In this post, we will be taking a closer look at some of the most popular oncology / hematology-related articles recently published across medical journals.

Phase III KEYNOTE-789 Study of Pemetrexed and Platinum With or Without Pembrolizumab for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor‒Resistant, EGFR–Mutant, Metastatic Nonsquamous Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

  • Journal of Clinical Oncology
  • August 2024
  • This randomized, double-blind, phase III KEYNOTE-789 study, investigated the efficacy of pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy with or without pembrolizumab for patients with TKI-resistant, EGFR-mutant, metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC. The study revealed that the inclusion of pembrolizumab alongside chemotherapy did not result in a significant extension of progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) compared to the use of a placebo in conjunction with chemotherapy.
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First-Line Nivolumab Plus Relatlimab Versus Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma: An Indirect Treatment Comparison Using RELATIVITY-047 and CheckMate 067 Trial Data

  • Journal of Clinical Oncology
  • August 2024
  • Nivolumab in combination with relatlimab and nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab have both received approval for the treatment of advanced melanoma based on the results of the phase II/III RELATIVITY-047 and phase III CheckMate 067 trials, respectively. Since there has been no direct comparison between these two treatment regimens, an indirect treatment comparison was conducted using patient-level data from each trial. The findings revealed that nivolumab plus relatlimab showed comparable efficacy to nivolumab plus ipilimumab in the overall patient population, with some variations in certain subgroups. Additionally, nivolumab plus relatlimab demonstrated improved safety profiles in patients with untreated advanced melanoma. It is important to interpret these results with caution due to the limitations of the indirect comparison method.
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Applications of Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Virus-Associated Cancers

  • Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology
  • August 2024
  • A wide variety of viruses play significant roles in driving the development of cancer in both blood cancers and solid tumors. It is estimated that around 1.5 million patients are diagnosed with virus-related cancers each year. As the adaptive T cell-mediated immune response is essential for controlling viral infections, there is a growing focus on researching virus-specific T cell therapies for treating virus-associated cancers. The impact of viruses on the development of these malignancies is discussed before delving into the advancements made in virus-specific T cell therapy. Also assessing the potential effectiveness of these therapies in treating or potentially preventing virus-related cancers.
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Combining PSMA-PET and PROMISE to Re-Define Disease Stage and Risk in Patients With Prostate Cancer: a Multicentre Retrospective Study

  • Lancet Oncology
  • July 2024
  • The introduction of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-PET into clinical practice in 2012 marked a significant advancement in the staging of prostate cancer. This technology has revolutionized the way prostate cancer is diagnosed and managed. To ensure consistency and accuracy in reporting PSMA-PET results, the Prostate Cancer Molecular Imaging Standardized Evaluation (PROMISE) criteria were developed. The study aimed to assess the prognostic value of PSMA-PET using the PROMISE (PPP) stage compared to traditional clinical nomograms in a large dataset of prostate cancer patients with follow-up data on overall survival. The PPP nomograms effectively stratified patients into high-risk and low-risk groups for overall survival across all stages of prostate cancer. In fact, the PPP nomograms demonstrated equal or superior predictive accuracy when compared to established clinical risk assessment tools.
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Clinical Benefit, Reimbursement Outcomes, and Prices of FDA-Approved Cancer Drugs Reviewed Through Project Orbis in the USA, Canada, England, and Scotland: a Retrospective, Comparative Analysis

  • Lancet Oncology
  • August 2024
  • Project Orbis is a global initiative with the goal of enhancing the efficiency of regulatory review processes among international regulators in the USA, Canada, Australia, UK, Israel, Brazil, Singapore, and Switzerland. The primary objective of this initiative is to expedite the availability of promising cancer drugs to patients. The study delved into various aspects of cancer drugs reviewed through Project Orbis, including the clinical benefits, time to regulatory approval, health technology assessment recommendations, reimbursement outcomes, and monthly treatment prices. The found that despite the fact that the clinical outcomes of Project Orbis were found to be comparable to other FDA approvals during the same period, there were significant delays or even a lack of access following a successful health technology assessment.
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Safety and Efficacy of Odronextamab in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma

  • Annals of Oncology
  • August 2024
  • Odronextamab, a CD20×CD3 bispecific antibody that activates cytotoxic T cells to eliminate malignant B cells, has shown promising efficacy in various subtypes of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Research has revealed that Odronextamab has resulted in high rates of complete response with generally manageable safety profiles in patients with heavily treated R/R follicular lymphoma (FL).
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Genomic Characterization of AML With Aberrations of Chromosome 7: a Multinational Cohort of 519 Patients

  • Journal of Hematology & Oncology
  • August 2024
  • Deletions and partial losses of chromosome 7 (chr7) are common occurrences in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and are associated with poor outcomes. However, the full extent of the genomic landscape and prognostic implications of concurrent genetic abnormalities are not yet fully understood. This study has revealed previously overlooked genetic abnormalities and offers a thorough examination of the range of recurring gene mutations and their clinical significance in AML with abn(7). KMT2C mutations are particularly prevalent in this diverse AML subgroup and merit additional research to better understand their functional implications.
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Bilateral Mastectomy and Breast Cancer Mortality

  • JAMA Oncology
  • July 2024
  • The efficacy of bilateral mastectomy in reducing mortality rates for women with unilateral cancer has not been definitively proven. However, findings from this cohort study suggest that the risk of cancer-related death significantly rises following the development of contralateral cancer. Women who underwent bilateral mastectomy showed a marked decrease in the risk of contralateral cancer. Despite this, their mortality rates were comparable to those of patients who underwent lumpectomy or unilateral mastectomy.
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The Cardioprotective and Anticancer Effects of SGLT2 Inhibitors: JACC: CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review

  • JAMA Oncology
  • July 2024
  • The efficacy of bilateral mastectomy in reducing mortality rates for women with unilateral cancer has not been definitively proven. However, findings from this cohort study suggest that the risk of cancer-related death significantly rises following the development of contralateral cancer. Women who underwent bilateral mastectomy showed a marked decrease in the risk of contralateral cancer. Despite this, their mortality rates were comparable to those of patients who underwent lumpectomy or unilateral mastectomy.
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There you have it – a look at some of the most popular oncology / hematology oncology articles recently released. Sign up for alerts and stay informed on the latest published guidelines and articles.

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