Treating cancer, one patient at a time
Kura Oncology is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company whose goal is to help people with cancer to live long and fulfilling lives. We believe that each person’s cancer is unique, so we strive to develop targeted therapies that take this into consideration. Currently, Kura Oncology does not have any medicines or products approved for use by any health authority.
You can help change how we treat cancer1
One important part of developing new therapies is investigating them through clinical trials. Trials help us to better understand how treatments work, how effective they are, and if there are any risks or side effects. In addition to gaining early access to a new, innovative therapy, taking part in a clinical trial means that you are contributing to advancing care—for yourself and the rest of the world. Your doctor will help you decide if taking part in a clinical trial is the right option for you.
Learn more about the cancers we target
Strength in numbers
Though any cancer diagnosis can be hard to contend with, you are not alone. Head and neck cancer may be more common than you think.
Head and neck cancers are the
6th most
common cancer worldwide2
They account for
about 5%
of the world’s cancer cases per year3
In the United States, about
67,000
new cases are predicted for 20214
Over 90% of head and neck cancers begin in cells that line mucus membranes, like the inside of the mouth, nose, and throat. These cancers are called head and neck squamous cell carcinomas—or HNSCCs for short.2,5
Patient and caregiver resources
During this time, arming yourself with information about your disease can be empowering. National cancer organizations and patient advocacy groups can provide a supportive community to help you get started. Their aim is to help people live longer, healthier lives by advancing research, raising awareness, and providing emotional and financial support to patients and their families.
Get in-depth information on head and neck cancer, treatment costs and insurance coverage, finding support groups, and ways to advance cancer research.
Get more information on head and neck cancer, and the latest news on clinical trials and treatments. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) even has a live chat feature.
Get involved with the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance (HNCA) ambassador program and peer-to-peer program to connect with other people who are living with—or have survived through—head and neck cancer.
Consult comprehensive, up-to-date guidelines that detail the sequential management decisions and interventions that currently apply to HNSCC.
Your unique HNSCC6
Even within the different types of HNSCC, a number of genetic factors could be contributing to your particular cancer. Understanding which genes are involved in your cancer is important, because it could help your doctor decide on the treatment path that’s best for you.
Gene mutations6-9
A gene mutation is a change in your DNA. Some mutations can be passed from parent to child, and others are caused by environmental factors and can arise at any time. That’s why regular genetic screening is an important part of HNSCC management. Common mutations in HNSCC include:
Gene overexpression10,11
Sometimes, your body makes too many copies of a protein, which can lead to cancer growth. This is called overexpression. For example, HRAS overexpression may occur in up to 30% of people with HNSCC.
A tailored treatment plan5,12
Because your treatment plan is dependent on a number of factors, it will be tailored to meet your unique health needs. According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®)—an alliance of cancer centers that are considered the leading authority in how cancer is managed—HNSCC care can include any one or a combination of:
SURGERY13
Your doctor may choose to remove your tumor and any affected tissue.
IMMUNOTHERAPY14
Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that uses your own immune system to fight the disease.
RADIATION THERAPY13
Radiation is a type of treatment that uses beams of intense energy, such as x-rays, to kill cancer cells.
TARGETED THERAPY14
Targeted therapies act on specific genetic mutations or molecules that may be helping cancer cells grow and survive.
CHEMOTHERAPY14
Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to destroy fast-growing cells by disrupting the way they grow and divide.
While this kind of treatment kills tumor cells, it can also destroy healthy cells in the process.
CLINICAL TRIALS13
For people who lack effective treatment options, clinical trials give early access to investigational therapies that may benefit them.
Tumor Stage15
Characterization15
Standard Treatments15
EARLY
Smaller tumors without local (nearby) lymph node involvement
- Surgery ± radiation
- Chemotherapy
LOCALLY ADVANCED
Invasion of surrounding structures or an increased number of involved lymph nodes
- Surgery
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
METASTATIC
Tumor to spread to distant sites on the body
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
TREATMENT REFRACTORY
Tumors that do not respond to a particular treatment
- Treatments that work differently from prior therapies
- Referral to clinical trial for investigational therapy
RELAPSED OR RECURRENT
The return or progression of cancer after a period of improvement or remission
- Treatments that work differently from prior therapies
- Referral to clinical trial for investigational therapy
Read more about what the NCCN recommends for HNSCC
Advocating for your care
It’s important to advocate for your care and find the right tools and information for your unique needs. Many people feel empowered when they can play an active role in their treatment plan. To help ensure that you get care that’s suited to you, consider asking your doctor the following questions, and having someone with you to help listen and take notes:
Have I had any tests that show the genetic factors behind my cancer? If so, when and how often should testing occur?
