Durable responses in metastatic melanoma, improved PFS in advanced colorectal cancer

Two presentations at the 2014 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago reported encouraging outcomes for patients with metastatic melanoma and colorectal cancer.

Major finding In a phase 1 study of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced melanoma, 1-year overall survival was 69%, and 88% of patients who had a treatment response continued to have a response at 1 year. Data source An expansion cohort of 411 patients in a phase 1 trial.

Maintenance improves PFS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
Key clinical point Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have at least stable disease after induction chemotherapy may benefit from maintenance therapy with capecitabine and bevacizumab, though further studies on quality of life are needed. Major finding The median time to second progression (PFS2) for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer following induction and re-treatment was a median of 8.5 months for observation, compared with 11.7 months for maintenance with capecitabine and bevacizumab. Data source Randomized controlled trial of 588 patients from 64 hospitals in the Netherlands.

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