Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions

Maintenance olaparib extends PFS in pancreatic cancer with BRCA mutation

Publish date:: June 2, 2019

Key clinical point: In patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and a germline BRCA mutation, maintenance treatment with olaparib resulted in significant and clinically meaningful improvements in progression-free survival.

Major finding: The median progression-free survival was 7.4 versus 3.8 months for olaparib and placebo, respectively, (HR, 0.53; P = .0038).

Study details: Results of the phase 3 POLO trial including 247 patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and a germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.

Disclosures: Funding for the study came from AstraZeneca and Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. Dr. Kindler provided disclosures related to Aduro Biotech, Aldeyra Therapeutics, Astellas Pharma, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bris-tol-Myers Squibb, Deciphera, ERYTECH Pharma, Five Prime Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, Inhibrx, ipsen, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Lilly, MedImmune, Merck, Paradox Therapeutics, Polaris, Roche/Genentech, and Verastem.

Citation:

Kindler HL, et al. ASCO 2019. Abstract LBA4.

This Week's Must Reads

Younger adults present with more advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma,

PDAC: Tumor reduction after neoadjuvant therapy may predict postsurgical survival,

Mortality risks rise with age, infections, but not inhibitor status in persons with non-severe hemophilia A,

‘Impressive’ local control with MRI-guided brachytherapy in cervical cancer,

U.S. mothers underestimate role breastfeeding plays in curbing breast cancer,

Must Reads in Gastroenterology

Younger adults present with more advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma,

DOACs look safe in elective endoscopic procedures,

Upper GI bleeds in COVID-19 not related to increased mortality,

Cryoballoon, cryospray found equivalent for eradicating Barret’s esophagus,