What types of genetic tests are available for my type of cancer? Who administers these tests, and how are they performed?
Are there any targeted treatments available or in clinical trials that target these genetic factors?
Are there any clinical trials that I would be eligible for that we should consider?
These are just a few suggestions to get you started. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask any questions you have, and discuss your care plan with your cancer care team.
REFERENCES: 1. National Cancer Institute. What Are Clinical Trials? Reviewed February 4, 2020. Accessed October 19, 2021. www.cancer.gov/aboutcancer/treatment/clinical-trials/what-are-trials 2. Vigneswaran N, Williams MD. Epidemiologic trends in head and neck cancer and aids in diagnosis. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2014;26(2):123-141. 3. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel R, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209-249. 4. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2021. 5. National Cancer Institute. Head and neck cancers. Reviewed March 29, 2017. Accessed June 17, 2021. https:// www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet 6. Malone E, Siu LL. Precision medicine in head and neck cancer: myth or reality? Clin Med Insights Oncol. 2018;12:1179554918779581. 7. Braig F, Voigtlaender M, Schieferdecker A, et al. Liquid biopsy monitoring uncovers acquired RAS-mediated resistance to cetuximab in a substantial proportion of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2016;7(28):42988-42995. 8. Koontongkaew S. The tumor microenvironment contribution to development, growth, invasion and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. J Cancer. 2013;4(1):66-83. 9. American Cancer Society. Genes and cancer. Revised June 25, 2014. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/genesand-cancer.html 10. National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Overexpress. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/overexpress 11. Burrows F, Shivani M, Wang Z, et al. Antitumor activity of tipifarnib and PI3K pathway inhibitors in HRASassociated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Poster presented at: 32nd EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium; October 24-25 2020; virtual. 12. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Head and Neck Cancers V.3.2021. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Accessed October 19, 2021. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. 13. Cancer.Net. Head and neck cancer: types of treatment. October 2019. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.net/cancer types/headand-neck-cancer/types-treatment 14. American Cancer Society. How chemotherapy drugs work. Revised November 22, 2019. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/chemotherapy/how-chemotherapy-drugs-work.html 15. Chow LQM. Head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(1):60-72. 16. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 2020. Accessed October 19, 2021. 17. Mayo Clinic. Acute lymphocytic leukemia. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acutelymphocytic-leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369077 18. Dong Y, Shi O, Zeng Q, et al. Leukemia incidence trends at the global, regional, and national level between 1990 and 2017. Exp Hematol Oncol. 2020;9:14. 19. Yi M, Li A, Zhou L, Chu Q, Song Y, Wu K. The global burden and attributable risk factor analysis of acute myeloid leukemia in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017: estimates based on the global burden of disease study 2017. J Hematol Oncol. 2020;13(1):72. 20. Cancer.Net. Leukemia – acute lymphocytic – ALL: statistics. January 2021. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/leukemia-acute-lymphocytic-all/statistics 21. DiNardo CD, Cortes JE. Mutations in AML: prognostic and therapeutic implications. Hematology. 2016(1):348-355. 22. Klossowski S, Miao H, Kempinska K, et al. Menin inhibitor MI-3454 induces remission in MLL1-rearranged and NPM1-mutated models of leukemia. J Clin Invest. 2020;130(2):981-997. 23. Papaemmanuil E, Gerstung M, Bullinger L, et al. Genomic classification and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(23):2209-2221. 24. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia V.3.2021. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Accessed October 19, 2021. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. 25. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia V.2.2021. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Accessed October 19, 2021. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. 26. Ferrara F, Barosi G, Venditti A, et al. Consensusbased definition of unfitness to intensive and nonintensive chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a project of SIE, SIES and GITMO group on a new tool for therapy decision making. Leukemia. 2013;27(5):997-999. 27. Mayo Clinic. Acute myelogenous leukemia diagnosis and treatment. Accessed October 15, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acute-myelogenous-leukemia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369115 28. Harvard Health Publishing. Leukemia. Published December 12, 2014. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/cancer/leukemia 29. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. 2021. Accessed October 19, 2021. 30. Reville PK, Kadia TM. Maintenance Therapy in AML. Front Oncol. 2021;10:619085. 31. DeWolf S, Tallman MS. How I treat relapsed or refractory AML. Blood. 2020;136(9):1023-1032.
