MedPub Date : 2025-06-13Epub Date: 2025-03-18DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100612
Lino Möhrmann, Lysann Rostock, Maximilian Werner, Małgorzata Oleś, Jonas S Arnold, Nagarajan Paramasivam, Korinna Jöhrens, Luise Rupp, Marc Schmitz, Daniela Richter, Sebastian Uhrig, Martina Fröhlich, Barbara Hutter, Jennifer Hüllein, Arne Jahn, Marie Arlt, Elena E Möhrmann, Dorothea Hanf, Laura Gieldon, Simon Kreutzfeldt, Christoph E Heilig, Maria-Veronica Teleanu, Daniel B Lipka, Katja Beck, Annika Baude-Müller, Andreas Mock, Ivan Jelas, Damian T Rieke, Marcel Wiesweg, Christian Brandts, Melanie Boerries, Anna L Illert, Alexander Desuki, Thomas Kindler, Angela M Krackhardt, C Benedikt Westphalen, Petros Christopoulos, Leonidas Apostolidis, Albrecht Stenzinger, Michael Allgäuer, Olaf Neumann, Irina A Kerle, Peter Horak, Christoph Heining, Heidrun Grosch, Evelin Schröck, Daniel Hübschmann, Stefan Fröhling, Hanno Glimm
{"title":"Genomic landscape and molecularly informed therapy in thymic carcinoma and other advanced thymic epithelial tumors.","authors":"Lino Möhrmann, Lysann Rostock, Maximilian Werner, Małgorzata Oleś, Jonas S Arnold, Nagarajan Paramasivam, Korinna Jöhrens, Luise Rupp, Marc Schmitz, Daniela Richter, Sebastian Uhrig, Martina Fröhlich, Barbara Hutter, Jennifer Hüllein, Arne Jahn, Marie Arlt, Elena E Möhrmann, Dorothea Hanf, Laura Gieldon, Simon Kreutzfeldt, Christoph E Heilig, Maria-Veronica Teleanu, Daniel B Lipka, Katja Beck, Annika Baude-Müller, Andreas Mock, Ivan Jelas, Damian T Rieke, Marcel Wiesweg, Christian Brandts, Melanie Boerries, Anna L Illert, Alexander Desuki, Thomas Kindler, Angela M Krackhardt, C Benedikt Westphalen, Petros Christopoulos, Leonidas Apostolidis, Albrecht Stenzinger, Michael Allgäuer, Olaf Neumann, Irina A Kerle, Peter Horak, Christoph Heining, Heidrun Grosch, Evelin Schröck, Daniel Hübschmann, Stefan Fröhling, Hanno Glimm","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100612","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare malignancies with limited treatment options and underexplored molecular features.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We examined the genomic landscape and therapeutic outcomes in 81 patients with advanced TETs, including thymic carcinomas (TCs), thymomas, and thymic neuroendocrine neoplasms (TNENs), who were enrolled in the MASTER trial, a prospective observational precision oncology trial.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Using whole-genome-sequencing and whole-exome-sequencing analysis, transcriptome analysis, and methylome analysis, we identified distinct molecular features across TET subtypes, including a higher tumor mutational burden in TC and pathogenic germline variants in 18% of cases. We performed transcriptome- and methylome-based unsupervised clustering and were able to divide TCs into immunologically hot and cold subsets, with hot TCs exhibiting higher T cell infiltration and significantly longer overall survival. In 65 out of 76 (86%) patients, we recommended molecularly informed therapies, which were applied in 29 out of 65 (45%) cases, leading to a disease control rate of 62% and an objective response rate of 23% (both n = 26). The progression-free survival ratio (PFSr) was > 1.3 in 8 out of 24 (33%) patients, 7 of them having TC. Among TCs, patients achieved a mean PFSr of 1.4, indicating potential therapeutic advantages in this subgroup. The PFSr between the PFS of immune checkpoint inhibition and preceding therapies was significantly higher in the hot cluster compared to the cold cluster (median 1.7 vs. 0.3; p = 0.01945).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings expand the understanding of TET biology and emphasize the role of precision oncology in informing treatment decisions and improving outcomes for patients with advanced TETs, particularly in TCs.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":" ","pages":"100612"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143664606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MedPub Date : 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100672
Nicolas Girard
{"title":"Perioperative immunotherapy in lung cancer: Time to push the frontiers?","authors":"Nicolas Girard","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100672","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100672","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Perioperative immunotherapy is a new standard of care for the management of resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The TOGATHER trial assessed perioperative immunotherapy in patients with primarily nonresectable NSCLC, pushing a new concept that led to a re-evaluation of the frontiers of resectability, surgical approaches, and chemoradiotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":"6 6","pages":"100672"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Toripalimab plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy as perioperative therapy for initially unresectable NSCLC: An open-label, phase 2 trial.","authors":"Liang Zeng, Huan Yan, Wenjuan Jiang, Haoyue Qin, Jiacheng Dai, Yuda Zhang, Shiyou Wei, Shanmei Chen, Li Liu, Yi Xiong, Haiyan Yang, Yizhi Li, Zhan Wang, Li Deng, Qinqin Xu, Ling Peng, Ruiguang Zhang, Chao Fang, Xue Chen, Jun Deng, Jing Wang, Ting Li, Hong Liu, Gao Zhang, Nong Yang, Yongchang Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100574","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100574","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Perioperative treatment with toripalimab combined with chemotherapy was efficacious and safe in resectable stage II-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, little is known about whether this treatment regimen could convert unresectable NSCLC to resectable.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study enrolled 40 treatment-naive patients with initially unresectable stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC. Toripalimab (240 mg) and platinum-doublet chemotherapy were administered every 3 weeks for 2-4 cycles. Surgical resection was decided after assessing the efficacy of induction therapy. The primary outcome was the R0 resection rate. The secondary outcomes included safety, overall survival, disease-free survival, event-free survival, objective response rate, major pathological response (MPR), and pathological complete response (pCR). Available baseline tumor biopsy samples were used for molecular biomarker analyses, including bulk RNA sequencing and multiplex immunostaining. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04144608.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Of the 40 patients who received induction toripalimab plus chemotherapy, 29 (72.5%) patients received surgery, and all achieved R0 resection (100% R0 rate). Of these patients, 17 (58.6%) achieved MPR, with 10 (34.5%) patients evaluated as pCR. With a median follow-up of 31.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 24.2-39.4), the median event-free survival and overall survival were not reached. Molecular analyses revealed highly expressed gene sets for germinal center B cells (signatures of tertiary lymphoid structure [TLS]) at baseline among patients with pCR compared to patients with non-pCR, suggesting that the TLS status of the patients was associated with the induction of immunotherapy responses.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Toripalimab-based induction treatment of initially unresectable NSCLC yielded a high R0 rate and MPR rate, with a good safety profile and encouraging survival outcomes.</p><p><strong>Funding: </strong>This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":" ","pages":"100574"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143075669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"HMPL-306 in relapsed or refractory IDH1- and/or IDH2-mutated acute myeloid leukemia: A phase 1 study.","authors":"Lijuan Hu, Xudong Wei, Weili Zhao, Yu Hu, Juan Li, Yugang Dong, Tiejun Gong, Xuhan Zhang, Yajing Xu, Yu Zhang, Chongyuan Xu, Cheng Zhang, Zhen Cai, Hongmei Jing, Ruihua Mi, Wen Wu, Wenjuan He, Hehua Wang, Qinghua Tang, Zhiping Jiang, Hui Liu, Guo Chen, Jie Sun, Jian Chen, Sai Yan, Huan Yan, Jiaxuan Wangwu, Zeyu Zhong, Linfang Wang, Songhua Fan, Michael Shi, Weiguo Su, Xiaojun Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100575","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100575","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>HMPL-306 has equally high inhibitory activity against mutated isocitrate dehydrogenases 1 and 2 (mIDH1/2).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This first-in-human, phase 1 dose-escalation/dose-expansion study (this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04272957) enrolled patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring mIDH1 and/or mIDH2. Patients received 25-250 mg of HMPL-306 orally once daily (QD) in a 28-day treatment cycle. Primary objectives were safety, tolerability, and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D), and the secondary objective was preliminary efficacy.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>A total of 76 patients were enrolled. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed, and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. RP2D was 250 mg QD for cycle 1 and 150 mg QD from cycle 2 onward. Common (≥10%) grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events included platelet count decreased, anemia, neutrophil count decreased, and white blood cell count decreased. In patients who received 150 mg, 250 mg, or the RP2D (N = 59), rates of complete remission (CR)+CR with partial hematologic recovery were 34.6% and 36.4% in the mIDH1 (n = 26) and mIDH2 (n = 33) subgroups, respectively, and among these, CR with minimal residual disease negative rates were 77.8% and 50.0%, respectively. The median overall survival was 13.4 months in patients with mIDH1 and 13.1 months in patients with mIDH2.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>HMPL-306 showed an acceptable safety profile and promising preliminary efficacy. A phase 3, randomized study of HMPL-306 in R/R AML (this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06387069) has been initiated.</p><p><strong>Funding: </strong>HUTCHMED Limited, National Key Research and Development Program of China, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Peking University Medicine Fund for world's leading discipline or discipline cluster development.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":" ","pages":"100575"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143075667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MedPub Date : 2025-06-13Epub Date: 2025-03-04DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100608
Alan K Percy, Robin Ryther, Eric D Marsh, Jeffrey L Neul, Timothy A Benke, Elizabeth M Berry-Kravis, Timothy Feyma, David N Lieberman, Amitha L Ananth, Cary Fu, Colleen Buhrfiend, Amy Barrett, Dilesh Doshi, Mona Darwish, Di An, Kathie M Bishop, James M Youakim
{"title":"Results from the phase 2/3 DAFFODIL study of trofinetide in girls aged 2-4 years with Rett syndrome.","authors":"Alan K Percy, Robin Ryther, Eric D Marsh, Jeffrey L Neul, Timothy A Benke, Elizabeth M Berry-Kravis, Timothy Feyma, David N Lieberman, Amitha L Ananth, Cary Fu, Colleen Buhrfiend, Amy Barrett, Dilesh Doshi, Mona Darwish, Di An, Kathie M Bishop, James M Youakim","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100608","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100608","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Trofinetide is the first available treatment for Rett syndrome (RTT) and is approved in the United States in adults and pediatric patients aged ≥2 years. The DAFFODIL study was conducted in girls aged 2-4 years with RTT to examine the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of trofinetide and to validate that the recommended dosage, according to body weight, achieved target exposure.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>DAFFODIL was a phase 2/3, open-label study of trofinetide consisting of two treatment periods (12 weeks [period A] and ∼21 months [period B]). Pharmacokinetic samples were collected at regular intervals during period A. Assessments included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and exploratory efficacy (Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement [CGI-I], CGI-Severity, caregiver GI-I [CaGI-I], and overall quality of life rating of the Impact of Childhood Neurologic Disability Scale [ICND-QoL]). Optional caregiver exit interviews were also conducted.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Fifteen participants were enrolled. Overall, the most common TEAEs were diarrhea (80.0%) and vomiting (53.3%), which were mild or moderate in severity. Steady-state exposure at clinical doses fell within the target exposure range. RTT symptoms improved throughout the study as measured by the CGI-I, CaGI-I, and change from baseline in the ICND-QoL. In caregiver interviews (n = 7), all caregivers reported they were \"very satisfied\" or \"satisfied\" with trofinetide benefits.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Trofinetide has acceptable tolerability in girls 2-4 years of age with RTT and provides long-term efficacy. Weight-based dosage achieves target exposure in younger children.</p><p><strong>Funding: </strong>The study was supported by Acadia Pharmaceuticals (San Diego, CA). This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04988867).</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":" ","pages":"100608"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143568455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MedPub Date : 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100743
Isla S Mackenzie, LaPrincess C Brewer, Alex Zhavoronkov
{"title":"Clinical trials reimagined: Integrating community engagement and artificial intelligence.","authors":"Isla S Mackenzie, LaPrincess C Brewer, Alex Zhavoronkov","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100743","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100743","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In celebration of Clinical Trials Day, May 20, this collection of Voices highlights visionary perspectives on the evolving landscape of clinical research. It explores decentralized clinical trials, which bring research into participants' homes, enhancing diversity and convenience. It also emphasizes the imperative of community engagement to address health disparities and build trust. Finally, it showcases how generative AI promises to revolutionize drug discovery and clinical development through end-to-end automation and precision. Together, these insights underscore transformative shifts where innovation, inclusivity, and technology converge to accelerate the delivery of effective therapies for all.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":"6 6","pages":"100743"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MedPub Date : 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100600
Ted M Getz, Jan Philipp Bewersdorf
{"title":"More than just another IDH inhibitor: Insights from the HMPL-306 phase 1 trial.","authors":"Ted M Getz, Jan Philipp Bewersdorf","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100600","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100600","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Resistance to isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) inhibitors poses a significant challenge in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), indicating a need for novel IDH inhibitors. Hu et al. report the results of a phase 1 study of the dual IDH1/2 inhibitor HMPL-306 in relapsed/refractory IDH-mutant AML.<sup>1</sup> The study highlights its manageable safety profile and robust preliminary efficacy, suggesting that it may be a valuable AML therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":"6 6","pages":"100600"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MedPub Date : 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100701
Jack L Birkenbeuel, Vinay K Rathi
{"title":"WAYPOINT: Are we there yet for patients with nasal polyposis?","authors":"Jack L Birkenbeuel, Vinay K Rathi","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100701","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100701","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The WAYPOINT trial demonstrated that tezepelumab treatment for chronic sinusitis with nasal polyposis was associated with statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions vs. placebo in both objective (nasal polyp score and rates of rescue steroids or surgery) and subjective (nasal congestion, loss of smell, and sinonasal outcomes test scores) measures of disease burden at 52 weeks.<sup>1</sup>.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":"6 6","pages":"100701"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MedPub Date : 2025-06-04DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100725
Felix Müller, Hannes Zaczek, Anna M Becker, Laura Ley, Stefan Borgwardt, Joyce Santos de Jesus, Nico Loh, Jan Kohut, Mathias Auernig, Christopher Boehlke, Matthias E Liechti
{"title":"Efficacy and safety of low- versus high-dose-LSD-assisted therapy in patients with major depression: A randomized trial.","authors":"Felix Müller, Hannes Zaczek, Anna M Becker, Laura Ley, Stefan Borgwardt, Joyce Santos de Jesus, Nico Loh, Jan Kohut, Mathias Auernig, Christopher Boehlke, Matthias E Liechti","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100725","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This trial aimed to assess the efficacy of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)-assisted therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a randomized, parallel, double-blind, low-dose controlled trial (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03866252). Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive supportive psychotherapy and either 100 μg + 200 μg LSD or 25 μg + 25 μg LSD in two dosing sessions. The primary endpoints were the changes in scores on the Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, in the Clinician-Rated (IDS-C) version (assessed by the treating therapist) and the Self-Rated (IDS-SR) version, from baseline to 2 weeks after the second administration. The IDS scores were also assessed 6 and 12 weeks after the second administration.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Thirty-one patients were randomized to the low-dose group, and 30 were randomized to the high-dose group. At the primary endpoint, least-squares mean change (LSM) in IDS-SR scores was -3.9 in the low-dose and -11.8 in the high-dose group (difference: -7.9; 95% CI, -16.0 to 0.3; effect size: -0.5; p = 0.059). LSM in IDS-C scores was -3.6 in the low-dose and -12.9 in the high-dose group (difference: -9.2; CI, -17.1 to -1.3; effect size: -0.6; p = 0.023; corrected <0.05). However, significance was not reached after adjusting for baseline depression scores (p = 0.086). Both outcomes remained numerically consistent up to the final follow-up at 12 weeks. Adverse events were comparable between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The findings of this exploratory study support further investigation of LSD-assisted therapy in depression in a larger phase 3 trial.</p><p><strong>Funding: </strong>Gertrud Thalmann Fund for depression research.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":" ","pages":"100725"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144249945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
MedPub Date : 2025-06-03DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2025.100708
Dongjiang Chen, Son B Le, Ashley P Ghiaseddin, Harshit Manektalia, Ming Li, Adam O'Dell, Maryam Rahman, David D Tran
{"title":"Efficacy and safety of adjuvant TTFields plus pembrolizumab and temozolomide in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: A phase 2 study.","authors":"Dongjiang Chen, Son B Le, Ashley P Ghiaseddin, Harshit Manektalia, Ming Li, Adam O'Dell, Maryam Rahman, David D Tran","doi":"10.1016/j.medj.2025.100708","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2025.100708","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown limited success in glioblastoma due to the tumor's profoundly immunosuppressive microenvironment. Tumor treating fields (TTFields), a non-invasive electric field therapy, activate the type I interferon (T1IFN) pathway via DNA sensor-dependent inflammasomes, promoting in situ immunization against glioblastoma.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this phase 2 study (this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03405792), 31 newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients were enrolled post-chemoradiation to evaluate synergy between TTFields, pembrolizumab, and temozolomide. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) compared to case-matched controls treated with TTFields and temozolomide alone. Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), response rate, safety, and immune correlates assessed through single-cell transcriptomics and T cell clonotyping of blood and tumor samples.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Among 26 patients treated per protocol, the median PFS was 12.0 vs. 5.8 months in controls (HR 0.377, 95% CI 0.217-0.653; p = 0.0026), and the median OS was 24.8 vs. 14.6 months (HR 0.522, 95% CI 0.301-0.905; p = 0.0477). Patients undergoing biopsy had longer PFS (27.2 vs. 9.6 months; HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.85; p = 0.014) and OS (31.6 vs. 18.8 months; HR 0.4, 95% CI 0.17-0.92; p = 0.023) compared to maximal resection. Severe adverse events constituted 7.5% of treatment-related toxicities. TTFields promoted clonal T cell expansion via a T1IFN-driven trajectory, while pembrolizumab supported adaptive replacement of these clones, sustaining T cell activation and memory formation, especially in biopsy-only patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings demonstrate synergy between TTFields and ICIs, particularly in patients with high tumor burden, and support further study in larger trials.</p><p><strong>Funding: </strong>This work was supported by a grant from Novocure.</p>","PeriodicalId":29964,"journal":{"name":"Med","volume":" ","pages":"100708"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144226942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}