T-cell receptor therapy shows early anti-tumor activity in phase I study

TIL + pembro regimen achieves 24% response rate in solid epithelial tumors, marking a step forward in immunotherapy research

Immunotherapy has changed the course of blood cancers and melanomas, but is stubbornly ineffective for the treatment of most epithelial solid cancers—the cancers that kill about 90% of the more than 600,000 Americans who die of cancer each year.

Casirati, De Wolf, Persaud, Rehman awarded $260,000 research grants from DKMS

Gabriele Casirati, of Boston Children’s Hospital, Susan E. De Wolf, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Stephen Persaud, of Washington University School of Medicine, and Abdur Rehman, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, were awarded DKMS’ research grant in honor of John A. Hansen.

April 11, 2025

Vol.51 No.14

Clinical Roundup

NK cells complexed with bispecific antibody yield high response rates in lymphoma

A novel cell therapy approach using cord blood-derived natural killer cells pre-complexed with AFM13, or acimtamig, a CD30/CD16A bispecific antibody, was safe and generated strong response rates for patients with refractory CD30-positive lymphomas, according to a new study from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

April 11, 2025

Vol.51 No.14

Drugs & Targets

FDA approves Vitrakvi for NTRK gene fusion-positive solid tumors

FDA granted full approval for Vitrakvi (larotrectinib), a first-in-class TRK inhibitor for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors that have a neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have no satisfactory alternative treatments or that have progressed following treatment.

April 11, 2025

Vol.51 No.14

In Brief

MD Anderson breaks ground on new Houston-area cancer center

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center on March 31 broke ground on a new 470,000-square-foot facility in Sugar Land, bringing a range of cancer services closer to those living in Southwest Houston and the surrounding areas.

April 04, 2025

Vol.51 No.13