Clin Cancer Res
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PD-1 inhibitors are established agents in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, only a subset of patients derives clinical benefit. To determine the activity of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors within clinically relevant molecular subgroups, we retrospectively evaluated response patterns among EGFR-mutant, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive, and EGFR wild-type/ALK-negative patients. ⋯ NSCLCs harboring EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements are associated with low ORRs to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Low rates of concurrent PD-L1 expression and CD8(+) TILs within the tumor microenvironment may underlie these clinical observations. Clin Cancer Res; 22(18); 4585-93. ©2016 AACRSee related commentary by Gettinger and Politi, p. 4539.
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(Neo)adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy plus trastuzumab reduces recurrence and death risk in HER2-positive (HER2(+)) breast cancer. Randomized trials assessed HER2 dual block by adding lapatinib to trastuzumab and chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting using pathologic complete response (pCR) as the outcome measure. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized trials testing neoadjuvant dual block with lapatinib and trastuzumab versus trastuzumab alone in HER2(+) breast cancer. ⋯ On the basis of ΔpCR data, the dual block with trastuzumab and lapatinib plus chemotherapy is a very active treatment only in HER2(+) and hormone receptor-negative breast cancer treated with taxane monochemotherapy. Clin Cancer Res; 22(18); 4594-603. ©2016 AACR.
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The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors for solid tumor treatments represents a major oncologic advance. Since the approval of ipilimumab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) antibody, for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, many drugs, especially those targeting PD-1/PD-L1, have demonstrated promising antitumor effects in many types of cancer. By reactivating the immune system, these immunotherapies have led to the development of new toxicity profiles, also called immune-related adverse events (irAE). ⋯ In addition, the occurrence of irAEs has raised significant questions. Here, we summarize progress that has been made toward answering these questions, focusing on (i) the impact of immunotherapy dose on irAE occurrence, (ii) the correlation between irAE and patient outcome, (iii) the safety of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients already treated for autoimmune disease, and (iv) the suspected effect on tumor growth of steroids used for the management of irAEs. Clin Cancer Res; 22(18); 4550-5. ©2016 AACR.
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CA125 dominated performance for ovarian cancer early detection among four serum biomarkers evaluated in EPIC study prediagnostic serum, rising on average 3 years prior to detection. Adding HE4 provided only marginal improvement. This natural history supports annual testing for early detection and highlights the importance of biomarker discovery complementing CA125. Clin Cancer Res; 22(18); 4542-4. ©2016 AACRSee related article by Terry et al., p. 4664.
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The Cancer Moonshot Program has been launched and represents a potentially paradigm-shifting initiative with the goal to implement a focused national effort to double the rate of progress against cancer. The placement of precision medicine, immunotherapy, genomics, and combination therapies was placed at the central nexus of this initiative. Although we are extremely enthusiastic about the goals of the program, it is time we meet this revolutionary project with equally bold and cutting-edge ideas: it is time we move firmly into the postgenome era and provide the necessary resources to propel and seize on innovative recent gains in the field of proteomics required for it to stand on equal footing in this narrative as a combined, synergistic engine for molecular profiling. ⋯ It is the proteins that comprise most of the biomarkers that are measured to detect cancers, constitute the antigens that drive immune response and inter- and intracellular communications, and it is the proteins that are the drug targets for nearly every targeted therapy that is being evaluated in cancer trials today. We believe that a combined systems biology view of the tumor microenvironment that orients cancer studies back to the functional proteome, phosphoproteome, and biochemistry of the cell will be essential to deliver on the promise of the Cancer Moonshot Program. Clin Cancer Res; 22(18); 4556-8. ©2016 AACR.