Early promise for new immunotherapy combo in brain cancer
A combination treatment consisting of an experimental cancer drug – ipatasertib – and Roche’s immunotherapy agent Tecentriq (atezolizumab) has demonstrated early promise in an aggressive type of brain cancer.
The Ice-CAP trial is evaluating the combination of Tecentirq with the precision drug ipatasertib, which is designed to block the AKT molecule.
Cancers that lack a functioning PTEN gene use growth signals involving AKT, meaning patients with PTEN defects could benefit the most from the new combination.
In a Phase I trial, two of the first ten patients with the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma responded to treatment with Tecentriq plus ipatasertib.
In particular, researchers at The Institute for Cancer Research, London (ICR) and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust noted signs of effectiveness in patients with PTEN defects.
ICR said in a statement that while it is ‘unusual to see such positive clinical responses’ at this clinical trial stage, the results are still early and more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.
Read more: http://www.pharmatimes.com/news/early_promise_for_new_immunotherapy_combo_in_brain_cancer_1366672
The Ice-CAP trial is evaluating the combination of Tecentirq with the precision drug ipatasertib, which is designed to block the AKT molecule.
Cancers that lack a functioning PTEN gene use growth signals involving AKT, meaning patients with PTEN defects could benefit the most from the new combination.
In a Phase I trial, two of the first ten patients with the aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma responded to treatment with Tecentriq plus ipatasertib.
In particular, researchers at The Institute for Cancer Research, London (ICR) and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust noted signs of effectiveness in patients with PTEN defects.
ICR said in a statement that while it is ‘unusual to see such positive clinical responses’ at this clinical trial stage, the results are still early and more research is needed before any conclusions can be drawn.
Read more: http://www.pharmatimes.com/news/early_promise_for_new_immunotherapy_combo_in_brain_cancer_1366672
