Benjamin Cooper, MD, Examines Rationale Behind Combining TAK-676 With Pembrolizumab After Radiation in Select Solid Tumors

Video
Conference|American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO)

Benjamin Cooper, MD, discussed an ongoing trial examining TAK-676 in combination with pembrolizumab after radiation therapy for patients with non–small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer.

At the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, CancerNetwork® spoke with Benjamin Cooper, MD, a radiation oncologist and director of Proton Therapy Services at NYU Langone Health, about a phase 1 trial in progress (NCT04879849) which is analyzing TAK-676 plus pembrolizumab (Keytruda) after radiation for patients with non–small cell lung, triple-negative breast, and squamous cell head and neck cancer that has progressed following checkpoint inhibitor therapy. He also discussed the mechanism of action of TAK-676 and dosing regimens for these patients.

Transcript:

TAK-676 is a sting agonist that is delivered intravenously. The idea [behind] combining it with pembrolizumab is to reinvigorate the immune system. We’re adding radiation in addition to that at 8 Gy times 3 to generate neoantigens to helpfully allow a systemic response.

This is a phase 1 trial looking at patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and non–small cell lung cancer. These patients all have progressed on checkpoint inhibition, and this is a phase 1 dose-escalation trial of the TAK-676 molecule. Patients are enrolled after a positive biopsy; they are treated with 8 Gy times 3 to up to 3 sites with the intention of generating new antigens. Over 40 hours later, they’re treated with the checkpoint [inhibitor] pembrolizumab, as well as with TAK-676 and are assessed in 3 weeks cycles.

Reference

Cooper BT, Chmura SJ, Luke JJ, et al. TAK-676 in combination with pembrolizumab after radiation therapy in patients (pts) with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), or squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN): Phase 1 study design. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(suppl 17): TPS2698. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2022.40.16_suppl.TPS2698

Related Videos
Cancer vaccines are a “cross-cutting approach” that may be applicable across several cancer types, according to Catherine J. Wu, MD.
mRNA may be a potential modality for developing cancer-based vaccines, according to Catherine J. Wu, MD.
Analyzing the KRAS mutation across various cancer types may be a worthwhile target when using a cancer vaccine or immunotherapy, says Catherine J. Wu, MD.
The AACR Health Disparities Report highlights the changes needed to achieve health equity for patients with cancer.
Robert A. Winn, MD, gives insight into how institutions and community practices can improve access to cancer care.
In the October edition of Snap Recap, we review the latest FDA news and the vote from the last ODAC meeting.
In this September edition of Snap Recap, we share our highlights from Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, news in the breast cancer space, and the latest FDA updates.
Implementing tax benefits for manufacturers who produce chemotherapy drugs may be one solution to increase drug production in the United States, according to Lucio N. Gordan, MD.
Lucio N. Gordan, MD, describes how his practice deals with increasing costs of limited chemotherapy agents to ensure that patients with cancer continue to receive treatment.
Related Content
Striving for Health Care Equity by Closing the Cancer Care Gap

Striving for Health Care Equity by Closing the Cancer Care Gap

April 18th 2024
Article

“If you were to ask me what the 1 magic thing would be, it would be that we would adopt a concept of 1 team, one fight nationally, and that we would be able to have our structures and our coordination of care.”

Edward S. Kim, MD, MBA, and Richard T. Lee, MD discuss how integrative oncology techniques such as acupuncture have impacted patient quality of life at their practice.

Creating a First-of-Its-Kind Integrative Oncology Program at City of Hope

March 18th 2024
Podcast

Edward S. Kim, MD, MBA, and Richard T. Lee, MD discuss how integrative oncology techniques such as acupuncture have impacted patient quality of life at their practice.

Results from 3 DESTINY trials led to the accelerated approval of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki for patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive solid tumors.

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to T-DXd in Advanced HER2+ Solid Tumors

April 5th 2024
Article

Results from 3 DESTINY trials led to the accelerated approval of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki for patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive solid tumors.

Primary care physicians cannot afford to dismiss younger people who present with symptoms of cancer in the face of increasing cancer incidence, according to Monique Gary, DO, MSc, FACS.

Addressing Rising Cancer Incidence and Burden in Younger Populations

March 11th 2024
Podcast

Primary care physicians cannot afford to dismiss younger people who present with symptoms of cancer in the face of increasing cancer incidence, according to Monique Gary, DO, MSc, FACS.

An updated guideline from ASCO highlights appropriate use of vaccines for patients with cancer receiving treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy or B-cell depleting therapy.

Updated ASCO Guideline Issues Vaccine Recommendations in Cancer Populations

March 31st 2024
Article

An updated guideline from ASCO highlights appropriate use of vaccines for patients with cancer receiving treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy or B-cell depleting therapy.

Investigators will evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of NST-628 in adult patients with solid tumors harboring mutations in the RAS-MAPK pathway as part of a phase 1 trial.

FDA Clears IND for Novel Molecular Glue in Advanced Solid Tumors

March 29th 2024
Article

Investigators will evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of NST-628 in adult patients with solid tumors harboring mutations in the RAS-MAPK pathway as part of a phase 1 trial.