Noted

The FDA approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris; Seattle Genetics) plus chemotherapy as a first-line therapy for systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas. The approval was based on the ECHELON-2 trial, in which the combination extended overall survival by 27.4 months compared with chemotherapy alone. The drug was the first approved through the FDA's Real-Time Oncology Review Pilot Program.

The FDA announced a plan to combat underage use of nicotine products that would limit sales of certain flavored electronic cigarette cartridges to age-restricted stores or sections of stores, and would require more stringent age verification online. The FDA also proposed bans on menthol-flavored combustible cigarettes and all flavored cigars.

GlaxoSmithKline's experimental RIP1 inhibitor GSK547 may boost the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors against pancreatic cancer (Cancer Cell 2018;34:757–74). In mice, the combination extended survival compared with immune checkpoint inhibitors alone; in human pancreatic cancer cells, GSK547 increased cytotoxic T-cell activation and decreased activation of immune system–suppressing T cells.

Boston Scientific announced it will acquire British-based BTG for $4.2 billion. BTG specializes in medical devices that are used as interventional therapies: It has developed radiotherapy microspheres and a cryoablation system to treat patients with kidney, liver, and other cancers.

Women with early-stage cervical cancer who have open surgery may have better outcomes than those who have minimally invasive hysterectomies (N Engl J Med 2018;379:1895–1904). In a prospective study, 96.5% of those who had open surgery were disease-free at 4.5 years, compared with 86% of those who had a minimally invasive procedure.

A federal judge declared that a patent on abiraterone (Zytiga) was invalid. The company wanted to patent the combination of abiraterone, a CYP17 inhibitor approved for prostate cancer, with steroid prednisone. The decision clears the path for generic versions of the drug.

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