Molecular profiles of tissue plus circulating tumor DNA can better guide cancer care

Dual-targeted therapies + chemo shows high response rates in BRAF-mutated metastatic CRC, phase III trial shows

Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer harboring BRAF V600E mutations benefitted from first-line treatment with the targeted therapies Braftovi(encorafenib) and Erbitux(cetuximab) plus a mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy regimen, according to results from the phase III BREAKWATER trial led by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Opdivo + Yervoy show improvement in PFS for MSI-high, MMR- CRC in phase III trial

Bristol Myers Squibb announced results of an analysis from the three-arm phase III CheckMate-8HW trial evaluating Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) versus Opdivo monotherapy across all lines of therapy, including first-line, for the treatment of microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer. At a median follow-up of 47 months, Opdivo plus Yervoy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the dual-primary endpoint of progression-free survival as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review versus Opdivo monotherapy (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.48–0.81; P = 0.0003).

Genentech’s Itovebi demonstrated OS benefit in advanced breast cancer, phase III trial finds

Genentech announced positive topline results from the overall survival analysis of the phase III INAVO120 study investigating Itovebi (inavolisib) in combination with palbociclib (Ibrance) and fulvestrant for people with PIK3CA-mutated, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, endocrine-resistant, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

In HER2+ CRC, anti-HER2 therapy may be less toxic alternative to EGFR inhibitors, phase II study finds

A phase II trial found that for patients with HER2+ metastatic colorectal cancer, dual HER2-inhibitor therapy can be a similarly efficacious but less toxic alternative to EGFR inhibitor therapy. Exploratory analysis suggests greater HER2 amplification in a tumor may be associated with greater clinical benefit of dual HER2 inhibitor vs EGFR inhibitor therapy.

Drugs & Targets

FDA approves Enhertu as first HER2-directed therapy for breast cancer

FDA approved AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor-positive, HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH-) or HER2-ultralow (IHC 0 with membrane staining) breast cancer, as determined by the FDA approved test, that has progressed on one or more endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting.