A comparative study reveals that federal funding supports non-treatment interventions and diagnostics, while industry trials focus on single-agent treatments. Federally sponsored trials also examine multimodality treatment regimens and rare cancers, contributing to the cancer research ecosystem.
Researchers analyzed 15-year data from a clinical trial, finding that 70% of patients remained alive and 42% were considered cured after treatment. Cure modeling estimated the overall cure rate at 42% of treated patients.
The S2302 Pragmatica-Lung trial found that the investigational combination of ramucirumab and pembrolizumab did not extend overall survival compared to standard-of-care treatments. The study enrolled a highly representative population of patients, establishing it as a paradigm-shifting model for large randomized studies.
The Lung-MAP 3.0 trial introduces a simplified genomic screening process, allowing most patients to be matched to a targeted treatment sub-study based on prior testing results. This expansion increases access to investigational treatments for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
A phase 2 clinical trial found that a combination of two HER2 inhibitors was more effective and better tolerated than standard EGFR inhibitor-based therapy for patients with HER2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer. The study showed that the level of HER2 amplification in tumors played a key role in determining treatment outcomes.
The RSClin Tool N+ provides more accurate estimates of recurrence risk and individual chemotherapy benefit in node-positive breast cancer. The tool combines clinical and pathologic factors with the 21-gene Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score to predict patient-level prognosis and treatment benefit.
A comprehensive analysis of 52,000 men with prostate cancer treatment found substantial long-term risks of urinary and sexual complications. Men treated with radiotherapy faced a threefold risk of bladder cancer diagnosis, while those who underwent prostatectomy had a sixfold increased risk of complications.
The myeloMATCH program offers a portfolio of biomarker-driven treatment trials to accelerate precision medicine in myeloid malignancies. Patients can enroll in clinical trials throughout their cancer treatment journey, with test results returned quickly to assign them to the most appropriate trial.
The two-year progression-free survival rate was 92% on the N-AVD arm compared to 83% on the BV-AVD arm, with fewer side effects and lower mortality rates. The study's results support the use of nivolumab-AVD as a standard treatment for stage 3-4 classic Hodgkin lymphoma.
A randomized phase 3 trial found that extended lymph node removal in bladder cancer surgery does not improve disease-free or overall survival but increases the risk of complications and death. The standard bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy is considered a sufficient approach for these patients.
A new risk prediction model identifies patients with advanced cancer who are at highest risk for unplanned emergency room visits and hospital stays. The model, developed by researchers from the SWOG Cancer Research Network, considers factors such as performance status, comorbidities, and cancer type.
The SWOG S1712 trial found that adding ruxolitinib to standard tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment significantly increased the percentage of patients with deep molecular responses, warranting treatment discontinuation. This combination may lead to improved health-related quality of life and reduced healthcare costs.
Tumors with mutations in ERCC2, ATM, or RB1 genes were more likely to be eliminated by cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The study found a correlation between these gene mutations and complete pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
SWOG Cancer Research Network will share results of their work in 30 presentations at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, May 31 – June 4 in Chicago. The research focuses on improving cancer treatments and reducing devastating side effects.
A pilot study has confirmed the feasibility and acceptability of a bowel symptom intervention for rectal cancer survivors. The intervention, which included dietary changes and phone-based support, showed some benefits in reducing symptoms such as frequent bowel movements and bloating.
The study found that dasatinib and blinatumomab combination treatment resulted in excellent median overall survival and disease-free survival times for patients 65 and older with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The regimen confirmed benefits of this treatment are durable, with a median overall survival of...
Researchers developed a predictive model using baseline sociodemographic and financial measures to identify patients at high risk of stopping treatment with aromatase inhibitors. The model found four demographic and financial factors associated with increased non-adherence, including younger age and lower out-of-pocket costs.
The Lung-MAP trial has demonstrated the potential of public-private partnerships in clinical research, increasing access to new treatment options for patients with lung cancer. The unique partnership between academia, advocacy, federal agencies, and industry has led to a more representative patient group being enrolled in clinical trials.
Researchers found a modest improvement in predicting pathologic response to chemotherapy using molecular subtypes, but no association with overall survival and progression-free survival. The study suggests the need for subtype-directed therapy trials to test targeted treatments.
Researchers saw a major pathologic response in over half of surgical specimens from patients treated with neoadjuvant pembrolizumab. The treatment shrank over half of advanced melanomas, according to exploratory analyses presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023.
A secondary analysis of the SWOG S0931 trial found that patients with very-high risk clear-cell renal cell carcinoma who received adjuvant everolimus after surgery had a statistically significant improvement in recurrence-free survival. The results suggest that everolimus may be beneficial for this high-risk patient population, but als...
The Lung-MAP master protocol has enrolled higher percentages of patients who are older, from rural or socioeconomically deprived areas, and have Medicaid or no insurance. In contrast, patients on Lung-MAP were less likely to be female or from certain racial and ethnic groups.
A large clinical trial found that surgery does not increase the number of days patients with advanced cancer are alive and out of the hospital, but improves symptoms and quality of life. Patients who underwent surgery reported fewer bowel-related symptoms after leaving the hospital.
The Phase 3 S1826 trial demonstrates one-year progression-free survival in 94% of patients with Stage 3 or 4 classic Hodgkin lymphoma treated with nivolumab and chemotherapy. The therapy was well-tolerated, with few serious immune-related side effects.
A phase II trial showed that patients with extensive stage SCLC expressing the Schlafen-11 gene had significantly longer progression-free survival when treated with atezolizumab and talazoparib. The study demonstrates improved outcomes for patients with SLFN11-positive SCLC, paving the way for personalized therapy approaches.
