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HomeMy WebLinkAbout072424 - New endpoint in multiple myeloma could mean faster drug approvalsALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. Multiple myeloma endpoints | Brain tumor mapping | Expanding immunotherapy services ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ View as Web page <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=zVYnibhtP5h2XLg-6AKlrcvJiK7y8CMpvVJUHirSiWKz3tTRcF3KBg> <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=1Y_yX6i-c-kr6naFOibSAzmetpe6iHDjr7wnZtx4SI8fU6SVTbe_jw> <https://secure.fredhutch.org/images/content/pagebuilder/fhcc-eml-hdr-shadow.png> <https://secure.fredhutch.org/images/content/pagebuilder/hdr-eml-hutch-news-fhcc.jpg> July 24, 2024 ⋅ A monthly digest of the latest from Fred Hutch When it comes to cancer trials, what’s the (end)point? <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=fMEH1BUJD40zw4UKoZoFrcOY65EhjYeHpwq5hb1wESZzsd232hAsYg> A few months back, good news hit the multiple myeloma community: the U.S. Food & Drug Administration voted to accept a new endpoint — MRD, or measurable residual disease — for accelerated approval of treatments for this cancer. What does this mean for myeloma patients? Everything, per Fred Hutch Cancer Center hematologist-oncologist Rahul Banerjee, MD, who treats patients diagnosed with this slow-growing cancer of plasma cells. “Myeloma is considered incurable — but patients can be in remission for a long time,” Banerjee said. “Until now we’ve had an historic obsession with the M-protein and we typically check it. We don’t frequently look at the cancer cells themselves. We look at the proteins they’re producing to see if it’s going up or going down — like a PSA in prostate cancer.” The problem is the M-protein can take six months or longer to clear after therapy. And sometimes, this protein doesn’t ever go away, even in patients who are asymptomatic. Despite this, disease remission — also known as a complete response to treatment — has traditionally been defined as having zero M-proteins in the blood and in the urine. The absence of M-proteins has also been a desired endpoint when trialing new therapy drugs. What’s an endpoint? It’s how scientists demonstrate whether whatever it is they’re studying — a screening modality, a targeted treatment, an immunotherapy, etc. — is a boom or a bust. With this new decision, trials using MRD to assess benefit can now be considered by the FDA to approve novel drugs. Read the full story <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=_aBFV9VAjpPYfaBZE_Vzgnq Y0TbizuNJUVDONr_bRX8hMA1ASkcHUg> . ________________________________ Purposeful pursuits <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=zNNZV_1hy3DMWZOSYUBRxC7eJ7-G6uOl0FPKy5Go8o8E575W_ppY4Q> Photo by Robert Hood / Fred Hutch News Service Andrea Towlerton is lab director of the Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute in Kampala, Uganda. In an interview <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=u4leML5C42D5hHIaofiYOEMfITJQS1bCCpWFABk_GPMeKzY Ac8iQRg> , she reflects on her decade-long Fred Hutch experiences and more broadly about the various paths, opportunities and missions a scientific career can offer. Related: Check out the 2024 Global Oncology Annual Report <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=h7mwxgeDJFFnx3TfJnMQxL5UMka6Y0oEGqguDvJmpzMc8815IxK3jQ> . ________________________________ The Latest More to brain tumors than meets the eye <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=Zi5cxYhg4pUvdCE6yFbAqvJnZt2esFEnL2KgnkyK_BqKEhZZ-vU_wg> Brain cancer surgeon Eric Holland, MD, PhD, and his team at Fred Hutch have figured out a new way to classify tumors based on their underlying biology rather than their appearance under a microscope. Immunotherapy services are expanding <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=Zcz23EMTGU8U7JWcyCYVQ3OVc1h7yYQHwM2gnr0incU1SVfyvoLYxQ> As the new medical director of the Bezos Family Immunotherapy Clinic at Fred Hutch, Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, calls