PIK3CA

CRAFT interim analysis shows inavolisib (GDC-0077) promising in disease control for rare tumors, with 36% disease control rate in PIK3CA-mutated tumors. Presented at ESMO 2024, ongoing CRAFT trial aims to confirm efficacy and safety across various disease states.

Sysmex Inostics' RAS-RAF-SEQ liquid biopsy assay receives NY State approval for clinical trial use, aiding in therapy selection for RAS-RAF and PI3K-associated cancers.

Kura Oncology appoints Michael Vasconcelles, M.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Vasconcelles brings over 25 years of oncology drug development experience and industry leadership, enhancing Kura's menin inhibitor and farnesyl transferase inhibitor programs.

Inavolisib (GDC-0077) showed a favorable safety profile and disease control rates of 60% at week 8 and 32% at week 16 in patients with refractory, PIK3CA-mutated solid tumors, according to the phase 2 CRAFT trial. The median progression-free survival was 3.52 months, and the 12-month overall survival rate was 51%. The most common PIK3CA mutations were E545K, E542K, and H1047R/L, with 7 patients achieving disease control at week 16. Adverse effects included hyperglycemia, diarrhea, fatigue, and constipation, mostly at grade 1 or 2.

UC Davis and UCLA researchers developed four sarcoma models using mesenchymal stem cells, identifying potential therapeutic targets and possibly leading to new treatments. The models, created by manipulating oncogenes, offer insights into tumor development and metastasis, aiding in the search for more precise treatment options.

AstraZeneca Korea launched Truqap, the first AKT inhibitor for HR+/HER2- breast cancer, targeting PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN mutations. Truqap, approved in April, offers new hope for patients progressing after endocrine therapy. The CAPItello-291 study showed Truqap plus fulvestrant doubled median progression-free survival to 7.3 months. Despite financial concerns over NGS costs, global guidelines recommend mutation testing for effective treatment.

Precision medicines targeting HER2 have shown significant improvements in cancer treatment, with exceptional responders surviving longer. Studies like CLEOPATRA and EMBRACE highlight predictors of exceptional response, including strong HER2 expression and triplet regimen therapy. Further research aims to identify genetic markers and individual differences influencing treatment outcomes, potentially leading to more patients becoming exceptional responders.

Metformin, a common diabetes drug, slows growth of precancerous esophageal cells, while metabolic conditions like diabetes and obesity accelerate it, according to a study published in Nature Genetics. The research suggests metformin's potential in managing squamous esophageal cancer risk beyond its role in diabetes.

AI significantly improves early breast cancer detection, with RNN achieving up to 98.58% accuracy. DL methods surpass traditional ML, showing robustness across datasets. Preprocessing enhances US image analysis, and CNNs are effective in histopathological image classification, offering tools for BC staging. Collaboration is key for advancing BC detection methods.

The article commemorates the 20th anniversary of discovering EGFR mutations in NSCLC, highlighting significant advancements in treatment and precision oncology. It discusses the evolution from molecular profiling to targeted therapies, including the impact of EGFR TKIs and the exploration of resistance mechanisms. The article also outlines a global expert panel's selection of the top 20 influential papers in the field, emphasizing the shift towards personalized medicine and the potential for curing early-stage EGFR+ NSCLC. Key developments include the use of plasma genotyping for monitoring treatment responses and detecting resistance, as well as the societal implications of lung cancer screening in never-smokers.