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BRAF p.V600E Mutation Shows Limited Prognostic Value in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Risk Stratification

Targeted Therapy
  • A new study of 301 papillary thyroid carcinoma patients found that BRAF p.V600E mutation, present in 78.7% of cases, does not significantly predict disease recurrence when other clinical factors are considered.
  • Multivariate analysis identified large-volume lymph node metastasis and male gender as the only significant predictors of recurrence, while BRAF p.V600E showed no association with increased recurrence risk.
  • Despite limited prognostic utility, BRAF p.V600E testing remains clinically important for identifying patients who may benefit from targeted BRAF inhibitor therapies in aggressive or radioactive iodine-refractory cases.

Taiwan's Formosa Pharmaceuticals Signs Exclusive Licensing Deal with Almac Discovery for ADC Development

Monoclonal AntibodyTargeted TherapyOncology
  • Taiwan-based Formosa Pharmaceuticals has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Northern Ireland's Almac Discovery to develop novel antibody-drug conjugates for cancer treatment.
  • The partnership combines Formosa's antibody expertise with Almac's proprietary drug-linker technology, aiming to address unmet needs in oncology with more targeted therapeutic approaches.
  • This collaboration represents a significant expansion of Taiwan's growing presence in the global biopharmaceutical sector, particularly in the rapidly evolving ADC market.

NICE Opens Consultations for Two Targeted Therapies in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Targeted TherapyPrecision Medicine
  • NICE has initiated public consultations for adagrasib targeting KRAS G12C mutations and encorafenib with binimetinib for BRAF V600E mutations in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.
  • The consultation for adagrasib closes on June 2, 2025, while the encorafenib-binimetinib combination consultation extends until June 24, 2025.
  • Both draft guidance documents are available for public comment through NICE's online consultation platform, with final recommendations potentially changing based on stakeholder feedback.
  • These consultations represent critical steps toward expanding targeted treatment options for patients with specific genetic mutations in advanced NSCLC.

Panitumumab Plus FOLFOX Significantly Improves Survival in RAS/BRAF Wild-Type Locally Advanced Colon Cancer

Monoclonal AntibodyTargeted TherapyOncology
  • Exploratory findings from the FOxTROT trial reveal that adding panitumumab to neoadjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy significantly reduced recurrence and improved survival in patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type locally advanced colon cancer.
  • The combination therapy demonstrated impressive results with a 49% reduction in disease-free survival risk (HR, 0.51), 77% reduction in colon cancer death risk (HR, 0.23), and 64% improvement in overall survival (HR, 0.36) compared to FOLFOX alone.
  • These results provide the first evidence that anti-EGFR therapy can improve long-term cancer control in locally advanced colon cancer, validating molecular selection for targeted therapy in non-metastatic disease.

EMERALD Trial Data Reveals Duration of Prior CDK4/6 Inhibitor Therapy as Key Predictor for Elacestrant Success in ESR1-Mutant Breast Cancer

Drug ApprovalTargeted TherapyPrecision Medicine
  • The EMERALD trial demonstrated that patients with ESR1-mutant metastatic breast cancer who received CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy for more than 12 months achieved significantly better outcomes with elacestrant, with median progression-free survival of 8.6 months versus 3.8 months in optimal patients.
  • Elacestrant maintained efficacy across challenging disease presentations including visceral disease, multiple metastatic sites, and even in patients with traditionally poor prognostic factors like p53 mutations.
  • The FDA has approved elacestrant specifically for ESR1-mutant metastatic breast cancer, with new requirements for lipid profile monitoring before treatment initiation and as needed thereafter.

Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals Summit Returns to Europe and US as Industry Momentum Builds

Targeted TherapyOncology
  • The 6th Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals Summit Europe will take place in Amsterdam on December 3-5, featuring 40+ speakers across pre-clinical and clinical tracks as radiopharmaceutical innovation accelerates.
  • Major pharmaceutical companies including Novartis, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, and Bayer are driving industry growth through billion-dollar collaborations and clinical advancements in novel radiopharmaceutical targets.
  • The 4th Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals Summit US returns to San Diego in July, bringing together 275+ global stakeholders to address key challenges in isotope supply, manufacturing, and clinical translation.