immunotherapy a “game-changer for our patients.” In his new role, he will lead efforts to expand access to meet demand. Another look at leptin <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=tZFOCUK7PhbV7_jEe_bxALZEj5ZySq1Ds1SmwfhgqxrlOrqBuKX7NA> A research team led by obesity researcher Akhila Rajan, PhD, has discovered a molecular switch for an appetite-regulating hormone, reviving dashed hopes for a drug that could increase leptin to suppress appetite and reduce obesity. A passion for solving problems while supporting care <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=j4livJhyGFLGPPF6PSrOuJC938urSfBdpuOnOkSXqA29hEPb8VSc4g> A life-altering car accident that landed her in the same hospital where she worked helped Denene Prophet-Williams, MBA, MLA, Fred Hutch’s new chief nursing officer and vice president, better understand the impact that quality health care can have on patient outcomes. Getting a paw up in the game with the COVID-19 <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=gJ3usVa89z2o_LdZ0P9E1ebVU6tPxjgbBD0hKSFu5f1-Mt7OfbgLPw> Evolutionary biologist Jesse Bloom, PhD, and his team at Fred Hutch have figured out a new way to quickly and safely test thousands of SARS-CoV-2 virus mutations to predict which ones could help it escape our defenses. ________________________________ Good News Moens named Raisbeck Endowed Chair for Basic Science <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=j3KOq0Uc-twnXQBDF3HDz5y4O2Io5D94YNpFln7HEfNjPoFSVv4lQg> Developmental biologist Cecilia Moens, PhD, was recently announced as the recipient of the Raisbeck Endowed Chair for Basic Science to support her continued work studying embryonic development in zebrafish. Washington groups take on cancer health disparities <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=grD7hGEBf0i2peQ4EHZ_FbAZWxB-zRwNzVNaB8Eoq-Kla_CekkUWDA> A record number of applicants vied this year for Fred Hutch grants supporting projects to reduce cancer health disparities in Washington state. Ten organizations will use the funds to increase access to screenings, provide mental health care for people with low income, mentor early-career oncologists and more. $5.25M from the Kuni Foundation <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=Pjh_u8wCwbjeX8nmU0Ovo8IUWIz72tYNtr-IS9h_1rClEJMI-6eEPA> Principal investigators working at Fred Hutch and UW Medicine secured grants from the Kuni Foundation for a diverse lineup of projects to advance our understanding of tumor regression and improve care for an array of adult cancers, including by reducing the cost of therapy. ________________________________ Volunteer for Obliteride Today! Fred Hutch Obliteride is August 10, and we need more volunteers. When you volunteer, you'll make a difference, have fun and discover how great it feels to be part of a powerful community united to fundraise for advances in cancer research and care at Fred Hutch Cancer Center. <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=lgEuTNuBmjIhGcX76dmZmij01Wr9j6Fp5KUQjlFpFrxBj106VDPsvg> ________________________________ Share this newsletter with family or friends <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=36v7IsESaOiSbYnxp2SbLiNCrVzR8fip-IMr4IJBbnG0Vrzp-ZfLUg> <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=KlSja8B7dB9aZarskGCzmUIt_74JJ5COW56zGhGnCfV21IX-UuOiGg> 1100 Fairview Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109 communications@fredhutch.org <mailto:communications@fredhutch.org> 206.667.5000 <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=5SuLvVaQvhHpOfXjWv0E_Sd3eGbiWbvBfJ6heP9r4cBPOrBP4kLj5A> <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=FFoRiXEgI0fVFoyJSpsG1lWKIp3dnd-HsHV2EU_XXn6yBDz9qsIAhA> <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=Yw3XRu_nAIdlQ6FrqprTsCzfq6jpv4jHw3-rVicH31QQ8zqkIMKO-Q> <https://secure.fredhutch.org/site/R?i=U3BX0H0FSnK8wqA7s1m_D5AgudHs1K598wsU2iTeLSIzTOkze3BE-g> ________________________________ Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 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