More active high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) regimens are needed for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for refractory lymphomas. Seeking HDC enhancement with a PARP inhibitor, we observed marked synergy between olaparib and vorinostat/gemcitabine/busulfan/melphalan (GemBuMel) against lymphoma cell lines, mediated by the inhibition of DNA damage repair. Our preclinical work led us to clinically study olaparib/vorinostat/GemBuMel with ASCT.

Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is standard of care for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma that is amenable to embolisation; however, median progression-free survival is still approximately 7 months. We aimed to assess whether adding durvalumab, with or without bevacizumab, might improve progression-free survival.

Cemiplimab has demonstrated significantly longer survival than physician's choice of chemotherapy in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. We report the final survival analysis from the phase III randomized study (EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9).

DESTINY-Breast03, a randomised, phase 3 trial, evaluated trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) versus trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2)-positive unresectable and/or metastatic breast cancer who progressed on or after treatment with trastuzumab and a taxane. At the current data cut off overall survival analysis, T-DXd demonstrated a substantial improvement in overall survival over T-DM1. This secondary analysis use of DESTINY-Breast03 aimed to further evaluate the treatment differences using quality-adjusted survival time without symptoms or toxicity (Q-TWiST) methods.

Patients diagnosed with metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) have a poor prognosis. The current standard of care for adults with locally advanced or metastatic BCC who are not candidates for surgery or radiation therapy is treatment with hedgehog pathway inhibitors (HHIs). For patients who progress while on this therapy, further treatment options are limited. There is also a need for real-world clinical practice data on the clinical characteristics, management, disease progression, and survivorship of these patients. The ongoing CemiplimAb-rwlc Survivorship and Epidemiology (CASE) study is a phase IV, multicenter, prospective, noninterventional survivorship and epidemiology cohort study evaluating the effectiveness and safety of cemiplimab, a fully human immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligands. This paper describes one cohort of the CASE study of patients with locally advanced or metastatic BCC who have failed or are intolerant of HHIs or for whom HHI therapy is not appropriate. Outcome measures of the study include response to treatment, quality of life, safety, treatment patterns, patient experience, and survival. This study could provide a more complete characterization of this patient population and fill knowledge gaps related to real-world treatment utilization and patient outcomes.Clinical Trial registration: NCT03836105.

MAK683, a first-in-class and highly selective allosteric inhibitor of the embryonic ectoderm development subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2, has shown sustained antitumor activity in tumor xenograft models. This first-in-human phase 1/2 study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and clinical activity of single-agent MAK683 in advanced malignancies.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 is a transcription factor that is essential for the survival and immune sequestration of cancer cells. We conducted a phase I study of TTI-101, a first-in-class, selective small-molecule inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, in patients with advanced metastatic cancer.

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) undergoing systemic treatment often experience toxicities. Although exercise may improve physical fitness and quality of life and counteract treatment toxicity, knowledge in patients with mCRC is limited. The ongoing randomized controlled AMICO trial evaluates the effects of supervised exercise on clinical outcomes. The present qualitative study was a pre-planned part of this trial aiming to capture adherence, satisfaction, and perceived effects of exercise among patients with mCRC.

Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most devastating symptoms experienced by the patients. Supportive and holistic care interventions are crucial to help these patients. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of hand and foot exercises on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and quality of life in women with breast cancer.

