A new combination of targeted therapies improved overall survival and objective response in patients with BRAF-mutant colorectal tumours. The BEACON CRC Phase III trial showed that triplet therapy significantly outperformed standard care, suggesting a potential replacement for chemotherapy for eligible patients.
Researchers at La Trobe University have discovered a protein that can sense vital phosphorus levels in plants and adjust growth and flowering accordingly. This breakthrough has the potential to reduce fertiliser wastage and improve crop efficiency, leading to significant environmental and economic benefits for farmers.
A phase III trial found that a three-drug combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab significantly improved overall survival in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer. The treatment resulted in a median overall survival of 9 months compared to 5.4 months for standard therapy.
A study at ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2019 found that a more flexible dosing regimen for regorafenib improves patients' quality of life while maintaining its efficacy. The reduced and intermittent dose groups showed numerical improvements in tolerance to side effects such as fatigue and hand-foot syndrome.