Hong Kong



Hong Kong Cancer Organisations and Resources (11 links)
AME Publishing
A journal for oncology physicians and researchers worldwide. Journal of the Society for Translational Cancer Research (STCR)and endorsed by Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology.
Hong Kong Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology
Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology
Pioneer Bioscience Publishing
Official journal of Society for Gastrointestinal Oncology (SGO), an open-access, international peer-reviewed journal.
Overcoming cancer - Hong Kong Cancer Fund 25th Anniversary
Pioneer Bioscience Publishing
An Open Access journal of the Society for Translational Cancer Research
Translational Gastrointestinal Cancer
AME Publishing
Open Access journal of the Society for Translational Cancer Research and Chinese Society of Gastric Cancer. New findings in translational research in GI cancers, diagnosis, prevention and clinical investigations of GI cancers.
Translational lung cancer research
Pioneer
An Open Access journal of the Society for Translational Cancer Research
儿童癌病基金 - 香港 | Children’s Cancer Foundation, Hong Kong - 中文 - English
香港癌症研究所 | Hong Kong Cancer Institute - English - English
Hong Kong Cancer Institute was established in 1990 to coordinate, promote and organize activities relating to the prevention and treatment of cancer; provide training in cancer research; to educate the public on methods of prevention. Most of the institute's activities are conducted in the Sir Yue-kong Pao Centre for Cancer located at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
香港防癌會 | Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society - 中文 - English
HKACS
A membership society initially founded by patients in 1984 and working closely with Nam Long Hospital.
Latest Research Publications Related to Hong Kong
Computer-aided detection for prostate cancer diagnosis based on magnetic resonance imaging: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2019; 98(29):e16326 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: We will conduct the systematic review and meta-analysis according to the Preferred Reporting Items for a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies (PRISMA-DTA) guidelines. Cochrane library, PubMed, EMBASE and Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database will be systematically searched from inception for eligible articles, 2 independent reviewers will select studies on CAD-based MRI diagnosis of PCa and extract the requisite data. The quality of reporting evidence will be assessed using the quality assessment of diagnosis accuracy study (QUADAS-2) tool. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves will be calculated to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of CAD system. In addition, we will conduct subgroup analyses according to the type of classifier of CAD systems used and the different prostate zoon.
RESULTS: This study will conduct a meta-analysis of current evidence to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of CAD systems based on MRI for PCa by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and SROC curves.
CONCLUSION: The conclusion of this study will provide evidence to judge whether CAD systems based on MRI have high diagnostic accuracy for PCa.
ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required for this systematic review as it will involve the collection and analysis of secondary data. The results of the review will be reported in international peer-reviewed journals.
PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019132543.
Diagnostic accuracy of different computer-aided diagnostic systems for malignant and benign thyroid nodules classification in ultrasound images: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2019; 98(29):e16227 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was conducted from inception until March, 2019 using the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science, and Cochrane library. Literature selection and data extraction were conducted by 2 independent reviewers. Numerical values for sensitivity and specificity were obtained from false negative (FN), false positive (FP), true negative (TN), and true positive (TP) rates, presented alongside graphical representations with boxes marking the values and horizontal lines showing the confidence intervals (CIs). Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were applied to assess the performance of diagnostic tests. Data were processed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 15. The methodological quality of included studies was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42019132540.
Hypoxia and the Metastatic Niche.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2019; 1136:97-112 [PubMed] Related Publications
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Lancet. 2019; 394(10192):64-80 [PubMed] Related Publications
Overall Survival with Ribociclib plus Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer.
N Engl J Med. 2019; 381(4):307-316 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: We randomly assigned patients to receive either ribociclib or placebo in addition to endocrine therapy (goserelin and either a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen). Overall survival was evaluated with the use of a stratified log-rank test and summarized with the use of Kaplan-Meier methods.
RESULTS: A total of 672 patients were included in the intention-to-treat population. There were 83 deaths among 335 patients (24.8%) in the ribociclib group and 109 deaths among 337 patients (32.3%) in the placebo group. The addition of ribociclib to endocrine therapy resulted in significantly longer overall survival than endocrine therapy alone. The estimated overall survival at 42 months was 70.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 63.5 to 76.0) in the ribociclib group and 46.0% (95% CI, 32.0 to 58.9) in the placebo group (hazard ratio for death, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.95; P = 0.00973 by log-rank test). The survival benefit seen in the subgroup of 495 patients who received an aromatase inhibitor was consistent with that in the overall intention-to-treat population (hazard ratio for death, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.98). The percentage of patients who received subsequent antineoplastic therapy was balanced between the groups (68.9% in the ribociclib group and 73.2% in the placebo group). The time from randomization to disease progression during receipt of second-line therapy or to death was also longer in the ribociclib group than in the placebo group (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.87).
