DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE

TiNivo-2 trial results show no improvement in outcomes for RCC patients when adding nivolumab to tivozanib vs. tivozanib alone after ICI therapy progression, with median PFS of 5.7 months vs. 7.4 months, respectively. The study suggests ICI rechallenge should generally be discouraged.

TiNivo-2 study found no improvement in clinical outcomes for metastatic RCC patients who progressed on PD-(L)1 inhibitor therapy when adding nivolumab to tivozanib. Tivozanib monotherapy showed better median progression-free survival (PFS) compared to the combination. The study suggests rechallenging with a PD-1 inhibitor after progression should be reconsidered.

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) shows significant anti-cancer activity in brain metastases of HER2-positive breast cancer patients, according to the DESTINY-Breast12 trial. The drug, an antibody-drug conjugate, demonstrated a median progression-free survival of 17.3 months in patients with brain metastases, with 71% showing an intracranial objective response. The findings support T-DXd as a valuable treatment option for this challenging cancer form.

Kathy Giusti, diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1996, co-founded the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) in 1998 with her sister, leading to 15 FDA-approved drugs. Giusti advocates for precision medicine and has extended patient life expectancy from 3 to 10 years. She has also authored a book, 'Fatal to Fearless,' sharing her journey and advice for cancer patients.

OncoHost's PROphet platform, initially validated in NSCLC, demonstrated potential in risk-stratifying RCC patients, with PROphet-POSITIVE patients showing improved survival outcomes. The study, presented at ESMO 2024, highlights the platform's versatility and predictive value across cancer types.

Accurate IHC testing for HER2 in breast cancer is challenging, with HER2-low (IHC 1+ or 2+/ISH–) now recognized. Inconsistent results impact treatment decisions and patient outcomes, prompting calls for regulatory reform to improve IHC quality control.

Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) showed numerically improved overall survival (OS) vs docetaxel in advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but not statistically significant. In nonsquamous NSCLC, Dato-DXd improved OS by 2.3 months. Despite no statistical OS significance, significant PFS improvement and other benefits suggest clinical promise.

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.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute research reveals that Duffy-null individuals, common among those of African or Middle Eastern ancestry, are often excluded from cancer trials due to low neutrophil counts, despite being capable of fighting infections. This exclusion, found in 76.5% of trials studied, particularly affects colorectal cancer trials, and may structurally discriminate against these populations.

Clinical trials of new cancer drugs may unfairly exclude people with Duffy-null phenotype, predominantly found in African/Middle Eastern descent, due to lower blood neutrophil levels. This exclusion could lead to less effective doses for these individuals, highlighting a need to re-evaluate neutrophil count criteria in trials.