Noted

Amgen announced it will acquire Five Prime Therapeutics for $1.9 billion. Amgen will gain Five Prime's anti-FGFR2b agent bemarituzumab (FPA144), which is in clinical testing for patients with FGFR2b-mutant advanced gastric cancer. In the phase II FIGHT trial, bemarituzumab plus chemotherapy led to longer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than chemotherapy alone.

The FDA approved the VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor tivozanib (Fotivda; AVEO Oncology) for patients with relapsed/refractory advanced renal cell carcinoma who have already received at least two therapies. The approval was based on the phase III TIVO-3 trial, in which the agent extended median PFS by 1.7 months and median OS by 2.8 months compared with sorafenib.

Blinatumomab (Blincyto; Amgen) may be effective in children with high-risk relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (JAMA 2020;325:843–54). In a phase III trial, 31% of patients treated with the CD3/CD19-targeted bispecific antibody experienced relapse, developed a second malignancy, or died after a median of 22.4 months, compared with 57% of those who received consolidation chemotherapy.

Following a review of recent research, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released a final guideline that expands the criteria for lung cancer screening (JAMA 2021;325:962–70). The recommendation calls for screening adults ages 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. Previously, the agency recommended that screening start at age 55 for people with a 30 pack-year smoking history.

Socioeconomically disadvantaged patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials may fare worse than more affluent people, despite receiving high-quality care during the trials (J Clin Oncol 2021 Mar 17 [Epub ahead of print]). Researchers analyzed data from 41,109 patients with cancer enrolled in 55 phase II and III trials between 1985 and 2012. They found that patients from the poorest neighborhoods had a 28% increased risk of death compared with those from the wealthiest areas.

For more news on cancer research, visit Cancer Discovery online at http://cancerdiscovery.aacrjournals.org/CDNews.