Jul 1st, 2020 - CAR T-cell therapy with BCMA-targeting idecabtagene-vicleucel (ide-cel) has emerged to be a game-changer as shown by this first pivotal phase II trial of CAR T-cell therapy in multiple myeloma (MM). Ide-cel is a first-in-class BCMA-directed CAR T-cell therapy, with 4-1BB costimulatory domain and CD3Z T-cell activation domain.

Individuals with Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) are at very high risk of cardiovascular disease, which is associated with poor outcomes from coronavirus infections. COVID-19 puts strain on healthcare systems and may impair access to routine FH services. On behalf of the International Lipid Expert Panel (ILEP) and the European FH Patient Network (FH Europe), we present brief recommendations...

The treatment of motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease (PD) is essentially a trade-off between adequate relief of motor symptoms and prevention and control of motor complications, particularly levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). Progression of PD is paralleled by a progressive difficulty in achieving the balance. Functional neurosurgical procedures provide sustained relief of LID in carefu...

Jun 23rd, 2020 - Awaited results of the ENDURANCE trial showed equivalency between a regimen of carfilzomib plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (KRd) and bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRd) as an initial therapy for patients with standard- or intermediate-risk multiple myeloma (Abstract LBA3). KRd failed to improve progression-free survival compared with VRd, according to data presented by Shaji K...

Levodopa‐induced dyskinesia (LID) is a recognized motor response complication affecting 30% to 80% of patients with Parkinson's disease on chronic levodopa (l‐dopa) therapy.1, 2 It is typically choreiform, and involves all parts of the body, especially the head and neck. Besides chorea, rarer types of LIDs include myoclonic dyskinesia, ocular dyskinesia, and respiratory dyskinesia.1 Oromandibul...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons located in the midbrain. The gold-standard therapy for PD is the restoration of dopamine (DA) levels through the chronic administration of the DA precursor levodopa (L-DOPA). Although levodopa therapy is the main therapeutic approach for PD, its use is limited by the develo...

Jun 26th, 2020 - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused significant morbidity and mortality for patients and stressed healthcare systems worldwide. The clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 among immunosuppressed patients, who are at presumed risk for more severe disease but who may also have decreased detrimental inflammatory responses, are no...

Jul 7th, 2020 - In a small sample, retreatment of patients with large B-cell lymphoma showed good response, notably in patients who had complete response on initial treatment, according to a poster presented at ASCO 2020 Virtual Scientific Program.

Dec 14th, 2014 - The dopamine (DA) precursor l-DOPA has been the most effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) for over 40 years. However, the response to this treatment changes with disease progression, and most patients develop dyskinesias (abnormal involuntary movements) and motor fluctuations within a few years of l-DOPA therapy.

May 28th, 2013 - Excessive glutamatergic signalling within the basal ganglia is implicated in the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) and inthe emergence of dyskinesia associated with long-term treatment with L-DOPA. There is considerable research focus on the discovery and development of compounds that modulate glutamatergic signalling via glutamate receptors, as treatments for PD and L-DOPA-induced dyskin...

Jun 4th, 2007 - Levodopa is the most effective drug for treating Parkinson's disease. However, long‐term use of levodopa is often complicated by significantly disabling fluctuations and dyskinesias negating its beneficial effects. Younger age of Parkinson's disease onset, disease severity, and high levodopa dose increase the risk of development of levodopa‐induced dyskinesias (LID). The underlying mechanisms f...

Feb 7th, 2008 - After 40 years of clinical experience, levodopa remains the gold standard treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) despite the recent emergence of a host of new therapies. Some physicians are cautious when prescribing levodopa because of its association with motor complications. Evidence now suggests that levodopa-associated complications are a result of deep troughs in delivery of levodopa to th...

May 29th, 2020 - The final results of the randomized phase II ECOG-ACRIN E3311 trial were presented by Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD, and colleagues during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program (Abstract 6500) and in today's Head and Neck Cancer Oral Abstract Session. The trial, conducted in patients undergoing transoral robotic surgery, tested reduced postoperative radiation therapy in patients with human papillom...

May 28th, 2020 - CAR T-cell therapy with BCMA-targeting idecabtagene-vicleucel (ide-cel) resulted in deep and durable responses in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, according to phase II data from the KarMMa trial (Abstract 8503).

May 28th, 2020 - Although HER-targeted therapy represents a standard of care for many HER2-positive malignancies, data supporting its benefit for patients with early-stage HER2-overexpressing esophageal adenocarcinoma are lacking. Results of the RTOG 1010 trial demonstrated that adding trastuzumab both before and after chemoradiotherapy and surgery did not significantly improve disease-free survival (DFS) beyon...

May 12th, 2020 - Despite robust efforts, no adjuvant systemic therapy has succeeded in prolonging overall survival beyond that achieved with surgery alone in patients with nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The phase III PROSPER RCC trial, along with similar studies, may well break that trend, ousting postsurgical surveillance as the current standard of care (Abstract TPS5101)

May 12th, 2020 - In pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who received prior blinatumomab exposure or inotuzumab ozogamicin as bridging therapy, treatment with tisagenlecleucel is associated with consistent adverse event and efficacy outcomes previously reported in the ELIANA trial, according to the results of the B2001X study (Abstract 10518).

May 31st, 2020 - An allogeneic chimeric antigen T-cell therapy plus an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody appeared safe for certain patients with large B-cell or follicular lymphoma, according to study data presented during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.

May 30th, 2020 - Doxorubicin in combination with trabectedin appeared to be an effective and safe first-line therapy for metastatic leiomyosarcoma, according to results of the phase 2 LMS-02 study presented during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.

May 29th, 2020 - JNJ-4528, a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, induced early, deep and durable responses among patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, according to study results presented during the ASCO20 Virtual Scientific Program.