Justin Panasci, Changsu Lawrence Park, Ben Tran, Lillian L Siu
{"title":"Advances in cancer immunotherapy: adoptive cell therapy and immune cell engagers in solid tumours.","authors":"Justin Panasci, Changsu Lawrence Park, Ben Tran, Lillian L Siu","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03450-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03450-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adoptive cell therapies (ACT) and immune cell engagers (ICE) redirect or potentiate immune effector function against immune-tolerated antigens expressed on malignant cells, representing a distinct class of engineered immunotherapies beyond immune checkpoint blockade. These strategies have been particularly successful in hematologic malignancies; however, translation to solid tumours has been constrained by antigen heterogeneity, limited immune cell trafficking and persistence, an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment, and on-target off-tumour toxicity. Despite these barriers, accumulating data and clinical experience with these therapies in solid tumours demonstrate feasibility, scalability, safety, and meaningful clinical activity. In light of recent regulatory approvals of ACT and ICE in solid tumours, we aim to provide a comprehensive clinician-oriented overview of these evolving therapeutic platforms. Herein, we review principles of antigen selection, mechanisms underlying investigational ACT and ICE, current barriers to clinical translation in solid tumours, strategies to overcome these limitations, and future prospects for immune-redirecting drug development in solid tumours.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147763023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eunji Choi, Sophia Luo, Victoria Y Ding, Anna Graber-Nadich, Julie T Wu, Rita Popat, Iona Cheng, Joel W Neal, Heather A Wakelee, Summer S Han
{"title":"Air pollution and the risk of second primary lung cancer among lung cancer survivors: the prospective UK Biobank cohort study.","authors":"Eunji Choi, Sophia Luo, Victoria Y Ding, Anna Graber-Nadich, Julie T Wu, Rita Popat, Iona Cheng, Joel W Neal, Heather A Wakelee, Summer S Han","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03454-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41416-026-03454-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lung cancer survivors have a high risk of second primary lung cancer (SPLC). While air pollution is associated with the risk of initial primary lung cancer (IPLC), especially in never smokers, its effect on SPLC risk is unknown.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We identified 2439 IPLC patients from the UK Biobank, followed through 2017, linking baseline addresses to 2005-2007 annual average exposures of particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) from the EU-wide Land Use Regression model. Associations with SPLC risk were assessed using cause-specific Cox models adjusted for co-pollutants, socioeconomic factors, smoking, and tumour characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 2439 IPLC patients, 92 (3.7%) developed SPLC over 6561 person-years. The 10-year cumulative incidence of SPLC was 3.98% (3.11-4.85%). A dose-response relationship was observed between PM10 and SPLC risk, with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 6.43 (2.38-17.32) in the highest vs. lowest (aHR = 1.69 [0.68-4.19]) quintile; a co-pollutant NO<sub>2</sub> showed an aHR of 0.96 (0.93-0.99). The PM10 effect was pronounced in never-smoking (aHR = 2.26 [1.22-4.18]) vs. ever-smoking IPLC patients (aHR = 1.42 [1.21-1.68]) on the risk of non-small cell SPLC.</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>Exposure to PM10 may increase SPLC risk in lung cancer survivors, highlighting the potential value of incorporating environmental factors into SPLC surveillance to identify high-risk individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147762979","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fie Stegenborg, Pernille Envold Bidstrup, Klaus Rostgaard, Òlafur Birgir Davidsson, Carsten Utoft Niemann, Ismail Gögenur, Erik Jakobsen, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton, Henrik Hjalgrim
{"title":"Sex differences in cancer incidence and survival: a Danish nationwide population-based study assessing 35 cancer sites.","authors":"Fie Stegenborg, Pernille Envold Bidstrup, Klaus Rostgaard, Òlafur Birgir Davidsson, Carsten Utoft Niemann, Ismail Gögenur, Erik Jakobsen, Susanne Oksbjerg Dalton, Henrik Hjalgrim","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03429-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03429-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sex differences in cancer incidence and survival have been documented, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We examined sex differences in incidence and survival for non-sex-specific cancers and the role of socioeconomic factors and comorbidity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>All individuals living in Denmark from 2004-2020 were included. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and excess mortality ratios (EMRs) for 35 cancers were estimated using Poisson regression adjusted for age and year. Modification of associations between sex and death by cohabitation, education and comorbidity was assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 7,339,667 individuals were followed for 99,832,998 person-years, during which 355,339 were registered with a primary malignancy (197,375 males, 157,964 females). Males had a 52% higher risk of cancer and upon cancer diagnosis 10% higher mortality than females. IRRs were elevated (with confidence intervals excluding the null) for 24 cancers and EMRs for 16 cancers in males. One in six cancers and one in five cancer deaths in males could have been avoided if male rates matched female rates. Disparities were greatest among males living alone, particularly for alcohol- and smoking-related cancers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Sex differences in cancer must be addressed and translated into interventions that promote equality between sexes, specifically focusing on socioeconomically vulnerable males.