Article Search

A phase 2 trial of CHOP with anti-CCR4 antibody mogamulizumab for older patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma Available to Purchase

The phase 2 trial of Moga-CHOP (CHOP + mogamulizumab) in older patients with aggressive adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) demonstrated a significant improvement in 1-year PFS (36.2% vs 16% historical control), with a 1-year OS of 66.0% and a CR rate of 64.6%. The overall response rate (ORR) was high at 91.7%, and the median overall survival (OS) reached 1.6 years. Notably, CCR4 mutations and Moga-associated cutaneous AEs correlated with better OS, and the regimen was generally tolerable with no unexpected toxicities. Bottom line: Moga-CHOP is now a strong first-line option for older, transplant-ineligible ATL patients, and it’s encouraging to see these survival gains in a population with historically poor outcomes.

Read More »

Stereotactic Radiosurgery in Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer and 1-10 Brain Metastases: A Multi-Institutional, Phase II, Prospective Clinical Trial

The Alliance phase II, multi-institutional trial evaluated SRS/SRT in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients with 1-10 brain metastases, showing a 1-year neurologic death rate of 11.0% vs 17.5% with historical whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) controls, and a median OS of 10.2 months. Notably, only 22% required salvage WBRT, and 78% avoided WBRT entirely, with high rates of local control and manageable toxicity. The incidence of new brain mets was high (1-year: 59%), but most were managed with salvage SRS/SRT rather than WBRT. In short, for SCLC patients with limited brain mets, SRS/SRT with close MRI surveillance looks like a real alternative to upfront WBRT, potentially preserving neurocognition without compromising intracranial control.

Read More »

Nivolumab-AVD Versus Brentuximab Vedotin–AVD in Older Patients With Advanced-Stage Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma Enrolled on S1826

The S1826 phase III trial evaluated N-AVD vs BV-AVD in patients ≥60 years with advanced-stage cHL, showing a significant improvement in 2-year PFS (89% vs 64%) and OS (96% vs 85%) with N-AVD. N-AVD was better tolerated, with fewer discontinuations (14% vs 55%), lower nonrelapse mortality (6% vs 16%), and less peripheral neuropathy, despite higher rates of neutropenia. Patient-reported outcomes confirmed a more favorable toxicity profile for N-AVD, and notably, no EBV+ patients on N-AVD progressed, compared to 7/11 on BV-AVD. Bottom line: Today, N-AVD is essentially the SOC for most everyone with cHL..

Read More »

Neoadjuvant Osimertinib for Resectable EGFR-Mutated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

The phase III NeoADAURA trial evaluated neoadjuvant osimertinib (OSI) with or without platinum-based chemotherapy (CT) versus CT alone in resectable, EGFR-mutated stage II-IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Both OSI+CT and OSI monotherapy significantly improved major pathologic response (MPR: 26% and 25% vs 2%), and 12-month event-free survival (EFS) rates were higher with OSI-containing regimens (OSI+CT 93%, OSI 95%, CT 83%). Nodal downstaging was also more frequent with OSI arms (53% vs 21%). Neoadjuvant OSI—with or without CT—looks like a real step forward for our EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients, especially given the robust pathologic responses and high rates of surgical completion.

Read More »

Phase III Study of Mediastinal Lymph Node Dissection for Ground Glass Opacity–Dominant Lung Adenocarcinoma

This large, well-done study compared systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection (LND) versus no LND in patients with GGO-dominant invasive lung adenocarcinoma (CTR ≤0.5, ≤3 cm, cT1N0M0). Interim analysis of 302 patients showed no lymph node metastases in either arm, with both groups achieving 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of 100% at the time of analysis. The no LND arm had significantly shorter surgery duration (74 vs 109 min), less blood loss (44 vs 82 mL), shorter hospital stays (3.9 vs 4.5 days), and fewer grade ≥2 complications (3.3% vs 9.3%). Based on these findings, the trial was terminated early for nonmaleficence, and the authors recommend omitting systematic mediastinal LND in this population. In short, for carefully selected GGO-dominant lung adenocarcinoma, skipping mediastinal LND appears safe and spares patients’ unnecessary morbidity—this could be a real practice-changer for our early-stage, node-negative cases.

