OMT-110 is a repositioned drug candidate for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This phase I study aimed to determine the appropriate dose of OMT-110 for phase II trials and its safety, tolerability, and efficacy. We conducted the first-in-human dose-escalation study of patients with advanced mCRC (age 20 years or older) who had refractory disease.

Regorafenib, an antiangiogenic multikinase inhibitor (MKI), showed antitumour activity in the second line of treatment for sarcomas in the phase II, randomised versus placebo, multicentre clinical trials REGOSARC (NCT01900743) and REGOBONE (NCT02389244). MKIs are drugs with a narrow therapeutic index subject to drug-drug interactions. The co-medications were not included in the trials' analyses.

In the INTRIGUE phase III trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03673501), adult patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor previously treated with imatinib were randomly assigned 1:1 to ripretinib 150 mg once daily or sunitinib 50 mg once daily (4 weeks on/2 weeks off). In the primary analysis, overall survival (OS) was immature. In this study, we report the final planned analysis of OS (key secondary end point), progression-free survival (PFS) on third-line therapy (second PFS; prespecified exploratory end point), and long-term safety. Final OS analysis was prespecified to occur with approximately 200 and ≥145 events in the overall and KIT exon 11 intention-to-treat (ITT) populations, respectively. As of March 15, 2023, there were 211 and 151 OS events in the overall ITT and KIT exon 11 ITT populations, respectively. Median OS was similar between second-line ripretinib and sunitinib in both populations (overall, 35.5 v 31.5 months; KIT exon 11, 35.5 v 32.8 months). Median second PFS (on third-line therapy) for the overall ITT population was similar between the ripretinib and sunitinib arms (7.7 v 7.4 months). Safety was consistent with the primary analysis. OS from this analysis was similar between arms, and second PFS suggests that receiving ripretinib did not adversely affect the PFS of third-line therapy.

To investigate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic use of commercially available intravitreal moxifloxacin 0.5% (Vigamox) at the time of intravitreal anti-VEGF injection against post-injection infectious endophthalmitis.

This study evaluated DB-020, a formulation of thiosulfate for intratympanic (IT) injection, in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin chemotherapy.

Diuretics are commonly used to reduce renal dysfunction during cisplatin-based chemotherapy; however, reports suggest that renal function is unaffected when diuretics are not administered. This phase II trial evaluated the effectiveness and safety of a short hydration method without diuretics.

Delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a distressing effect of chemotherapy for early breast cancer (EBC), with rates exceeding 50%, despite multi-agent prophylaxis. We hypothesised that chemotherapy-induced alterations to the gastric environment may result in delayed CINV, and that pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, may be effective prophylaxis by reducing stomach acid.

FAZ053 triggers an antitumor response by targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), thereby activating effector T cells and negatively regulating T cells. This study assessed the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of FAZ053 monotherapy and in combination with spartalizumab (anti-PD-1) in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) with hepatic metastasis is associated with poor prognosis. Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) can provide local control for unresectable hepatic metastases of patients with CRC. However, the mechanisms of responsiveness to SBRT in metastatic CRC (mCRC) remain unclear. We aimed to identify a strategy to enhance the efficacy of SBRT in patients with CRC liver metastases and its mechanisms. Transcriptomic sequencing of CRC cells exposed to SBRT revealed that SBRT inhibited SLC7A11 expression. Downregulation of SLC7A11 enhanced the sensitivity of CRC cells to SBRT via ferroptosis. SBRT diminished the ability of tumor cells to sustain oxidative stress by impeding the phosphorylation of JNK and c-Jun and the transcription of NRF2. Furthermore, sorafenib, which targets SLC7A11, exerted inhibitory effects on tumor growth when used in combination with SBRT. A phase II clinical trial confirmed that sorafenib combined with SBRT overcame the resistance of liver mCRC with high SLC7A11 expression by inducing ferroptosis. The combination of SBRT and sorafenib demonstrated favorable clinical effects and safety, making it a good option for patients with CRC liver metastasis. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A novel strategy using the combination of SBRT and sorafenib for the treatment of patients with CRC hepatic metastasis was investigated. This strategy overcomes the radiation therapy resistance of mCRC by inhibiting SLC7A11 expression and promoting ferroptosis.

