Watch these video interviews on the iPad edition of this issue by OT reporter Dan Keller:
New Oral TKI for Bladder Cancer
Lecia Sequist, MD, describes her study of BGJ398, a pan-FGFR oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor in bladder cancer. FGF receptor dysregulation occurs in cancers of several tissues (Abstract CT326). Clinical activity of BGJ398 has been demonstrated in multiple tumor types, but FGFR3-mutated bladder cancers may be especially sensitive. In the Phase I dose-ranging study of bladder cancer patients with this specific mutation, she and her colleagues defined the maximum tolerated dose, saw hyperphosphatemia (an expected adverse effect), and signs of efficacy among five patients. Four lung cancer patients also showed responses, and those data were then reported at the ASCO Annual Meeting (Nogova et al, Abstract 8034).
Antibody-Drug Conjugate for Melanoma
Jeffrey Infante, MD, reported a study testing DEDN6526A, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), against melanoma (Abstract CT233). In this first-in-human trial, the ADC showed some activity against different forms of melanoma-cutaneous, mucosal, and ocular. (Ocular melanoma has been particularly resistant to treatment, even with the new compounds on the market or in late-stage development.) The antibody recognizes and binds to the endothelin B receptor, which is present at elevated levels on more than 50 percent of melanomas. Once taken into the cell, the ADC releases MMAE, a very toxic chemotherapy compound. In the study, clinical benefit was observed in 12 of 19 patients receiving a dose of 1.8 mg/kg or above.
Immunotherapy Update
Robert Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, reviews some of the recent developments in immunotherapy of cancer, including use of CAR T cells, cancer vaccines, and checkpoint inhibitors, along with his work on attacking pancreatic tumor stroma.
If you are not yet receiving our iPad issues, download the free Oncology Times app from the App Store today! Visithttp://bit.ly/OT-iPadApp, search in the App Store, or follow the link onhttp://oncology-times.com.