Read More »

Efficacy and Safety of Avutometinib ± Defactinib in Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer: Primary Analysis of ENGOT-OV60/GOG-3052/RAMP 201

The ENGOT-OV60/GOG-3052/RAMP 201 phase II trial evaluated avutometinib (a RAF/MEK clamp) plus defactinib (FAK inhibitor) in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC), showing a confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 31% (44% in KRAS-mutant, 17% in KRAS wild-type) and a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 12.9 months (22.0 vs 12.8 months for KRAS-mutant vs wild-type). The median duration of response was notably long at 31.1 months, and the disease control rate was 88%. The most common grade ≥3 AEs were elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) (24%), diarrhea (8%), and anemia (5%), with a 10% discontinuation rate due to adverse events (AEs); so management of AE’s is key for using this new drug combo. This combination looks like a real contender for a new standard in recurrent LGSOC, especially for KRAS-mutant patients.

Read More »

Monoclonal Antibodies in the Pathogenesis of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

This NEJM study challenges the long-held view that heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a polyclonal antibody disorder. Using mass spectrometry and immunofixation, the investigators found that all 9 patients with HIT had monoclonal, platelet-activating anti–PF4–heparin antibodies, with 67% showing a detectable M-protein by immunofixation. Functional assays confirmed that only the monoclonal fraction was pathogenic. It looks like HIT is driven by a single rogue antibody clone, which could have big implications for diagnostics and targeted therapy—this would be a paradigm shift for how we think about this disease.

Read More »

Measurable Residual Disease–Guided Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The phase 3 FLAIR trial compared MRD-guided ibrutinib–venetoclax (I+V) to ibrutinib (I) alone and FCR in previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). I+V achieved undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD) in bone marrow at 2 years in 66.2% of patients, versus 0% with I and 48.3% with FCR. At 5 years, PFS was 93.9% with I+V, 79.0% with I, and 58.1% with FCR; OS was 95.9%, 90.5%, and 86.5%, respectively. These data suggest that MRD-guided I+V not only deepens remissions but also translates to superior long-term outcomes—this could be a real game-changer for our frontline CLL management, especially for those with unmutated immunoglobulin heavy chain variable (IGHV).

Read More »

Overall Survival with Amivantamab–Lazertinib in EGFR-Mutated Advanced NSCLC

The phase 3 MARIPOSA trial compared amivantamab–lazertinib (Ami-Laz) to osimertinib (Osi) in untreated EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), showing a significant overall survival (OS) benefit for Ami-Laz (3-yr OS was 60% vs 51%). Median OS was not reached for Ami-Laz vs 36.7 months for Osi, with a projected >12-month median OS advantage. Ami-Laz also improved time to symptomatic progression (43.6 vs 29.3 months) and showed durable intracranial control, though grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) were higher (80% vs 52%), notably skin, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and infusion reactions. In short, Ami-Laz is emerging as a new standard for first-line EGFRm NSCLC, but we’ll need to be proactive about managing its toxicity profile in clinic and whether this is superior or equivalent to Osi + chemo is currently unclear.

Read More »

Low-Dose Aspirin for PI3K-Altered Localized Colorectal Cancer

The ALASCCA phase III trial randomized patients with resected stage I-III rectal or stage II-III colon cancer and PI3K pathway alterations to adjuvant aspirin (160 mg daily) or placebo for 3 years. In those with PIK3CA mutations, aspirin significantly reduced 3-year recurrence (~7.5% vs ~15%) and improved 3-year DFS (~90% vs 80%). Severe AEs were higher with aspirin (16.8% vs 11.6%), but the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one recurrence was as low as 6 in stage III rectal cancer. For our colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with PI3K pathway mutations, adjuvant aspirin looks like a practical, low-cost targeted option worth considering in routine care. This may make more sense than celecoxib as the long-term risk of aspirin use is more defined, and the cardiovascular benefits may also be applicable to some patients.

Read More »

Keyword Search

  • Cancer Types

  • Month Contributed

  • Show FCS Articles Only

  • Sort Order

  • Number of Posts