CancerNetwork®’s Week in Review: March 8, 2021

Each Monday, CancerNetwork® will highlight some of the most important content from the previous week in oncology.

Among the top news from last week is a study investigating older patients with esophageal cancers, and an update from the FDA, who issued a response letter regarding oral paclitaxel and encequidar for the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Patients Aged 70 or Older With Esophageal or EGJ Cancers Should Be Evaluated for Optimal Curative Therapy

Data from the Journal of the American College of Surgeons suggest patients 70 years or older with esophageal or esophagogastric junction cancers should be evaluated for optimal curative therapy.

Abiraterone Acetate, Apalutamide Likeliest to Improve Survival for Patients with Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer

A study published in JAMA Oncology found that, of 6 tested systemic treatment options, abiraterone acetate and apalutamide were the likeliest to improve overall survival when combined with ADT for patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

FDA Issues Response Letter for Oral Paclitaxel and Encequidar in Metastatic Breast Cancer

The developers of an oral formulation of paclitaxel will have to revisit efficacy and safety data in order to provide sufficient evidence for FDA approval.

Molecular Imaging Able to Determine Effectiveness of Treatment for AI-Refractory, ER+ Advanced Breast Cancer

“Our results support further study of serial molecular imaging along with combined [histone deacetylase inhibitors; HDACi] and [aromatase inhibitor; AI] therapy (such as ECOG-ACRIN study E2112), to further delineate the role of HDACi and potential biomarkers in AI-refractory ER+ advanced breast cancer,” wrote the study authors.

Frontline Cemiplimab Monotherapy Improved Overall, Progression-Free Survival for High PD-L1 NSCLC

Data published in The Lancet found that the PD-L1 inhibitor cemiplimab improved overall and progression-free survival for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer with PD-L1 of at least 50%.