In oncology news this week, the FDA accepted a supplemental New Drug Application for selinexor (Xpovio) as treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who had received at least 1 prior line of therapy. Meanwhile, the FDA granted clearance for the cancer drug abivertinib to be investigated in a phase 2 study as treatment of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

This week Targeted Oncology hosted a tweet chat with Alexander N. Shoushtari, MD, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, to discussion the case of a 52-year-old woman with BRAF-mutant metastatic melanoma. Following the tweet chat, Shoushtari continued the discussion in an interview.

These updates and others were trending this week:

Sorafenib Maintenance May Prevent Recurrence After Transplant in FLT3-ITD+ AML

The risk of relapse or death was reduced by 61% with the use of sorafenib maintenance therapy compared with placebo following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with FLT3-ITD–positive acute myeloid leukemia, according to the results of the phase 2 SORMAIN trial.

Ruxolitinib Reduces Spleen Size in Patients With Myelofibrosis and Low-Platelet Counts

Ruxolitinib, the JAK1/2 inhibitor, induced significant spleen responses in patients with myelofibrosis, both with general disease and in patients with low platelet counts, according to results from the phase 3b JUMP study.

Pivotal Phase 3 Trial Initiated to Study Promising Cabozantinib/Atezolizumab Combo in Advanced RCC

A pivotal phase 3 trial has been initiated to explore the combination of cabozantinib and atezolizumab for the treatment of patients with inoperable, locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma who progressed during or after treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor immediately following initial therapy.

CLR 131 Induces Encouraging Responses in Relapsed/Refractory LPL and WM

CLR 131 induced an objective response rate of 100% as treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia in the ongoing phase 2 CLOVER-1 study.

Avelumab Plus TG4001 Shows Promising Efficacy in HPV16-Positive Metastatic Cancers

Avelumab in combination with a novel HPV16-targeted vaccine, demonstrated clinical activity as treatment of patients with HPV16-positive recurrent and/or metastatic malignancies, a phase 1b/2 clinical trial showed.

A 79-Year-Old Man With Relapsed Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Jeff Sharman, MD, reviews a case of a 79-year-old man with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia in this episode of Targeted Oncology Case Based Peer Perspectives series.

Analyzing the Importance of Biomarker Testing and MSI Status in mCRC

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, discusses the significance of conducting biomarker testing in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in accordance with the results of the phase 2 CheckMate 142 trial.

Special Feature: COVID-19 Updates

Limited Toxicity Seen With Leronlimab in Mild to Moderate COVID-19

Treatment with leronlimab in patients with mild to moderate symptoms of respiratory illness from COVID-19 caused fewer serious adverse events when compared with placebo, according to safety results from a phase 2 clinical trial.

Study Shows Disparities, Effects of Treatment for Patients With Cancer and COVID-19

Data from a treatment utilization study revealed racial disparities in treatments for COVID-19 as well as the effects and clinical outcomes of treatments such as remdesivir and dexamethasone in patients with cancer who were diagnosed with COVID-19.