BARBARA ANN KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE

Novel BCMA-Directed CAR T-Cell Therapy Shows Promising Efficacy in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma and AL Amyloidosis

2 months ago

• A second-generation BCMA-directed CAR T-cell therapy, MDC-CAR-BCMA001, demonstrated remarkable efficacy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis, achieving a 5/6 overall response rate with 4 complete responses. • The novel therapy showed a favorable safety profile with manageable toxicity, including low incidence of severe cytokine release syndrome and no neurotoxicity, even in patients with significant organ dysfunction. • These promising results have prompted further investigation through ongoing clinical trials, including CARLOTTA001 (NCT05836896) and the CLEAR AL trial, potentially offering new hope for difficult-to-treat hematologic malignancies.

Expert Outlines Patient-Specific Approach for IO Combinations in Unresectable HCC Treatment

5 months ago

• Recent FDA approvals of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and durvalumab plus tremelimumab have transformed the first-line treatment landscape for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. • Treatment selection between immunotherapy combinations is primarily driven by patient-specific factors, with bleeding risk from bevacizumab being a key consideration for treatment choice. • While durvalumab plus lenvatinib offers an oral treatment option, its adverse effect profile and patient eligibility criteria overlap with existing combinations, limiting its first-line utility.

Novel Complement Factor H Antibody GT103 Shows Promise in Refractory Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Trial

5 months ago

A first-in-human dose escalation trial evaluated GT103, a complement factor H targeting antibody, in patients with refractory non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study, conducted across three major cancer centers, assessed safety and efficacy across multiple dose levels, marking a significant step forward in exploring complement-targeted therapy for advanced lung cancer.

Karmanos Cancer Institute First to Prescribe FDA-Approved TheraBionic P1 for Advanced Liver Cancer

5 months ago

• Karmanos Cancer Institute is the first worldwide to prescribe the TheraBionic P1, an FDA-approved at-home device, for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. • The TheraBionic P1 device delivers low-level radiofrequency electromagnetic fields to block tumor cell growth without harming healthy tissue. • Approved for patients who have failed first- and second-line therapies, the device offers a new systemic treatment option with minimal side effects. • Clinical studies have demonstrated that the TheraBionic P1 device can lead to tumor shrinkage and increased overall survival rates in HCC patients.

Biomarker-Guided Therapies Transform Treatment Landscape Across Multiple Cancers

5 months ago

• Recent advances in targeted therapies including KRAS, BRAF, and CLDN18.2 inhibitors are revolutionizing treatment approaches for pancreatic, colorectal, lung and gastric cancers through molecular profiling-guided precision medicine. • Zolbetuximab plus chemotherapy demonstrated significant survival benefits in CLDN18.2-positive gastric cancer, while KRAS inhibitors showed promising response rates of 20-45% in pancreatic cancer patients with specific mutations. • Multiple biomarker-targeted approaches including HER2, PD-L1, and FGFR2 are expanding treatment options across gastrointestinal cancers, though optimal sequencing strategies are still being determined.

ESK981 Plus Nivolumab Fails to Show Antitumor Activity in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

6 months ago

• A Phase II trial evaluating ESK981, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, combined with nivolumab in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) was terminated due to futility. • The combination therapy of ESK981 and nivolumab did not demonstrate significant antitumor activity in patients with AR-positive mCRPC, showing a maximum PSA decline of only 14% in one patient. • The median radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) was 3.7 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 9.6 months, indicating limited clinical benefit from the treatment regimen. • Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events, including fatigue, anemia, and lymphopenia, were observed, further questioning the risk-benefit profile of this combination in mCRPC.