In the Literature

Non–small-cell lung cancer (NSC LC) harboring anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangement is sensitive to the ALK inhibitor crizotinib (Xalkori). Despite initial responses to crizotinib, resistance ultimately occurs. In preclinical studies, ceritinib (Zykadia), a novel, oral adenosine triphosphate–competitive inhibitor of the ALK tyrosine kinase, has shown greater antitumor potency than crizotinib.

Therapies targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and mTOR signaling pathways are standard first-line and second-line treatment options for patients with metastatic renal-cell carcinoma. However, an unmet medical need exists for patients who had previously received VEGF-targeted and mTOR inhibitor therapies.

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare type of Hodgkin lymphoma that represents approximately 5% of all cases. Unlike classic Hodgkin lymphoma, the malignant cells of NLPHL universally express CD20. Because rituximab (Rituxan) is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, it has been evaluated as a treatment option for this patient population.

Metastatic breast cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with almost 40,000 women in the United States succumbing to the disease in 2013. Although advances in the treatment of breast cancer have been made, metastatic disease is still largely considered incurable. In a prospective, multicenter, molecular-screening study, researchers investigated whether the identification of individual genomic alterations could lead to personalized targeted therapy in women with advanced breast cancer (André F, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2014;15:267-274).

In early clinical studies, bevacizumab (Avastin) showed clinical activity in patients with recurrent glioblastoma. A new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated whether the use of bevacizumab would improve the OS and PFS of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (Gilbert MR, et al. N Engl J Med. 2014;370:699-708).

Among adult survivors of childhood cancer, the lack of health insurance is a major obstacle to obtaining the recommended follow-up care. The goal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted in 2010 was to broaden insurance coverage for all Americans. A new commentary by Mueller and several health policy experts addressed the questions regarding how several provisions in the ACA could help adult survivors of childhood cancers overcome insurance-based barriers to receiving the recommended follow-up care for patients with cancer (Mueller EL, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32:615-617).

Currently, the US Food and Drug Administration–approved second-line treatments for non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include monotherapy with docetaxel (Taxotere), erlotinib (Tarceva), or pemetrexed (Alimta). A recent phase 3 clinical trial explored the safety and efficacy of nintedanib (Vargatef)—a potent oral angiokinase inhibitor—in combination with do­cetaxel, as a second-line treatment in patients with NSCLC (Reck M, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2014;15:143-155).

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who are not fit to undergo stem-cell transplantation (SCT), typically receive melphalan (Alkeran) plus prednisone in combination with either thalidomide (Thalomid) or bortezomib (Velcade). Recent studies are exploring the clinical benefit of the 4-drug induction regimen of melphalan, prednisone, bortezomib, and thalidomide, followed by maintenance with bortezomib plus thalidomide (VMPT-VT). In a recent phase 3 clinical trial, a total of 511 patients with newly diagnosed MM who were not candidates for SCT were randomized to receive VMPT-VT (N = 254) or bortezomib, melphalan, and prednisone (VMP; N = 257). The patients’ median age was 71 years, and 27% of the patients were aged >75 years (Palumbo A, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32:634-640).

In a new study, researchers examined the correlation between the use of statins after a prostate cancer diagnosis and the risk of cancer-related and all-cause mortality (Yu O, et al. J Clin Oncol. 2014;32:5-11).

New research shows promise in deciphering the underlying mechanism of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), according to findings from a recently reported study (Klampfl T, et al. N Engl J Med. 2013;369:2379-2390).