Skip to main content
  • Advertise
    Want to Advertise with Us?
    Conquer welcomes advertising and sponsorship collaborations with reputable companies offering high-quality products and services to people affected by cancer.
  • Affiliated Brands
    Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators
    The Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) is the largest national specialty organization dedicated to improving patient care and quality of life by defining, enhancing, and promoting the role of oncology nurse and patient navigators. Our organization of over 8,900 members was founded in May 2009 to provide a network for all professionals involved and interested in patient navigation and survivorship care services to better manage the complexities of the cancer care treatment continuum for their patients. We view our organization as one consisting of “professional patient advocates” and, to that end, we support and serve our members.
    Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship
    The Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship (JONS) promotes reliance on evidence-based practices in navigating patients with cancer and their caregivers through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. JONS also seeks to strengthen the role of nurse and patient navigators in cancer care by serving as a platform for these professionals to disseminate original research findings, exchange best practices, and find support for their growing community.
    The Oncology Nurse-APN/PA
    The Oncology Nurse-APN/PA (TON) provides coverage of the wide spectrum of oncology-related events, trends, news, therapeutics, diagnostics, organizations, and legislation that directly affect hematology/oncology nurses and advanced practitioners involved in healthcare delivery and product utilization. The scope and coverage include a unique presentation of news and events that are shaping the care of patients with cancer.
  • Healthcare Providers
  • Contribute

FDA Approved Opdivo for Metastatic Small-Cell Lung Cancer

October 2018 Vol 4 No 5 — October 17, 2018

In August 2018, the FDA approved the immunotherapy Opdivo (nivolumab; from Bristol-Myers Squibb) for the treatment of patients with metastatic (spreading) small-cell lung cancer that progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least 1 other therapy.

Opdivo was previously approved by the FDA for patients with non–small-cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer. This new approval makes this immunotherapy also available for patients with small-cell lung cancer, which has fewer treatment options.

This approval was based on results from a clinical trial of 109 patients with or without PD-1 expression who had metastatic small-cell lung cancer that progressed after chemotherapy and at least 1 other therapy.

Overall, in 13 patients with small-cell lung cancer, the cancer responded to treatment with Opdivo, and the responses lasted between 6 months to more than 18 months. This new approval for Opdivo now offers patients with small-cell lung cancer access to immunotherapy, an important addition to the treatment options available for patients with this type of lung cancer.

The side effects with Opdivo in this study were similar to those seen in other studies, and 10% of patients discontinued treatment because of side effects.

Recommended For You