CONCLUSIONS: This trial showed significantly longer overall survival with a CDK4/6 inhibitor plus endocrine therapy than with endocrine therapy alone among patients with advanced hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. No new concerns regarding toxic effects emerged with longer follow-up. (Funded by Novartis; MONALEESA-7 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02278120.).
Sialyl Lewis
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):2406 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Atypical function of a centrosomal module in WNT signalling drives contextual cancer cell motility.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):2356 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Report of the forth Asian Prostate Cancer (A-CaP) study meeting.
Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2019; 49(6):581-586 [PubMed] Related Publications
A family-based multimedia intervention to enhance the uptake of colorectal cancer screening among older South Asian adults in Hong Kong: a study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial.
BMC Public Health. 2019; 19(1):652 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial will be carried out. Three hundred and twenty South Asian dyads, comprising an older adult aged between 50 and 75 and a younger family member aged between 18 and 49, will be recruited in ten districts in Hong Kong through community organizations that provide support services for South Asians in local communities. Dyads will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or wait-list control group. Intervention dyads will receive intervention, whose contents are based on the health belief model, via multiple forms of media including PowerPoint presentation, video clip and health information booklet. Control dyads will receive intervention after post-intervention data are collected. For dyads in both groups, an appointment with a family doctor will be arranged for those willing to undergo FOBT. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Data will be analysed using the Generalised Linear Models Procedure in an intention-to-treat manner.
DISCUSSION: Findings of this study will provide evidence of the benefits of utilizing multimedia and family-based approaches in intervention development to enhance the effectiveness of health promotion interventions for ethnic minorities. Further, the findings would provide reference to the potential incorporation of the intervention in the existing support services for South Asian ethnic minorities in local communities.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered at the ISRCTN Registry ( ISRCTN72829325 ) on 19th July 2018.
The chemical biology of apoptosis: Revisited after 17 years.
Eur J Med Chem. 2019; 177:63-75 [PubMed] Related Publications
Pulmonary delivery of transferrin receptors targeting peptide surface-functionalized liposomes augments the chemotherapeutic effect of quercetin in lung cancer therapy.
Int J Nanomedicine. 2019; 14:2879-2902 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
The International Academy of Cytology Yokohama System for Reporting Breast Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy Cytopathology.
Acta Cytol. 2019; 63(4):257-273 [PubMed] Related Publications
Light-sheet microscopy in the near-infrared II window.
Nat Methods. 2019; 16(6):545-552 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
Dacomitinib in the Management of Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.
Drugs. 2019; 79(8):823-831 [PubMed] Related Publications
The association of liver function and quality of life of patients with liver cancer.
BMC Gastroenterol. 2019; 19(1):66 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
METHODS: From 2007 to 2011, 517 patients were enrolled. Baseline QOL was assessed at diagnosis using the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HCC18; thereafter C30 and HCC18 index scores were derived. Clinical and laboratory data were collected. For liver function assessment, Child-Pugh class, ALBI grade, MELD, ALP-to-platelet ratio and albumin-to-ALP ratio were derived. Correlation analyses were performed between QOL and liver function data.
RESULTS: Complete QOL data were available in 472 HCC patients. After adjusting for clinical variables, significant correlations were found between QOL (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-HCC18) and dichotomized liver function variables (including Child-Pugh class, ALBI grade and the presence of ascites). It was demonstrated that QOL had significant and potentially clinically important correlations with continuous liver function variables (albumin, bilirubin, ALP and albumin-to-ALP ratio), with the highest Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rho) exceeding 0.4. HCC18 and C30 index scores were also significantly correlated with these liver function variables. HCC18 index score, which had rho up to 0.37, generally performed better than C30 index score, which had rho up to 0.33.
CONCLUSIONS: In HCC patients, baseline QOL assessment (using EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-HCC18, C30 index-score or HCC18 index-score) is significantly correlated with liver function. Based on the findings of this study, future trials are warranted to assess whether treatment to enhance liver function could improve HCC patients' QOL.
Impact of haemostatic sealant versus electrocoagulation on ovarian reserve after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy of ovarian endometriomas: a randomised controlled trial.
BJOG. 2019; 126(10):1267-1275 [PubMed] Related Publications
DESIGN: Patient-blinded, randomised controlled trial.
SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary hospital.
POPULATION: Women aged 18-40 years with 3-8 cm unilateral or bilateral endometriomas.
METHODS: Ninety-four patients were randomised to receive haemostasis by the application of haemostatic sealant (n = 47) or standard care (n = 47).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was the effect on the antral follicular count 3 months after the operation as it captures the effect on the ovary subjected to treatment. Secondary outcomes included the change in anti-Mullerian hormone, follicular-stimulating hormone and peri-operative outcomes including haemostasis, complications, pain, and satisfaction scores.
RESULTS: A total of 94 patients aged 32.36 ± 4.92 years underwent laparoscopic cystectomy for ovarian endometriomas. The average diameter of the endometrioma was 4.21 ± 1.38 cm. The increase in antral follicle count of the affected ovaries at 3 months in the intervention group (+2.36 ± 0.37) was significantly (P = 0.013) higher than that in the control group (+1.08 ± 0.36). Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant effect with time (P < 0.001) and of interaction of group × time (P = 0.029) for affected ovary antral follicle count. No significant difference was noted between the two groups with regard to follicular-stimulating hormone, anti-Mullerian hormone, and other secondary outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Applying haemostatic sealant after laparoscopic cystectomy of ovarian endometriomas produced a greater increase in antral follicle count 3 months after surgery compared with the control group.
TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: RCT: Haemostatic sealant in laparoscopic cystectomy of endometriomas increase in the antral follicle count after surgery.
LIG3 gene polymorphisms and risk of gastric cancer in a Southern Chinese population.
Gene. 2019; 705:90-94 [PubMed] Related Publications
Translation of the circular RNA circβ-catenin promotes liver cancer cell growth through activation of the Wnt pathway.
Genome Biol. 2019; 20(1):84 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
RESULTS: Circβ-catenin is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm and displays resistance to RNase-R treatment. We find that circβ-catenin is highly expressed in liver cancer tissues when compared to adjacent normal tissues. Silencing of circβ-catenin significantly suppresses malignant phenotypes in vitro and in vivo, and knockdown of this circRNA reduces the protein level of β-catenin without affecting its mRNA level. We show that circβ-catenin affects a wide spectrum of Wnt pathway-related genes, and furthermore, circβ-catenin produces a novel 370-amino acid β-catenin isoform that uses the start codon as the linear β-catenin mRNA transcript and translation is terminated at a new stop codon created by circularization. We find that this novel isoform can stabilize full-length β-catenin by antagonizing GSK3β-induced β-catenin phosphorylation and degradation, leading to activation of the Wnt pathway.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate a non-canonical function of circRNA in modulating liver cancer cell growth through the Wnt pathway, which can provide novel mechanistic insights into the underlying mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Changes in functional brain networks and neurocognitive function in Chinese gynecological cancer patients after chemotherapy: a prospective longitudinal study.
BMC Cancer. 2019; 19(1):386 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
METHODS: All research participants were evaluated using a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and neurocognition assessment. Behavioral data were conducted using SPSS for descriptive statistics, correlation and comparison analyses. Preprocessing of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) data and network analyses were performed using GRETNA (Graph Theoretical Network Analysis).
RESULTS: A total of 40 subjects joined this study, with 20 subjects in each group. With the exception of the mean of psychomotor speed, there was no significant difference pre-chemotherapy between patients and healthy controls in neurocognitive test mean scores (Ps > 0.05). During the post-chemotherapy assessment, there were significant differences in the mean scores of neurocognitive tests (including Digit Span tests, verbal memory, immediate recall, delayed recall, and information processing speed tests) (all Ps < 0 .05). Longitudinal graph analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the patient group, with significant decreases in both local efficiency (P < 0.01) and global efficiency (P = 0.04). Lower raw TMT-A scores were significantly associated with lower local efficiency (r = 0.37, P = 0.03). Lower verbal memory scores were statistically significant and associated with lower global efficiency (r = 0.54, P = 0.02) in the patient group, but not in the healthy control group.
CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the risk of brain function and neurocognitive changes following chemotherapy could potentially guide patients in making appropriate treatment decisions, and this study may identify a cohort that could be suited for study of an intervention.
Changing pattern of recurrences in patients with early HER2-positive breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the era of dual anti-HER2 therapy.
