August 28, 2019 – Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is a form of cancer immunotherapy. The therapy targets immune checkpoints, key regulators of the immune system that when stimulated can dampen the immune response to an immunologic stimulus. Some cancers …

Variables of prospective response rates of PD-1/PD-L1 based therapies across cancers Read more »

October 21, 2018 – In a study published online September 13 in JAMA Oncology, the authors just reminded us of the fact that besides all hype about immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the cancer therapy field, they can be associated with …

Cancer therapies: Immune checkpoint inhibitors may kill you Read more »

September 2, 2017 – The American Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that two clinical trials with Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with multiple myeloma have been put on hold. The FDA informs the public, health care professionals, and oncology …

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda): Clinical trials on hold Read more »

June 09, 2017 –  It’s only a couple of days that the American Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved for the first time a cancer treatment for any solid tumor, irrespective of the tumor’s original location, as long as the targeted tumor is …

Biomarker-guided Larotrectinib for all cancer types? Read more »

May 24, 2917 – The American Food & Drug Administration (FDA) just approved a major extension of the clinical indications for Pembrolizumab (Keytruda). For the first time,  a cancer treatment has been approved for any solid tumor, irrespective of the tumor’s …

First cancer treatment for any solid tumor with MSI-H or dMMR approved Read more »

March 21, 2017 – Health Canada just communicated this important safety information: Cases of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) under treatment of patients with Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) have been reported internationally in the clinical trials and post-marketing setting. …

Risk of severe if not fatal skin reactions with Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) Read more »

September 06, 2016 – Genetic mutations associated with acquired resistance to PD-1 blockade in melanoma have been suspected to be involved in the clinical observation that while approximately 75% of objective responses to anti–programmed death 1 (PD-1) therapy in patients with …

Mutations Associated with Acquired Resistance to PD-1 Blockade in Melanoma Read more »

September 11, 2014 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted accelerated approval to Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for treatment of patients with advanced or unresectable melanoma who are no longer responding to other drugs. Melanoma, which accounts for approximately 5 …

Pembrolizumab [Keytruda] for advanced melanoma: First PD-1 blocking drug to receive approval Read more »