Immuno-Oncology | Specialty

FDA Grants Priority Review to Nivolumab/Chemo for Frontline Metastatic Gastric, GEJ, and Esophageal Cancer

January 20th 2021

January 20, 2021 - The FDA has granted a priority review to a supplemental biologics license application for nivolumab in combination with a fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for use in patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Addition of Pembrolizumab to Chemo Does Not Negatively Impact QoL in Patients With Esophageal Cancer

January 16th 2021

January 16, 2021 - Health-related quality of life during an 18-week period proved to be similar over for patients with esophageal cancer treated with either pembrolizumab or placebo added to chemotherapy.

Fixed-Dose Durvalumab Approved in Europe for Unresectable NSCLC

January 15th 2021

January 15, 2021 - Durvalumab has been approved in the European Union and the United Kingdom for a fixed-dose option of 1,500 mg every 4 weeks for use in patients with locally advanced, unresectable non–small cell lung cancer whose tumors have a PD-L1 expression of at least 1% and who have not experienced disease progression after platinum-based chemoradiation treatment.

Frontline Tislelizumab/Chemo Approved in China for Advanced Squamous NSCLC

January 14th 2021

January 14, 2020 - The China National Medical Products Administration has approved tislelizumab for use in combination with 2 chemotherapy regimens in the frontline treatment of patients with advanced squamous non–small cell lung cancer.

Immunotherapy Inches Forward in Development of Myeloid Malignancies

January 14th 2021

Amer Zeidan, MD, MHS, discusses how survival for patients with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome remains poor, and although immunotherapy has been positioned as a holy grail, it would be preemptive to predict its future based on the number of small studies that have been performed to date.

Expert Perspectives on Promising Data Discussed at the Immunotherapy Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Workshop

January 11th 2021

Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH, discusses a network meta-analysis of randomized trials of chemoimmunotherapy with in patients with advanced disease, data suggest that certain populations with high, and perhaps low, PD-L1 expression may not require combination therapy, which would minimize adverse event potential.

Bristol Myers Squibb Withdraws Nivolumab SCLC Indication From US Market

December 30th 2020

December 30, 2020 - Bristol Myers Squibb has withdrawn nivolumab from the US market for the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer who have experienced disease progression after a platinum-based chemotherapy and at least 1 other line of therapy.

Immunotherapy Combos Crowd Frontline NSCLC Landscape

December 30th 2020

Alex A. Adjei, MD, PhD, discusses frontline treatment options for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer, as well as some of the nuances of selecting the optimal therapy.

Immunotherapy Combos Take Next Step in Gynecologic Cancers

December 29th 2020

R. Wendel Naumann, MD, discusses numerous investigations of PD-1 inhibitors in combination with PARP inhibitors or other targeted agents, as well as chemotherapy, and how it could finally start the next chapter of immunotherapy in gynecologic malignancies.

Rohs Reflects on Therapeutic Approaches in Early- Vs Late-Stage Lung Cancer

December 28th 2020

Nicholas C. Rohs, MD, highlights the influx of clinical trials and the addition of immunotherapy in the adjuvant setting of lung cancer.

Immunotherapy Continues on Positive Trajectory in Lymphoid Malignancies

December 28th 2020

Joshua Brody, MD, discusses established and upcoming immunotherapies in the lymphoid malignancy pipeline.

Nivolumab Plus Temozolomide/Radiotherapy Misses OS End Point in Glioblastoma Multiforme

December 23rd 2020

December 23, 2020 — Nivolumab in combination with temozolomide and radiation treatment failed to result in a statistically significant improvement in overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme with MGMT promoter methylation following surgical resection of the tumor.

Dr. Marabelle on Preliminary Findings With SO-C101 in Advanced Solid Tumors

December 21st 2020

Aurélien Marabelle, MD, PhD, discusses preliminary findings from a trial examining SO-C101 in patients with advanced solid tumors.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Frontline Pembrolizumab/Chemo for Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Esophageal/GEJ Cancer

December 17th 2020

December 17, 2020 - The FDA has granted priority review to a new supplemental biologics license application for pembrolizumab in combination with platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Second-Line Motixafortide Plus Pembrolizumab/Chemo Substantially Improves Survival in Stage IV PDAC

December 16th 2020

December 16, 2020 - The combination of motixafortide plus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy was found to result in a substantial improvement in overall survival, progression-free survival, and overall response rate when used as a second-line treatment in patients with stage IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Combo Shows Antitumor Activity in Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

December 16th 2020

December 16, 2020 — The combination of nivolumab with ipilimumab demonstrated activity in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma with encouraging responses.

Immunotherapy Agents Drive Frontline Treatment Strategies in Advanced NSCLC

December 16th 2020

Several immunotherapeutic options are available for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), allowing decisions to be made based on histology, PD-L1 expression, and patient preference in regard to their treatment goals. Looking ahead, there may also be efficacy in moving immunotherapy drugs up into the resectable, early-stage setting

Pembrolizumab/Lenvatinib Combo Improves Survival, Responses Over Chemo in Advanced Endometrial Cancer

December 16th 2020

December 16, 2020 - Pembrolizumab/lenvatinib has significantly improved survival and responses compared with chemotherapy in patients with advanced endometrial cancer who have received previous systemic treatment.

Dr. Herbst on Biomarkers for Immunotherapy Response in NSCLC

December 16th 2020

Roy S. Herbst, MD, PhD, discusses biomarkers for immunotherapy response that are currently under investigation in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Dr. Goldberg on the Evolving Role of Immunotherapy in NSCLC

December 16th 2020

Sarah B. Goldberg, MD, MPH, discusses the evolving role of immunotherapy in non–small cell lung cancer.