Top 5 Most-Read Immuno-Oncology Articles of 2022

In 2022, the most-read news about immuno-oncology included an FDA approval for liver cancer, research findings on other potential therapies for liver cancer, a Q&A with a COTA Healthcare executive about how real-world evidence has changed, new possibilities for patients with solid tumors, and more.

Here are your top articles on immuno-oncology for 2022.

5. Combination of Tremelimumab and Durvalumab Approved by FDA for Unresectable Liver Cancer

In October, the FDA approved the dual immunotherapy option of tremelimumab, sold as Imjudo, in combination with durvalumab, sold as Imfinzi, for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer. This regimen includes a single 300-mg dose of the anticytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 antibody tremelimumab added to a 1500-mg dose of the anti–programmed cell death ligand-1 antibody durvalumab, followed by a 1500-mg dose of durvalumab every 4 weeks.

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4. IO-TKI Combinations Have Potential as Preferred First-line mRCC Therapy

A meta-analysis of phase 3 trials compared and ranked available first-line treatments for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), which has seen more therapy options in recent years, including immunotherapy (IO) combinations paired with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Overall, the meta-analysis found that IO-based drug combinations showed improvements in outcomes for patients with mRCC. In particular, the IO-TKI combinations of nivolumab plus cabozantinib and pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib were the most preferred combinations based on the primary outcomes. Despite higher treatment-related adverse events, low treatment-related drug discontinuation rates indicate manageable adverse effects in these combinations.

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3. Review Sees Potential in CAR T-Cell Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is on track to become the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030 if no significant improvements in treatment efficacy are made. Surgical removal is the only potentially curative treatment, but for most patients, the cancer is too advanced by the time it is detected. An article published in March 2022 reviewed some of the novel targets and strategies being explored in this difficult disease setting. Different types of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and combination immunotherapies may hold future promise.

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2. COTA’s Miruna Sasu on Real-world Evidence: “The Ecosystem Has Changed”

In the June issue of Evidence-Based Oncology^®, Miruna Sasu, PhD, MBA, president and CEO of COTA Healthcare, talked about how the field of real-world evidence and real-world data has changed over the past year. In the interview, she discusses how traditional pharmaceutical research and development will be disrupted for the better and how both will fuel the future of precision oncology. Sasu also touched on the issues of payers, providers, and reimbursement.

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1. Dosing Study of Modakafusp Alfa Shows Promise in Solid Tumors; Tests Planned With Checkpoint Inhibitors

Results from a phase 1b/2 dose escalation study (NCT04157517) of modakafusp alfa, a first-in-class immune-targeting attenuated cytokine, were presented during the 2022 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Modakafusp alfa, which is being developed by Takeda Oncology, had previously demonstrated antitumor activity in mouse models; in the data presented, it was tested in patients with a variety of solid tumors. Modakafusp alfa consists of 2 interferon alpha 2b molecules that are genetically fused to the to the Fc portion of a humanized anti-CD38 IgG4 monoclonal antibody and trigger highly specific immune responses.

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