ESMO 2021

First-Line Immunotherapy Continues to Best Chemo in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Data suggest nivolumab plus ipilimumab provides a long-term survival benefit in patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Patients With Cancer Should Receive COVID-19 Booster Shots

Researchers presented findings from CAPTURE, a prospective trial of COVID-19 vaccine or SARS-CoV-2-induced immunity in cancer patients.

No Survival Benefit With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab in R/M Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The phase 3 CheckMate 651 trial showed prolonged overall survival and durable responses in specific subsets of patients.

Cancer Patients With COVID-19 Less Likely to Receive Critical Care Despite Higher Risk of Death

Cancer patients were less likely to receive critical care, whether they were on active anticancer treatment or not.

Avelumab Doesn’t Improve Upon Standard Care for Head and Neck Cancer

Avelumab plus cetuximab and radiotherapy did not improve progression-free survival over standard care in cisplatin-fit or -unfit patients.

Pembrolizumab Monotherapy Promising for MSI-H Advanced Endometrial Cancer

The duration of response was more than 3 years in 68% of patients.

Tumor Microenvironment Cellular Makeup May Predict Nivolumab Response for Patients With Hodgkin Lymphoma

Researchers sought to determine whether tumor microenvironment levels of M2 macrophages could predict response to nivolumab in patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

R-NPLD Combination Treatment Safe and Effective for Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Researchers sought to determine whether R-NPLD would be an effective therapy in older patients with DLBCL.

Factors Tied to COVID-19 Severity, Recovery, and Death in Cancer Patients

Non-Caucasian patients had a greater risk of developing severe COVID-19, but Asian patients had a lower risk of death from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Prognosis Improved Over Time for Cancer Patients

Compared with patients who had COVID-19 during the second outbreak, patients diagnosed during the first outbreak had an increased risk of death at 14 days and at 3 months.

Abiraterone Added to ADT Improves Prostate Cancer Outcomes

Using abiraterone plus prednisolone with standard androgen deprivation therapy should be considered a new standard of care for patients with high-risk nonmetastatic prostate cancer, according to investigators.

Orelabrutinib and MIL62 Combination Therapy Well Tolerated for Patients With Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Researchers sought to determine whether orelabrutinib and MIL62 combination therapy would be safe and effective in patients with relapsed/refractory NHL.

Technology-Based Psychosocial Program Effective for Adolescent Leukemia Survivors

The program includes 10 weeks of education and counseling with 5 modules and 3 months’ of follow-up.

Most Solid Tumor Patients Have ‘Adequate’ Response to COVID-19 Vaccination, Regardless of Treatment

Responses in cancer patients were noninferior to responses in patients without cancer.

Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab Improves Survival in Advanced Endometrial Cancer

The progression-free and overall survival benefits with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab were observed across subgroups.

‘Practice-Changing’ Results With Sunitinib in Malignant Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma

The 12-month progression-free survival rate was 35.9% with sunitinib and 18.9% with placebo.

Neoadjuvant CapeOx May Be Alternative to CRT in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

The rate of perioperative distant metastases was significantly lower with CapeOx than with CRT.

Interleukin-6 Levels May Predict PFS in Relapsed/Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma Treated With Nivolumab

Researchers sought to determine whether interleukin-6 levels would be predictive of survival in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma receiving nivolumab.

TARE Prolongs PFS, Not OS, in Colorectal Cancer With Liver Metastases

The median PFS was 8.0 months with TARE and 7.2 months with chemotherapy alone.

High Rates of COVID-19 Mortality Seen in Patients With Hematological Malignancies

At data cutoff, 562 of 626 patients enrolled in the study were eligible for primary endpoint assessment.