Top stories in hematology/oncology: Ribociclib improves survival in advanced breast cancer subtype; alternative dosing of pembrolizumab, nivolumab may decrease costs

All of the top stories in hematology/oncology last week were from the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting and included a study that found adding ribociclib to endocrine therapy improved survival in premenopausal women with an advanced breast cancer subtype and research that suggested an alternative dosing strategy of pembrolizumab and nivolumab may substantially reduce pharmaceutical costs without compromising efficacy in treating various cancers.

Other highlights included a study that found rivaroxaban thromboprophylaxis greatly reduced venous thromboembolism among ambulatory patients with pancreatic cancer, findings that indicated nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine may benefit some patients with surgically resected pancreatic cancer and study results that suggested the low anticoagulant heparin derivative CX-01 combined with standard induction therapy induced encouraging rates of complete response and event-free survival among elderly, fit patients newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

Ribociclib plus endocrine therapy improves survival in advanced breast cancer subtype

CHICAGO — Premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer derived a significant survival benefit from the addition of ribociclib to endocrine therapy, according to the most recent OS results from the randomized phase 3 MONALEESA-7 study presented at ASCO Annual Meeting. Read more.

Alternative pembrolizumab, nivolumab dosing methods decrease cost

CHICAGO — An alternative dosing strategy of pembrolizumab and nivolumab may substantially reduce pharmaceutical costs without compromising efficacy in treating various cancers, a speaker said. Read more.

Rivaroxaban reduces venous thromboembolism among ambulatory patients with pancreatic cancer

CHICAGO — Rivaroxaban thromboprophylaxis greatly reduced venous thromboembolism among ambulatory patients with pancreatic cancer, according to results of a prespecified subgroup analysis of the CASSINI study. Read more.

Nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine may benefit some patients with surgically resected pancreatic cancer

CHICAGO — The addition of nab-paclitaxel to gemcitabine did not significantly extend disease-free survival per independent reviewer assessment among patients with surgically resected pancreatic cancer, a speaker said. Read more.

CX-01 with standard induction chemotherapy shows promise among elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia

CHICAGO — The low anticoagulant heparin derivative CX-01 combined with standard induction therapy induced encouraging rates of complete response and event-free survival among elderly, fit patients newly diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, according to results of a randomized phase 2 trial. Read more.