Genitourinary Cancers
Further benefits of PET imaging in prostate cancer
Prostate cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men in 112 countries around the world in 2020, with 1.4 million newly diagnosed cases leading to more than 375,000 deaths [1]. The open-label, multi-center, randomized phase 3 VISION study (NCT03511664) demonstrated the efficacy and safety of 177Lu-PSMA-617 targeted radioligand therapy in patients with progressive prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) [2].
Advances in PSMA-based immunotherapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has a very bad prognosis with most patients dying within two years of diagnosis [1]. Available therapies for mCRPC are often associated with poor tissue selectivity, and side effects including high systemic toxicity and drug resistance.
Early prediction of the response to 177Lu-PSMA therapy in metastatic prostate cancer
PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) is a glycoprotein highly expressed on the surface of malignant prostate tumor cells. Thus, it represents a suitable target for both imaging and therapy of prostate cancer (PCa). In fact, PSMA ligands are widely used either as tracers for positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging or as therapeutic agents comprising PSMA-directed radionuclide therapy and immunotherapy [1].
Emerging therapies in solid tumors
Interleukin-8 (IL-8), also known as chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8, is a pro-inflammatory chemokine that exerts direct pro-tumorigenic effects primarily by recruiting immunosuppressive cells into the tumor microenvironment such as neutrophils and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. IL-8 has also been shown to promote cancer progression and resistance to therapy, by inducing angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stem cell (CSC) self-renewal.
Latest developments in prostate cancer treatment
The positive efficacy and safety data of 177Lu-PSMA-617 in the treatment of mCRPC patients from the Lu-PSMA and VISION trials led to its FDA approval and designation as a breakthrough therapy for later lines of mCRPC treatment [1,2]. 223Ra-dichloride (223RaCl2) is a targeted α-therapy and prolongs OS in patients with bone-predominant mCRPC [3].
Advances in PSMA radiotracers for prostate cancer imaging
Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeting positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging is increasingly used to characterize prostate cancer (PCa). However, in Europe, there is still an unmet need for radiotracers to localize biochemical recurrences in PCa. The phase III PYTHON trial is designed to establish the efficacy and safety of [18F]DCFPyL- compared to [18F]Flurocholine-PET/CT in patients with first biochemical recurrence after initial definitive therapy (prostatectomy, external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy) for histopathologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma per original diagnosis [1].
Novel early clinical approaches in solid tumors
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have proven to be effective in the clinic for patients with malignant B-cell tumors but their application for solid tumors is challenging. BNT211 is a novel therapeutic approach which comprises two components: CAR-T cells targeting the Claudin 6 (CLDN6) and a CLDN6-encoding CAR-T cell amplifying RNA vaccine (CARVac).
From neoadjuvant to second-line therapeutic options for RCC patients
Kidney cancer accounted for more than 400,000 newly diagnosed cases in 2020,. Interestingly, after over two decades of increasing rates, the worldwide incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has shown signs of plateauing in recent years, whereas an increase of the global kidney cancer death rate was observed.