Analysis of rare cancer patients treated with checkpoint inhibitors reveals a linear correlation between tumor shrinkage and patient survival, contradicting earlier threshold-based models. The study suggests that using partial- or complete-response rates may miss signals of longer survival.
The SWOG Cancer Research Network will present 30 abstracts at the ASCO 2023 annual meeting, highlighting primary results from trials S1011, S1826, S1714, and S1929. Additionally, analysis from the S1609 DART trial will be shared publicly during the meeting.
A large study tracked CIPN in over 1,100 breast cancer patients treated with taxanes, showing persistent sensory and motor symptoms with more severe symptoms with paclitaxel than docetaxel. The study defines a risk prediction model to help doctors individualize patient care.
A phase 3 trial found that extending lymphadenectomy beyond the standard procedure does not reduce disease recurrence or improve survival in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer. Instead, it increases the risk of adverse events and post-surgical death.
Researchers have reported promising results in rare gynecologic cancers from the DART immunotherapy trial, with durable responses and complete remissions observed in patients. The findings suggest a potential new treatment approach for these previously underserved patient populations.
A recent clinical trial found that nearly 90% of patients with unresectable desmoplastic melanoma responded to treatment with pembrolizumab. The immunotherapy drug showed impressive results in both treatable and inoperable cases, suggesting a promising treatment option for this rare form of skin cancer.
The S2302 Pragmatica-Lung trial is designed to be inclusive and easy to conduct, with few limits on eligibility. The study aims to answer whether a combination of ramucirumab and pembrolizumab helps patients with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer live longer than usual treatments.
The SWOG S1416 clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy of PARP inhibitor veliparib in patients with triple-negative breast cancer and a 'BRCA-like' phenotype. Patients treated with veliparib experienced longer progression-free survival times compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone, with median PFS of 5.9 months versus 4.2 months.
A phase 3 trial found that adding nab-paclitaxel to a standard gemcitabine plus cisplatin regimen did not significantly extend median overall survival for patients with advanced biliary tract cancers, but provided benefits for subsets of patients. The treatment also showed improved response rates and progression-free survival times.
The study estimated that the NCI-funded NCTN trials have added at least 14.2 million life-years to cancer patients in the US, representing a cost of $326 per year. The trials have had a significant impact on clinical care, with 87.7% of their findings cited as evidence in guidelines and package inserts.
Patients with high-risk stage III-IV melanoma who received pembrolizumab after surgery reported better quality of life than those on ipilimumab or high-dose interferon. The treatment also reduced disease recurrence and improved overall survival.
Researchers from the SWOG Cancer Research Network presented several abstracts at the 2022 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Two trials found that adding one year of everolimus to adjuvant endocrine therapy did not improve IDFS or OS for HR+, HER2- breast cancer patients, but premenopausal patients showed statistically significant lo...
A computational study found that adding more than two stratification factors to a phase 2 trial can significantly reduce its statistical power, making it harder to detect a positive result. For modestly sized trials with 84 participants, using four or six stratification factors resulted in power decreases of 13% and 25%, respectively.
A recent study found that patients treated with the combination of chemoradiation therapy and immunotherapy in a phase 3 clinical trial did not experience significant safety concerns. The treatment regimen showed no significant increase in toxicity compared to standard trimodality therapy alone.
A large clinical trial data analysis found that rates of locoregional recurrence are low regardless of regional node irradiation use. The study suggests a randomized clinical trial is required to answer the question of whether favorable-risk patients can safely skip RNI.
Researchers found that starting pembrolizumab before surgery significantly improves the outlook for patients with stage III-IV melanoma. The study showed a 42% lower event rate in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy compared to those receiving adjuvant therapy.
A new drug combination of ramucirumab and pembrolizumab significantly extended overall survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients who had progressed on prior immunotherapy. The study found a 31% reduction in risk of death compared to standard therapy, with median overall survival times of 14.5 months.
A study of patients with high-risk renal cell carcinoma found that those taking everolimus daily after surgery lived longer without disease recurrence. The results, although narrowly missed statistical significance, showed improvement primarily in very high-risk disease, with a 21% improvement in RFS for those with the highest risk.
Researchers found a significant rise in proportion of patients in SWOG cancer trials insured by Medicaid after ACA's Medicaid expansion. The proportion increased by 20% each year following the expansion, resulting in a threefold increase over expected levels.
The study found that standing orders significantly raised guideline adherence for patients on intermediate FN risk regimens but did not change the FN rate among patients on chemotherapy at any risk level. Prophylactic CSF use rates were substantially below guidelines for both high-risk and low-risk regimens.
Researchers found that neoadjuvant immunotherapy with pembrolizumab significantly shrunk tumors in patients with desmoplastic melanoma, potentially allowing for less extensive surgery and radiation. The study showed a high response rate to treatment, with over half of patients achieving a pathologic complete response.
Researchers used cell-free DNA methylation patterns to identify patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who would benefit from chemotherapy before surgery. The approach showed promise in accurately predicting tumor response, with a correct prediction rate of 79%.
The S1216 study showed an unprecedented median OS of 70 months in the control arm, outperforming previous results by 24 months. This extended survival was attributed to additional life-prolonging treatments patients received after completing the trial therapy.
A recent study found that women have a 34% higher risk of severe toxicity than men in cancer treatment, with higher risks for immunotherapy and targeted therapies. The analysis of over 20,000 patients from more than 200 clinical trials supports the idea that sex may independently modulate drug toxicity.
The COXEN GC score was a significant predictor of overall survival when looking at both treatment groups combined. The study found no association between COXEN scores and progression-free survival, but the biomarker may serve as a potential tool to improve patient outcomes.