A phase III CONVERT trial study presented at ELCC 2017 shows that white blood cell boosting drugs are safe during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy of small cell lung cancer. The use of G-CSF had no significant negative impact on patient outcomes, supporting its use to mitigate neutropenia and increase chemotherapy delivery.
Researchers found that white blood cell counts at baseline and during therapy predict whether patients will respond to nivolumab treatment. A greater number and concentration of natural killer cells were associated with response to treatment.
Osimertinib significantly reduces lung cancer symptoms, including appetite loss, fatigue, and breathlessness, while improving global health status and enabling patients to perform daily activities. The drug demonstrates better activity, less toxicity, and improved quality of life compared to chemotherapy.
Researchers found that certain lung cancer patients can continue treatment with immunotherapy even if the disease appears to be progressing, according to a study presented at ELCC 2017. The study used immune-related RECIST criteria, which take into account temporary tumour enlargement in patients taking immunotherapy.
Patients with advanced NSCLC who received pre-treated checkpoint inhibitors had a 27% partial response rate to salvage chemotherapy, compared to 7% in those without pre-treatment. The study's findings suggest that checkpoint inhibitors may render tumor cells more sensitive to chemotherapy.
A study of 46,766 patients found that men developed lung cancer 2.0 years earlier and had a higher stage at diagnosis compared to women. The researchers suggest that annual screening for women may be too frequent, with every 2-3 year intervals potentially being more suitable.
A study found that only 18 out of 47 cancer indications approved by the NHS Cancer Drugs Fund showed statistically significant benefits, with a median overall survival benefit of 3.2 months. The majority of drugs failed to show meaningful clinical benefits when considering quality of life and toxic side effects.
Lung cancer patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors are at increased risk of adverse events after receiving the seasonal influenza vaccination, according to a new study. The researchers observed an unusual high frequency of immune-related adverse events, including severe grade 3 or 4 irAEs, in this population.
Rafal Dziadziuszko, a global leader in clinical thoracic oncology, has been awarded the Heine H. Hansen (HHH) Award by ESMO and IASLC for his lifetime contributions to lung cancer research and education globally.
Death rates from cancer are expected to decline faster in men than in women in Europe in 2017, with men predicted to fall by over 8% and women by around 4%. Lung cancer death rates will rise in women, but overall, fewer women than men will die from cancer.
The European Society for Medical Oncology advocates for strict adherence to approval standards and accelerated introduction of biosimilars into clinical settings. This move aims to enhance the sustainability and affordability of cancer treatment, with potential benefits including reduced costs and increased accessibility.
A study found that cancer patients with depression have lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), making them less responsive to chemotherapy. Low BDNF levels are associated with reduced treatment tolerance and poorer outcomes.
A routine blood test can predict how long cancer patients in palliative care will survive, researchers report. The Six Adaptable Prognostic models use three laboratory measurements to estimate death within 1-6 months, allowing physicians to re-evaluate prognosis at any time point.
Research finds that pembrolizumab is a cost-effective first-line treatment for advanced melanoma, offering improved survival and progression-free rates compared to ipilimumab and cytotoxic chemotherapy. The study suggests that healthcare authorities should consider including pembrolizumab as a reimbursable item in the public setting.
A Malaysian study found that four in five cancer survivors suffer from anxiety and depression a year after diagnosis. The study also highlighted the importance of addressing quality of life for cancer patients beyond clinical outcomes.
A study found that cancer patients spend a significant portion of their household income on treatment, transport, and childcare. The economic burden is often referred to as the 'financial toxicity' of cancer.
A subgroup analysis of the MONALEESA-2 trial found that ribociclib improves progression-free survival in Asian patients with HR-positive advanced breast cancer. The treatment was well-tolerated and demonstrated efficacy regardless of geographic region or self-reported race.
Researchers present first data on rare sarcomas in Asian patients, showing poor overall survival rates. Chemotherapy improves survival in advanced cases, but treatment rates remain low, with physician-related factors possibly at play.
A sub-analysis of the KEYNOTE-012 trial found that Asian head and neck cancer patients lived longer with pembrolizumab than the overall population. The fixed dose of pembrolizumab showed better median overall survival and disease control rates in Asians, indicating potential as a first-line treatment.
A study of over 5,500 women found that younger patients and those who had taken hormone replacement therapy were less likely to adhere to their medicine. The researchers identified several factors that contributed to non-adherence, including socioeconomic status and marital status, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to impro...
Supportive care, including pain relief and medication to prevent side effects, remains insufficient for many cancer patients, especially those on government-funded schemes in India. This can lead to delayed treatment cycles and poor quality of life. Researchers emphasize the need for better policies and access to effective treatments.
Patients with longer delays were more likely to receive palliative treatment, while early diagnosis and treatment improve cancer outcomes. The study found that patients and primary care physicians contributed significant delays, highlighting the need for increased patient awareness about symptoms and screening.
A phase III trial has met its primary endpoint, demonstrating improved disease-free survival with sunitinib in high-risk renal cell carcinoma patients after nephrectomy. The treatment showed a significantly longer disease-free survival of 6.8 years compared to 5.6 years with placebo.
Single-arm trials can provide valuable opportunities for speeding up cancer drug development and approval, particularly in small populations with high unmet medical need. Regulatory guidance is being developed to define evidence requirements for SATs, and initial approvals based on SATs have similar success rates to RCTs.
A multi-center study found significant survival gains in patients with high-risk soft tissue sarcoma of the trunk or extremities treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with an anthracycline plus ifosfamide. The regimen showed a 20% improvement in prognosis for these patients compared to those receiving histology-driven regimens.
