BJMO - volume 11, issue 6, october 2017
R. Porta , E. Sais MD, A. Nogueira MD, J. Ferri Gandia , A. Coelho MD, F. Passiglia MD, D. Arias Ron , C. Rolfo MD, PhD
After many years of research and many failed attempts, finally the cancer treatments that act on the immune system have paid off. There are several ways to act on the immune system of cancer patients, including vaccination, genetic modification of cells and the inhibition of checkpoint molecules. The latter have had a great development in the last 5 years, not only in the immunogenic tumours but also in other tumours considered non-immunogenic such as lung cancer. In this review we are focusing on the latest findings of immunotherapeutic treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We review those studies that have led to the approval of some of the drugs targeting immune checkpoints as well as those studies with immune checkpoint inhibitors with the potential to play a role in the treatment of NSCLC.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(6):277–283)
Read moreBJMO - volume 11, issue 5, september 2017
L. Lallemand , F.P. Duhoux MD, PhD
Dysregulation of the cell cycle, especially in the cyclin D-cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) pathway, is a key component of carcinogenesis, also in breast cancer. Cyclin dependent kinase inhibition has emerged as an attractive targeted cancer therapy. Recently, three oral agents selectively targeting CDK 4/6 have been developed for the treatment of breast cancer: palbociclib (PD 0332991), ribociclib (LEE011), and abemaciclib (LY2835219). Clinical trials have shown an improvement in progression-free survival when palbociclib and ribociclib are used in combination with endocrine therapy. The next wave of studies will examine the efficacy of CDK 4/6 inhibitors in combination with other targeted therapies, in the (neo)-adjuvant situation, and in other breast cancer subtypes, such as HER2 positive breast cancer. Palbociclib and ribociclib recently received accelerated Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of hormone receptor positive advanced breast cancer in combination with endocrine therapy. This combination has become the new standard of care for the treatment of patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(5):234–241)
Read moreBJMO - volume 11, issue 1, february 2017
B.I. Roman PhD, MSc
Invasion and metastasis are responsible for 90% of cancer-related mortality. An overview is presented of the issues and opportunities regarding the development of effective inhibitors of these phenomena. Our efforts in the discovery and (in vitro and in vivo) validation of synthetic chalcones as potent anti-invasive agents are summarised, taking into account various concerns regarding the suitability of the chalcone scaffold as a template for the development of bona fide pharmacological tools.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(1):12–17)
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 7, november 2016
J. De Grève MD, PhD, L. Decoster MD, PhD, R.B. Shahi MSc, C. Fontaine MD, L. Vanacker MD, I. Pauwels , E. Denayer MD, PhD, S. De Brakeleer PhD, E. Teugels PhD
Inhibition of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 has relatively recently entered the clinic. The ground-breaking drug both scientifically and clinically was olaparib, but several other PARP inhibitors are in development. This treatment is the first to therapeutically exploit mutant recessive cancer genes. In this review we discuss the discovery of this treatment, the preclinical and clinical studies, as well as some future perspectives.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(7):263–275)
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 6, september 2016
V. Kruse MD, PhD, I. Chevolet MD, PhD, K. De Wolf MD, P. Ost MD, PhD, L. Brochez MD, PhD
The therapeutic landscape for the treatment of metastatic melanoma has been changing dramatically over the last years. Given the availability of several promising drugs, choosing the best sequence for the individual patient has become a challenge. Immunotherapy by means of checkpoint-inhibitors, such as the anti-CTLA4-antibody ipilimumab and the anti-PD1-antibodies nivolumab and pembrolizumab, has demonstrated unprecedented long-term survival rates. When prescribing an immunotherapeutic agent, the clinician should be aware that the patient is at risk of developing an immune-related adverse event, especially when anti-CTLA4 and anti-PD1 are administered together. A promising future strategy to increase response rates of the checkpoint-inhibitors is combining them with radiotherapy. Hereby an abscopal effect is induced, reducing both irradiated and non-irradiated tumour lesions. Another therapeutic strategy is based on the presence of a BRAF mutation among approximately 40–50% of melanoma patients. For those patients, combined therapy with a BRAF inhibitor and a MEK inhibitor is valued to be a convincing regimen, especially in case of a high disease burden, elevated LDH and a performance status of 1–2. In contrast, T-VEC is a valuable therapeutic option for patients with limited disease.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(6):215–222)
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 4, july 2016
P. Frères MD, L. Lousberg MD, G. Jerusalem MD, PhD
Dysregulation of the cell cycle is a classic hallmark of cancer. Cell cycle control by the inhibition of cyclin-dependent protein kinases represents new options for anticancer therapy. Abemaciclib (LY2835219), ribociclib (LEE011) and palbociclib (PD0332991) are selective oral inhibitors of CDK4/6 and are largely under evaluation in clinical trials in the field of breast cancer. In an open-label, randomised phase II study (PALOMA-1/TRIO-18 trial), the combination of palbociclib and letrozole, compared to letrozole alone, significantly prolongs progression-free survival of patients suffering from ER positive HER2 negative advanced breast cancer and who had not received any systemic treatment for their advanced disease. More recently, it has also been shown that palbociclib combined with fulvestrant resulted in longer progressionfree survival than fulvestrant alone in patients presenting ER positive HER2 negative advanced breast cancer and who had progression of disease during endocrine therapy. The toxicity profile of palbociclib is manageable. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events include neutropenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia and fatigue. Toxicity related permanent discontinuation is unusual. Additional phase III data evaluating CDK4/6 inhibitors in patients with endocrine sensitive disease or after failure of previous endocrine therapy are expected in the very near future. Impact of CDK4/6 inhibitors on overall survival and the role of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting are under evaluation. More treatment options are now evaluable for patients with ER positive HER2 negative advanced breast cancer. Optimal sequence of the available therapies remains unknown. Unfortunately, no trials have been designed to answer this important question.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(4):132–138)
Read moreBJMO - volume 10, issue 3, may 2016
P. Dirix MD, PhD, P. Westerlinck MD, G. Buelens MD, P. Huget MD, P. Meijnders MD, PhD
Skeletal involvement is very common in metastatic prostate cancer and is associated with (symptomatic) skeletal-related events. This article examines the clinical trial data that support the use of available bone-targeted therapies in prostate cancer.
(BELG J MED ONCOL 2016;10(3):97–100)
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