This study explores the potential of calcium dobesilate combined with intravitreal ranibizumab injections to reduce the treatment frequency in patients with DME-induced visual impairment and observes the clinical outcomes.

PLK4 is a cell cycle-regulated kinase important for the biogenesis of centrioles and is known to be synthetically lethal with TRIM37 gene amplification. Previous attempts to inhibit PLK4 have been hampered by selectivity or ADME liabilities. The known inhibitor Centrinone B, while potent and selective, is metabolically unstable and lacks oral bioavailability. Assisted by structure-based drug design (SBDD), dramatic improvements in potency, selectivity and ADME properties were made to this structure, resulting in the identification of RP-1664, a potent inhibitor of PLK4 with an excellent pharmacokinetic profile in preclinical species. Kinome profiling demonstrated exquisite selectivity over related kinases, including AURKA/B and PLK1. RP-1664 disrupts centriole biogenesis in cancer cells, modulates pharmacodynamic readouts of PLK4 activity in xenograft tumor tissues, and is efficacious in multiple TRIM37-amplified xenograft models. This first-in-class clinical candidate is currently being evaluated in Phase 1 clinical trials (NCT06232408) for treatment of advanced solid tumors.

Recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) portends a poor prognosis. DNA pathway repair mutations in HNSCC are associated with higher tumor mutational burden rates and immune checkpoint inhibitor response. PARP inhibitors (PARPi) induce ssDNA breaks and are efficacious in cancers with DNA repair defects. Thus, we designed a single-arm, open-label, phase II clinical trial to evaluate the combination of niraparib and dostarlimab in patients with R/M HNSCC.

A phase II study evaluated a corticosteroid-free regimen (olanzapine, netupitant, and palonosetron) for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The results showed control rates comparable to those of standard protocols, demonstrating its feasibility without dexamethasone. ■ Evaluation of a corticosteroid-free antiemetic regimen. ■ Primary endpoint: 46% nausea control. ■ Secondary endpoint: 68% emesis control. ■ Comparable to standard four-drug protocols.

Hypomethylating agents are frontline therapies for myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS), yet clinical responses remain unpredictable. We conducted a phase 2 trial comparing injectable and oral azacitidine (AZA) administered over one or three weeks per four-week cycle, with the primary objective of investigating whether response is linked to in vivo drug incorporation or DNA hypomethylation. Our findings show that injection results in higher drug incorporation, but lower DNA demethylation per cycle, while global DNA methylation levels in mononuclear cells are comparable between responders and non-responders. However, hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from responders exhibit distinct baseline and early treatment-induced CpG methylation changes at regulatory regions linked to tissue patterning, cell migration, and myeloid differentiation. By cycle six-when clinical responses typically emerge-further differential hypomethylation in responder HSPCs suggests marrow adaptation as a driver of improved hematopoiesis. These findings indicate that intrinsic baseline and early drug-induced epigenetic differences in HSPCs may underlie the variable clinical response to AZA in MDS.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) exploit DNA repair deficiency in germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 pathogenic variant (gBRCAm) cancers. Haematological toxicity limits chemotherapy-PARPi treatment combinations. In preclinical models we identified a schedule combining olaparib and carboplatin that avoids enhanced toxicity but maintains anti-tumour activity. We investigated this schedule in a neoadjuvant, phase II-III, randomised controlled trial for gBRCAm breast cancers (ClinicalTrials.gov ID:NCT03150576; PARTNER). The research arm included carboplatin (Area Under the Curve 5, 3-weekly); paclitaxel (80 mg/m2, weekly) day 1, plus olaparib (150 mg twice daily) day 3-14 (4 cycles), followed by anthracycline-containing chemotherapy (3 cycles); control arm gave chemotherapy alone. The primary endpoint, pathological complete response rate, showed no statistical difference between research 64.1% (25/39); control 69.8% (30/43) (p = 0.59). However, estimated survival outcomes at 36-months demonstrated improved event-free survival: research 96.4%, control 80.1% (p = 0.04); overall survival: research 100%, control 88.2% (p = 0.04) and breast cancer specific survival: research 100%, control 88.2% (p = 0.04). There were no statistical differences in relapse-free survival and distant disease-free survival, both were: research 96.4%, control 87.9% (p = 0.20). Similarly, local recurrence-free survival and time to second cancer were both: research 96.4%, control 87.8% (p = 0.20). The PARTNER trial identified a safe, tolerable schedule combining neoadjuvant chemotherapy with olaparib. This combination demonstrated schedule-dependent overall survival benefit in early-stage gBRCAm breast cancer. This result needs confirmation in larger trials.

