The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to larotrectinib (Vitrakvi, Loxo Oncology) for the treatment of adult and pediatric solid tumors that have a targetable biomarker known as a neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusion. In effect, the biomarker defines the cancer rather than an organ where the disease originated, as…
Author: GDPoster
FDA OKs Targeted Agent Ivosidenib for Relapsed/Refractory AML
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the targeted agent ivosidenib (Tibsovo, Agios Pharmaceuticals) for adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who harbor isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutations. At the same time, the FDA has also approved the RealTime IDH1 Assay (Abbott Laboratories), a companion diagnostic used to detect specific mutations in the IDH1 gene in blood or bone…
Chemo Radiation For Distant Mets Ups Survival in Anal Cancer
Emerging data indicate that aggressive treatment of distant metastasis can improve survival in some types of advanced anal cancer, say researchers. Results from a retrospective review of 30 patients with stage IV anal cancer who had distant metastasis limited to the para-aortic (PA) lymph nodes show that a combination of extended-field radiation therapy and chemotherapy…
US Survey : 39% Say Alternative Therapies Can Cure Cancer
Nearly 4 in 10 Americans (39%) “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that cancer can be cured solely through “alternative” therapies, such as oxygen therapy, diet, and herbs, without standard cancer treatments, according to a national survey commissioned by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The survey, which probed public opinion about a variety of cancer-related…
Outstanding Ovarian Cancer PFS With Olaparib Maintenance.
A first-of-its kind phase 3 study found that patients with advanced ovarian cancer who carry a BRCA mutation have a marked increase in progression-free survival (PFS) if they are given maintenance therapy with the poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza, AstraZeneca) following successful first-line chemotherapy. Kathleen Moore, MD The finding comes from the SOLO1 study,…
FDA OKs Durvalumab( Imfinz)For Reducing Risk For NSCLC Progression.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved durvalumab (Imfinzi, AstraZeneca) for the treatment of patients with stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are unresectable and whose cancer has not progressed after chemoradiation. The immunotherapy becomes the first treatment approved to reduce the risk of the cancer progressing in this setting.…
RT Plus Chemo Triples PFS In Limited Metastatic Lung Cancer.
Consolidation treatment with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SAbR) prior to maintenance chemotherapy almost tripled progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with limited metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to maintenance chemotherapy alone. A new analysis showed that there was a statistically significant improvement in PFS from 3.5 to 9.7 months with the addition of consolidative radiotherapy…
Financial Toxicity Prevalent In Older Cancer Patients.
About one in five older cancer patients report experiencing financial toxicity, according to researchers from the University of Rochester in New York. In a large cohort of more than 500 patients aged 70 years and older, 18% stated they were experiencing financial problems related to the cost of their treatment and that this was taking…
Health Effects Of Pollution In The Air At ERS 2018
Research focused on long-term health problems after exposure to pollution will be in the spotlight at the upcoming European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2018. Mina Gaga “There are quite a lot of interesting data coming out about pollution and the lungs,” said ERS President Mina Gaga, MD, PhD, from Athens Chest Hospital in Greece.…
Cancer Patient Other Victim of Yemen’s War
SANAA/HODEIDAH, Yemen (Reuters) – On Yemen’s western coast, Mohammed al-Hosami receives support from the people of his village in al Mahwit to pay for his mother’s cancer treatment in a clinic in nearby Hodeidah city. “There is no work or salary so we can’t afford transportation costs, and the village helped me with the payments…
