Ignace B. Vergote, MD, PhD, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, discusses the need to develop novel therapies in endometrial cancer.

Endometrial cancer is the most frequent gynecologic malignancy among women in the United States, says Vergote. Additionally, endometrial cancer has a high mortality and morbidity rate.

The current standard of care for patients with endometrial cancer is platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with a taxane, explains Vergote.

However, there are no established treatment options for patients who recur after first-line therapy, Vergote adds.

As such, developing novel therapies to treat patients who recur, maintaining remissions after first-line therapy, and extending the time patients are not on chemotherapy remain unmet clinical needs in endometrial cancer, concludes Vergote. 

Ignace B. Vergote, MD, PhD, discusses the need to develop novel therapies in endometrial cancer.



Dr. Vergote on the Need to Develop Novel Therapies in Endometrial Cancer

Ignace B. Vergote, MD, PhD

Thomas Cluzeau, MD, PhD, head of hematology department, Central University Hospital of Nice, in Nice, France, discusses the response rates of a phase 2 study with APR-246 and azacitidine in 

-mutated myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Patients enrolled in the study were treated with APR-246 at 4500 mg intravenously from days 1 to 4 followed by azacitidine at 75mg/m2 from days 4 to 10 in 28-day cycles. A total of 52 patients were enrolled on the trial. Results pertaining to response to the treatment were promising, says Cluzeau; the overall response rate (ORR) was 58%, with 37% of patients achieving a complete response (CR).

Specifically, in 39 evaluable patients who received ≥3 cycles of treatment, the ORR was 77%, with 49% of patients achieving a CR, adds Cluzeau. When analyzing by subgroups, in 34 evaluable patients with MDS, the ORR was 75%, with 57% of patients experiencing a CR. For patients with AML with 20% to 30% of blasts, the ORR was 78%, with 33% of patients experiencing a CR.

Finally, in terms of survival, after a median follow-up of 9.7 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 12.1 months. In patients who received ≥3 cycles of treatment, the median OS was 13.7 months. Thus, the results from this study demonstrated great responseswith this treatment in this high-risk patient population, concludes Cluzeau.

Thomas Cluzeau, MD, PhD, discusses the response rates of a phase 2 study with APR-246 and azacitidine in TP53-mutated myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia.

Dr. Cluzeau on the Efficacy of APR-246/Azacitidine in TP53-Mutated MDS and AML

Thomas Cluzeau, MD, PhD

Fred Saad, MD, FRCS, professor and chief of Urology, director of Genitourinary Oncology, Raymond Garneau Chair in Prostate Cancer, University of Montreal Hospital Center, and director, Prostate Cancer Research, Montreal Cancer Institute, discusses unique characteristics of apalutamide (Erleada) compared with other antiandrogen agents in nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (M0CRPC).

Apalutamide, enzalutamide (Xtandi), and darolutamide (Nubeqa) have shown similar efficacy and quality of life (QoL) data in patients with M0CRPC, says Saad.

In a QoL analysis of apalutamide, asymptomatic patients were given antiandrogen therapy that had the potential to cause adverse events, explains Saad. However, patients’ QoL remained stable with no signs of deterioration compared with placebo.

Apalutamide, an androgen receptor-targeted agent, differs from androgen synthesis inhibitors such as abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) in that it has a different mechanism of action, says Saad. Additionally, rates of fatigue appear to be lower with apalutamide compared with historical rates in this setting.

Fred Saad, MD, FRCS, discusses unique characteristics of apalutamide compared with other antiandrogen agents in nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. 



Dr. Saad on Unique Characteristics of Apalutamide in M0CRPC

Fred Saad, MD, FRCS

Andrei Gafita, MD, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich in Germany, discusses key takeaways from a retrospective analysis evaluating lutetium-177 PSMA-617 (

Lu-PSMA-617) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). 

, Gafita presented findings from the study, revealing that 

Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT derived parameters served as critical prognostic markers for progression-free survival and overall survival in men with mCRPC.

These indicate that PSMA expression within the tumor is predictive of survival and treatment response, says Gafita.

Additionally, these prognostic models may inform the clinical utility, outcomes, and clinical trial designs with 

Lu-PSMA-617 therapy in mCRPC, concludes Gafita.

