The European Commission has approved Lynparza (olaparib), in combination with bevacizumab, as a first-line maintenance therapy for women with advanced ovarian cancer positive for homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and who responded to platinum-based chemotherapy. This indication also includes patients with advanced fallopian tube cancer or primary peritoneal cancer. Eligible HRD-positive tumors are those carrying mutations in…
About Cancer
Cancer, also called malignancy, is an abnormal growth of cells with the potential to invade or spread to surrounding tissues and structures found within the body. There are more than 100 types of cancer. A few examples include breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma. According to the American Cancer Society, 4 out of 10 people will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. Cancer prevalence has given rise to multiple medical specialties focused on symptom management and disease management. Current treatment options depending on the form of cancer include chemotherapy, radiation, blood or bone marrow transfusions, and/or surgery. Lifetime prognosis of cancer mortality is dependent on the type of cancer and is heavily conditional to early detection.
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Cancer News
New Nirogacestat Combos to Enter Myeloma Trials, SpringWorks Says
SpringWorks Therapeutics announced new collaborations with two companies, Pfizer and Janssen, to investigate its oral therapy candidate nirogacestat in combination with BCMA-targeting agents to treat people with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The collaboration with Pfizer aims to test nirogacestat plus PF‐06863135 in a Phase 1b/2 trial, while SpringWorks and Janssen will launch a Phase 1 trial investigating…
Opdivo-Yervoy-Chemo Combo Approved in EU for Advanced NSCLC
The European Commission has approved a combination of Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) plus two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that contain no mutations in the EGFR or ALK genes. The approval follows a positive recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, a…
Athenex Oncology Offers Free ‘Evidenced-based’ Lifestyle Guide for MBC Patients
A new Athenex Oncology guide offers evidence-based lifestyle suggestions to metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients to help improve their quality of life. The free booklet, called “Your Guide to Facing Metastatic Breast Cancer,” is touted as a first-of-its-kind resource. Its recommendations include building physical and emotional resilience, maintaining a healthful diet, getting enough sleep, lowering…
Potential Cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma Named Orphan Drug by FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to CellProtect, an investigational therapy for multiple myeloma that uses a person’s immune cells to help combat cancer. This designation is given to therapies with the potential to improve medical care for rare disorders, defined as those that affect fewer than 200,000 people…
Tecentriq-Avastin Combo Approved in Europe for Advanced or Inoperable Liver Cancer
The European Commission has approved the combination of Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab) as a first-line treatment for adults with advanced or inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. This decision follows the recommendation of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), a branch of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The Tecentriq-Avastin…
Hold Lifted on Phase 1 Trial Testing P-PSMA-101 CAR T-cell Therapy in mCRPC
A Phase 1 trial evaluating Poseida Therapeutics’ autologous CAR T-cell therapy P-PSMA-101 for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is resuming immediately, after its clinical hold was lifted. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had placed a partial hold on the trial in August, after a patient died of liver failure a few weeks after…
First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 Study of Cancer Vaccine Combination in Ovarian Cancer
The first patient has been dosed in a Phase 2 extension study investigating the cancer vaccine DSP-7888 (ombipepimut-S) in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in people with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The announcement follows promising data from the first portion of this Phase 1b/2 clinical trial (NCT03311334). The Phase 2 part is actively recruiting…
Phase 3 Trial to Compare Enhertu to Kadcyla in HER2-Positive, High Risk Patients
Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca are initiating a global Phase 3 trial to compare Enhertu (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) to Kadcyla (ado-trastuzumab emtansine, also called T-DM1) as adjuvant therapy in patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer, who remain at high risk of recurrence after neo-adjuvant therapy. These two types of therapy— adjuvant and neo-adjuvant — address different aspects of cancer…
CAR T-Cell Therapy, MB-105, Shows Promise in Metastatic CRPC Patient in Phase 1 Trial
A heavily pretreated patient with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) showed significant benefits, including a 94% decrease in the levels of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) biomarker, one month after receiving MB-105 in a Phase 1 clinical trial. The promising initial data from Mustang Bio‘s investigational CAR T-cell therapy were shared at the 27th Annual Prostate Cancer…
Zejula Approved in Europe as Maintenance Therapy for Advanced Ovarian Cancers
The European Commission has approved Zejula (niraparib) as a first-line maintenance therapy for people with advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who respond to platinum-based chemotherapy. This decision follows a positive recommendation issued by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), a branch of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Zejula is now…
No More Patients Needed in GENESIS Trial of Motixafortide, Committee Says
An independent data monitoring committee has recommended that the GENESIS Phase 3 trial evaluating motixafortide (formerly BL-8040), as a means to improve stem cell transplants in multiple myeloma, ceases enrollment earlier, based on positive interim data. Trial enrollment is now complete at 122 participants, while the original target was 177, according to a press release by…