Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology

In non-metastatic HER2− #BreastCancer, NCDB data (2018) showed higher pCR rates with neoadjuvant chemo in HR-Low vs HR-High groups. HR-Low tumors had higher grade/stage and lower endocrine therapy use, underscoring need for clearer treatment guidance.

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In HR+ advanced #BreastCancer progressing after CDK4/6 inhibitors, network meta-analysis (19 RCTs; n=6621) found CDK4/6i + fulvestrant most effective for PFS, especially in visceral metastases or ESR1 mutations; Bcl-2i + Ful and SERDs also showed benefit

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In HER2+ salivary duct carcinoma, trastuzumab-deruxtecan (T-Dxd) achieved 13 months of disease control in a multitreated 44-year-old patient, supporting further study of anti-HER2 therapy in rare salivary tumors.

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#HER2 #SalivaryCancer #Oncology

In HER2-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer, combination regimens achieved markedly better outcomes than single-agent approaches.
Median PFS: 7.8 vs 5.3 mo; best results seen with chemo + immunotherapy + anti-angiogenic therapy.

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In patients with metastatic #gastriccancer, earlier nivolumab monotherapy infusions (before 14:00) were associated with significantly longer PFS and OS (7.6 vs 3.9 mo). Authors suggest infusion timing may influence outcomes in #Immunotherapy practice.

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🚨 Call for Papers – Special Collection! @tamedoncol.bsky.social seeks submissions on: De-escalation of Treatment in Gynecologic Cancers. 🗓️ Submit by March 18, 2026 📥 Submit:

Ontario study of OHIP data (2015–2022): female cancer diagnostic billing dropped in 2020 (cervical −50.7/100k, breast −13.9/100k) but rebounded sharply in 2021–22, with net excesses across all cancer types. COVID-19 disruptions drove delayed diagnoses.

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Phase III FLINTER trial (N=317) shows rituximab biosimilar DRL_RI is equivalent to MabThera® in untreated low–tumor-burden follicular lymphoma: BORR 80.2% vs 79.4% (Δ0.9%, CI within ±17%). Safety, immunogenicity, PK/PD profiles comparable. #Lymphoma

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Study of 2896 early-stage #BreastCancer pts: CanAssist Breast prognostic test stratified ER1–20% subgroup. 65% classified low risk with 91% DRFI, 35% high risk with 61% DRFI. CAB may guide tailored therapy beyond ER levels in this challenging group.

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Propensity-matched study (n=127) in extensive-stage #SCLC after first-line chemoimmunotherapy: prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) did not improve OS overall but reduced brain metastases (1-yr 13.8% vs 53.4%). OS benefit seen in partial responders.

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Systematic review & network meta-analysis in advanced EGFR-mutated #NSCLC after TKI failure: chemo+ivonescimab ranked best for PFS with acceptable safety; chemo+amivantamab gave strongest OS/ORR but higher toxicity. Chemo+IO or chemo alone less effective.

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Phase IV CoVigi trial: in 204 pts with solid #cancer on therapy, 92% developed anti-S antibodies after 2nd BNT162b2 dose; all seroconverted by 6 mo. Chemotherapy impaired both humoral & cellular responses, while prior COVID-19 infection boosted immunity.

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Multicenter Mexican cohort (n=477) of young women with #BreastCancer (≤40 yrs): 62% followed a poor long-term QoL trajectory over 5 yrs, with declines in sexual health & future perspective. HER2+ status & public insurance linked to better QoL outcomes.

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Retrospective study of 110 high-risk rectal cancer pts: total neoadjuvant therapy achieved organ preservation in ~50% with 3-yr DFS 75.7% OS 92.4%. Watch & wait strategy gave superior outcomes vs non-pCR pts. TNT supports durable survival & bowel function

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Study in advanced #GastricCancer: flow cytometry of peritoneal lavage showed CD44+/CD326+ tumor cells correlate with response to repeated intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy (RIPPENC). Lower levels linked to resection eligibility & longer survival.