Despite adjuvant treatment with endocrine therapies, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers recur in a significant proportion of patients. Recurrences are attributable to clinically undetectable endocrine-tolerant persister cancer cells that retain tumor-forming potential. Therefore, strategies targeting such persister cells may prevent recurrent disease. Using CRISPR-Cas9 genome-wide knockout screening in ER+ breast cancer cells, we identified a survival mechanism involving metabolic reprogramming with reliance upon mitochondrial respiration in endocrine-tolerant persister cells. Quantitative proteomic profiling showed reduced levels of glycolytic proteins in persisters. Metabolic tracing of glucose revealed an energy-depleted state in persisters, in which oxidative phosphorylation was required to generate ATP. A phase II clinical trial was conducted to evaluate changes in mitochondrial markers in primary ER+/HER2- breast tumors induced by neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NCT04568616). In an analysis of tumor specimens from 32 patients, tumors exhibiting residual cell proliferation after aromatase inhibitor-induced estrogen deprivation with letrozole showed increased mitochondrial content. Genetic profiling and barcode lineage tracing showed that endocrine-tolerant persistence occurred stochastically without genetic predisposition. Pharmacologic inhibition of mitochondrial complex I suppressed the tumor-forming potential of persisters in mice and synergized with the antiestrogen drug fulvestrant to induce regression of patient-derived xenografts. These findings indicate that mitochondrial metabolism is essential in endocrine-tolerant persister ER+ breast cancer cells and warrant the development of treatment strategies to leverage this vulnerability for treating breast cancer. Significance: Persister cancer cells that survive endocrine therapy exhibit increased energetic dependence upon mitochondria for survival and tumor regrowth potential, indicating that therapies targeting this metabolic dependency could help prevent disease recurrence.

The aim of this study is to evaluate how aromatherapy with the inhalation of lavender oil affects fatigue and sleep quality in patients with hematological malignancies undergoing chemotherapy.

Subcutaneous (SC) rituximab has demonstrated advantages over intravenous (IV) administration; however, insufficient data exist on its use with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in Chinese patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This multicenter, phase II, randomized, controlled study was conducted across China between February 2021 and October 2022. Fifty adult patients with previously untreated CD20-positive DLBCL were randomized to receive one cycle of IV rituximab and seven cycles of SC rituximab (RSC-CHOP; n = 26), or eight cycles of IV rituximab (RIV-CHOP; n = 24), combined with six or eight cycles of CHOP. Geometric mean ratio of trough rituximab serum concentration of SC to that of IV rituximab (Ctrough,SC/Ctrough,IV) at cycle 7 was 1.52 (90% CI: 1.28-1.79), demonstrating non-inferiority of Ctrough,SC. The complete response rate was similar in both treatment arms. SC rituximab is a viable option in Chinese patients with untreated CD20-positive DLBCL, potentially reducing administration burden (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04660799).

The randomized phase III FALCON trial demonstrated significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) with fulvestrant versus anastrozole in postmenopausal women with endocrine therapy-naïve, hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer. Herein, the prespecified final overall survival (OS) analysis is reported. After the primary PFS analysis, data were collected on survival, serious adverse events, and health-related quality of life. The final OS analysis was triggered at ≥65% maturity and ≥8 years since the last patient was enrolled. Analyses were descriptive with nominal P values (one-sided α threshold .01845). At the data cutoff (July 11, 2022), 314 (68.0%) of 462 patients had died (fulvestrant, 157/230 [68.3%], anastrozole, 157/232 [67.7%]). The final OS analysis of FALCON demonstrated no significant difference between fulvestrant and anastrozole (medians, 44.8 and 42.7 months, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.21]; P = .7579). Among patients with nonvisceral disease (n = 208), a trend showed a 15% reduction in the relative risk of death with fulvestrant versus anastrozole (median OS, 65.2 v 47.8 months; HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.60 to 1.20]). Data from FALCON are consistent with published evidence of long-term clinical benefit with fulvestrant and other endocrine therapies in the subset of patients with nonvisceral disease.

Radiotherapy displays unique antitumor synergism with immune checkpoint inhibitors, which is indicated by high pathological complete response (pCR) rates from single-arm trials of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Here we test the efficacy and safety of the radiation-immune checkpoint inhibitor combination in patients with LARC in a phase 2, randomized trial conducted in eight major colorectal cancer centers in Beijing. In total, 186 eligible all-comer (proficient mismatch repair and deficient mismatch repair) participants were enrolled. The patients were randomly assigned to receive neoadjuvant chemoradiation + concurrent/sequential PD-1 blockade (experiment groups A/B) or neoadjuvant chemoradiation alone (control group). Radical surgeries were scheduled after neoadjuvant treatments. The primary endpoint was the pCR rate. The pCR rates were 27.1%, 32.7% and 14.0% for experiment groups A and B and the control group, respectively. The difference in pCR rates between experiment group B and the control group reached statistical significance (risk ratio 2.332, 95% confidence interval 1.106-4.916; P = 0.019). No substantial differences between either one of the experiment groups and the control group were observed regarding adverse reaction, surgical complication and disease progression. Our results show that adding PD-1 blockade after neoadjuvant chemoradiation increases the pCR rate for patients with LARC and raises no substantial safety concerns. Phase 3 trials with larger sample sizes are warranted (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05245474 ).