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147763173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The ALLAN trial: impact of early home-based palliative care on emergency care and hospitalisation in advanced gastrointestinal cancer patients.","authors":"A Bojesson, E Brun, J Eberhard, M Segerlantz","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03444-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03444-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) cancer experience a high symptom burden which frequently necessitates emergency care. Integration of early home-based specialised palliative care (SPC) with tumour-specific treatments may impact emergency healthcare use.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>At the initiation of palliative chemotherapy, patients with advanced GI cancer were randomised to early home-based SPC integrated with tumour-specific treatment, or tumour-specific treatment with SPC referral when needed. The aim was to compare quality of life in the two groups. Here we present secondary outcomes; number of emergency department visits, hospitalisations, days of inpatient care, the time from the last chemotherapy treatment to death, and the place of death between the study groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 118 patients were randomised. Patients in the early SPC group had significantly fewer emergency department visits (median 1 versus 3), hospitalisations (median 1 versus 2), and inpatient care days (median 1.5 vs. 11.5) compared to the control group (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the study groups in either time between the last chemotherapy treatment and death, inpatient SPC or place of death.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Early integration of home-based SPC in advanced GI cancer patients significantly reduces emergency healthcare use and hospitalisation.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov (ref: NCT02246725).</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147763208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Libby Ellis, Charlotte Eversfield, Ewan Gray, Peter S Hall, Sara Hiom, David A Jones, Lennard Yw Lee, Sean McPhail, Katie Spencer, Christopher Halloran
{"title":"Modelled impact of a multi-cancer early detection screening programme on cancer treatment in England.","authors":"Libby Ellis, Charlotte Eversfield, Ewan Gray, Peter S Hall, Sara Hiom, David A Jones, Lennard Yw Lee, Sean McPhail, Katie Spencer, Christopher Halloran","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03412-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03412-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cancer screening can reduce late-stage diagnoses, expand treatment options, and improve cancer outcomes. We modelled how introducing a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) screening programme in England could impact cancer treatment patterns.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The proportions of cancers (19 types, diagnosed 2014-2019) treated with resection, radiotherapy, and systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) were applied to modelled stage-specific cancer incidence data with and without addition of MCED screening to existing screening. We modelled an initial screening round (first screen for individuals aged 50-79 years) and a steady-state programme (annual screening from age 50-79 years).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Assuming test parameters are accurate, if MCED screening is introduced in England, more cancers would require resection compared with current annual usage (steady-state: +8900, +10.0%). The number of cancers receiving radiotherapy would decrease overall (-1200; -2.0%) due to a decrease in palliative radiotherapy (-2100; -23.0%); the number of cancers treated with curative radiotherapy would increase slightly (+932; +2.1%). Fewer cancers would receive cytotoxic chemotherapy (-5300, -9.8%) and non-cytotoxic SACT (-530, -12.2%). Increased use of curative treatment combinations is also predicted.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Changes to future service delivery and workforce planning will be needed for the full benefits of an MCED screening programme to be realised.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147763221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pietro Guerra, Gianmarco Villano, Claudia M Rejano-Gordillo, Clàudia Gil-Pitarch, Mariagrazia Ruvoletto, Alessandra Biasiolo, Santina Quarta, L Estefanía Zapata-Pavas, Patricia Peña-SanFelix, Irene González-Recio, Naroa Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, Jon Ander Barrenechea-Barrenechea, Arantza Sanz-Parra, Alessandro Gambella, Silvia De Siervi, Barbara Oliviero, Stefania Mantovani, Jessica Nurcis, Silvia Cagnin, Andrea Martini, Cristian Turato, Stefania Cannito, Maria Guido, Maurizio Parola, María Luz Martínez-Chantar, Patrizia Pontisso
