Colorectal Cancer

In the first report of the full cohort of 119 patients in the CheckMate-142 study, positive results were demonstrated with nivolumab alone or in combination with ipilimumab in patients with previously treated microsatellite instability-high or DNA mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer.

Scott Kopetz, MD, associate professor of GI Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Center, advises community oncologists on what testing should be done for patients with colorectal cancer.

According to topline findings from the phase III IMblaze370 study, treatment with the combination of the PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab and the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib failed to improve overall survival versus regorafenib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer  who were previously treated.

The beginning of 2018 has brought many exciting developments in the treatment landscape of metastatic colorectal cancer, explains Shubham Pant, MD.

While not all patients with gastrointestinal cancers will respond to immunotherapy, those who do are likely to have long-lasting responses, explained John L. Marshall, MD.

When findings of larotrectinib, a pan-TRK inhibitor co-developed by Bayer and Loxo Oncology, that generated significant excitement for the treatment of both adult and pediatric patients with TRK fusion cancers, were presented during the 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting, the small molecule was lauded as a future standard of care for patients with advanced solid tumors harboring a TRK fusion.

Irinotecan plus bevacizumab with a fluoropyrimidine proved to be a noninferior treatment option compared to the standard regimens of either mFOLFOX6, CapeOX, or FOLFIRI for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), according to findings from the phase III TRICOLORE trial.<br /> &nbsp;

According to the results from a phase I study, BLU-667, a next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor, was well-tolerated and demonstrated clinical benefit in patients with advanced,&nbsp;<em>RET</em>-altered solid tumors who had progressed on previous therapies. These findings were presented April 14 to 18 at the ASCR Annual Meeting 2018 in Chicago, Illinois.

Carlos Becerra, MD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Becerra, a medical oncologist at Texas Oncology, Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology </em>live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

Three months of capecitabine (Xeloda) and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) was noninferior for recurrence of death compared with a 6-month course, according to the published findings from IDEA, a pooled analysis of 6 phase III trials.

The US Department of Defense has selected Sanjeevani Arora, PhD, as the recipient of the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program Career Development award and grant for fiscal year 2017.&nbsp;The grant will be used to fund clinical efforts benefiting both military and civilian patients.

Several new indications were approved by the FDA in March, including blinatumomab (Blincyto)&nbsp;for MRD+ ALL, brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) for Hodgkin lymphoma, and a 4-week nivolumab (Opdivo) dosing schedule across several indications. Here&rsquo;s a look back on the FDA happenings for the month of March 2018.

There has been a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) granted priority review by the FDA for the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) for treatment of adult patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) cases of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) following progression on a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.

The new drug application for larotrectinib (LOXO-101) for treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors that harbor an NTRK gene fusion&nbsp;has been completed.&nbsp;

The combinations of atezolizumab and cobimetinib induced a 31% disease control rate in patients with heavily-pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;

Lung Cancer

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.

Thierry Andre, MD, a professor of medical oncology at the University Pierre et Marie Curie, and Head of the Medical Oncology Department in St. Antoine Hospital, Assistance Publique H&ocirc;pitaux de Paris, discusses factors that a community oncologist should consider when choosing the right treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.