Advertisement

Advertisement

Lung Cancer

Expert Point of View: Tetsuya Mitsudomi, MD

“Osimertinib (Tagrisso) has good penetration of the blood-brain barrier and showed high efficacy in patients with central nervous system (CNS) disease,” noted Tetsuya Mitsudomi, MD, Professor in the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Kindai University Faculty of Medicine in Osaka-Sayama, Japan....

Lung Cancer

Osimertinib Significantly Improves Survival for Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

For patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), osimertinib (Tagrisso) demonstrated clinically superior efficacy over pemetrexed (Alimta) plus a platinum agent, with a 70% reduction in the risk of disease progression, according to the...

lung cancer

Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer May Benefit From Delayed Adjuvant Chemotherapy

A new Yale study suggested that patients with a common form of lung cancer may still benefit from delayed chemotherapy started up to 4 months after surgery, according to the researchers. The study was published by Salazar et al in JAMA Oncology. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of...

lung cancer

Older Patients With Lung Cancer Face Significant Treatment Burden

Depending on the type of treatment older patients with lung cancer receive, they can spend an average of 1 in 3 days interacting with the health-care system in the first 60 days after surgery or radiation therapy, according to a study by Yale researchers. These findings were published by Presley in ...

breast cancer
head and neck cancer
lung cancer

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase AXL May Mediate Nuclear Translocation of EGFR

New research from the University of Wisconsin (UW) Carbone Cancer Center has clarified the mechanisms involved in a common growth pathway implicated in many solid tumor types and could lead to better outcomes for patients with head and neck, lung, and triple-negative breast cancer,...

lung cancer

Is Adding Onartuzumab to Erlotinib of Benefit in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer?

In a phase III METLung trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Spigel et al found that adding the MET inhibitor onartuzumab to erlotinib (Tarceva) was of no benefit in patients with MET-positive advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had progressed after platinum-based...

Lung Cancer

Osimertinib Shows Activity in Pretreated EGFR Thr790Met–Positive Advanced NSCLC

In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Glenwood Goss, MD, of The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, University of Ottawa, and colleagues found that osimertinib produced a high response rate in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor–pretreated EGFR Thr790Met (T790M)–positive advanced non–small...

lung cancer

Atezolizumab Improves Survival vs Docetaxel in Previously Treated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

In the phase III OAK trial reported in The Lancet by Rittmeyer et al, treatment with the anti–programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody atezolizumab (Tecentriq) improved overall survival vs docetaxel in previously treated non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results of the trial...

lung cancer

WCLC 2016: Icotinib May Improve Progression-Free Survival vs Whole-Brain Irradiation in Patients With NSCLC With Brain Metastases

Patients whose lung cancer spreads to their brain typically have only 4 to 6 months left to live, but research presented by Chinese doctors suggests that using icotinib increases progression-free survival in these patients compared to whole-brain irradiation and chemotherapy combined. Yi-Long Wu,...

lung cancer

WCLC 2016: First-Line Ceritinib Reduces Risk of Disease Progression in ALK-Positive NSCLC vs Chemotherapy

Patients who received first-line ceritinib experienced a 45% risk reduction for advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)­–positive on–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to a control group that received chemotherapy, according to research presented at the IASLC 17th World...

lung cancer

WCLC 2016: New Lung Cancer Tumor Staging Manual to Shape Clinical Treatment

A revised tumor classification based on more than 70,000 non­–small cell lung cancer patients and 6,100 small cell lung cancer patients is now available to lung cancer specialists around the world in the form of the 8th edition of the tumor, node, and metastasis (TNM) classification. The...

lung cancer

First-in-Class Rovalpituzumab Tesirine Active in Recurrent Small Cell Lung Cancer

In a phase I study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Rudin et al found that rovalpituzumab tesirine, a first-in-class antibody-drug conjugate directed against delta-like protein 3 (DLL3), produced responses in patients with recurrent small cell lung cancer (SCLC). DLL3 is a target identified in...

lung cancer

WCLC 2016: Phase II LUME-Meso Trial on Oral Nintedanib in Mesothelioma Demonstrates Meaningful Clinical Benefit

The LUME-Meso phase II trial in patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival. The data, presented at the 17th IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Vienna (Abstract 4191 #OA22.02), showed nintedanib (Ofev) plus...

lung cancer

Promising Activity Seen With First-Line Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

As reported in The Lancet Oncology by Hellman et al, the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) showed promising activity as first-line treatment in patients in the non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cohort of the phase I CheckMate 012 study. Study Details In the...

lung cancer

Osimertinib Improves Progression-Free Survival vs Platinum/Pemetrexed in EGFR T790M–Positive NSCLC

In the phase III AURA3 trial reported in The New England Journal of Medicineby Mok et al, osimertinib (Tagrisso) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) vs platinum/pemetrexed (Alimta) among patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M–positive non–small...

Lung Cancer

Intensity-Modulated vs Three-Dimensional Conformal External-Beam Radiation Therapy in Locally Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

In a secondary analysis from the NRG Oncology RTOG 0617 trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Stephen G. Chun, MD, of the Department of Radiation Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and colleagues found that use of intensity-modulated vs three-dimensional...

