Investigational Immunotherapy Combo Shows Promise for Advanced Solid Tumors
An investigational combination of CTLA-4 and PD‐1 checkpoint inhibitors demonstrated “encouraging” tumor activity, as well as a manageable safety profile, in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors, according to results from a small phase I study. Among 61 patients with different solid tumors who were evaluated for efficacy, 37.7% achieved an objective response to treatment with […]
Immunotherapy May Hold Promise for Skin Cancers After Kidney Transplant
The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors given as part of an immunosuppressive regimen for kidney transplant recipients with advanced cutaneous cancers may be effective and safe, depending on the regimen, two small studies suggested. In the first study among 12 kidney transplant recipients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) who were treated with cemiplimab […]
Clinical Challenges: Beyond CDK4/6 Inhibition in Advanced HR-Positive Breast Cancer
The emergence of CDK4/6 inhibitors has reshaped the therapeutic landscape for advanced hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer, extending progression-free survival (PFS) and in some cases overall survival (OS) when combined with first-line endocrine therapy. Unfortunately, most patients eventually progress, and the next step after CDK4/6 inhibition is perhaps “the hottest topic that all of us […]
Certain SSRIs May Increase Arrhythmia Risk in Select Patients
Therapeutic doses of some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may lead to cardiotoxic concentration levels associated with increased risk of arrhythmia in certain groups of patients, including those 65 and up, according to a Norwegian cohort study. In patients 65 and over taking escitalopram (Lexapro) daily, about 20% were predicted to reach potentially pro-arrhythmic concentrations […]
PPIs Linked to Worse Outcomes With Widely Used Breast Cancer Drug
Using proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) during treatment with palbociclib (Ibrance) was linked to higher risks of progression and death among patients with breast cancer, according to a retrospective cohort study from South Korea. Among over 1,300 women, the median clinical progression-free survival (PFS) in the group taking both a PPI and palbociclib was 25.3 months […]
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Safe, Effective in Cancer Patients With HIV
Immune checkpoint inhibitors showed activity among people with HIV and various cancer types, without any excess or unexpected toxicities, according to a retrospective real-world study. In a cohort of 390 patients with HIV and cancer, 20% had immune-related adverse events (AEs) of any grade and 7.7% had grade ≥3 immune-related AEs, reported Abdul Rafeh Naqash, […]
Crystal Ball Cloudy for PI3K Inhibitors’ Future in Hematology
Last year, MedPage Today reported on developments leading to PI3K inhibitors losing multiple indications over safety and efficacy concerns. In this report, we outline what to expect in the coming year. The PI3K inhibitor drug class had a rough go of it in the regulatory realm during 2022. In April, participants in an unprecedented FDA […]
5-ARIs Not Linked to Risk of Dementia Over the Long Term
Men taking 5α-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs), commonly used for androgenic alopecia and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), should be aware of possible adverse psychological effects, researchers warned. In a register-based cohort study of over 2.2 million Swedish men, an increased risk for depression was seen in those taking finasteride (Proscar, Propecia; HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.48-1.75) or […]
Can Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Reduce Dementia Risk?
New research failed to support the hypothesis that phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) are promising drug repurposing candidates for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Using four analytic approaches designed to address potential biases, PDE5 inhibitors did not reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and related dementia compared with other drugs used for pulmonary […]
Regulating the regulators of the immune system
Checkpoint inhibitors have become important tools in the cancer-fighting arsenal. By blocking proteins that normally restrain the immune response, these drugs can help the immune system destroy cancer cells. But they don’t work in all patients. And now a new study in Nature Immunology led by researchers from Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine suggests a […]