Investigators Seek Expanded Use of Checkpoint Inhibitors in RCC
December 5th 2018In contrast to the wide array of available therapies in the metastatic setting of renal cell carcinoma, in patients with localized disease, the results of trials investigating adjuvant systemic therapy after nephrectomy have so far been underwhelming.
Next-Generation BCMA CAR T-cell Therapy Effective for Heavily Pretreated Myeloma
December 3rd 2018The anti-BCMA CAR T cell therapy bb21217 demonstrated an objective response rate of 83.3%, with a very good partial response or better rate of 75% in patients with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
Maintenance Ixazomib Extends PFS in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
December 3rd 2018Two-year maintenance therapy with ixazomib led to a 39% improvement in progression-free survival compared with placebo in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who achieved a partial response to induction treatment with a proteasome inhibitor and/or an immunomodulatory agent following autologous stem cell transplant.
Length of Hospital Stay Key Driver of Costs Associated With CRS Following CAR T Treatment
December 2nd 2018Health resource utilization data gathered from the TRANSCEND-NHL trial have found that longer stays in the intensive care unit have a significant impact on the cost of care due to cytokine release syndrome (CRS) following treatment with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells.
First HCT Following CAR T-Cell Therapy Reduces Risk for ALL Relapse
December 2nd 2018Receiving a stem cell transplant for the first time following CD19 CAR T-cell therapy induced a reduction in the risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) recurrence, according to a retrospective analysis of the phase I/II PLAT-02 study.
Tisagenlecleucel OS, RFS Sustained in Long-Term Follow-Up for Pediatric ALL
December 2nd 2018Treatment with the CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy tisagenlecleucel demonstrated sustained rates of relapse-free survival and overall survival at 24 and 18 months for pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Real-World Evidence With Axicabtagene Ciloleucel CAR T Treatment Similar to ZUMA-1 Trial Findings
December 2nd 2018A multicenter retrospective study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell treatment, axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; Yescarta), in a real-world setting found a similar response as well as toxicity compared with the ZUMA-1 clinical trial.
Novel T-Cell Therapies Make Inroads Into Solid Tumors
November 28th 2018Although CAR T-cell therapies have proved successful in certain hematologic malignancies, efforts to employ similar strategies in solid tumors have been challenging. Investigators are working on different forms of adoptive cell therapy in solid tumors and early signs are promising.
Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Combo Misses Primary Endpoint in Phase III SCLC Trial
November 27th 2018The combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) did not improve overall survival versus placebo as a maintenance therapy for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer without disease progression following frontline platinum-based chemotherapy.
CD7 CAR T Cells Selectively Target Leukemic Cells in Patients With AML
November 25th 2018CD7 gene-edited chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells target CD7-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells while sparing myeloid and erythroid cells and minimizing toxicity, according to the results of a recent study.
FDA Grants Brentuximab Vedotin Breakthrough Designation for Frontline CD30+ PTCL
November 16th 2018The FDA has granted brentuximab vedotin a breakthrough therapy designation for use in combination with chemotherapy for the frontline treatment of patients with CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
CGRP Inhibitors: A Promising New Class of Drugs for Migraine
November 14th 2018This fall, The American Journal of Managed Care® convened a panel of experts on migraine to discuss calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors, an emerging therapy for the condition, which affects 39 million people in the United States.
Biomarkers and Histology Play Key Roles in Frontline Metastatic NSCLC Options
November 13th 2018In light of recent advancements, the current paradigm for choosing first-line therapy for patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer who do not harbor an actionable driver oncogene depends upon PD-L1 expression level and histology.
FDA Grants Selinexor Fast Track Designation for Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL
November 8th 2018The FDA has granted a fast track designation to selinexor for the treatment of patients with previously treated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are ineligible to receive high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue or CAR T-cell therapy.
CAR T-Cell Therapies Moving to Outpatient Setting
November 8th 2018The high durable response rates seen with CAR T-cell therapies have helped fill a high unmet need for patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, with questions remaining on the optimal way to use these agents following the FDA approval of 2 therapies in the past year.
What We're Reading: HPV Vaccine Use; $4 Million Drug; ACS Fundraising Concerns
November 6th 2018A report from the President’s Cancer Panel has found that use of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines remain low, despite improvements; Novartis believes that its new gene therapy to treat spinal muscular atrophy could cost $4 million to $5 million per patient; the chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society (ACS) resigned over concerns regarding controversial fundraising partnerships.