Andrei Gafita, MD, discusses key takeaways from a retrospective analysis evaluating lutetium-177 PSMA-617 in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.  


Dr. Gafita on Prognostic Models for Treatment With 177Lu-PSMA-617 in mCRPC 

Andrei Gafita, MD

Panayiotis S. Savvides, MD, a medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic Arizona, discusses the utility of immunotherapy in lung cancer.

Documenting the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer has revolutionized what patients have been offered over the past few years, says Savvides. The options that are avaliable to patients have significantly improved with these advances, adds Savvides. Interestingly, the safety profile of immunotherapies completely differs from that of cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens that the field had been using. Immunotherapy appears to have a more favorable safety profile, concludes Savvides.

Panayiotis S. Savvides, MD, discusses the utility of immunotherapy in lung cancer.

Dr. Savvides on the Utility of Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer

Panayiotis S. Savvides, MD

Optimal Management of Locally Advanced Melanoma

Identifying Patients for Neoadjuvant Melanoma Therapy

Molecular Testing in Locally Advanced Melanoma

pCR and Neoadjuvant Therapy for Melanoma

Neoadjuvant Data Explored for Locally Advanced Melanoma

Adjuvant Data Explored for Locally Advanced Melanoma

Adjuvant Therapy for Melanoma: Ongoing Studies of Interest

Adjuvant Therapy for Melanoma: Safety and Efficacy

Systemic Therapy for Metastatic Melanoma

Novel Therapies for Metastatic Melanoma

I/O Dosing Schedules in Metastatic Melanoma

Management of Brain Metastases in Melanoma

Advances in the Treatment of Malignant Melanoma

Sunandana Chandra, MD, Northwestern Medicine

Kami J. Maddocks, MD, associate professor of clinical internal medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, discusses treatment considerations in follicular lymphoma. 

Patient factors, disease characteristics, and patient preference play a role in determining optimal treatment selection for a particular patient with follicular lymphoma, explains Maddocks. 

Disease bulk, disease-related symptoms, time-to-response, and the toxicity profile of the treatment also factor into the decision, Maddocks says. 

Additionally, patient preference should be considered as some patients prefer to avoid chemotherapy and explore time-limited therapy or oral therapy options instead, concludes Maddocks. 

Kami J. Maddocks, MD, discusses treatment considerations for treatment selection in follicular lymphoma.  


Dr. Maddocks on Treatment Considerations in Follicular Lymphoma 

Kami J. Maddocks, MD

Muhammad Bilal Abid, MD, MRCP, assistant professor of medicine in the Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and Infectious Diseases at the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses challenges with CAR-T cell therapy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

COVID-19 has caused many disruptions in the administration of CAR T-cell therapy​, says Abid. As such, several considerations need to be taken into account.

To mitigate the risk of severe cytokine release syndrome, ​CAR T-cell therapy should be brought to a temporary halt​, Abid explains. Doing so will prevent dysfunctional T cells and an elevation of inflammatory cytokines.

After stopping CAR T-cell therapy, it is critical to closely monitor patients, Abid concludes.

Muhammad Bilal Abid, MD, MRCP, discusses challenges with CAR-T cell therapy during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Dr. Abid on Challenges With CAR T-Cell Therapy During the COVID-19 Pandemic 

Muhammad B. Abid, MD, MRCP

Sunandana Chandra, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, discusses unanswered questions regarding the utility of targeted therapy in melanoma.

Developing a greater understanding of when to implement targeted therapies, at what point in treatment, and for which patients is critically important in the melanoma space, explains Chandra.

Currently, targeted therapy is used for patients who have a high tumor mutational burden, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, or symptomatic disease, Chandra says. However, there are likely other instances in which targeted therapy would be beneficial for patients.

Additionally, the variability and durability of responses to targeted therapy and immunotherapy will play a role in fleshing out these questions.

Other questions to be answered include whether targeted therapy should be given in the first-line setting, as well as whether it should be given in combination or sequentially, concludes Chandra.

Sunandana Chandra, MD, MS, discusses unanswered questions regarding the utility of targeted therapy in melanoma.



Authors