After promising early results, a sub-study of the DREAMM-5 platform trial is moving forward to its next phase to test a combination of Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin) with nirogacestat in adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. In addition, two sub-studies will be added to the trial (NCT04126200), sponsored by Blenrep developer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), to evaluate…
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
FDA Expects Decision on Cilta-cel Approval by February 2022
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to decide by the end of February whether or not to approve ciltacabtagene autoleucel, known as cilta-cel, an investigational CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The FDA extended its expected decision date to allow sufficient time to review information about…
Keytruda Will No Longer Treat Advanced Small Cell Lung Cancers in US
After failing to significantly extend survival in a confirmatory Phase 3 trial, Keytruda (pembrolizumab) will no longer be available in the U.S. for people with previously treated metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC). According to Merck, known as MSD outside North America, the company decided to voluntary withdraw this indication after consulting with the U.S. Food…
Ilixadencel-Sutent Combo Shows ‘Meaningful’ Survival in Advanced Kidney Cancer Patients
A combination of ilixadencel plus first-line treatment with Sutent (sunitinib) prolonged overall survival to a clinically meaningful extent in newly diagnosed patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), a form of kidney cancer, a Phase 2 trial found. People given this combo treatment in the MERECA trial (NCT02432846) lived 10 months longer than those on Sutent…
Imfinzi No Longer Available in US for Advanced Bladder Cancer
After consulting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), AstraZeneca has announced that Imfinzi (durvalumab) — which last year failed a confirmatory Phase 3 trial — will no longer be available in the U.S. for people with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer. AstraZeneca has opted to voluntarily withdraw Imfinzi after the therapy’s failure,…
Trial Will Test AFM24-Tecentriq Combo for EGFR-positive Advanced Cancers
Affimed will team up with Roche to conduct a Phase 1/2a clinical trial investigating its innate cell engager AFM24 — a form of immunotherapy — in combination with Tecentriq (atezolizumab) for the treatment of EGFR-positive solid cancers that progressed despite prior therapies. Under a new collaboration agreement, Affimed will fund and conduct the trial, while…
Cancer-sniffing Dogs May Help Train Robot Noses to Detect Tumors Early
Understanding the molecular components of odors used by trained dogs to detect prostate cancer could help researchers to develop computers with similar diagnostic accuracy, a new study shows. The study, “Feasibility of integrating canine olfaction with chemical and microbial profiling of urine to detect lethal prostate cancer,” was published in PLOS One. An ongoing need in…
FDA Grants Fast Track Status to Celsion’s GEN-1 for Advanced Cancer
Celsion‘s immunotherapy candidate, GEN-1, has received fast track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for advanced ovarian cancer. This designation helps speed the approval of potential medicines that address unmet medical needs in serious or life-threatening conditions. It grants greater access to FDA input throughout the regulatory process and makes GEN-1 eligible…
Tebentafusp Named FDA Breakthrough Therapy for Advanced Eye Cancer
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy designation to Immunocore‘s tebentafusp (IMCgp100) for HLA-A2 positive, inoperable, or advanced uveal melanoma — a common and difficult-to-treat form of eye cancer — the company announced in a press release. The breakthrough therapy status was awarded after a Phase 3 trial showed that tebentafusp worked…
Prolaris Test Helps ID Higher-risk Patients Who May Safely Skip ADT
Prolaris — a genetic test that predicts the aggressiveness of prostate cancer — can accurately identify which men with intermediate- or high-risk disease will benefit from adding androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to standard radiation therapy, a study shows. This Myriad Genetics’ test was found to be superior to other methods at predicting cancer spread (metastasis) in…
She ROCKS Raises $100K to Support Early Work Into Stem Cell Therapy
She ROCKS, an organization working for earlier diagnosis and better treatments for ovarian cancer, raised $100,000 through recent virtual luncheon fundraisers to support ongoing research into a potential stem cell-based therapy. Since its inception in 2014, She ROCKS has contributed more than $1 million to support ovarian cancer research underway at the University of North…
Keytruda-Lenvima Combo Better Than Sutent in Treating Kidney Cancer
A combination of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Lenvima (lenvatinib) worked better than standard Sutent (sunitinib) at delaying disease progression and prolonging survival in adults with untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) — the most common type of kidney cancer in adults — according to data from a Phase 3 clinical trial. In addition, Lenvima also outperformed…