Summaries of Must-Read Clinical Literature, Guidelines, and FDA Actions

Avelumab maintenance in gastric cancer is down but maybe not out

Publish date:: February 3, 2020

Key clinical point: First-line avelumab maintenance was not more efficacious than chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Major finding: Avelumab maintenance did not prolong overall survival relative to continued chemotherapy in the entire trial population (10.4 months vs. 10.9 months) or in patients with at least 1% of tumor cells positive for PD-L1 (16.2 months vs. 17.7 months).

Study details: A phase 3 randomized, controlled trial of 805 patients with untreated advanced HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer who were given induction chemotherapy (JAVELIN Gastric 100 trial).

Disclosures: The trial was sponsored by EMD Serono and Merck KGaA, which market avelumab in collaboration with Pfizer. Dr. Moehler disclosed relationships with these companies and many others. Dr. Catenacci disclosed relationships with Merck and other companies.

Citation:

Moehler MH et al. 2020 GI Cancers Symposium, Abstract 278.

This Week's Must Reads

Younger adults present with more advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma,

PDAC: Tumor reduction after neoadjuvant therapy may predict postsurgical survival,

Mortality risks rise with age, infections, but not inhibitor status in persons with non-severe hemophilia A,

‘Impressive’ local control with MRI-guided brachytherapy in cervical cancer,

U.S. mothers underestimate role breastfeeding plays in curbing breast cancer,

Must Reads in Gastroenterology

Younger adults present with more advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma,

DOACs look safe in elective endoscopic procedures,

Upper GI bleeds in COVID-19 not related to increased mortality,

Cryoballoon, cryospray found equivalent for eradicating Barret’s esophagus,