Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Persistent tumor hypoxia on intratreatment 18F-fluoromisonidazole PET increases distant metastasis risk 3.5-fold in HNSCC patients after chemoradiotherapy, while those negative for pretreatment hypoxia remain metastasis-free, suggesting PET hypoxia as a biomarker for metastasis risk and guiding therapeutic strategies.

A shorter, three-week course of post-mastectomy radiation does not affect breast reconstruction success, according to a Phase 3 trial involving 898 patients at 209 cancer centers. The study, presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology annual meeting, found similar complication rates (14% vs. 12%) and cancer recurrence rates (1.5% vs. 2.3%) compared to traditional five-week treatments. This shorter course could make radiation more accessible and improve patients' quality of life.

Case Western Reserve University researchers, with a $3.3M NIH grant, study if brain proteins like Eph receptors contribute to Alzheimer's, focusing on the blood-brain barrier's role. Collaborating with Texas Tech, UT, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, they aim to understand these proteins' functions in disease development.

India's Indian Cancer Genome Atlas (ICGA) introduces a comprehensive cancer multi-omics database, focusing on Indian population-specific cancer biology. The open-access ICGA portal initially includes data on 50 breast cancer patients, with plans to expand to 500 by next year, promoting ethical sharing and collaboration in cancer research.

CAR T-cell therapy faces challenges in scaling up due to complex manufacturing processes involving living cells and stringent quality control. Accelerated manufacturing, process automation, in vivo cell manufacturing, and AI integration are emerging techniques to improve efficiency and access. These innovations aim to reduce costs, minimize production time, and enhance patient outcomes, potentially expanding CAR T-cell therapy's reach and efficacy.

ImPact Biotech announces 50% enrollment in Phase 3 ENLIGHTED trial for Padeliporfin VTP in low-grade UTUC, anticipating full enrollment by Q1 2025. Interim results show 77% CR rate, with additional data expected in Q4 2024.

Innate Pharma SA will co-host a hybrid scientific symposium on October 3, 2024, with Mount Sinai, featuring key opinion leaders in immunotherapy. The event marks Innate Pharma's 25th anniversary and highlights next-generation immunotherapy discoveries.

Dr. Gopakumar Iyer discussed integrating novel therapeutics with trimodal therapy (TMT) at the 2024 ASTRO annual meeting. He highlighted the immunomodulatory effects of radiation therapy (RT) and the potential of combining RT with immunotherapy, referencing the PACIFIC study. Ongoing trials like Keynote 992 and Tour de Force study SWOG S1806 aim to improve bladder-intact event-free survival (BIEFS). Additionally, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) like enfortumab vedotin (EV) are transforming treatment, with the EV-302 trial setting a new standard for metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Preclinical and retrospective safety analyses support combining ADCs with RT. Predictive biomarkers such as ERCC2 and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) are crucial for personalized treatment strategies.

Michael J. Mauro, MD, emphasizes careful assessment of CML patients' disease stage and overall health to find the best treatment plan, aiming for the highest benefit with the lowest risk. He advocates for practical treatment with a curative approach in mind, despite potential adverse events, leveraging multiple therapies available for CML.

The CEPHEUS trial showed that adding daratumumab to the VRd regimen improved MRD negativity rates to 60.9% vs 39.4% with VRd alone in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients ineligible for or deferred transplant, with a CR or better rate of 81.2% vs 61.6%. The subcutaneous daratumumab-based regimen demonstrated deep, durable responses and reduced disease progression risk, potentially becoming a new standard for this patient population.