Oncology News Round-Up: Amivantamab in Relapsed NSCLC, and More

By Rebecca Araujo - Last Updated: September 22, 2023

Each week on DocWire News, editors bring you the latest in oncology news and cancer research. In case you missed it, here are this week’s top headlines:

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Keep reading for the breakdown on these top stories.

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Dr. Catherine Shu: Amivantamab Regimen in Relapsed NSCLC

Editors spoke with Catherine Shu, MD, medical oncologist and Clinical Director of the Thoracic Medical Oncology Group at Columbia University Herbing Irving Comprehensive Medical Center, about findings from Janssen’s CHRYSALIS-2 study, which demonstrated the efficacy of amivantamab in combination with lazertinib in the treatment of patients with relapsed non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

This study included patients who had progressed after treatment with osimertinib followed by platinum chemotherapy. In this population of patients with relapsed NSCLC, the response rate to amivantamab plus lazertinib was 41% overall, with 69% of respondents achieving a clinical benefit.

Additionally, the amivantamab combination was well-tolerated. According to Dr. Shu, side effects included rash, paronychia, stomatitis, and mouth sores. Some patients experienced infusion-related reactions, typically on the first day of infusion, such as increased blood pressure, flushing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. These effects were manageable, according to Dr. Shu. “It’s typically within the first few minutes of the infusion. We stop the infusion, we slow down the rate, we give them additional medications, and then most people are able to get through it,” she said.

https://www.docwirenews.com/docwire-pick/dr-catherine-shu-discusses-a-study-with-important-implications-in-the-treatment-of-lung-cancer/

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Increased Eligibility with Updated Lung Cancer Screening

The 2021 lung cancer screening criteria from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) was found to reduce racial disparities in eligibility for screening compared to the 2013 version of this guideline, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.

The 2021 USPSTF criteria demonstrated comparable eligibility rates regardless of race (65% of White patients vs. 63% of African American patients). This rate was a significant improvement from the 2013 criteria (52% of White patients vs. 42% of African American patients).

However, a prediction-model based screening criteria (the 2012 Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial model) demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity compared with the 2021 criteria.

https://www.docwirenews.com/urban-health-today/urban-health-picks/lung-cancer-screening-do-updated-criteria-address-racial-disparities/

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Cost Analysis of Apixaban for VTE Prophylaxis

Researchers from the University of Ottawa evaluated the cost-utility of apixaban for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in patients with cancer compared to standard care, which does not include any primary thromboprophylaxis. Their findings, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, established that apixaban was a cost-saving option for VTE prophylaxis in ambulatory patients with cancer at intermediate-to-high risk of VTE who were starting chemotherapy.

Across a lifetime horizon, apixaban resulted in a lower cost for the health system (Can$7902.98 vs. Can$14875.82) and an improvement in quality of life years (QALYs; 9.089 vs. 9.0006) versus standard care. The primary contributor to the cost-effectiveness of apixaban was the relative risk of VTE. Further analysis demonstrated that a willingness to pay Can$50,000 per QALY with apixaban yielded the highest probability (99.87%) of being the most cost-effective for the health system.

https://www.docwirenews.com/vte-knowledge-hub/vte-knowledge-hub-picks/cost-effectiveness-of-apixaban-for-venous-thrombosis-prophylaxis-in-patients-with-cancer/

Want to see more oncology news?

Check out last week’s Round-Up, and be sure to keep up with the latest oncology news and cancer research here on DocWire, updated daily!

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