{"title":"Inhibition of the SerpinB3/protease-activated receptor 2 axis reduces liver cancer development and affects lipid metabolism.","authors":"Pietro Guerra, Gianmarco Villano, Claudia M Rejano-Gordillo, Clàudia Gil-Pitarch, Mariagrazia Ruvoletto, Alessandra Biasiolo, Santina Quarta, L Estefanía Zapata-Pavas, Patricia Peña-SanFelix, Irene González-Recio, Naroa Goikoetxea-Usandizaga, Jon Ander Barrenechea-Barrenechea, Arantza Sanz-Parra, Alessandro Gambella, Silvia De Siervi, Barbara Oliviero, Stefania Mantovani, Jessica Nurcis, Silvia Cagnin, Andrea Martini, Cristian Turato, Stefania Cannito, Maria Guido, Maurizio Parola, María Luz Martínez-Chantar, Patrizia Pontisso","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03427-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03427-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>MASLD and HCC are increasing challenges in hepatology. 1-Piperidinepropionic acid (1-PPA), a protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) inhibitor, downregulates SerpinB3, a molecule involved in fibrosis and HCC. This study investigates the effects of 1-PPA on lipid accumulation and HCC development.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>1-PPA was employed in primary hepatocytes and human liver organoids cultured with steatogenic compounds and lomitapide, a VLDL-formation inhibitor. Antitumoral effects of 1-PPA were evaluated by proliferation and invasion assays in HepG2 cells and in human liver organoids treated with a tumorigenic compound. MASH-related carcinogenesis was studied in vivo using C57BL/6J mice overexpressing SerpinB3 (C57/TG) and BALB/c mice deficient in the reactive site loop of Serpinb3a (BC/KO).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>1-PPA reduced tumour development and steatosis in vivo. Proteomic analysis showed decreased lipid synthesis and deposition post-treatment. Suppression of lipid accumulation was favoured by an increase in VLDL export, supported by an enhanced microsomal triglyceride transfer protein activity in vivo and by a competitive effect between 1-PPA and lomitapide in vitro. The compound 1-PPA also exhibited direct antitumoral effects, reducing proliferation, survival and invasion in liver organoids and HepG2 cells.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>1-PPA administration prevents lipid accumulation and HCC development in MASH-related liver carcinogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147763090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kun Zhao, Jian Zhang, Ran Wang, Bin Wang, Dongfan Ye, XiaoOu Huang, Lingxiao Qiu, Yi Duan, Zhi Xu
{"title":"STAT3 signaling mediates EGFR-TKI resistance in non-small cell lung cancer by regulating stemness markers and telomerase, reversed by icaritin.","authors":"Kun Zhao, Jian Zhang, Ran Wang, Bin Wang, Dongfan Ye, XiaoOu Huang, Lingxiao Qiu, Yi Duan, Zhi Xu","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03433-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03433-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) prolong the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, drug resistance limits their long-term efficacy. The role of STAT3 signaling in EGFR-TKI resistance is not completely understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using immunohistochemistry, we assessed changes in STAT3 phosphorylation levels in NSCLC before and after EGFR-TKIs treatment. Through gene editing and transcriptome sequencing experiments, we investigated the mechanism by which STAT3 signaling mediates drug resistance. We conducted cell proliferation and nude mice tumorigenesis experiments to verify whether STAT3 inhibitors enhanced the anti-tumor effect of EGFR-TKIs on NSCLC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that inhibition of the MAPK pathway by EGFR-TKIs triggers the rapid activation of STAT3 in NSCLC. RNA-seq analysis and cellular experiments confirmed that STAT3 regulates the expression of stemness markers, which contribute to drug resistance. Cancer stemness maintenance depends on telomerase. We found that STAT3 also mediates NSCLC resistance by regulating telomerase expression. Finally, we demonstrated in both cellular and animal models that icaritin, an anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agent, significantly potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of EGFR-TKIs against NSCLC by inhibiting STAT3 activation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The combination of EGFR-TKIs and STAT3 inhibitors has the potential to be a better therapeutic strategy for EGFR-mutant NSCLC than EGFR-TKI monotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147763239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CDKN1B inactivation impacts ER signaling and drives resistance to endocrine therapy in breast cancer.","authors":"Suhail Ahmad, Ashwin Butle, Akshay Karn, Roma Sunder, Rohit Mishra, Bhargavi Bawaskar, Pallavi Parab, Vividh Raje, Rohan Chaubal, Tanuja Shet, Gopal Kundu, Sudeep Gupta, Amit Dutt","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03388-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03388-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Hormone receptor-positive (HR + ), HER2-negative breast cancer comprises ~70% of all breast cancer cases and is primarily treated with endocrine therapies such as tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, fulvestrant, and CDK4/6 inhibitors. However, resistance arises in ~40% of patients, limiting therapeutic efficacy.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We performed integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and functional analyses of 186 HR + /HER2-tumors (88 sensitive, 98 resistant), to identify key drivers of endocrine hormone therapy resistance, Findings were validated functionally using in-vitro and in-vivo models.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identify frequent CDKN1B (p27) loss-of-function mutations or deletions as a key and clinically actionable driver of endocrine resistance. CDKN1B knockdown in cell lines induces resistance to tamoxifen and fulvestrant, while its restoration re-sensitizes resistant cells. Importantly, CDKN1B-deficient tumors remain responsive to CDK4/6 inhibition, in vitro and in vivo. Immunohistochemistry and transcriptomic analysis of clinical cohorts (n = 138) and TCGA-METABRIC data (n = 1398) identify low p27 as an independent predictor of early relapse and poor survival.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results highlight CDKN1B as a prognostic biomarker to guide CDK4/6-targeted therapy and a predictor of endocrine resistance in HR + /HER2- breast cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147762963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yufu Peng, Yubo Yang, Kefei Chen, Bo Li, Hongwei Xu, Suqi Guo, Yonggang Wei, Fei Liu