Strength in numbers16,17
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood cancer that starts in bone marrow, and affects the development of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. There are many different subtypes of AML, which are categorized and treated based on genetic mutations and other features. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is another type of blood cancer that starts in bone marrow, primarily affecting white blood cells.
In adults, AML is the
most common
acute leukemia worldwide18
AML accounts for
about 23%
of the world’s leukemia cases per year18
There are about
120,000
new cases of AML per year globally19
In children and young adults under 20 years old,
ALL makes up 74%
of acute leukemia cases20
Patient and caregiver resources
During this time, arming yourself with information about your disease can be empowering. National cancer organizations and patient advocacy groups can provide a supportive community to help you get started. Their aim is to help people live longer, healthier lives by advancing research, raising awareness, and providing emotional and financial support to patients and their families.
Get in-depth information on AML and ALL, treatment costs and insurance coverage, finding support groups, and ways to help advance cancer research.
Connect with the blood cancer community, along with other patients and caregivers through chats, support groups, and peer-to-peer programs, or speak with a specialist to get personalized disease and treatment information.
Consult comprehensive, up-to-date guidelines that detail the sequential management decisions and interventions that currently apply to AML and ALL.
ALAN is a global network of patient alliances dedicated to fostering patient advocacy within acute leukemias.
Your unique acute leukemia21
A number of genetic factors could be driving, or contributing to, your particular acute leukemia. Understanding which genes are involved in your cancer is important, because it can help your doctor decide on the treatment path that’s best for you.
What drives your AML?21-23
Certain genetic alterations—including mutations and rearrangements—are known to “drive” acute leukemia, and are often used to predict outcomes and guide treatment selections. Some genetic alterations have targeted therapies indicated for patients with acute leukemia, while others are being studied in clinical trials.
A tailored treatment plan24,25
According to NCCN—an alliance of cancer centers that are considered the leading authority in how cancer is managed—AML and ALL care can include any one or a combination of:
CHEMOTHERAPY14,26
Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to destroy fast-growing cells by disrupting the way they grow and divide.
While this kind of treatment kills tumor cells, it can also destroy healthy cells in the process. Determining whether intensive chemotherapy or nonintensive chemotherapy is appropriate for a patient is often the first treatment decision point.
TARGETED THERAPY14
Targeted therapies act on specific genetic mutations or molecules that may be helping cancer cells grow and survive.
BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT27
A bone marrow transplant is a procedure that replaces damaged cells with healthy stem cells.
CLINICAL TRIALS27
For people who lack effective treatment options, clinical trials give early access to new, innovative therapies that may benefit them.
Standard treatment of many leukemias generally occurs in phases28
Often the treatment of acute leukemia depends less on how far the disease has advanced than on the patient’s age and overall health.
Phases of Therapy
Objective/Intent
Treatment Options
INDUCTION THERAPY16,27,29
Kill most of the leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow and restore normal blood cell production; to go into remission
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
CONSOLIDATION THERAPY16,27,29
For people in remission following induction therapy to destroy any remaining leukemia in the body
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Transplant*
MAINTENANCE THERAPY†,16,29,30
Prevent the leukemia from returning
- Hypomethylating agents
THERAPY FOR RELAPSE16,29,31
When leukemia returns after a period of remission (relapses), the goal of treatment is to achieve remission again
- Targeted therapy
- Aggressive chemotherapy*
- Hypomethylating agents
*For people who meet certain criteria depending on their overall physical health.
†Not everyone will receive maintenance therapy. It may be recommended depending on your type of disease, consolidation, and risk of relapse.
Advocating for your care
It’s important to advocate for your care and find the right tools and information for your unique needs. Many people feel empowered when they can play an active role in their treatment plan. To help ensure that you get care that’s suited to you, consider asking your doctor the following questions, and having someone with you to help listen and take notes:
Have I had any tests that show the genetic factors behind my cancer? If so, when and how often should
testing occur?
What types of genetic tests are available for my type of cancer? Who administers these tests, and how are
they performed?
Are there any targeted treatments available or in clinical trials that target these genetic factors?
Are there any clinical trials that I would be eligible for that we should consider?