Lung Cancer

New Treatments for Lung Cancer in 2016

With drug approvals for immunotherapy in the first- and second-line settings, breakthroughs in targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, and the rapid evolution of therapies that target anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements, 2016 has been an extraordinary year for lung...

Lung Cancer

Experts Consider the New Immunotherapy Paradigm in Advanced Lung Cancer

One immune checkpoint inhibitor has now moved to the front of the line for treating advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Based on pivotal studies presented at the 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, pembrolizumab (Keytruda) became a first-line option, and it is...

lung cancer

Study Finds No Predictive Value of ERCC1 Marker for Outcomes With Nonplatinum vs Platinum Therapies in NSCLC

In the UK phase III ERCC1 trial reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lee et al found that presence of the excision repair cross complementing group 1 (ERCC1) biomarker did not predict better outcome with nonplatinum therapy in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Study...

Lung Cancer
Cost of Care

A Lung Cancer Specialist Talks About Value in Cancer Care

Over the past few years, the term value-based cancer care has become integrated into the vernacular of the oncology community. Value is a subjective term, which is defined largely by its clinical setting. However, value in cancer care is evaluated by the multiple stakeholders involved in the...

Lung Cancer

Pembrolizumab in First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

On October 24, 2016, pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was approved for use in patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have high programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (tumor proportion score ≥ 50%) as determined by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration...

Issues in Oncology
Lung Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Colorectal Cancer

At ESMO 2016, Many Phase III Trials Fail to Meet Primary Endpoints

The 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress revealed many important positive findings from key trials in a number of tumor types, but many highly anticipated phase III trials in advanced disease failed to meet their primary endpoints. The ASCO Post has summarized several of these ...

Lung Cancer
Skin Cancer

Numerous ESMO Presentations Focused on Anti–PD-1 Therapy in Lung Cancer and Melanoma

The 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress was jam-packed with studies of the anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibodies in non–small cell lung cancer and melanoma, where they have clearly changed the treatment paradigm. Here is a roundup of some of those trials,...

lung cancer

Cabozantinib Shows Activity in Advanced RET-Rearranged NSCLC

In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Drilon et al found that cabozantinib (Cabometyx) produced responses in some patients with advanced RET-rearranged non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). RET rearrangements are found in 1% to 2% of NSCLCs. In the single-arm study, 25 evaluable ...

Lung Cancer

Studies Confirm Ceritinib’s Benefit in ALK-Positive Patients

For patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring the ALK gene rearrangement, ceritinib (Zykadia) provided longer progression-free survival than chemotherapy in patients previously treated with chemotherapy and crizotinib (Xalkori), but gastrointestinal toxicity was...

Lung Cancer

Neoadjuvant Nivolumab Appears Safe and Feasible in Lung Cancer

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo) is safe and feasible in early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The results come from the first report of PD-1 blockade prior to surgery in this tumor, according to Patrick Forde, MD, of...

Lung Cancer

Immunotherapy Clinical Trials Actively Recruiting Patients With Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

The information contained in this Clinical Trials Resource Guide includes actively recruiting clinical studies focused on immunotherapy as treatment for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These studies are researching programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody therapy; hypofractionated...

Lung Cancer

Pembrolizumab as First-Line Therapy in Metastatic NSCLC: Practice-Changing Implications of KEYNOTE-024 Trial

We are in the midst of a paradigm shift in lung cancer. In the past 2 years, the anti–programmed cell death protein 1 (anti–PD-1) inhibitors nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) were found to improve overall survival in the second-line setting compared with docetaxel for patients with...

Lung Cancer

Pembrolizumab Improves Outcomes vs Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Advanced PD-L1–Positive NSCLC

In the phase III KEYNOTE-024 trial reported in The New England Journal of Medicine by Martin Reck, MD, PhD, of the German Center of Lung Research, Grosshansdorf, and colleagues, pembrolizumab (Keytruda) significantly improved progression-free and overall survival vs platinum-based chemotherapy in...

lung cancer

Study Finds Cabozantinib Alone or With Erlotinib Improves Outcome in EGFR Wild-Type NSCLC

Treatment with the multikinase inhibitor cabozantinib (Cabometyx) alone or with erlotinib (Tarceva) improved progression-free survival vs erlotinib alone in second- or third-line treatment of advanced nonsquamous epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type non–small cell lung cancer...

lung cancer

New ALK Inhibitor, Brigatinib, Active in ALK-Rearranged Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

In a phase I/II study reported in The Lancet Oncology, Gettinger et al found that the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor brigatinib, which showed preclinical activity against ALK mutants resistant to crizotinib (Xalkori) and other ALK inhibitors, was active in patients with ALK-rearranged...

Lung Cancer

Enrollment Disparity in National Lung Cancer Trials

Pang et al found that the enrollment disparity in clinical trials in lung cancer has been reduced in recent years for older patients and women overall, according to a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. However, disparities persist for elderly women, blacks, Asian/Pacific Islanders, ...