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Phase Ib study of xevinapant + avelumab in advanced solid tumours & #NSCLC: RP2D established at 200 mg/day, safety manageable. In NSCLC (n=38), ORR 10.5% (not superior to avelumab alone). Biomarker analyses highlight immune signatures tied to response

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Systematic review & meta-analysis (9 RCTs) in advanced gastric cancer: #immunotherapy + chemo did not improve OS/PFS vs chemo alone in pts with low PD-L1 (CPS<1 or <5). Dual antibody regimens showed PFS benefit (HR 0.64), warranting further study.

Read: journals.sagepub.com/doi/epdf/10....

Retrospective study of 213 late-stage cancer pts in Jordan evaluates #NGS. Clinically significant alterations in 42% (KRAS, PIK3CA, ERBB2, EGFR, BRCA). PFS markedly improved with NGS-guided therapy (HR 0.216) though cost & drug access remain major barriers
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Thanks to Franziska Geissler, Ksenija Nesic, Olga Kondrashova, Matthew J. Wakefield & co-authors for this in‑depth review on the clinical relevance and pitfalls of assessing DNA methylation in cancer.
#CancerEpigenetics #Oncology

#TopReadTuesday from TAM:

Aberrant DNA methylation is a hallmark of cancer, driving initiation, progression & therapy resistance.
This review details clinical impacts from MMR gene silencing to BRCA1 methylation loss under treatment pressure.

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In NSCLC patients with bone metastases, those receiving palliative RT during ICI treatment had significantly better survival: median OS 16 mo vs 3 mo; PFS also improved.

These findings support a synergistic role for RT with immunotherapy.

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In real-world data from 147 advanced BTC patients refractory to gem/cis, second-line 5-FU-based therapy showed modest survival (median OS 4.8 mo).
FOLFOX had comparable efficacy but better safety than Nal-IRI/FL or FOLFIRINOX—supporting role as 2L option.

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New real-world data from China compares flumatinib vs nilotinib as 1L treatment for chronic phase CML (n=165):
🔹 Similar MMR at 12 mo (85.1% vs 88.2%)
🔹 Nilotinib led to higher MR4 at all timepoints
🔹 Flumatinib had fewer metabolic/liver AEs

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In mRCC, second-line ICI vs TKI showed similar OS (44.8 vs 41.1 mo; p=0.446). But in NLR-high patients, TKI→ICI led to better survival vs TKI→TKI. Bone mets and nephrectomy history also influenced outcomes.
👉 NLR may guide 2L therapy:

doi.org/10.1177/1758...

In a cohort of 514 cancers, high ICOS expression (14%) was linked to elevated PD-1, PD-L1 & CTLA-4 RNA (all p<0.05) but not survival in ICI-treated or immunotherapy-naïve patients. Suggests ICOS ≠ prognostic, but may guide combo ICI strategies.

doi.org/10.1177/1758...

📌 In a Chinese LCNEC cohort (n=151), median OS was 17.8 mo. Adjuvant chemo post-surgery reduced distant spread & improved 2-yr OS (37.1% vs 79.9%, p<0.001). Immunochemotherapy outperformed chemo alone in advanced disease.

doi.org/10.1177/1758...

📊 In non-resectable stage III melanoma, T-VEC and IL-2 showed no significant differences in PFS (5.0 mo), OS (34.0 mo), or response rates. Both were well tolerated with minimal AEs. Real-world data to guide intralesional therapy choice.

doi.org/10.1177/1758...

3 patients with metastatic KRAS-wildtype PDAC showed prolonged response to osimertinib after EGFR exon 19 deletion was found via NGS. Early molecular & metabolic responses seen; disease controlled for 6, 8, and 17 months. A case for rare mutation testing

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First reported case of coma from luminal breast cancer brain mets reversed without radiation: patient treated w/ nasogastric abemaciclib + fulvestrant post-surgery. Seizures resolved, imaging improved, full functional recovery—patient returned to work

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Thanks to Landon L. Chan and Stephen L. Chan for this expert look at the evolving future of immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.