Click here to view a variety of printable question guides from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
These are just a few suggestions to get you started. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask any questions you have, and discuss your
care plan with your cancer care team.
REFERENCES: 1. National Cancer Institute. What Are Clinical Trials? Reviewed February 4, 2020. Accessed October 19, 2021. www.cancer.gov/aboutcancer/treatment/clinical-trials/what-are-trials 2. Vigneswaran N, Williams MD. Epidemiologic trends in head and neck cancer and aids in diagnosis. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am. 2014;26(2):123-141. 3. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel R, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209-249. 4. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2021. 5. National Cancer Institute. Head and neck cancers. Reviewed March 29, 2017. Accessed June 17, 2021. https:// www.cancer.gov/types/head-and-neck/head-neck-fact-sheet 6. Malone E, Siu LL. Precision medicine in head and neck cancer: myth or reality? Clin Med Insights Oncol. 2018;12:1179554918779581. 7. Braig F, Voigtlaender M, Schieferdecker A, et al. Liquid biopsy monitoring uncovers acquired RAS-mediated resistance to cetuximab in a substantial proportion of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncotarget. 2016;7(28):42988-42995. 8. Koontongkaew S. The tumor microenvironment contribution to development, growth, invasion and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. J Cancer. 2013;4(1):66-83. 9. American Cancer Society. Genes and cancer. Revised June 25, 2014. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/genesand-cancer.html 10. National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms. Overexpress. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/overexpress 11. Burrows F, Shivani M, Wang Z, et al. Antitumor activity of tipifarnib and PI3K pathway inhibitors in HRASassociated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Poster presented at: 32nd EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium; October 24-25 2020; virtual. 12. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Head and Neck Cancers V.3.2021. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Accessed October 19, 2021. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. 13. Cancer.Net. Head and neck cancer: types of treatment. October 2019. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.net/cancer types/headand-neck-cancer/types-treatment 14. American Cancer Society. How chemotherapy drugs work. Revised November 22, 2019. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/chemotherapy/how-chemotherapy-drugs-work.html 15. Chow LQM. Head and neck cancer. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(1):60-72. 16. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Acute Myeloid Leukemia. 2020. Accessed October 19, 2021. 17. Mayo Clinic. Acute lymphocytic leukemia. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acutelymphocytic-leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369077 18. Dong Y, Shi O, Zeng Q, et al. Leukemia incidence trends at the global, regional, and national level between 1990 and 2017. Exp Hematol Oncol. 2020;9:14. 19. Yi M, Li A, Zhou L, Chu Q, Song Y, Wu K. The global burden and attributable risk factor analysis of acute myeloid leukemia in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017: estimates based on the global burden of disease study 2017. J Hematol Oncol. 2020;13(1):72. 20. Cancer.Net. Leukemia – acute lymphocytic – ALL: statistics. January 2021. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/leukemia-acute-lymphocytic-all/statistics 21. DiNardo CD, Cortes JE. Mutations in AML: prognostic and therapeutic implications. Hematology. 2016(1):348-355. 22. Klossowski S, Miao H, Kempinska K, et al. Menin inhibitor MI-3454 induces remission in MLL1-rearranged and NPM1-mutated models of leukemia. J Clin Invest. 2020;130(2):981-997. 23. Papaemmanuil E, Gerstung M, Bullinger L, et al. Genomic classification and prognosis in acute myeloid leukemia. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(23):2209-2221. 24. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Acute Myeloid Leukemia V.3.2021. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Accessed October 19, 2021. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. 25. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia V.2.2021. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Accessed October 19, 2021. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way. 26. Ferrara F, Barosi G, Venditti A, et al. Consensusbased definition of unfitness to intensive and nonintensive chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia: a project of SIE, SIES and GITMO group on a new tool for therapy decision making. Leukemia. 2013;27(5):997-999. 27. Mayo Clinic. Acute myelogenous leukemia diagnosis and treatment. Accessed October 15, 2021. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acute-myelogenous-leukemia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20369115 28. Harvard Health Publishing. Leukemia. Published December 12, 2014. Accessed June 17, 2021. https://www.health.harvard.edu/cancer/leukemia 29. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. 2021. Accessed October 19, 2021. 30. Reville PK, Kadia TM. Maintenance Therapy in AML. Front Oncol. 2021;10:619085. 31. DeWolf S, Tallman MS. How I treat relapsed or refractory AML. Blood. 2020;136(9):1023-1032.