The evolving role of chemotherapy in prostate cancer.

Despite extensive clinical research of different chemotherapy agents for more than three decades, the role of chemotherapy in prostate cancer was only established in 2004, after demonstrating a survival benefit with docetaxel in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. 6 years later, second-line chemotherapy using cabazitaxel, after disease progression on docetaxel, demonstrated an additional survival improvement. Recently, docetaxel given alongside standard hormonal therapy in newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer was found to lead to significantly improved patient outcomes. This article aims to cover the role of chemotherapy in prostate cancer and the latest developments.

Increased Induction Infliximab Clearance Predicts Early Antidrug Antibody Detection.

Treatment of patients with biologics such as infliximab may trigger development of antidrug antibodies, which are associated with faster drug clearance, reduced treatment efficacy, and increased risk of infusion-related reactions. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of baseline infliximab clearance and early antidrug antibody formation. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic models for infliximab were developed using 21 178 observations from 859 patients from the PLANETRA (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01217086) and PLANETAS (NCT01220518) studies in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, respectively, to address the specified aims. Infliximab pharmacokinetics were well described by a 2-compartment model with linear mean estimated baseline clearance of 0.26 L/day. Alongside increased body weight, serum C-reactive protein, and antidrug antibody concentrations and decreased serum albumin, elevated serum glucose levels predicted higher clearance. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, baseline infliximab clearance and body weight were the only identified predictors of early antidrug antibody detection. The odds ratio for antidrug antibody detection for each 0.1 L/day increase in baseline infliximab clearance was 1.78 (95% confidence interval, 1.50-2.12); for each 10-kg increase in body weight, this was 1.19 (1.06-1.33). Here we describe increased serum glucose levels as a novel independent predictor of baseline infliximab clearance. Estimates of baseline infliximab clearance should be incorporated to guide dosing modifications and/or antidrug antibody prophylaxis in clinical practice.

Are Biosimilars the Future of Oncology and Haematology?

Biological drugs are vital but often high-cost components of cancer treatment. Several biosimilar versions of these drugs have been approved in Europe and/or the USA, with many more in development. However, there is some disconnect between the biosimilars that are approved for use and those accessible in clinical practice, with availability impacted by factors including patent litigation and complex healthcare insurance policies, particularly in the USA. Provided the barriers to widespread uptake can be overcome, biosimilars offer potential benefits including cost savings and improved patient access versus the reference product (RP). This article provides an up-to-date and focused perspective on the development and use of biosimilars in the haemato-oncology setting. European and US regulatory pathways governing biosimilar licensing demand that there are no clinically meaningful differences between a biosimilar and its RP. Pathways are rigorously enforced and involve comprehensive non-clinical evaluations and clinical trials in selected indications to establish the equivalence or non-inferiority of efficacy, and the comparability of safety, of the biosimilar versus its RP. 'Indication extrapolation' is only permitted if scientifically justifiable considering mechanism(s) of action, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and safety in relevant patient populations. Switching treatment from RP to biosimilar is supported by most available data, predominantly from indications other than cancer, and post-marketing pharmacovigilance programmes are warranted. Notably, the potential benefits of biosimilar cancer treatment may extend beyond direct cost savings: for example, the availability of biosimilars of common regimen components may help incentivise the evaluation and/or clinical use of new treatment approaches and novel drugs.

Correction: Serine 207 phosphorylated lysyl-tRNA synthetase predicts disease-free survival of non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18053.].

Serine 207 phosphorylated lysyl-tRNA synthetase predicts disease-free survival of non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

It has been shown that various tRNA synthetases exhibit non-canonical activities unrelated to their original role in translation. We have previously described a signal transduction pathway in which serine 207 phosphorylated lysyl-tRNA synthetase (P-s207 LysRS) is released from the cytoplasmic multi-tRNA synthetase complex (MSC) into the nucleus, where it activates the transcription factor MITF in stimulated cultured mast cells and cardiomyocytes. Here we describe a similar transformation of LysRS due to EGFR signaling activation in human lung cancer. Our data shows that activation of the EGFR results in phosphorylation of LysRS at position serine 207, its release from the MSC and translocation to the nucleus. We then generated a P-s207 LysRS rabbit polyclonalantibody and tested 242 tissue micro-array samples derived from non-small-cell lung cancer patients. Highly positive nuclear staining for P-s207 LysRS was noted in patients with EGFR mutations as compared to WT EGFR patients and was associated with improved mean disease-free survival (DFS). In addition, patients with mutated EGFR and negative lymph node metastases had better DFS when P-s207 LysRS was present in the nucleus. The data presented strongly suggests functional and prognostic significance of P-s207 LysRS in non-small-cell lung cancer.