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Expert Reflects on Exciting Year of AML Approvals and Looks Ahead to Active Areas of Research
February 28th 2018The treatment paradigm of acute myeloid leukemia has not changed much in the last several decades, but with 4 new drugs approved by the FDA within the span of a few months, 2017 easily became the most promising year yet for the treatment of AML.
Denosumab Nears European Approval for Multiple Myeloma
February 27th 2018Denosumab was recently recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for the prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with multiple myeloma, according to Amgen, the developer of the RANK ligand inhibitor.
Obesity Associated With Better Outcomes in Metastatic Melanoma
February 27th 2018Obese men treated with targeted or immune therapies for metastatic melanoma had a 47% reduced risk of death compared with men who had a normal BMI, according to results from a retrospective multicohort analysis published in <em>The Lancet Oncology.</em><br />
Jean Kozempel to Receive 2017 Oncology Section President's Award
February 27th 2018The American Physical Therapy Association has selected Jean Kozempel, PT, DPT, MS, as the recipient of the 2017 Oncology Section President’s Award. This award honors physical therapists who are proving themselves to be pioneers in the oncology field.
Frontline Abemaciclib Granted FDA Approval for HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer
February 27th 2018Based on data from the phase III MONARCH 3 trial, abemaciclib has been granted FDA approval for use in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for the frontline treatment of postmenopausal women with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer, according to Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of the CDK4/6 inhibitor.
Published Data Supports Lenvatinib as Potential New HCC Treatment Option as FDA Weighs Approval
February 27th 2018According to findings from the phase III REFLECT trial now published online in the <em>Lancet,</em><sup> </sup>lenvatinib improved progression-free survival and was noninferior for overall survival compared with sorafenib for the frontline treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
Louis Weiner to Join John Theurer Cancer Center Advisory Board
February 26th 2018Hackensack Meridian <em>Health</em> John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center has appointed Louis M. Weiner, MD, to its advisory board. Weiner is the director of the Georgetown Lombardi Cancer Center and director of the MedStar Georgetown Cancer Institute.
Expert Discusses Role of Mutation Status in Treatment Decisions for Melanoma
February 26th 2018Ryan J. Sullivan, MD, discusses the available therapies for patients with <em>BRAF-</em>mutant and non-<em>BRAF</em>-mutant melanoma, as well as the current role of mutation status in treatment decision making.<br />
Significant Benefit of Adjuvant Chemo in ER-Negative, Locally Recurrent Breast Cancer Sustained
February 24th 2018In a final analysis of the phase III CALOR trial, the survival benefit demonstrated with adjuvant chemotherapy was sustained in patients with ER-negative breast cancer with isolated locoregional recurrence.
Jonkers and Piwnica-Worms Awarded Stand Up To Cancer 2018 Laura Ziskin Prize
February 23rd 2018Stand Up To Cancer has awarded 2 individuals with the 2018 Laura Ziskin Prize in Translational Research, Jos Jonkers, of the Netherlands Cancer Institute, and Helen Piwnica-Worms, of the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The 2 will share the $250,000 grant for a year-long project together.
Umbralisib Shows Encouraging Early Activity in CLL and Lymphoma
February 23rd 2018According to phase I findings published in <em>The Lancet Oncology,</em> an objective response rate of 37% was induced in patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with the PI3K-delta inhibitor umbralisib.
Avelumab Does Not Improve OS Over Docetaxel in NSCLC, Phase III Trial Shows
February 23rd 2018The primary endpoint of improving overall survival was not met in the phase III JAVELIN Lung 200 Trial of avelumab in patients with non–small cell lung cancer, according to Merck KGaA and Pfizer, the co-developers of avelumab.
Liso-Cel Demonstrates "Remarkable" Activity, Lower Toxicity in Patients With DLBCL
February 22nd 2018Treatment with the CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel, formally known as JCAR017) demonstrated a complete response rate of 63% and an objective response rate of 81% in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Northwell Health Cancer Institute Appoints New Leader in Cancer Services
February 22nd 2018Northwell Health Cancer Institute has appointed Richard R. Barakat, MD, to lead all cancer services and research. Barakat will serve as physician-in-chief and director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, senior vice president of the health system’s Cancer Service Line, and professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
Cabozantinib Active in Relapsed/Refractory Glioblastoma
February 21st 2018In results of a phase II study, cabozantinib (Cabometyx) showed signs of activity in patients with progressive glioblastoma who were naïve to antiangiogenic therapy, despite the predefined statistical target for success not being met.
Aldape Takes on Role as Chief of the Laboratory of Pathology at NCI
February 21st 2018Kenneth Aldape, MD, has joined the National Cancer Institute’s Center for Cancer Research as chief of the Laboratory of Pathology, an integral component of the research and clinical community at the National Institutes of Health.<br />
Arap and Pasqualini Join Oncology Leadership at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
February 21st 2018The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey has announced 2 new additions to its team of oncology leaders. Wadih Arap, MD, PhD, will serve as the new director of the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey at University Hospital, and Renata Pasqualini, PhD, will serve as the chief of the Division of Cancer Biology in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
Jean-Charles Soria to Receive TAT 2018 Honorary Award for Cancer Drug Development
February 20th 2018Jean-Charles Soria, MD, PhD, will be honored with the Targeted Anticancer Therapies 2018 Honorary Award for cancer drug development. Soria has played a large part in cancer drug development across molecular targeted agents, precision medicine, and immunotherapy for the last 15 years.
Updated Findings Show OS Improvement With Binimetinib/Encorafenib in Melanoma as FDA Decision Pends
February 19th 2018In findings from the phase III COLUMBUS trial, the combination of the BRAF inhibitor encorafenib and the MEK inhibitor binimetinib improved survival versus single-agent vemurafenib (Zelboraf) in patients with <em>BRAF</em>-mutant advanced, unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
Durvalumab Granted FDA Approval for Locally Advanced NSCLC
February 17th 2018Based on results from the phase III PACIFIC trial, durvalumab has been granted approval by the FDA for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer who have not progressed following chemoradiotherapy.
Crizotinib Activity Demonstrated in Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma
February 17th 2018Although the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 90101 CREATE study fell short of its primary endpoint, it demonstrated the activity of crizotinib (Xalkori) in patients with advanced or metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma in key secondary endpoints.