for Oncologists, Patients
February 17th 2015To gain insight into the integration of olaparib (Lynparza) into clinical practice, Targeted Oncology interviewed Ursula A. Matulonis, MD, medical director of gynecologic oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Early Research Under Way to Improve Drug Delivery in Ovarian Cancer
February 10th 2015Targeted agents have become available in recent years to treat many major cancers, but for women with ovarian cancer, standard treatment following cytoreductive surgery remains systemic intravenous/intraperitoneal chemotherapy with a platinum agent and a taxane. Approximately 80% of women who receive first-line treatment with this platinum-based regimen experience relapsed disease. However, early research indicates that more and better options may be on the way.
Obinutuzumab iNHL Trial Ends Early, Genentech to File for FDA and EMA Approval
February 5th 2015Genentech, the manufacturer of obinutuzumab, plans to file for FDA and EMA approval after a phase III study of the anti-CD20 agent in indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) garnered positive results in an interim analysis.
Thinking Out of the Target May Offer Clues to the Origin of Cancer
February 4th 2015During the past year, many corporations, academic institutions, and government health organizations announced new funding or collaborative efforts totaling billions of dollars to identify genetic targets for novel cancer therapies.
PD-L1 Inhibitor MPDL3280A Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation in NSCLC
February 2nd 2015The anti–PD-L1 agent MPDL3280A has received a breakthrough therapy designation from the FDA as a potential treatment for patients with PD-L1–positive NSCLC who have progressed on platinum-based chemotherapy and a EGFR or ALK inhibitor.
Precision Medicine Initiative Requires $215 Million Initial Investment
January 31st 2015The “Precision Medicine Initiative†that was briefly mentioned by President Barack Obama during his State of the Union Address last week will require a $215 million initial investment, with the goal of discovering cures for diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Enzalutamide Improves PFS By Nearly 10 Months Over Bicalutamide in mCRPC
January 26th 2015Topline results from the phase II TERRAIN trial showed enzalutamide increased progression-free survival (PFS) by nearly 10 months compared with bicalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
New York State Awards Grant for First Stem-Cell Immunotherapy Trial in Ovarian Cancer
January 16th 2015The New York State Stem Cell Science Program recently awarded a 4-year $11.9 million grant to Roswell Park Cancer Institute to fund research and development of a stem-cell based treatment for ovarian cancer.
Novartis Buys Into Gene Editing With CRISPR/Cas9
January 12th 2015The start of 2015 brought news from Novartis that it had signed an agreement with Intellia Therapeutics and Caribou Biosciences to license its proprietary CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing platform to develop novel treatments for chronic genetic-based diseases.
Nivolumab Extends OS in Phase III Lung Cancer Trial
January 12th 2015Nivolumab (Opdivo) improved survival compared with docetaxel in patients with pretreated squamous cell non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the phase III CheckMate-017 trial, according to Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), which manufactures the drug.
Cell-Free DNA Detection in Histiocytic Disorders May Transform Diagnosis and Treatment
January 8th 2015Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) and Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) are characterized by a high frequency of BRAFV600E mutations, which are responsive to treatment with BRAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib.