Study Examines Off-Target Mortality in Cancer Screening
Cancer screening reduced targeted cancer mortality without significantly increasing deaths from other causes. Meta-analysis of 17 studies found a 0.2% increase in off-target mortality rates in screened patients. Results suggest a need to analyze on-target cancer mortality and off-target mortality separately in trials of cancer screening. Screening for cancer reduced targeted cancer mortality without a […]
‘New Gold Standard’ for Previously Untreated CLL
SAN DIEGO — A time-limited, targeted combination significantly improved survival compared with chemoimmunotherapy in fit chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients who met criteria for starting treatment, findings from the randomized FLAIR trial indicated. At 3 years, progression-free survival (PFS) rates reached 97% for patients randomized to venetoclax (Venclexta) plus ibrutinib (Imbruvica), as compared with 77% […]
BRAF-MEK Inhibition Achieves ‘Near Universal’ Response in Rare Brain Tumor
Targeted BRAF-MEK inhibition resulted in a response in nearly all patients with untreated BRAF V600E–mutated papillary craniopharyngioma, according to results from a small phase II study. Of 16 evaluable patients treated with the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib (Zelboraf) and the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib (Cotellic) over several monthly cycles, 15 had a durable, objective partial response or […]
Alzheimer’s Drug Wins Full FDA Approval
Lecanemab (Leqembi) became the first Alzheimer’s treatment targeted at the disease process to win full FDA approval, the agency announced today. “Today’s action is the first verification that a drug targeting the underlying disease process of Alzheimer’s disease has shown clinical benefit in this devastating disease,” said Teresa Buracchio, MD, acting director of the Office […]
Novel Anti-HER2 Drugs ‘Impressive’ in Advanced Biliary Cancer
CHICAGO — In a pair of mid-stage trials, newer targeted therapies demonstrated meaningful levels of activity against HER2-positive biliary tract cancers in pretreated patients with advanced disease. Cohort 1 of the global HERIZON-BTC-01 study, which included 80 treatment-refractory patients, showed that 41.3% (95% CI 30.4-52.8) responded to zanidatamab, an investigational bispecific monoclonal antibody that targets […]
Tongue Nerve Stimulator Does Good for Sleep Apnea Patients
Targeted hypoglossal nerve stimulation (THN) showed safety and efficacy for patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the randomized THN3 trial found. Four months after receiving a THN device, patients who had had their devices activated at month 1 were more likely to meet criteria for treatment response in terms of reduced apnea-hypopnea index (AHI; […]
Advanced Parkinson’s Symptoms Improved With Focused Ultrasound
Unilateral focused ultrasound ablation targeted to the globus pallidus internus led to a higher percentage of Parkinson’s disease patients with improved motor function or reduced dyskinesia compared with sham over 3 months but was associated with adverse neurologic effects, a pivotal trial showed. A total of 45 patients (69%) in the focused ultrasound group had […]
Omicron-Targeted COVID Vaccine Approved in UK – MedicineNet Health News
Latest Coronavirus News TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 2022 A COVID-19 booster that’s targeted to the Omicron variant will be available soon — and it’s already been approved in Britain. The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency was the first to give the go-ahead for the vaccine that was designed to fight both the original COVID […]
FDA Approves First Targeted Radioligand Therapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer
On Wednesday, the FDA approved the first targeted therapeutic radioligand for progressive, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression. Consisting of a targeting compound and a therapeutic radioisotope, lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto) hones in on PSMA-expressing mCRPC, as identified by a companion diagnostic test (gallium Ga 68 Gozetotide injection, […]
Support for MRI-Targeted Biopsy in Prostate Cancer Screening
A prostate cancer screening strategy using MRI with targeted and standard biopsy reduced the detection of clinically insignificant cancers as well as unnecessary biopsies, researchers reported. Such an approach was also as effective as a standard biopsy strategy in detecting clinically significant cancers, said Tobias Nordstrom, MD, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, in […]