Noted

Genentech's PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab (Tecentriq) received the FDA's nod as first-line therapy for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who aren't eligible for platinum chemotherapy. This is the first immune checkpoint blocker to gain approval as initial treatment for bladder cancer.

AbbVie announced disappointing results from two phase III studies evaluating veliparib, an investigational PARP inhibitor, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Neither trial met its primary endpoint—overall survival for NSCLC; pathologic complete response for TNBC.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation in support of an individualized approach to prostate cancer screening, with a decision based upon a discussion with a health-care provider about the risks and potential benefits of screening, for men ages 55 to 69. In 2012, the group recommended against routine screening for all men.

According to a report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the number of childhood cancers worldwide rose by 13% between the 1980s and the period spanning 2001 to 2010 (Lancet Oncol 2017 Apr 11 [Epub ahead of print]). That conclusion was based upon numbers recorded in 153 cancer registries in 62 countries. IARC attributes part of the increase to improved detection efforts.

The Roche CINtec Histology test received marketing clearance from the FDA. The test is the only clinically validated p16 biomarker test that, when used in conjunction with hematoxylin and eosin staining, helps pathologists determine which women should receive treatment for precancerous cervical lesions.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks premiered on HBO. Based on the book of the same name, the movie explores the use of Lacks's cervical cancer cells for research without her knowledge. Countless studies employing the so-called HeLa cells, which were harvested in 1951, have led to the development of drugs to treat leukemia and human papillomavirus, among other conditions.

For more news on cancer research, visit Cancer Discovery online at http://cancerdiscovery.aacrjournals.org/content/early/by/section.