Postgrad Med J. 2019; 95(1121):155-161 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: This retrospective study analysed the outcome of neoadjuvant chemotherapy during the period 2005 to 2016 in a tertiary referral centre in Hong Kong. Patients were divided into three groups according to the neoadjuvant chemotherapy they received: chemotherapy only (Chemo), chemotherapy plus trastuzumab (Chemo-H) and chemotherapy plus double anti-HER2 therapy (Chemo-DH).
RESULTS: There were 226 cases analysed during the study period. The rate of pCR was 5%, 26% and 60% in Chemo, Chemo-H and Chemo-DH groups, respectively (Chemo vs pooled Chemo-H/DH: p<0.0001; Chemo-H vs Chemo-DH: p<0.0001). This was accompanied by a trend of increased rate of breast conservation therapy in Chemo-DH cohort (p=0.046). Use of double anti-HER2 therapy, older age (>50 years) and hormone receptor negativity were associated with more pCR. pCR was associated with better RFS. Among those with recurrence, the proportion of patients with brain as the only site of recurrence increased remarkably with more efficacious anti-HER2 treatment (0% in Chemo, 8% in Chemo-H, 67% in Chemo-DH).
CONCLUSION: pCR remains an important predictive factor for improved RFS. In the era of dual anti-HER2 neoadjuvant therapy, brain-only recurrence poses a challenge to disease surveillance and treatment.
Flexicaulin A, An
Int J Mol Sci. 2019; 20(8) [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
Association of wheat chaff derived silica fiber and esophageal cancer in north China.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019; 178:79-85 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: From the archives of the Pathology Department of Heping Hospital, Changzhi Medical College, we selected three pairs of formalin-fixed samples, tumor tissues and distant normal tissues, of three patients operated for ESCC who had no history of workplace exposure to silica dust. Two pairs of dried tissue samples were used for phytolith (silica body) analysis and another pair for microanalysis with Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM).
RESULTS: One of the phytoliths in ESCC tumor tissue was similar to the prickle hair on the surface of wheat bract. In the mineral particles detected in the tumor tissue the predominant elements were Si, Ca, and P, whereas Si signals were not obvious in the distant normal tissue.
CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings on the detection of phytoliths and the higher than normal Si concentration in ESCC tumor tissue warrants further testing the role of biogenic silica in esophageal cancer.
Patient factors and their impact on neutropenic events: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Support Care Cancer. 2019; 27(7):2413-2424 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
DESIGN: A systematic review with a meta-analysis was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Studies were identified through a literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases from inception to December 1, 2017. Studies were included into a meta-analysis if they adjusted for confounders; analyses were conducted in STATA v 15.1 SE.
RESULTS: A total of 4415 articles were retrieved by the search with 37 meeting the inclusion criteria and 12 eligible for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis was conducted for increasing age and yielded a pooled odds ratio of 1.39 (1.11, 1.76, I
CONCLUSIONS: Results can enhance current guidance in prescribing primary prophylaxis for treatments that either fall marginally under the internationally recognised 20% neutropenia risk.
An end-to-end pancreatic anastomosis in robotic central pancreatectomy.
World J Surg Oncol. 2019; 17(1):67 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical data of 11 consecutive patients who underwent robotic central pancreatectomy with end-to-end pancreatic anastomosis between August 2017 and December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.
RESULTS: All operations were completed successfully without any conversion to open surgery. Nine patients had benign tumors, one had a mass-forming chronic pancreatitis, and one had an isolated pancreatic metastasis from a renal cancer. The mean gap left after central pancreatectomy was 4.3 ± 1.0 cm. The median operative time was 121 (range, 105 to 199) min. The median blood loss was 50 (range, 20 to 100) ml. Seven (63.6%) patients developed complications which included Clavien-Dindo Grade I complications in five patients, a Grade II complication in one patient, and a Grade IIIa complication in one patient. Seven patients developed a Grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula, and two patients a biochemical leak. There was no Grade C or worse pancreatic fistula. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography at postoperative 6 months showed no stricture in any of the main pancreatic ducts. Three patients had an asymptomatic and small pancreatic pseudocyst.
CONCLUSION: Robotic central pancreatectomy with end-to-end pancreatic anastomosis was safe and feasible. It restores the normal anatomy of the pancreas. With its good short-and long-term outcomes, it could be an alternative reconstructive method to pancreaticoenterostomy following central pancreatectomy.
Multi-region sequencing unveils novel actionable targets and spatial heterogeneity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):1670 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
Prognostic value of lymphocyte-monocyte ratio at diagnosis in Hodgkin lymphoma: a meta-analysis.
BMC Cancer. 2019; 19(1):338 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
METHODS: PUBMED and EMBASE were searched for relevant articles. Survival outcomes that we investigated included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), event-free survival (EFS), lymphoma-specific survival (LSS), and time to progression (TTP). No restriction to the language, date, study country, or sample size was applied. Final search of databases was performed on 2 April 2018. We performed random-effects meta-analysis to aggregate and summarise the results from included studies, where four or more studies on a particular outcome were available.
RESULTS: A total of eight studies (all retrospective cohort studies) involving 3319 HL patients were selected for analysis. All studies except one reported the effect of LMR on OS; five reported on PFS, three reported on TTP and LSS, respectively, and one reported on EFS. The pooled estimates showed low LMR was associated with poor OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.67, 95% CI 1.67, 4.26) and PFS (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.46, 3.29). Subgroup analyses of OS stratified by LMR cut-off values and sample sizes both indicated that low baseline LMR was associated with poorer prognosis.
CONCLUSIONS: Low LMR at diagnosis was associated with poor OS and PFS in HL. LMR is easy and cheap to determine and has a potential role in daily clinical management. More studies are needed to validate this biomarker and explore its interaction with known prognostic factors.
Curcumin: Total-Scale Analysis of the Scientific Literature.
Molecules. 2019; 24(7) [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications
Palmitic acid is an intracellular signaling molecule involved in disease development.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2019; 76(13):2547-2557 [PubMed] Related Publications
Pembrolizumab versus chemotherapy for previously untreated, PD-L1-expressing, locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (KEYNOTE-042): a randomised, open-label, controlled, phase 3 trial.
Lancet. 2019; 393(10183):1819-1830 [PubMed] Related Publications
METHODS: This randomised, open-label, phase 3 study was done in 213 medical centres in 32 countries. Eligible patients were adults (≥18 years) with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer without a sensitising EGFR mutation or ALK translocation and with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of 0 or 1, life expectancy 3 months or longer, and a PD-L1 TPS of 1% or greater. Randomisation was computer generated, accessed via an interactive voice-response and integrated web-response system, and stratified by region of enrolment (east Asia vs rest of world), ECOG performance status score (0 vs 1), histology (squamous vs non-squamous), and PD-L1 TPS (≥50% vs 1-49%). Enrolled patients were randomly assigned 1:1 in blocks of four per stratum to receive pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks for up to 35 cycles or the investigator's choice of platinum-based chemotherapy for four to six cycles. Primary endpoints were overall survival in patients with a TPS of 50% or greater, 20% or greater, and 1% or greater (one-sided significance thresholds, p=0·0122, p=0·0120, and p=0·0124, respectively) in the intention-to-treat population, assessed sequentially if the previous findings were significant. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02220894.
FINDINGS: From Dec 19, 2014, to March 6, 2017, 1274 patients (902 men, 372 women, median age 63 years [IQR 57-69]) with a PD-L1 TPS of 1% or greater were allocated to pembrolizumab (n=637) or chemotherapy (n=637) and included in the intention-to-treat population. 599 (47%) had a TPS of 50% or greater and 818 patients (64%) had a TPS of 20% or greater. As of Feb 26, 2018, median follow-up was 12·8 months. Overall survival was significantly longer in the pembrolizumab group than in the chemotherapy group in all three TPS populations (≥50% hazard ratio 0·69, 95% CI 0·56-0·85, p=0·0003; ≥20% 0·77, 0·64-0·92, p=0·0020, and ≥1% 0·81, 0·71-0·93, p=0·0018). The median surival values by TPS population were 20·0 months (95% CI 15·4-24·9) for pembrolizumab versus 12·2 months (10·4-14·2) for chemotherapy, 17·7 months (15·3-22·1) versus 13·0 months (11·6-15·3), and 16·7 months (13·9-19·7) versus 12·1 months (11·3-13·3), respectively. Treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or worse occurred in 113 (18%) of 636 treated patients in the pembrolizumab group and in 252 (41%) of 615 in the chemotherapy group and led to death in 13 (2%) and 14 (2%) patients, respectively.
INTERPRETATION: The benefit-to-risk profile suggests that pembrolizumab monotherapy can be extended as first-line therapy to patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer without sensitising EGFR or ALK alterations and with low PD-L1 TPS.
FUNDING: Merck Sharp & Dohme.
Roles of Methylated DNA Biomarkers in Patients with Colorectal Cancer.
Dis Markers. 2019; 2019:2673543 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 13/11/2019 Related Publications