Homozygous MTAP deletion occurs in ~15% of cancers, making them vulnerable to decreases in the concentration of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). AG-270/S095033 is an oral, potent, reversible inhibitor of methionine adenosyltransferase 2 A (MAT2A), the enzyme primarily responsible for the synthesis of SAM. We report results from the first-in-human, phase 1 trial of AG-270/S095033 as monotherapy in patients with advanced malignancies (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03435250). Eligible patients had tumors with homozygous deletion of CDKN2A/MTAP and/or loss of MTAP protein by immunohistochemistry. Patients received AG-270/S095033 once daily (QD) or twice daily (BID) in 28-day cycles. The primary objective was to assess the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of AG-270/S095033. Secondary objectives included safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and efficacy. Forty patients were treated with AG-270/S095033. Plasma concentrations of AG-270/S095033 increased with dose. Maximal reductions in plasma SAM concentrations ranged from 54% to 70%. Analysis of paired tumor biopsies showed decreases in levels of symmetrically di-methylated arginine (SDMA) residues. Reversible increases in liver function tests, thrombocytopenia, anemia and fatigue were common treatment-related toxicities. Two partial responses were observed; five additional patients achieved radiographically confirmed stable disease for ≥16 weeks. AG-270/S095033 has a manageable safety profile. Our data provide preliminary evidence of clinical activity and proof-of-mechanism for MAT2A inhibition.

Rapid progressing non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma (NSCLC) decreases treatment success. Cannabinoids emerge as drug candidates for NSCLC due to their anti-tumoral capabilities. We previously reported the controlled release of Arachidonylcyclopropylamide (ACPA) selectively targeting cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor in NSCLC cells in vitro. Hydrophobic polymers like polycaprolactone (PCL) offer prolonged circulation time and slower drug clearance which is suitable for hydrophobic molecules like ACPA. Thus, the extended circulation time with enhanced bioavailability and half-life of nanoparticular ACPA is crucial for its therapeutic performance in the tumor area. We assumed that a novel high technology-controlled release system increasing the bioavailability of ACPA compared to free ACPA could be transferred to the clinic when validated in vivo. Plasma profile of ACPA and ACPA-loaded PCL-based nanomedicine by LC-MS/MS and complete blood count (CBC) was assessed in wild-type Balb/c mice. Tumor growth in nanomedicine-applied NSCLC-induced athymic nude mice was assessed using bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and caliper measurements, histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry, TUNEL assay, and Western blot on days 7-21. Injectable NanoACPA increased its systemic exposure to tissues 5.5 times and maximum plasma concentration 6 times higher than free ACPA by substantially improving bioavailability. The potent effect of NanoACPA lasted for at least two days on ectopic NSCLC model through Akt/PI3K, Ras/MEK/Erk, and JNK pathways that diminished Ki-67 proliferative and promoted TUNEL apoptotic cell scores on days 7-21. The output reveals that NanoACPA platform could be a chemotherapeutic for NSCLC in the clinic following scale-up GLP/GMP-based phase trials, owing to therapeutic efficacy at a safe low dose window.

Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been associated with better therapeutic outcomes in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) across various cancers. This study investigates the association between irAEs and ICI outcomes in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC).

This study aims to evaluate the exposure-efficacy relationship of nilotinib and longitudinal BCR::ABL1 levels in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia in chronic phase (CML-CP) and those who are imatinib-resistant or intolerant using a semimechanistic disease model.

To investigate the effects of dynamic-static combined relaxation therapy on fatigue and sleep disorders in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

In TALAPRO-2, the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor talazoparib plus the androgen receptor-signaling inhibitor enzalutamide improved radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) versus placebo plus enzalutamide (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51-0.78) in molecularly unselected patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). We report an exploratory analysis of efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics in Japanese patients enrolled in the TALAPRO-2 study.