The purpose was to investigate combined PARP and androgen inhibition in primary prostate cancer and understand the biological mechanisms underlying clinical efficacy, especially in the absence of mutations in homologous recombination (HR) repair pathways.

Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction frequently occurs in patients receiving anthracycline. Ivabradine reduces heart rate without affecting contractility and showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic effects in experimental cardiotoxicity models. This study aims to evaluate the effect of ivabradine on cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction in patients with lymphoma or sarcoma treated with anthracycline.

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is considered unsuitable for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that exceeds up-to-7 criteria. Balloon-occluded alternative infusion of cisplatin solution and gelatin particles of transarterial chemoembolization (BOAI-TACE) has shown promise in the treatment of HCC and preservation of liver function. This prospective, single-arm study enrolled patients with HCC beyond up-to-7 criteria from five hospitals. The primary endpoint was objective response ratio (ORR) for BOAI-TACE, according to response evaluation criteria in cancer of the Liver (RECICL), at 2 months after treatment. Eighteen patients were enrolled in this study. Fourteen patients achieved response, resulting in an ORR of 77.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 54.3-91.5%) according to both RECICL and modified response evaluation criteria in solid tumor (mRECIST) guidelines, meeting the primary endpoint. Disease control rate was 88.9% (95% CI 66.0-98.1%). No worsening of either Child-Pugh or albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) scores was observed. No serious adverse events were recorded, indicating that BOAI-TACE retains utility even in severe HCC cases while preserving liver function.

Features of constrained adaptive immunity and high neoantigen burden have been correlated with response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In an attempt to stimulate antitumor immunity, we evaluated atezolizumab (anti-programmed cell death protein 1 ligand 1) in combination with PGV001, a personalized neoantigen vaccine, in participants with urothelial cancer. The primary endpoints were feasibility (as defined by neoantigen identification, peptide synthesis, vaccine production time and vaccine administration) and safety. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate, duration of response and progression-free survival for participants treated in the metastatic setting, time to progression for participants treated in the adjuvant setting, overall survival and vaccine-induced neoantigen-specific T cell immunity. A vaccine was successfully prepared (median 20.3 weeks) for 10 of 12 enrolled participants. All participants initiating treatment completed the priming cycle. The most common treatment-related adverse events were grade 1 injection site reactions, fatigue and fever. At a median follow-up of 39 months, three of four participants treated in the adjuvant setting were free of recurrence and two of five participants treated in the metastatic setting with measurable disease achieved an objective response. All participants demonstrated on-treatment emergence of neoantigen-specific T cell responses. Neoantigen vaccination plus ICI was feasible and safe, meeting its endpoints, and warrants further investigation. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT03359239 .

Optimal sequencing of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted therapies (TTs) in BRAFV600-positive advanced melanoma should achieve rapid tumour control and durable progression-free survival (PFS), translating into prolonged overall survival (OS).