{"title":"Laparoscopic extrahepatic Glissonian versus hilar dissection approach for major hepatectomy in patients with HCC: a randomized controlled trial.","authors":"Yufu Peng, Yubo Yang, Kefei Chen, Bo Li, Hongwei Xu, Suqi Guo, Yonggang Wei, Fei Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03458-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03458-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>During laparoscopic major hepatectomy (LMH) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an appropriate approach for hepatic hilum treatment is crucial. However, to date, there is still controversy about whether the Glissonian approach or hilar dissection approach is more advantageous for hepatic hilum treatment. Thus, we performed this randomized controlled trial to compare the short- and long-term outcomes between the Glissonian and hilar dissection approaches for LMH.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between November 2017 and July 2021, 256 HCC patients who initially met the criteria via preoperative evaluation were randomly assigned to this trial. After surgical exploration, 119 patients in the Glissonian group and 121 patients in the hilar dissection group were eventually enrolled in the modified intention-to treat (ITT) principled analysis. Perioperative data and survival outcomes between both groups were recorded and compared, and subgroup analysis was further performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 5-year OS rates and 5-year DFS rates were comparable between the two groups. In addition, postoperative overall complications, including bile duct injury, leakage, and stricture, did not differ between the groups. However, the operative time (P = 0.044) and the hilar dissection time (P < 0.001) were significantly shorter in the Glissonian group than the hilar dissection group. Additionally, for patients with liver cirrhosis, the Glissonian group had shorter operative time (P = 0.002) and less intraoperative blood loss (P = 0.004) than the hilar dissection group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Glissonian approach for LMH in selected HCC patients is superior to the hilar dissection approach in short-term outcomes, but the survival outcomes were comparable between both groups.</p><p><strong>Registration number: </strong>ChiCTR-IOR-17013077.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147763083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anderley Gordon, Amina Tran, Caroline Fong, Susan Cromarty, Katarzyna Piadel, Oleg Zhitkov, Becky Leamon, Catherine Cafferkey, Michael Davidson, Prantik Das, Russell Petty, Tom Roques, Madeleine Hewish, Carys Morgan, Tom Waddell, Suzanne Darby, Alexander Bradshaw, Sheela Rao, Naureen Starling, Ian Chau, David Cunningham
{"title":"Maintenance capecitabine after first-line platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma: final analysis from the PLATFORM trial.","authors":"Anderley Gordon, Amina Tran, Caroline Fong, Susan Cromarty, Katarzyna Piadel, Oleg Zhitkov, Becky Leamon, Catherine Cafferkey, Michael Davidson, Prantik Das, Russell Petty, Tom Roques, Madeleine Hewish, Carys Morgan, Tom Waddell, Suzanne Darby, Alexander Bradshaw, Sheela Rao, Naureen Starling, Ian Chau, David Cunningham","doi":"10.1038/s41416-026-03448-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-026-03448-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>PLATFORM is an adaptive phase II trial assessing maintenance therapies in advanced oesophagogastric adenocarcinoma (OGA). We evaluated maintenance capecitabine in patients with disease control after first-line chemotherapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>HER2-negative patients with advanced OGA who had response or stable disease after 18 weeks of first-line chemotherapy were randomised (1:1) to surveillance or capecitabine. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and safety.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between May 2015 and May 2024, 266 patients were randomised (129 surveillance, 137 capecitabine). Median follow up was 70.7 months. Capecitabine significantly improved PFS (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.54-0.89; p = 0.002), with median PFS of 5.0 vs 2.8 months. One-year PFS rates were 19.9% vs 6.8%; and two-year rates 8.1% vs 4.3%. No OS difference was observed (median OS: 10.5 vs 10.0 months; HR 0.87; 95% CI 0.67-1.12; p = 0.143). One and two-year OS rates were similar (1-year: 44.1% vs 45.7%; 2-year: 18.8% vs 16.8%). Grade ≥3 adverse events were more frequent with capecitabine (46% vs 29%), with 21% experiencing grade 3 treatment related events.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Maintenance capecitabine significantly prolonged PFS compared to surveillance, meeting the primary endpoint and supporting its use to extend disease control in advanced OGA.</p>","PeriodicalId":9243,"journal":{"name":"British Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147763205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}