Fluorouracil

Dr. Ananya Choudhury discusses personalized radiotherapy in bladder cancer, highlighting disparities in radical treatment access and advancements in adaptive therapy. The RAIDER study shows similar quality of life and event-free survival rates among different radiotherapy approaches. The need for personalized treatment selection based on biomarkers and imaging is emphasized, aiming to improve outcomes for underserved patients.

Radiation therapy, traditionally for localized cancer, now synergizes with other therapies for metastatic disease. New research by Benjamin Schrank, M.D., Ph.D., presented at the 2024 ASTRO Annual Meeting, explores immunotherapy-driven cancer treatment. Radiation's DNA damage effect amplifies with chemotherapy, exploiting DNA repair mutations. Radiation also modulates immune response, enhancing tumor immunogenicity. Schrank's ADC research targeting CD47, presented at the same meeting, aims to trigger an immune response, potentially altering ADC design for cancer treatment.

Article references on cancer treatments, focusing on HER2-targeted therapies, chemotherapy combinations, and immune microenvironment impacts in gastric and gastro-oesophageal junction cancers.

The European Commission approved zolbetuximab (Vyloy) plus chemotherapy for HER2-negative, Claudin 18.2-positive gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers. Zolbetuximab, targeting CLDN18.2, showed improved progression-free and overall survival in phase 3 trials SPOTLIGHT and GLOW. Common side effects included vomiting, nausea, and decreased appetite.

CPC inhibits HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis by promoting apoptosis and suppressing EMT, suggesting its potential as a treatment for HCC.

FDA approves 420mg strength of HERCESSI™, a biosimilar to Herceptin®, enabling Accord BioPharma to launch its first biosimilar in the U.S. in early 2025. HERCESSI is indicated for HER2-overexpressing breast and gastric cancers, with data showing similarity to Herceptin in efficacy, safety, and quality.

ESMO 2024 session on rare genitourinary cancers featured updates on penile cancer by Prof. Andrea Necchi, highlighting geographic variation in incidence, surgical indications, and treatment trends. Key updates included neoadjuvant chemotherapy recommendations and ongoing challenges in patient selection for perioperative therapy. Clinical trials like InPACT and HERCULES evaluated neoadjuvant therapies, while systemic therapy options for metastatic cases were also discussed. HPV status and tumor mutational burden (TMB) were noted to influence treatment outcomes. Ongoing research emphasizes the need for tailored approaches and clinical trial participation.

Zanidatamab (ZW25) plus mFOLFOX6-2 with or without bevacizumab showed 83.3% and 100% confirmed overall response rates, respectively, in a phase 2 study for HER2-positive mCRC, with manageable safety profile and no treatment-related deaths.

The FDA granted orphan drug designation to certepetide for treating cholangiocarcinoma, an investigational agent enhancing anticancer drug penetration into tumors. Certepetide is being studied in the phase 2a BOLSTER trial (NCT05712356), with 80 patients randomized into four arms, focusing on adverse event incidence.

Omitting 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) from first-line multidrug regimens in advanced gastrointestinal cancers reduced toxicity without compromising efficacy, according to a study in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. No significant difference in overall survival was found when 5-FU bolus was omitted, regardless of regimen or cancer type. The study suggests that the bolus component of 5-FU may not be necessary.