An Immunotherapy Drug, OPDIVO®, Is Found To Improve Long-Term Overall Survival for Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer

PHILADELPHIA (May 25, 2016) — In a study of those patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), those treated with the drug OPDIVO® (nivolumab) demonstrated improved overall survival over patients treated with the drug Taxotere® (docetaxel). The updated findings from this previously published study will be presented at The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2016 Annual Meeting.

Hossein Borghaei, DO
Hossein Borghaei, DO

“New data from this robust randomized Phase 3 trial represents the longest published follow up of patients being on therapy available for an immunotherapy drug such as OPDIVO in lung cancer, across histologies,” said lead study author Hossein Borghaei, DO, chief of medical oncology at Fox Chase. “Data presented at ASCO underscores the potential of OPDIVO to improve long-term outcomes for patients with this particularly challenging disease.”

At the two-year time point, researchers discovered that in a trial of previously treated non-squamous NSCLC patients, nearly double the previously treated non-squamous NSCLC patients and nearly triple the previously treated squamous NSCLC patients were alive at two years compared to docetaxel. Side effects occurred in 71 percent and 61 percent of OPDIVO-treated patients, respectively.

Fox Chase Cancer Center (Fox Chase), which includes the Institute for Cancer Research and the American Oncologic Hospital and is a part of Temple Health, is one of the leading comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Founded in 1904 in Philadelphia as one of the nation’s first cancer hospitals, Fox Chase was also among the first institutions to be designated a National Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1974. Fox Chase is also one of just 10 members of the Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers. Fox Chase researchers have won the highest awards in their fields, including two Nobel Prizes. Fox Chase physicians are also routinely recognized in national rankings, and the Center’s nursing program has received the Magnet recognition for excellence six consecutive times. Today, Fox Chase conducts a broad array of nationally competitive basic, translational, and clinical research, with special programs in cancer prevention, detection, survivorship, and community outreach. It is the policy of Fox Chase Cancer Center that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment.

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