Cabozantinib significantly improves progression-free survival and response rate in patients with intermediate or poor-risk clear-cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma compared to sunitinib. The study also found a higher objective response rate in the cabozantinib arm.
The ESMO-MCBS scale has been successfully applied to rare tumor entities, revealing its potential to quantify the clinical benefit of certain drugs. The tool was particularly effective in highlighting the benefits of new immunomodulatory treatments.
A phase III randomized controlled trial of custirsen in combination with cabazitaxel/prednisone found no significant survival gains compared to the placebo arm. Custirsen blocks clusterin production, which is involved in carcinogenesis and treatment resistance.
A phase III trial found that MEK inhibition with selumetinib plus docetaxel did not improve progression-free or overall survival in KRAS-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer patients. The study concluded that there is a desperate need for new treatments for this subset of NSCLC patients.
A pooled analysis of 16 prospective multicenter trials found financial difficulties associated with a 35% greater risk of worse global quality-of-life response and a 20% increase in risk of death. Financial burden was present in 26% of patients at baseline, and worsening financial problems during treatment increased mortality risk.
The phase III KEYNOTE-024 trial found pembrolizumab significantly improved progression-free survival by approximately four months compared to chemotherapy, with 80% of patients alive at six months on pembrolizumab. The treatment was also associated with a higher overall response rate and lower adverse events.
The CheckMate 026 trial found that nivolumab did not improve progression-free survival over chemotherapy in patients with PD-L1 positive tumours. However, combination immunotherapies are being investigated to potentially increase the proportion of patients who benefit from treatment.
Nintedanib significantly improves median progression-free survival compared to placebo, with disease control improved by 26% compared to 11% in the placebo group. However, overall survival did not differ between the two groups.
The OAK study found a 27% improvement in overall survival for patients treated with atezolizumab compared to docetaxel, regardless of PD-L1 expression levels. This benefit was seen across different tumor histologies and even among patients with no PD-L1 expression.
In the ASCEND-5 study, ceritinib significantly improved progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring an ALK rearrangement. The primary endpoint was a median progression-free survival of 5.4 months with ceritinib versus 1.6 months with chemotherapy.
The CheckMate 141 trial found that nivolumab maintained or improved function and reduced symptoms in patients with relapsed metastatic head and neck cancer. In contrast, standard chemotherapy resulted in worse scores. Nivolumab's superior clinical activity also suggests fewer side effects, leading to a better quality of life for patients.
In a phase III trial, nivolumab showed improved patient-reported outcomes, including reduced symptoms and maintained functional capacity, compared to standard chemotherapy. The study found that nivolumab not only prolongs life but also improves quality of life.
Researchers observed a significantly greater objective response rate (55% vs. 29%) in patients who received pembrolizumab as well as chemotherapy, compared to those treated with chemotherapy alone. Participants also experienced an improved progression-free survival (median 13.0 months vs. 8.9 months) in the pembrolizumab arm.
The ASCEND-5 study showed ceritinib significantly improved progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy in crizotinib-pre-treated patients with non-small-cell lung cancer harbouring an ALK rearrangement. Ceritinib also increased overall response rate, but did not improve overall survival.
A phase III trial found ipilimumab as adjuvant therapy significantly improved overall survival in patients with high-risk stage III melanoma, reducing relative risk of death by 28% at 5.3 years median follow-up.
The ENGOT-OV16/NOVA trial shows niraparib significantly improves progression-free survival in recurrent ovarian cancer patients, with median survival rates up to 21 months. Niraparib also improves secondary endpoints, including time to first subsequent treatment and chemotherapy-free interval.
Two phase II trials, KEYNOTE-052 and CheckMate 275, demonstrate the efficacy of PD-1 blockade with pembrolizumab and nivolumab in treating metastatic bladder cancer. The trials show a median survival benefit for patients with high PD-L1 expression.
A nationwide study in France found that the true burden of head and neck cancer is significantly higher than previously estimated. The EPICORL study revealed a five-year survival rate of 34% and a high risk of secondary primary cancers, with distant metastases at diagnosis associated with a six-fold increase in mortality.
The MONALEESA2 study shows a significant improvement in progression-free survival for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer when treated with ribociclib plus letrozole. The combination also resulted in higher objective response rates and improved clinical benefits.
Researchers found that fulvestrant significantly increases progression-free survival in hormone-receptor-positive advanced breast cancer patients, especially those with lower-volume disease. The treatment also showed similar health-related quality of life compared to anastrozole and was well-tolerated.
A phase I study of BAY 1163877 identified patients who will respond to the pan-FGFR inhibitor based on tumor mRNA expression, with notable activity seen in bladder cancer and adenoid cystic carcinoma. The drug was well-tolerated, revealing a toxicity profile better than other FGFR inhibitors under development.
A survey found that over 5,000 metastatic melanoma patients in Europe are denied access to innovative treatments annually. The inequality affects Eastern and South-Eastern European countries more severely, where only 10% of patients have access to the latest treatment recommended by current guidelines.
A phase I/II trial of dabrafenib found a high response rate in pediatric brain tumors with the BRAF V600 mutation, suggesting potential for targeted therapy. The drug showed significant improvement in tumor shrinkage and overall patient survival.
Researchers found that neoadjuvant immunotherapy with nivolumab was safe and did not delay surgery in patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Six of 15 patients experienced major pathological regression, suggesting potential activity of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in early stage lung cancer.
A survey by Dr Lidija Kandolf-Sekulovic found that over 5000 European melanoma patients are denied access to innovative treatments each year. In Eastern Europe, only 42% of countries have registered the treatment, and only 18% have full reimbursement coverage.