Taking the Next Step in MCL: Novel Combos and Immunotherapy Under Study
April 6th 2018Despite advancements in treatment strategies for mantle cell lymphoma, patients experience diminishing responses from sequential lines of therapy as their disease progresses, sharpening the focus on developing new agents and combinations.
Effectiveness of Adoptive T-Cell Immunotherapy May Depend on Gut Microbiome
April 4th 2018New research suggests that the composition of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract may help predict which patients with cancer may benefit most from adoptive T-cell immunotherapy, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.
What We're Reading: 2018 ACA Enrollment; Spread of Rare Superbug; Off-the-Shelf CAR T Therapies
April 4th 2018Enrollment for 2018 in Affordable Care Act plans is only slightly below figures from 2017; a rare breed of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is spreading in hospitals; a new company will develop off-the-shelf CAR T-cell therapies that do not need to be personalized to the patient.
Oncologist Shares Lessons Learned From CAR T-Cell Therapy in ALL
March 27th 2018On the closing day of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 23rd Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, Bijal Shah, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center, presented on acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and on the lessons learned from the application of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in this indication.
Pricing of CAR T Therapies Currently Aligns With Benefit, but Future Changes May Be Needed
March 27th 2018Despite price tags well over $350,000 for treatment, tisagenlecleucel, approved for children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and axicabtagene ciloleucel, approved for adults with certain B-cell subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are considered cost effective, according to a report from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review.
BRAF V600E Testing Necessary in NSCLC, but Experts Unsure of Optimal Setting With BRAF/MEK Combo
March 12th 2018Upfront testing for BRAF V600E mutations is necessary for patients with non–small cell lung cancer, but if results are positive, physicians are unsure when to administer BRAF/MEK combination therapy—and they must be prepared to manage the associated adverse events.
Studies Highlight Rationale for Immunotherapy in Early-Stage and Locally Advanced NSCLC
March 11th 2018With durvalumab (Imfinzi) being hailed as a potentially practice changing therapy in locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer, ongoing studies are seeking to determine the efficacy of immunotherapy in earlier stages of disease.
Positive Topline Results Released from Study of Gene Therapy in OTC Deficiency
March 7th 2018Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. released positive long-term safety and efficacy data from the first dose cohort of the Phase 1/2 study of DTX301. The investigational AAV gene therapy, is intended for the treatment of OTC deficiency.