Lung Cancer

Modified Indication for Erlotinib in Advanced Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

On October 18, 2016, the indication for erlotinib (Tarceva) in the treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was modified to limit use to patients with tumors with specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in maintenance or second- or greater-line treatment; these mutations...

Lung Cancer

Atezolizumab in Previously Treated Metastatic NSCLC

On October 18, 2016, the anti–PD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1) antibody atezolizumab (Tecentriq) was approved for the treatment of metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progressing during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy.1,2 Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor ...

Lung Cancer

FDA Approves Pembrolizumab as First-Line Treatment for PD-L1–Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

On October 24, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the treatment of patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This is the first...

lung cancer

Improved Outcome Reported With Local Consolidative Therapy in Oligometastatic NSCLC Without Progression After First-Line Systemic Therapy

In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Gomez et al found that local consolidative therapy (with or without maintenance therapy) improved progression-free survival in patients with stage IV non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had up to three metastatic disease lesions and no...

Lung Cancer

Pembrolizumab, but Not Nivolumab, Improves Outcomes in Front-Line Setting for PD-L1–Positive Advanced NSCLC

Checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but evidence of their benefit was restricted to the second-line setting. However, early-phase trials with both pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and nivolumab (Opdivo) demonstrated favorable results in...

lung cancer
issues in oncology

Multiple Genetic Mutational Signatures Associated With Smoking

Scientists have measured the genetic damage caused by smoking in different organs of the body and identified several different mechanisms by which tobacco smoking causes mutations in DNA. Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, the Los Alamos National Laboratory, and their collaborators ...

Lung Cancer

Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes Over Chemotherapy Alone in Advanced NSCLC

Combining immunotherapy with a standard chemotherapy doublet appears to be an attractive option for the front-line treatment of advanced nonsquamous non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to the results of a phase II study presented at the 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)...

lung cancer

Personalized Risk Assessment Tool for Lung Cancer in Never, Light, and Heavy Smokers

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a new personalized assessment tool that could better predict lung cancer risk in never, light, and heavy smokers using a large Taiwanese prospective cohort study. By incorporating risk factor—in addition to...

Lung Cancer

Notable Gains in Survival Achieved With Atezolizumab in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

The programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq) significantly improved overall survival, compared to docetaxel, in previously treated, advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to preliminary results of the phase III OAK study. The findings are the first...

lung cancer

Japanese Trial Finds High Levels of Estrogen in Lung Tissue May Be Related to Synchronous Multiple Lung Adenocarcinoma in Postmenopausal Women

Thanks to advances in medical imaging, the detection rate for synchronous multiple lung adenocarcinoma has been on the rise. Cases of synchronous multiple lung adenocarcinoma in Japanese women have been on the rise, despite having a national smoking rate of less than 10% in recent years. This...

lung cancer

FDA Approves Pembrolizumab as First-Line Treatment for PD-L1–Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

On October 24, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the treatment of patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This is the...

lung cancer

Osimertinib Shows Activity in Pretreated EGFR Thr790Met–Positive Advanced NSCLC

In a phase II trial reported in The Lancet Oncology, Goss et al found that osimertinib produced a high response rate in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor–pretreated EGFR Thr790Met (T790M)–positive advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Osimertinib is an EGFR tyrosine kinase...

lung cancer

ESMO 2016: Clinical Benefit Demonstrated With Everolimus and Pasireotide LAR Alone or in Combination in Advanced Lung and Thymic Carcinoids

In patients with advanced lung or thymus carcinoid receiving everolimus, pasireotide LAR, or the combination of the two drugs, statistically significant positive impact was seen on proportion of patients’ progression-free rate at 9 months (primary endpoint) in all three arms, more relevant in ...

Lung Cancer
Skin Cancer
Kidney Cancer

Modification of Dosage Regimen for Nivolumab in Renal Cell Carcinoma, Melanoma, and NSCLC

In the Clinic provides overviews of novel oncology agents, addressing indications, mechanisms, administration recommendations, safety profiles, and other essential information needed for the appropriate clinical use of these drugs. On September 13, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...

Lung Cancer

Retrospective Studies Confirm Survival Benefit of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy in Early-Stage NSCLC

Stereotactic body radiation therapy is becoming more widely adopted for the treatment of early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Along with its increasing uptake, survival has significantly increased over the past decade, according to two large retrospective studies presented at the 58th...

lung cancer

Atezolizumab Approved for the Treatment of Metastatic NSCLC That Has Progressed During or After Platinum-Containing Therapy

On October 18, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for the treatment of patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease progressed during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic...

lung cancer

FDA Modifies the Indication of Erlotinib in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer to Patients With Specific EGFR Mutations

On October 18, 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) modified the indication for erlotinib (Tarceva) in the treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to limit its use to patients whose tumors have specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. The labeling...

lung cancer

Adding Pembrolizumab to Carboplatin/Pemetrexed Seems to Improve Response in Advanced Nonsquamous NSCLC

As reported by Langer et al in The Lancet Oncology, findings in a phase II cohort of the multicohort KEYNOTE-021 study showed that the addition of first-line pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to carboplatin/pemetrexed (Alimta) significantly increased the response rate in patients with advanced nonsquamous...

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement