Immuno-Oncology

An update on some of the recent developments in the field of immuno-oncology.

The FDA has accepted for priority review the supplemental Biologics License Application for Merck's pembrolizumab (Keytruda).

Results from the CheckMate 066 study found that the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab performs well in improving patients' long-term quality of survival benefit in patients with advanced melanoma.

Loss-of-function mutations in Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) or Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), deletion of the wild-type allele of JAK1 or JAK2, and truncation in the antigen-presenting protein beta-2-microglobulin gene were found responsible for lack of response to interferon gamma.

During a clinical session at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, researchers were tasked with sharing their data on any breakthroughs or leads with biomarkers for the new immunotherapies.

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, results were presented from a phase 1/2 trial in which patients with relapsed or refractory CD19+ B-cell malignancies were treated with CD19 CAR-T cells.

As immunotherapy-particularly the checkpoint inhibitors-continues to show promise in solid as well as liquid tumors, clinicians have been evaluating these agents in combination to improve efficacy and outcomes.

At the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held June 3-7, 2016, phase 1 data from the CheckMate 143 trial was presented during a poster session.

The patient will be the focus during the 2016 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Collective Wisdom: The Future of Patient-Centered Care and Research.

A study presented at the ongoing annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research has confirmed that 3 commercially available diagnostic tests that measure the expression of the programmed death ligand 1 protein in non-small cell lung cancer could be interchanged.

It is imperative that we gather more mature data on a much larger number of patients to accurately assess efficacy, safety, potential harms, durability of response, and impact on disease progression and overall survival of the new immunotherapy treatments.

At the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 21st Annual Conference, John A. Thompson, MD, presented an update on where the field of melanoma treatment stands today.

It is imperative that we gather more mature data on a much larger number of patients to accurately assess efficacy, safety, potential harms, durability of response, and impact on disease progression and overall survival of the new immunotherapy treatments.

A new study in Australia adds to the evolving knowledge on adverse cutaneous effects of pembrolizumab and nivolumab. Could they also indicate better prognosis?

FDA has granted a Priority Review designation for the breakthrough programmed death ligand-1 inhibitor atezolizumab, for the treatment of bladder cancer.

Supporting, funding, and protecting the research and development of new medicines and new treatments is more critical, now than ever, to provide better treatments and better outcomes to all cancer patients.

At the first annual conference of the Institute for Clinical Immuno-Oncology on October 1, 2015, in Philadelphia, the discussion revolved around integrating immuno-oncology into clinical practice and programs that assist with patient access to these treatments.

The new test, developed by Dako, will provide information on the survival benefit of patients with non-squamous NSCLC treated with nivolumab.

Metastatic melanoma patients treated with pembrolizumab responded better if their T cells had a higher level of Bim expression.

The submission by BMS includes results from the ELOQUENT-2 trial that were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

With unprecedented activity in the area of precision medicine, with the successful development of several targeted therapies, the FDA has been in the forefront of efforts to ensure timely access to, and the safe and effective use of, these therapies.

Merck (MSD) has announced that its PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was approved by the European Commission for the treatment of advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma in adults.

Nivolumab proved superior to everolimus in improving overall survival in previously treated patients.

Immuno-oncology continues to deliver results in oncology, as seen from results presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab significantly improved survival in melanoma, while elotozumab showed encouraging results in relapsed refractory multiple myeloma.

A late-breaking abstract session early at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology presented datd for nivolumab in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, non-squamous cell non-small cell lung cancer, and for tumors harboring mismatch repair deficiency.

The American Journal of Managed Care invited healthcare experts to discuss the challenges associated with managing and paying for newer and more expensive agents in oncology, during the Oncology Stakeholders Summit.

Two posters summarized the safety of nivolumab in lung cancer and in glioblastoma, at the ASCO annual meeting.

Scientists at Institut Pasteur in France have repurposed DPP4 inhibitors, used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus, to boost the body's immune response to tumors.

BMS has submitted phase 3 results from the CheckMate-066 trial, comparing nivolumab with dacarbazine in treatment-naïve advanced melanoma patients.

Much-anticipated trial results were presented on the third day of the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, held in Chicago. These included phase 3 results from the CheckMate 067 trial and a phase 2 study with elotuzumab.