New Agent for NSCLC Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation
December 30th 2015The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for BI 1482694, which is an investigational third-generation, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mutant-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
B Cell Depletion Therapy Appears Effective for Multiple Sclerosis Therapy
December 29th 2015Researchers compared the B cells of patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy patients, specifically examining granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM CSF), in order to determine their role in interactions between other immune cells within MS.
FDA Grants Crizotinib Priority Review in ROS1-Mutated Lung Cancer
December 16th 2015The targeted, oral therapy crizotinib (Xalkori), has been granted priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1)-rearranged tumors.
Cetuximab Plus RT Linked With High Toxicity in Head and Neck Cancer
December 10th 2015The combination of radiation therapy plus cetuximab had higher rates of acute toxicity among patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck compared with radiation therapy plus cisplatin.
Adding Rituximab to Chemo Boosts Survival in Subgroup of ALL Patients
December 7th 2015Two-year event-free survival increased from 52% with conventional therapy to 65% with the addition of rituximab among patients with newly diagnosed, CD20-positive Philadelphia (Ph)-chromosome negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, according to results from a phase III trial.
Autophagy Modulation May Be a Novel Approach to Treatment of Advanced Cancers
November 29th 2015Although prolonged autophagy can result in cancer cell death, recent investigations suggest that therapy-induced autophagy is a reversible response that promotes cancer cell survival, and thus may diminish the efficacy of some therapeutic agents.
Nivolumab Approved for Third Indication: Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
November 23rd 2015Two months after being granted a Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), nivolumab was today approved by regulators for treating mRCC patients who have failed a certain type of prior therapy.
Avelumab Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Merkel Cell Carcinoma
November 18th 2015The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to avelumab as a potential treatment for patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma following progression on at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.
Gene therapy improves functional vision in Leber congenital amaurosis
November 14th 2015A phase III gene therapy trial for Leber congenital amaurosis showed that patients’ mean mobility test scores promptly improved after treatment, and the benefit was sustained at 1 year, said Albert M. Maguire, MD.
Subset of Lung Cancer Patients Have Improved Outcomes with Tivantinib, Erlotinib Combination
November 12th 2015Advanced lung cancer patients who have tumors with mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene may benefit from the combination treatment of erlotinib standard therapy plus tivantinib.