Study: Combination of ASCT and Bortezomib
Can Increase Survival

Early findings from a phase III clinical trial showed that patients with multiple myeloma who received an autologous stem cell transplant survived longer without disease progression than those who received only chemotherapy using novel agents.

The study was the largest reported aimed at comparing ASCT with a bortezomib-based regimen alone in patients younger than 65, and will be presented at this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, June 3-7 in Chicago.

“Even in an age of novel therapies, proven approaches can retain their value. This study demonstrated that combining the best of both worlds—initial therapy with a novel agent followed by stem cell transplant—resulted in the best patient outcomes,” said ASCO President Julie Vose in a statement.

Cancers Originating on Left Side of Colon
Associated with Longer Survival, Study Says

A retrospective analysis found that the location of the primary tumor within the colon predicts survival and may help inform optimal treatment selection for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

The data show that patients whose primary tumors originate on the left side of the colon—including the descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum—survive significantly longer than those whose tumors originate on the right side, or the cecum and ascending colon.

Researchers retrospectively evaluated data from the phase III CALGB/SWOG 80405 clinical trial, a federally funded clinical trial designed to compare Avastin (bevacizumab) and Erbitux (cetuximab) in combination with chemotherapy as initial therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer.

• Also: Retrospective Study Identifies Biomarker
  for Erbitux Treatment

FDA Approves Tecentriq, Opdivo, Imbruvica and Lenvima

FDA granted accelerated approval to Tecentriq (atezolizumab) for urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer. This is the first product in its class of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors approved to treat this type of cancer, according to the drug’s sponsor, Genentech.

Tecentriq is approved for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma whose disease has worsened during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or within 12 months of receiving platinum-containing chemotherapy, either before or after surgical treatment.

Also:

• Health Canada approves Imbruvica, Ibrance, Lynparza
• EU approves Afinitor and Eribulin, and more

• Alecensa Reduces Death Risk By 66 Percent
  in Phase III Trial

• Phase III Patritumab Study in HER3
  Stopped Early by IDMC

Phase Ib Trial Shows 40 Percent of Patients
Receiving Keytruda Alive After 36-Month Follow Up

WT1 Vaccine Doubles PFS in Phase II Trial

LEE011 Meets Primary Endpoint, Improves PFS
in Phase III Trial

Study: Precision Medicine Yields Better
Outcomes in Phase I Clinical Trials

Study: Early Palliative Care Provides Benefits
for Family Caregivers of Patients