Reports from the Best of ASCO 2019 Annual Meeting (BASCO 2019)

Second-line pembrolizumab improves survival outcomes in advanced HCC

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20190910140307

Pembrolizumab improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) over best supportive care in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to the phase III KEYNOTE-240* trial, supporting its role as a treatment option for HCC in the second-line setting.

Pembrolizumab-axitinib combo improves survival even in poorer-risk RCC patients

Elaine Soliven, 20190910000000

First-line treatment with pembrolizumab plus axitinib significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with advanced clear-cell RCC* who had intermediate/poor IMDC** risk classification, according to updated results of the KEYNOTE-426*** study presented at BASCO 2019 Annual Meeting held in Singapore.

NALA: Neratinib outdoes lapatinib in improving PFS in HER2+ breast cancer

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20190903140302

Patients with HER2+ breast cancer with disease progression despite ≥2 lines of HER2-directed therapy may improve their progression-free survival (PFS) with the addition of neratinib than lapatinib to capecitabine, according to the phase III NALA* trial.

$Bone-protecting agents cut fracture risk tied to Ra223 in patients with mCRPC$

Bone-protecting agents cut fracture risk tied to Ra223 in patients with mCRPC

Pearl Toh, 20190828190000

The addition of radium-223 (Ra223) to enzalutamide for the treatment of mCRPC* was associated with increased fracture risk, which was entirely abolished with mandated use of bone-protecting agents (BPAs) such as zoledronic acid and denosumab, according to interim results of the EORTC 1333 (PEACE III) trial.

Oxaliplatin-based chemo for stage II CRC: Shorter regimen better?

Audrey Abella, 20190828100000

A pooled analysis of six trials failed to show noninferiority of a 3-month regimen to a 6-month regimen of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy for patients with high-risk, stage II colorectal cancer (CRC).