UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SOUTHAMPTON NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

GSK's Zejula Shows Promising Results in Phase II Mesothelioma Trial with 27% Reduction in Disease Progression

22 days ago

• Phase II NERO study demonstrates GSK's Zejula (niraparib) reduced risk of disease progression or death by 27% in relapsed mesothelioma patients compared to standard care. • Patients treated with the PARP inhibitor gained an average of 1.5 months of progression-free survival, representing a significant advancement for a patient population with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. • University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust plans to launch SELECTmeso, a biomarker-driven Phase II platform trial to further personalize treatment approaches for mesothelioma patients.

NHS Expands Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad to Include Promising Melanoma Treatment

a month ago

• The NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad program is expanding to include trials of a new melanoma vaccine, aiming to improve treatment outcomes for patients with advanced skin cancer. • The iSCIB1+ (Immunobody) vaccine works by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, potentially boosting the effectiveness of existing immunotherapy treatments. • With melanoma cases projected to increase by 33% by 2040, the needle-free vaccine will be available at seven initial hospital sites across England, with first patient referrals expected in May 2025.

Groundbreaking TOURIST Trial Aims to Transform Stage IV Lung Cancer Treatment Through Advanced Radiotherapy

3 months ago

• A pioneering clinical trial called TOURIST is launching to investigate how advanced radiotherapy could extend and improve quality of life for Stage IV lung cancer patients. • The innovative study aims to recruit nearly 1,000 participants with Stage IV lung cancer, accepting patients regardless of age or underlying health conditions, making it uniquely inclusive. • With lung cancer causing 1.2 million deaths worldwide annually, this Christie-sponsored and NIHR-funded trial could potentially revolutionize treatment standards for advanced lung cancer patients.

Neoadjuvant Therapies Show Promise in High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer

4 months ago

• Phase II trials suggest that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with second-generation agents shows promise, with favorable pathological complete response (pCR) and minimal residual disease (MRD) rates. • Ongoing studies are exploring genomic-targeted and chemohormonal therapies to improve outcomes in high-risk localized prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy. • Lutetium-177-PSMA radioligand therapy is being investigated as a neoadjuvant treatment, demonstrating a safe surgical profile and encouraging biochemical responses in early trials. • Current international guidelines do not recommend neoadjuvant therapy as standard practice, emphasizing the need for further Phase III data to support its routine use.

International Consensus Supports Asthma Biologic Use During Pregnancy with Shared Decision-Making

9 months ago

• An international panel of 141 clinicians from 32 countries has reached consensus supporting the use of asthma biologics during pregnancy and conception when clinically indicated and agreed upon by patients. • The consensus statement recommends that pregnant patients on asthma biologics should receive coordinated care from respiratory and obstetric teams, with treatment documented in national or international registries. • While established biologics like omalizumab show strong support, newer treatments such as tezepelumab require additional safety data, highlighting the need for continued research in this area.