Articles

Platinum-based chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab is standard first-line therapy for patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without genetic aberrations. Pembrolizumab has demonstrated activity in PD-L1–positive advanced NSCLC. Cohort G of the phase 1/2 KEYNOTE-021 study compared pembrolizumab + carboplatin and pemetrexed (CP) with CP in patients with treatment-naive advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.

Abemaciclib, a small-molecule inhibitor of both cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)4 and CDK6, has demonstrated single-agent activity in patients with solid tumors, including non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Pembrolizumab, an inhibitor of PD-1, is approved for patients with metastatic PD-L1–positive NSCLC. Researchers studied abemaciclib combined with pembrolizumab in pretreated patients with NSCLC.

Use of an ALK inhibitor is standard in patients with ALK-positive non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this phase 3 study, researchers compared 2 ALK inhibitors: crizotinib and alectinib. This randomized trial was designed to demonstrate superior progression-free survival for alectinib compared with crizotinib in ALK-inhibitor–naïve ALK-positive NSCLC.

The SQUIRE study demonstrated that the addition of necitumumab to gemcitabine plus cisplatin improved overall survival in patients with metastatic squamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Researchers evaluated the clinical outcomes associated with this triplet regimen in a subset of patients in the SQUIRE trial whose tumors expressed an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

Afatinib, an irreversible ErbB family blocker, and gefitinib, a reversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, are approved for first-line treatment of advanced EGFR-mutated non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Researchers reported updated OS findings from a phase 2b trial (LUX-Lung 7) that compared afatinib versus gefitinib in first-line patients.

Atezolizumab, a humanized anti–PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, is approved for the treatment of patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease progressed during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy. OAK is one of the 2 international, randomized, open-label clinical trials that demonstrated superior efficacy for atezolizumab over docetaxel.

Patients with SCLC whose disease progressed during or after initial platinum-based chemotherapy have few treatment options. Nivolumab alone and combined with ipilimumab has demonstrated clinical benefit in multiple tumor types. Researchers presented updated results for the SCLC cohort of the phase 1/2 CheckMate 032 trial.

Chicago, IL—Maintaining a clean room compliant with US Pharmacopeial Convention Chapter 800 (USP 800) can come with a significant price tag, but noncompliance can drive up costs to oncology practices and institutions. However, certain measures can contribute to the successful construction, renovation, and maintenance of hazardous drug sterile compounding spaces in an oncology setting, according to Ryan A. Forrey, PharmD, MS, FASHP, Director of Pharmacy, Emory University Hospital Midtown, Atlanta, GA. Dr Forrey provided practical tips related to USP 800 compliance in clinical practice at the 2016 Annual Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) Oncology Pharmacy Practice Management Program.

Of the potential side effects of chemotherapy, nausea and vomiting remain among the most fear-inducing events. If appropriate prophylaxis were not provided, more than 70% of patients with cancer who receive chemotherapy would have nausea and/or vomiting.

Adelaide, Australia—SGX942, a novel agent that is first in its class, decreased the incidence of severe oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing chemoradiation, according to new research led by Oreola Donini, PhD, Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Soligenix, Princeton, NJ, and Mahesh R. Kudrimoti, MD, Professor of Radiation Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington.