Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Ushers in New Treatment Era for HER2-Low Breast Cancer
CHICAGO — Patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer treated with trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) achieved significant improvements in survival compared with those treated with chemotherapy alone, according to results from the DESTINY-Breast04 Trial. In the phase III international study, among a population of 494 patients with both HR-positive disease (88.7%) and HR-negative disease (11.3%), the risk […]
IL-15 Agonist Impresses in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
CHICAGO — Patients with BCG-unresponsive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) had a high response rate and 2-year cancer-specific survival with an immunostimulatory fusion protein complex plus BCG, a prospective study showed. The intravesical combination led to complete responses in 71% of patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS), with a median response duration exceeding 2 years. […]
Brentuximab Vedotin-Chemo Boosts EFS in High-Risk Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma
CHICAGO — A combination of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) and chemotherapy was safe and effective in pediatric patients (up to age 21 years) with newly diagnosed high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma, a researcher reported here. In the phase III study, a regimen of brentuximab vedotin (Bv) combined with doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy (AVE-PC) was superior […]
KRAS Inhibitor Shrinks Tumors in Over 40% of NSCLC Patients
CHICAGO — More than 40% of patients with KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) responded to treatment with adagrasib, findings from a phase II trial showed. Among 112 evaluable patients in the KRYSTAL-1 study, all of whom were previously treated, the confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 42.9% with the investigational KRAS G12C inhibitor, […]
Targeted drug achieves 43% response rate in KRAS-mutated lung cancer: Experimental drug adagrasib also shows activity in lung cancer metastases to the brain
Nearly 43% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose lung cancers harbored a specific KRAS mutation responded to the experimental drug adagrasib, and the targeted agent also showed activity against lesions in the brain that metastasized from the lung tumors, according to results of a study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators. Mutations […]
Sex and the (Not Quite) Single Arthritis Patient
COPENHAGEN — Half of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 30% of those with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) reported substantial problems with sexual function, according to a survey reported here. Among 27 with RA diagnoses, 13 had scores on the 14-item Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (CSFQ) in the range indicative of sexual dysfunction, said Carlos […]
T-Cell Receptor Gene Therapy Shows Promise in Pancreatic Cancer
A novel T-cell receptor (TCR) gene therapy may be effective in treating patients with pancreatic cancer and other cancers that express the KRAS G12D mutation, researchers have found. Their case study — published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) — showed that a heavily pretreated patient with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma achieved a deep […]
Increased Public Assistance Tied to Better Cancer Survival in Black Patients
CHICAGO — Overall survival (OS) in Black patients with cancer improved significantly, and racial disparities in cancer survival decreased, with increased state-level spending on public welfare programs, a large retrospective review showed. Every 10% increase in public welfare spending was associated with an 8.6% improvement in cancer survival among Black patients, almost four times greater […]
Most COVID Long-Haulers Still Having Symptoms 15 Months Later
Latest Coronavirus News WEDNESDAY, May 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) Many COVID-19 patients who didn’t wind up in the hospital continue to battle lingering health issues more than a year later, a new study finds. These long-haulers continue to suffer neurologic symptoms, fatigue and a compromised quality of life long after their initial infection. “We were […]
Particulate Matter Size Tied to Stroke Mortality
Hospitalized stroke patients living in areas with greater air pollution were more likely to die from their stroke, but the size of ambient particulate matter (PM) and duration of exposure both played a role in the level of risk, an observational study from China indicated. Effect sizes were greatest for smaller-sized particles (PM1) and with […]