The STAT transcription factors are involved in the development of many forms of cancer. STAT3 is frequently activated in tumour cells, so drugs targeting STAT3 could be used in cancer therapy. However, STAT3 is also important in the development of the immune system. Dagmar Gotthardt and colleagues at the Vetmeduni Vienna now show that blocking STAT3 in cells of the immune system actually leads to increased anti-tumour immunity. Anti-STAT3 therapy may thus be highly promising.
MRV Research
Nivolumab superior to chemotherapy in metastatic melanoma
Nivolumab induced a greater rate of overall response than chemotherapy in patients with metastatic melanoma who progressed on or after anti-CTLA–4 therapy or treatment with BRAF inhibitors, according to phase 3 study results presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Annual Congress in Madrid.
Investigational nivolumab beats chemo in pretreated advanced melanoma
The investigational anti-PD-1 drug nivolumab bested investigator’s choice of chemotherapy in pretreated advanced melanoma in the phase III CheckMate-037 trial.
The coprimary end point of objective response rate by central review was 32% with nivolumab vs. 11% with investigator’s choice chemotherapy among patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma that progressed despite prior ipilimumab or a BRAF inhibitor, if BRAF mutation-positive.
PV-10 well-tolerated in treatment of refractory cutaneous melanoma
Intralesional injection of rose bengal disodium was well-tolerated in patients with refractory cutaneous melanoma, with just over half of patients meeting the primary study endpoint, according to a poster presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology Annual Congress.