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Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Health
- Iraqi News
Combination therapy extends survival in advanced skin cancer, trial finds
In patients with an advanced type of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), those who received the combination of the immunotherapy drug avelumab and targeted agent cetuximab had almost four times longer median progression-free survival compared to patients who received avelumab alone, according to the results of a phase 2 trial presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting and concurrently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. "It is both an honor and humbling to develop clinical trials that can be potential options for our patients," said lead author and study chair for the trial, Dan Zandberg, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and medical oncology co-leader of the head and neck cancer program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. "My hope is that the insights we made with this trial will lead to additional studies that can ultimately bring a new immunotherapy-based combination into standard of care for patients with advanced cSCC." cSCC is a common type of skin cancer with about 1.8 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. About 95% of cSCCs are detected early and can be treated with minor surgery. But in rare cases, patients will go on to develop advanced cSCC, which includes locally advanced tumors that cannot be surgically removed and metastatic disease. At this point, the prognosis is poor and treatment is focused on extending survival, not cure. Zandberg developed the Alliance A091802 (NCT03944941) phase 2 trial in collaboration with the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology through the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) National Clinical Trials Network. This trial, which was open nationwide, included 57 patients with advanced cSCC. UPMC Hillman was the leading site for patient recruitment, with some of those patients recruited and treated at its network of more than 70 community cancer centers. Twenty-nine patients received avelumab and cetuximab and 28 received avelumab alone. Because the trial had a crossover design, nine patients in the avelumab group whose cancer progressed switched to the combination group. Avelumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor drug that targets a protein found on cancer cells called PD-L1. When PD-L1 binds to a receptor on T cells called PD-1, it acts like a brake, slowing down the cancer-killing activity of T cells. Avelumab and other anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies release those brakes. Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody that targets EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), a protein that plays a critical role in tumor cell growth, proliferation and survival and which is often found in high levels on cSCC cells. It activates natural killer cells, which help fight tumors, and can also activate dendritic cells, which can then stimulate T cells. Previous research done at UPMC Hillman by Robert Ferris, M.D., Ph.D. and his lab helped reveal cetuximab's effect on the immune system. "The rationale for the combination is that avelumab and other anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies have been shown to take the foot off the brake of the immune system, while cetuximab is pressing on the gas pedal—trying to work together to make the immune system go faster and attack the tumor," said Zandberg. "What's exciting is that in this trial the efficacy of the combination suggests that the two drugs were synergistic, rather than just additive." The study showed that the primary endpoint of progression-free survival was significantly higher in patients who received avelumab plus cetuximab with a median of 11 months compared to just 3 months in patients who received avelumab alone. Even though avelumab and cetuximab led to an almost quadrupling of median progression-free survival compared to avelumab alone, the trial does not support this combination as a standard treatment for patients. That's because since the trial was launched, two other anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies—cemiplimab and pembrolizumab—have been approved and had higher efficacy than avelumab in trials in patients with cSCC. However, the trial represents the first completed prospective randomized comparison of cetuximab plus blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway versus blockade of that pathway alone in cSCC or head and neck cancer, where this combination has also shown promise. The trial provides valuable information for future trials. "These findings highlight the potential benefits of combining cetuximab with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy and points to the importance of additional clinical trials combining either standard of care pembrolizumab or cemiplimab with cetuximab as a potential way to improve patient outcomes in advanced cSCC," said Zandberg. Notably, patients in the crossover arm had a similar progression-free survival to those who received the combination from the start. Currently, if a patient fails immunotherapy with pembrolizumab or cemiplimab, they switch to cetuximab or chemotherapy. But this trial suggests that continuing immunotherapy and adding cetuximab could be more beneficial.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
2025 Rush to Crush Cancer Bike Ride raises funds for UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
People came together to raise funds that can change the world. Sunday was the 3rd Annual Rush to Crush Cancer Bike Ride, which helps raise money for the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. More than 1,000 walkers and cyclists participated this year. Organizers said they hope the participants get something out of the event. 'Not only does it raise funds for cancer research, but it promotes our connection with the community here in Pittsburgh,' said Beth Wild, President of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. Organizers said research funding is critical, as it helps fuel the discovery and development of new treatments. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
CBS News
18-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Hundreds participate in 3rd annual Rush to Crush Cancer bike ride
It was a busy morning in Allison Park and Pittsburgh's South Side for many bike riders as they participated in the Rush to Crush Cancer. This is the third annual edition of the event, and hundreds of people participated. As the riders began rolling Sunday morning, each one did so with a reason. "My husband was diagnosed with cancer in '21," Kim Bish of Sarver said. Rob Kowalik came from Toronto, Ontario, to ride in the event. "Unfortunately, our family has been touched by cancer more than once," he said. "Most recently, my wife, who is a breast cancer survivor." She received treatment in the Pittsburgh area. "We wanted to express our thanks for all the work they're doing here," he said. It was a busy morning for Kowalik and many of the bike riders. There were four different courses, including a 60-miler, a 30-miler, a 15-miler, and a short course. The funds raised by Sunday's event support UPMC's Hillman Cancer Center. "This research goes to support our scientists and labs," Beth Wild, president of UPMC's Hillman Cancer Center, said. It's research, education, and outreach that happens in our backyard. "This money stays local," Wild said. "One hundred percent of the money raised by riders stays right here in Pittsburgh for research that happens at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. The people at Hillman say the turnout and the support are really important right now. "This is an increasingly uncertain market for cancer research funding," Hillman Interim Director Kathryn Schmitz said. Schmitz said that is because of the proposed federal funding cuts. "If that happens, then we will have a massive slowdown in the development of new cancer drugs," she said. As the riders raised money, they experienced cheers. Amongst themselves, there was some camaraderie. "All these people are my new friends, my new best friends, and they're gonna help me get over the finish line," Kowalik said. And as they approached that finish line? The thoughts of those reasons why they ride permeated their minds. "I think for sure it'll be thinking about my wife and everything that she's gone through," Bill Martin of Canonsburg said. KDKA-TV is told fundraising will go on for another month after Sunday's ride.
