Issues

Juergens and colleagues present results from a phase I/II trial showing that combined epigenetic therapy with azacitidine and entinostat can elicit objective responses, including one complete and one partial response, in refractory metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A decreased methylation signature in response to treatment was associated with longer overall and progression-free survival, indicative of on-target epigenetic effects. Furthermore, several patients had objective responses to subsequent anticancer therapies. This combination epigenetic therapy may therefore be effective in reversing the epigenetic mechanisms driving the progression and resistance of NSCLC. For details, please see the article by Juergens and colleagues on page 598.