Moderna vaccine almost halves melanoma recurrence risk

A phase III trial found that Moderna’s mRNA vaccine almost halved the risk of melanoma returning. The results also showed benefits in treatment-resistant melanoma.

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

Pembrolizumab trial tested treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer

The phase III study compared pembrolizumab with placebo, alongside cisplatin and gemcitabine before surgery and treatment after surgery. The source says perioperative immune drugs combined with chemotherapy have improved outcomes in cisplatin-eligible patients, but gives no result from this trial.

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

Capivasertib improved time before prostate cancer grew

In a phase III trial, adding capivasertib to abiraterone delayed cancer growth in people with newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, compared with abiraterone alone.

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

Ribociclib improved disease-free outcomes in early breast cancer

In the NATALEE trial, people with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer received ribociclib plus an aromatase inhibitor or the inhibitor alone. An earlier analysis found a significant benefit in time without invasive cancer returning; the six-year follow-up assessed how long people lived.

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

T-cell features linked to longer benefit from lymphoma CAR T therapy

A study of people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma found that CAR T products with more of certain memory-like T cells before infusion were linked to longer-lasting clinical benefit.

What this means. Based on data or samples from people with lymphoma, a blood cancer. It is not a treatment trial.

Radiation reduced local recurrence in high-risk pancreatic cancer

In a phase 2 trial, people with high-risk, localised pancreatic cancer who received focused radiation with chemotherapy had fewer recurrences near the pancreas, without a significant increase in side effects.

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

Researchers link nerve-related changes to pancreatic cancer growth

Researchers studying pancreatic cancer tissue found that after chemotherapy, some tumor-supporting cells showed nerve-related changes. These cells were linked to more tumor cell growth.

“To translate these findings into the clinic, the team is planning a phase 1/2 (early-to-mid-stage) clinical trial called SYNERGY combining frontline chemotherapy, including nab-paclitaxel, with targeting of the sympathetic neurons in patients with locally advanced, unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) pancreatic cancer.”

What this means. An early trial in pancreatic cancer, mainly testing safety and dose. Any new treatment here is years away from routine use.