Molecular Testing Advances Personalized Treatment Strategies in Ovarian Cancer

Targeted TherapyDrug Approval
  • Comprehensive biomarker testing in ovarian cancer now includes BRCA1/2, homologous recombination deficiency, HER2 status, and folate receptor alpha expression to guide personalized treatment decisions.
  • Next-generation sequencing is increasingly performed earlier in the disease course to identify actionable targets and support clinical trial enrollment for front-line therapy optimization.
  • Emerging biomarkers beyond BRCA/HRD include tumor-agnostic markers like MSI and TMB for immunotherapy response, and HER2 testing following April 2024 FDA approval of trastuzumab deruxtecan.
  • Novel predictive biomarkers such as KRAS for MEK/FAK inhibitor combinations and CCNE1 amplification associated with platinum resistance are being integrated into treatment planning.

RenovoRx Secures New U.S. Patent for TAMP Therapy Platform, Strengthening IP Portfolio for Targeted Cancer Treatment

OncologyTargeted Therapy
  • RenovoRx received U.S. patent NO. 12,290,564 for "Methods for Treating Tumors," expanding protection of its Trans-Arterial Micro-Perfusion (TAMP) therapy platform through November 2037.
  • The patent covers novel methods for local drug delivery near tumors using the company's FDA-cleared RenovoCath device, marking the ninth U.S. patent in RenovoRx's growing intellectual property portfolio.
  • This patent strengthens commercial protection for RenovoCath as the company scales commercialization efforts and advances its Phase III TIGeR-PaC trial evaluating intra-arterial gemcitabine for locally advanced pancreatic cancer.
  • RenovoRx now holds 19 issued patents and 12 pending patents, providing robust IP protection as the company began generating revenue from RenovoCath device sales in December 2024.

Targeted Therapies Transform Biliary Tract Cancer Treatment as HER2-Directed Agents Gain FDA Approval

Targeted TherapyDrug ApprovalPrecision Medicine
  • The FDA approved two HER2-targeted therapies in 2024 for biliary tract cancer: fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd; Enhertu) and zanidatamab-hrii (Ziihera), marking the first targeted therapy approvals for this aggressive cancer.
  • Real-world analysis shows patients with matched targeted therapy achieved median overall survival of 21.4 months compared to 14.6 months for unmatched treatment, demonstrating the clinical value of molecular profiling.
  • Approximately 30% to 40% of biliary tract cancers harbor actionable molecular alterations including FGFR2 fusions, HER2 amplification, KRAS G12C mutations, and IDH1 mutations that can be targeted with approved therapies.
  • Despite these advances, the 5-year overall survival rate for advanced biliary tract cancer remains below 5%, highlighting the continued need for additional effective treatment options.

A Study of ZW25 (Zanidatamab) in Subjects With Advanced or Metastatic HER2-Amplified Biliary Tract Cancers

NCT04466891CompletedPhase 2
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Posted 10/1/2020

Basket Study of Tucatinib and Trastuzumab in Solid Tumors With HER2 Alterations

NCT04579380Active, Not RecruitingPhase 2
Seagen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer
Posted 1/11/2021

Brain Cancer Canada Awards $170K for Two Glioblastoma Research Projects Targeting Treatment Resistance

Targeted Therapy
  • Brain Cancer Canada has awarded $85,000 grants to two separate University of Toronto research teams investigating novel therapeutic approaches for glioblastoma, the most lethal brain cancer with less than 5% five-year survival rates.
  • Dr. Leonardo Salmena's project focuses on targeting microRNAs that regulate glioblastoma stem cells, which drive tumor growth and treatment resistance in this aggressive cancer.
  • Dr. Stéphane Angers' research investigates hypermutant recurrent glioblastoma tumors with MSH6 gene mutations, exploring potential sensitivity to existing antifolate drugs already approved for other conditions.
  • Both projects aim to overcome the significant treatment resistance that characterizes glioblastoma, offering new hope for patients facing this devastating disease.

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