Ruzaltatug rezetecan delayed lung cancer growth in a phase III trial

Among 498 people with advanced lung cancer that had progressed after targeted treatment, ruzaltatug rezetecan kept the cancer from growing for 8.3 months, compared with 5.4 months with chemotherapy. Severe treatment-related side effects occurred in 41% and 39%, respectively.

“Regarding the present study, they wrote, “Our findings validate HER3 as a relevant therapeutic target….” The investigators focused on patients with locally advanced or metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer harboring an EGFR exon 19 deletion or L858R mutation who experienced disease progression during or after EGFR TKI therapy at 62 sites in China.”

Why it matters. A large, final-stage trial in lung cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

FDA grants accelerated approval to Rybrevant Faspro for head and neck cancer

The FDA approved Rybrevant Faspro for adults with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Why it matters. Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for head and neck cancer. Doctors can now prescribe it outside a trial.

Osimertinib combination improved survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

In a phase III trial, 338 people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer that progressed on osimertinib received osimertinib plus savolitinib or chemotherapy. The cancer grew after a median of 7.6 months with the drug combination, compared with 5.4 months with chemotherapy.

Why it matters. A large, final-stage trial in lung cancer. This is the kind of result regulators use when deciding whether to approve a treatment.

SBRT matched surgery for localized prostate cancer control

In a phase III trial, 123 people with localized prostate cancer received five SBRT treatments or surgery. At 5 years, 94.8% of the SBRT group and 94.1% of the surgery group had no cancer failure, with no significant difference between treatments.

“He said that, taken together, the findings support SBRT as an effective nonsurgical option and that all patients considering radical prostatectomy should receive information about SBRT before making a treatment decision.”

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

HB0025 and chemotherapy shrank tumors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

In a phase 2 trial, 169 people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer received HB0025 plus chemotherapy. Tumors shrank in 57.1% of people with nonsquamous cancer and 74.2% with squamous cancer at the higher HB0025 dose.

Why it matters. A mid-stage trial in lung cancer. Good results at this stage usually still need a larger trial before approval.

Drug combination improves control of metastatic breast cancer

A review reports that trastuzumab deruxtecan plus pertuzumab gave people with ERBB2-positive metastatic breast cancer more time before their cancer grew than the trial’s comparison treatment.

Why it matters. Based on data or samples from people with breast cancer. It is not a treatment trial.

AI model suggests some children with medulloblastoma may need less radiation

Researchers used data from 2,786 children with medulloblastoma or ependymoma to build an AI tool that predicts survival. It predicted about 60% of children with average-risk medulloblastoma could receive lower-dose radiation without a significant survival disadvantage.

Why it matters. Based on data or samples from people with brain cancer. It is not a treatment trial.