FDA Oncology Center of Excellence Project Renewal: Engaging the Oncology Community to Update Product Labeling for Older Oncology Drugs.

The FDA conducts independent reviews of scientific data obtained with investigational drug products to ensure that they are safe and effective. As a result of this process, FDA-approved product labeling is generated that is considered one of the most trusted sources of information for use of an approved drug. But FDA approval is only the beginning of the life cycle of a new drug; the first oncology drugs now have more than 7 decades of clinical experience in the postmarketing setting. Due, in part, to lack of incentives, some companies may not seek inclusion of new data, other than new safety information, in FDA-approved product labeling. Ensuring that product labeling provides adequate directions for use is important for all drugs, including older therapies that may form the backbone of many standard combination regimens for pediatric and adult cancers. Project Renewal is an FDA Oncology Center of Excellence pilot program that leverages expertise from the clinical and scientific oncology communities to review published literature and generate a drug-specific product report summarizing data that may support updates to FDA-approved product labeling. This article provides a broad overview of Project Renewal's collaborative pilot process for identifying and assessing literature supporting potential labeling updates, while engaging the oncology community to increase awareness of FDA's evidentiary standards and deliberative processes used when considering the addition of new indications and dosing regimens to product labeling.

Hemoglobin SC smear recorded with a smartphone.

Taking photographs of microscope slides generally requires expensive equipment and a lot of effort. We demonstrate a technique to take clear, focused pictures of microscope slides with a smartphone. This could facilitate exchange of information between providers, allow for quick second opinions, and improve patient care.

A Phase 2 Trial of Fludarabine Combined With Subcutaneous Alemtuzumab for the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Alemtuzumab is effective in fludarabine-refractory patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. We performed a phase 2 study of alemtuzumab in combination with fludarabine in patients with relapsed disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients received alemtuzumab and fludarabine daily on days 1 to 5 of a 28-day cycle for up to 6 cycles with the primary objective of determining the rate of complete response. Of 60 enrolled patients, 51 had previously received fludarabine, and 60% had received 3 or more prior therapies. RESULTS: Five patients experienced complete response (8.3%) and 12 experienced partial response, yielding an overall response rate of 28.3% for the intention-to-treat population. Among the 41 patients who completed at least 4 cycles of therapy, the complete response rate was 20%. Median progression-free survival was 211 days. Forty-seven percent of patients experienced cytomegalovirus viremia, including 4 patients with symptomatic cytomegalovirus disease. All patients responded to antiviral therapy. CONCLUSION: Despite some evidence of efficacy in this setting, the primary end point for the study was not met. In the era of targeted agents that are well tolerated, the combination of fludarabine and alemtuzumab should be used rarely for a select group of fit patients who are refractory to standard therapies.