The Targeted Pulse: Breakthrough Treatments in Blood Cancers, Ovarian Cancer, and More

Orca-T Yields 100% OS Rate in Elderly Patients with Hematologic Cancer

Positive outcomes in relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and nonrelapse mortality were observed in older patients with hematologic cancers treated with the high-precision cell therapy Orca-T, according to findings presented at the 2024 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings. In the multicenter, single-arm, phase 1b trial (NCT04013685), the 1-year RFS rate was comparable between older patients and those aged 18 to 55 years.

“Using Orca-T with myeloablative BFT conditioning has the potential to improve outcomes for older patients, based on a greater than 95% OS and 1 year transplant-related mortality [rate] of 0%,” lead study author Caspian H. Oliai, MD, medical director of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Bone Marrow Transplantation Stem Cell Processing Center, of UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, said.

Cilta-Cel Delivers Promising Outcomes for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

The anti–B-cell maturation antigen chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, ciltacabtagene autoleucel (Carvykti; cilta-cel), showed deep, durable responses for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma across 2 cohorts in the phase 2 CARTITUDE-2 trial (NCT04133636).

“We believe these [data] show that early introduction of cilta-cel in these patient cohorts is promising, and [the] CARTITUDE-4 trial is a phase 3 study also evaluating these early lines of therapy,” Jens Hillengass, MD, PhD, at the 2024 Tandem Meetings on Transplantation & Cellular Therapy. “Cohort A provides insight into longer-term survival outcomes …and cohort B data highlight the durable efficacy of cilta-cel in patients with early relapse where there is unmet need.”

Liso-cel Delivers Durable Responses in Relapsed/Refractory CLL/SLL

One dose of lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel; Breyanzi) prompted immediate and lasting responses in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in patients who had not responded to other treatments in the phase 1/2 TRANSCEND CLL 004 trial (NCT03331198). These findings were presented during the 2024 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings, and previously at the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting.

“Overall, these results support liso-cel as a potential new treatment option for relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL,” Nirav N. Shah, MD, lead study author and an associate professor at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and colleagues, wrote in a poster on the data.

Olaparib Rechallenge Improves Survival in Relapsed Ovarian Cancer

Patients with relapsed ovarian cancer who had previously received a poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) with maintenance olaparib (Lynparza) achieved improved progression-free survival (PFS), regardless of BRCA mutation status after a rechallenge of olaparib according to data from the phase 3b OReO/ENGOT-ov38 study (NCT03106987).

“OReO/ENGOT-ov38 is the first randomized placebo-controlled trial to report data for rechallenge with a PARPi in patients with [platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer]. In meeting its primary endpoint, OReO demonstrated that rechallenge with maintenance olaparib provided a statistically significant, albeit modest, improvement in PFS compared with placebo in both the BRCA [mutated- and non-BRCA-[mutated] cohorts,” study authors wrote.

Positive Trilaciclib Data in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Propels Phase 3 Trial Forward

In first-line treatment for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, trilaciclib (Cosela) in combination with gemcitabine and carboplatin has been recommended to continue to the final analysis by the independent data monitoring committee, according to G1 Therapeutics, Inc.

“While a positive interim analysis would have enabled us to bring this therapy to patients in need sooner, we look forward to completing the study and potentially making this meaningful new treatment option available to patients with this highly aggressive form of breast cancer as early as next year,” said Jack Bailey, chief executive officer at G1 Therapeutics, in a press release.

Thank you for joining us for this week’s Targeted Pulse. Look out for more recaps to come.