Cancer Research and Treatment

Original Articles

Synergistic Antitumor Activity of Combination Therapy with a MET TKI Vabametkib and a Third-Generation EGFR TKI Lazertinib in MET-Amplified EGFR-Mutant NSCLC: Dong Kwon Kim, Jin Woo Park, Hyeon Bin Cho, Su Jin Choi, Sung Sook Lee, YeongMun Kim, Jii Bum Lee, Sun Min Lim, Mi Ra Yu, Byoung Chul Cho; Received December 23, 2025 Accepted March 18, 2026 Published online March 31, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2025.1399 [Accepted]

Abstract PDF: Purpose
Third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKIs) improved outcomes in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, the subsequent development of resistance emphasizes the necessity of overcoming this therapeutic limitation. MET amplification is one of the major resistance mechanism in EGFR-mutant NSCLC, bypassing EGFR inhibition by activating cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis. Combining MET- and EGFR-TKIs is thus emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome resistance to EGFR TKIs.
Materials and Methods
This study aimed to investigate the combination of the selective MET TKI vabametkib and a third-generation EGFR TKI lazertinib in MET-amplified EGFR TKI resistance models. Inhibition of downstream signaling and cell proliferation by vabametkib plus lazertinib were evaluated in osimertinib-resistance NSCLC cell lines (HCC827-AR) and patient-derived organoid (YUO-010) by western blot and Cell Titer-Glo assay.
Results
In vitro studies demonstrated that vabametkib plus lazertinib synergistically inhibited EGFR/MET phosphorylation, leading to markedly enhanced anti-proliferative effects through downstream PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathway blockade. To investigate the antitumor effects in in vivo, we employed two patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models (YHIM-1035(1) and YHIM-1053) harboring MET amplification, as characterized by whole-exome sequencing or droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Consistent with the in vitro findings, treatment with vabametkib plus lazertinib produced pronounced suppression of tumor growth in both models through a synergistic mechanism.
Conclusion
These findings establish vabametkib plus lazertinib as a promising strategy for MET-amplified NSCLC, currently under evaluation in an ongoing phase II clinical trial (NCT05541822).

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Gastrointestinal cancer

First-in-Human Phase 1 Study of a B Cell– and Monocyte-Based Immunotherapeutic Vaccine against HER2-Positive Advanced Gastric Cancer: Minkyu Jung, Jii Bum Lee, Hyo Song Kim, Woo Sun Kwon, Hyun Ok Kim, Sinyoung Kim, Myunghwan Park, Wuhyun Kim, Ki-Young Choi, Taegwon Oh, Chang-Yuil Kang, Hyun Cheol Chung, Sun Young Rha; Cancer Res Treat. 2024;56(1):208-218. Published online June 28, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2022.1328

Abstract PDF Supplementary Material PubReader ePub

Purpose
BVAC-B is an autologous B cell– and monocyte-based immunotherapeutic vaccine that contains cells transfected with a recombinant human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene and loaded with the natural killer T cell ligand alpha-galactosylceramide. Here, we report the first BVAC-B study in patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer.
Materials and Methods
Patients with advanced gastric cancer refractory to standard treatment with HER2+ immunohistochemistry ≥ 1 were eligible for treatment. Patients were administered low (2.5×10⁷ cells/dose), medium (5.0×10⁷ cells/dose), or high dose (1.0×10⁸ cells/dose) of BVAC-B intravenously four times every 4 weeks. Primary endpoints included safety and maximum tolerated BVAC-B dose. Secondary endpoints included preliminary clinical efficacy and BVAC-B-induced immune responses.
Results
Eight patients were treated with BVAC-B at low (n=1), medium (n=1), and high doses (n=6). No dose-limiting toxicity was observed, while treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were observed in patients treated with medium and high doses. The most common TRAEs were grade 1 (n=2) and grade 2 (n=2) fever. Out of the six patients treated with high-dose BVAC-B, three had stable disease with no response. Interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 increased after BVAC-B treatment in all patients with medium and high dose, and HER2-specific antibody was detected in some patients.
Conclusion
BVAC-B monotherapy had a safe toxicity profile with limited clinical activity; however, it activated immune cells in heavily pretreated patients with HER2-positive gastric cancer. Earlier treatment with BVAC-B and combination therapy is warranted for evaluation of clinical efficacy.

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Special Article

Guidelines for Cancer Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea: Jii Bum Lee, Minkyu Jung, June Hyuk Kim, Bo Hyun Kim, Yeol Kim, Young Seok Kim, Byung Chang Kim, Jin Kim, Sung Ho Moon, Keon-Uk Park, Meerim Park, Hyeon Jin Park, Sung Hoon Sim, Hong Man Yoon, Soo Jung Lee, Eunyoung Lee, June Young Chun, Youn Kyung Chung, So-Youn Jung, Jinsoo Chung, Eun Sook Lee, Hyun Cheol Chung, Tak Yun, Sun Young Rha; Cancer Res Treat. 2021;53(2):323-329. Published online March 15, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2020.1256

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

At the end of 2019, the cause of pneumonia outbreaks in Wuhan, China, was identified as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In February 2020, the World Health Organization named the disease cause by SARS-CoV-2 as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In response to the pandemic, the Korean Cancer Association formed the COVID-19 task force to develop practice guidelines. This special article introduces the clinical practice guidelines for cancer patients which will help oncologists best manage cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Original Article

Temsirolimus in Asian Metastatic/Recurrent Non-clear Cell Renal Carcinoma: Jii Bum Lee, Hyung Soon Park, Sejung Park, Hyo Jin Lee, Kyung A Kwon, Young Jin Choi, Yu Jung Kim, Chung Mo Nam, Nam Hoon Cho, Beodeul Kang, Hyun Cheol Chung, Sun Young Rha; Cancer Res Treat. 2019;51(4):1578-1588. Published online April 16, 2019; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2018.671

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

Purpose
Temsirolimus is effective in the treatment for metastatic non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC) with poor prognosis. We aim to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of temsirolimus in treatment of naïve Asian patients with metastatic/recurrent nccRCC.
Materials and Methods
From January 2008 to July 2017, data of treatment-naïve, metastatic/recurrent nccRCC patients, who were treated with temsirolimus according to the standard protocol, were collected. The primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), and tolerability of temsirolimus.
Results
Forty-four metastatic/recurrent nccRCC patients, 10 from prospective and 34 from retrospective groups, were enrolled; 24 patients (54%) were papillary type, and other histology subtypes included 11 chromophobes (25%), two collecting ducts (5%), one Xp11.2 translocation (2%), and six others (14%). The median PFS and OS were 7.6 months and 17.6 months, res-pectively. ORR was 11% and disease control rate was 83%. Patients with prior nephrectomy had longer PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06 to 0.42; p < 0.001) and OS (HR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.45; p < 0.001). Compared to favorable/intermediate prognosis group, poor prognosis group had shorter median PFS (4.7 months vs. 7.6 months [HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.39 to 6.12; p=0.005]) and median OS (9.2 months vs. 17.6 months [HR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.23 to 6.56; p=0.015]).
Conclusion
Temsirolimus not only benefits poor-risk nccRCC patients, but it is also effective in favorable or intermediate-risk group in Asians. Temsirolimus was well-tolerated with manageable adverse events.

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