The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in 20% of breast carcinomas. Prior to the development of targeted therapies, HER2-positive breast cancer was associated with more aggressive disease and poor prognosis. Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is an antibody-drug conjugate that results from the combination of trastuzumab and DM1, a derivative of the antimicrotubule agent maytansine. This molecule has the ability to enhance cytotoxic drug delivery to specifically targeted cells that overexpress HER2, therefore, maximizing efficacy while sparing toxicity. In recent years, T-DM1 has shown to improve outcomes in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer that is resistant to trastuzumab. In addition, T-DM1 is currently being tested in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings to identify patients who may benefit from this therapy. This review focuses on the mechanism of action, early and late-phase clinical trials, and ongoing studies of T-DM1 in HER2-positive breast cancer.

Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer related mortality. Until very recently the only existing options that medical oncologists had to treat metastatic colon cancer were a combination of chemotherapy, anti-EGFR and anti-angiogenic agents. We currently have the first proof that immune therapies could be an effective approach to battle colorectal cancers that carry a mismatch repair machinery deficient phenotype. It is expected that as our knowledge of the different mechanisms of immune-resistance grows, this therapeutic modality might soon be applicable to all patients. However, due to the continuous increase in the cost of oncological drugs, some treatment overheads may soon become prohibitive for many. In this review we will examine the current evidence related to this topic with the objective to provide the reader with concise but practical information about the potential role of immunotherapy in CRC.

Lung cancer is a major public health problem worldwide and the leading cause of cancerrelated mortality in developed countries. Significant advances have been made especially with the discovery of targeted agents. However, only a small proportion of patients carry activating mutations; until recently conventional chemotherapy and angiogenesis inhibitors were the preferred treatment for the vast majority of patients. Now, the successful experience of anti-PD-1 agents may have opened the door to a novel and previously unexplored dimension in the treatment of lung cancer: immunotherapy. In this mini-review we will discuss the current applications and future consequences related this topic, paying special attention to the clinical studies that constitute the scientific evidence to supports its use.

504 Background: Current treatments (tx) of papillary NMIBC are not selective. Novel tx can be assessed on measurable disease (eg, a marker lesion) to rapidly and directly assess antitumor efficacy. FGFR inhibitor therapy may improve outcomes for pts with IR-NMIBC with FGFR3/2alt. Erdafitinib (erda) is an oral selective pan-FGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer in adults with FGFR3/2alt who have progressed during or following ≥1 line of platinum-containing chemotherapy. THOR-2 (NCT04172675) is a multicohort phase 2 study of erda in pts with NMIBC. We report results in an exploratory cohort of pts with IR-NMIBC with FGFRalt (Cohort 3). Methods: Inclusion: age ≥18 y, with histologically confirmed NMIBC with FGFR3/2alt (local/central testing) and recurrent IR disease, with all previous tumors being low grade (Gr) (Gr 1-2), Ta/T1, no previous carcinoma in situ, risk of progression <5% in the next 2 y, and risk of recurrence >50%. All tumors were removed by transurethral resection of bladder tumor except for a marker lesion (single untouched 5-10 mm lesion). Pts received continuous oral erda 6 mg once daily without uptitration in 28-d cycles. Urine cytology was performed at the time of complete response (CR). Pts with a partial response (PR) or CR ≤3 mos of starting erda continued erda for up to a maximum of 2 y, until progressive disease, intolerable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, investigator decision to discontinue tx, or study closure. Primary exploratory end point: CR rate (CR = disappearance of the marker lesion without any new lesions; if there is a remnant of the marker lesion, no viable tumor should be seen on histopathological examination); key secondary end point: safety. Results: As of the data cutoff (Sep 2022) (median follow-up of 6.2 mos), 10/11 enrolled pts have received erda (enrolled population; median age: 66 y [range 47-77]; 9 Ta, 2 not staged). Pts received erda for a median duration of 2.9 mos (range 1.1-8.4). Efficacy (n=8 evaluable): 6 pts had CR (CR rate, 75.0%; 95% CI, 34.9-96.8%), and 1 had PR. Of 7 pts with CR or PR, median observed duration of response was 2.8 mos. Safety (≥1 dose of erda; n=10): the most common tx-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were hyperphosphatemia (90.0%; n=9), diarrhea (60.0%; n=6), dry mouth (50.0%; n=5), dry skin (30.0%; n=3), dysgeusia (30.0%; n=3), and constipation (30.0%; n=3). One pt had Gr ≥3 dysuria (10.0%) and 1 (10.0%) had Gr ≥3 tx-related diarrhea. One pt (10.0%) had Gr 1 tx-related central serous chorioretinopathy. No pts had tx-related serious TEAEs or tx-related TEAEs leading to discontinuation. No deaths occurred. Conclusions: Data from Cohort 3 of THOR-2 demonstrate efficacy in adult pts with IR-NMIBC with FGFRalt. Safety data were consistent with the known safety profile of erda. Clinical trial information: NCT04172675 .

and its value as a prognostic biomarker in patients with metastatic nonesmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Method: The clinical chart of consecutive metastatic NSCLC patients treated in Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital, Lima-Perú, between July 2014 and December 2015, were retrospectively evaluated. Epidemiological, disease and extension data were collected, as well as white cell differential before either, definitive treatment or best supportive care. Survival analysis was performed using log-rank test, Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis using NLR cut-off point of 5 as previously reported. R language was used for statistical analysis. Results: Ninety clinical charts of advanced NSCLC patients were evaluated, of which 36 cases were considered for final analysis. The mean age was 69 years (SD 11.9). Twenty-three patients were female (63.9%), 28 were nonsmokers (77.8%) and 32 had adenocarcinoma (88.9%), median NLR was 3.4. The median overall survival (OS) was 7.95 months. Median OS for patients with NLR 3 5 was 3.97 months vs. 12.07 months for NLR < 5 (p ¼ 0.0041). Cox analysis for NLR < 5 was performed, adjusting with variables such as age (HR: 0.27, p ¼ 0.008), gender (HR: 0.30, p ¼ 0.012) and systemic treatment (HR: 0.34, p ¼ 0.038). Finally, we performed multivariate analysis adjusting for all variables that potentially can influence in mortality such as age, gender, systemic treatment and metastatic sites and we found HR 0.27 for NLR < 5 (95%CI 0.09 -0.84, p ¼ 0.024). Conclusion: NLR < 5 was statistically associated with better overall survival. Multivariate analysis adjusted by age, gender, systemic treatment and metastatic compromise, was able to predict better overall survival, with a hazard ratio of 0.27 for NLR < 5. The retrospective design and limitations of our study only allow us to generate the hypothesis that NLR < 5 could be an easy and inexpensive marker of better survival in metastatic lung cancer patients and support design of larger and prospective trials.