Ablation did not improve outcomes in oligometastatic breast cancer

In a trial of 125 people with oligometastatic breast cancer, adding ablation to first-line drug treatment did not improve the time before cancer grew or people died: 19.5 months with ablation versus 23.0 months without it.

“The addition of metastasis-directed ablation added to first-line (the first treatment given) systemic therapy did not improve progression-free survival or overall survival in patients with oligometastatic breast cancer.”

What this means. A mid-stage trial in breast cancer. Good results at this stage usually still need a larger trial before approval.

Blinatumomab improves outcomes in high-risk childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

In a trial of 709 children with high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, replacing two cycles of intensive chemotherapy with blinatumomab raised the share alive without a major cancer-related event after four years to 83%, compared with 70.3%.

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a blood cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

Tile-based radiation cut recurrence after surgery for liver cancer brain metastases

In a phase III trial of people whose brain metastases were removed, tile-based radiation led to recurrence in 1.3% at 12 months, compared with 15.4% after stereotactic radiation.

What this means. A large, final-stage trial in liver cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

A blood test reduced chemotherapy use in stage II colon cancer

In the randomized DYNAMIC trial, people with stage II colon cancer had treatment guided by a blood test for cancer left after surgery. They received less chemotherapy without worse long-term outcomes.

“Data from prospective studies and clinical trials such as IMvigor010 further suggest that MRD-positive patients derive the greatest benefit from adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor (drugs that release the immune system's brakes) therapy, whereas MRD-negative patients may avoid unnecessary treatment and associated toxicity without compromising outcomes.”

What this means. A trial in bowel cancer that split people into groups at random, the fairest kind of test.

Gene fusions linked to shorter survival in adults with advanced cancers

In a matched study of adults with advanced cancers who did not receive TRK inhibitors, NTRK gene fusions were linked to 50 fewer days lived over one year.

“In this large real-world target trial emulation, NTRK gene fusions were associated with clinically meaningful reductions in overall survival among adults with advanced cancers not treated with TRK inhibitors.”

What this means. A trial in several cancer types that split people into groups at random, the fairest kind of test.

Sunitinib showed activity in several solid tumor cancers

In a phase II trial, sunitinib controlled cancer for at least 16 weeks or shrank tumors in 39% of patients in one group with advanced solid tumors. It did not meet the study’s activity threshold in the other group.

“Sunitinib met the prespecified criteria to declare a signal of activity in patients with various solid tumors and FGFR2 alterations but not FGFR1 alterations.”

What this means. A mid-stage trial in several cancer types. Good results at this stage usually still need a larger trial before approval.

Niraparib showed activity in advanced ovarian cancer before surgery

In selected people with advanced ovarian cancer who could not initially have surgery, niraparib showed anti-tumor activity and enabled complete resection. The approach remains investigational and needs testing against standard chemotherapy.

What this means. A mid-stage trial in ovarian cancer. Good results at this stage usually still need a larger trial before approval.