Highlighting the latest in cancer research

Each June, over 40,000 oncology professionals, including physicians, researchers, patient advocates, and pharmaceutical representatives attend the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago, IL. This meeting is considered the premiere forum for the presentation of the most recent scientific progress made in cancer research.

Private Heath Management’s research scientists attend dozens of presentations each year to stay current on the latest clinical data and emerging technologies. Here are some of the most exciting developments from ASCO 2024.

Expanded success of Enhertu^® treatment for breast cancer
Breast cancer treatments that target the HER2 protein have helped improve outcomes for many women with HER2-positive cancers. Historically, these treatments have only been effective for tumors with high levels of HER2 expression. However, the majority of breast cancer patients have tumors with low levels of HER2 expression (HER2-low and HER2-ultralow), which has limited treatment options. Recent clinical studies have investigated using more advanced HER2-targeting therapies for these patients.

Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) is an antibody-drug conjugate that combines the targeting of an anti-HER2 antibody with the cancer-killing power of a chemotherapy. The DESTINY-Breast06 Trial tested Enhertu in patients with hormone receptor-positive HER2-low and HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancers, who had been treated with hormone therapy. Results presented at ASCO 2024 showed that Enhertu significantly improved progression-free survival when compared with chemotherapy.¹ The results underscore the increasing importance of Enhertu in the breast cancer treatment landscape.

“The positive results from the DESTINY-Breast06 Trial have empowered our PHM Personal Care Teams to confidently recommend the use of Enhertu to our clients with breast cancer who meet these criteria.”

Lee Gibbs, PhD, Senior Research Director

Remarkable results may change the standard of care for certain lung cancers
Patients with a specific type of inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that harbors a mutation in the EGFR protein have few treatment options. Researchers presented results from the LAURA trial, where patients with this type of lung cancer were treated with Tagrisso^® (osimertinib) after chemoradiation. Patients who were treated with Tagrisso had significant improvements in progression-free survival (39 months) compared with those treated with a placebo (6 months), with no new safety issues.² These remarkable results mean that Tagrisso may become the new standard of care for this patient group.

“For most patients with NSCLC, immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as durvalumab, are the go-to treatment option. However, patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC do not derive the same life-extending benefit from this approach. This treatment provides those patients with a disease-free state measured in years rather than months.”

Gareth Morrison, PhD, Research Director

A novel approach for colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver
Patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to their liver and is inoperable have poor prognoses when treated systemically with standard of care chemotherapy. The TRANSMET study compared conventional chemotherapy alone to chemotherapy combined with liver transplantation in this patient population.³ The results showed a significantly improved 5-year survival rate in patients who had liver transplantation in addition to chemotherapy (57%) relative to patients that just had chemotherapy (13%). While other treatment strategies that treat the liver in a localized way are in development, the approach of combined liver transplantation and chemotherapy provides patients with an additional option.

“These data supporting a more radical approach of localized liver disease treatment via transplantation are extremely encouraging and offer an alternative therapeutic strategy to consider for this clinical scenario in colorectal cancer.”

Nicholas Young, PhD, Senior Research Director

Advancements in cancer vaccines bring renewed excitement
A group of world-renowned experts provided an update on the use of cancer vaccines as part of the broader strategy for cancer treatment.⁴ Dr. Jeffrey S. Weber, from NYU Langone Medical Center, focused on prevention of cancer recurrence in patients with melanoma who had been previously treated. He presented data from the first randomized trial that showed improvements in recurrence-free survival with a vaccine that targets neoantigens, or genetic mutations that are unique to cancer cells. Dr. Inge Marie Svane, from Herlev Hospital in Denmark, presented on the use of vaccines that help the body to mount an immune response to tumor cells by blocking checkpoints that would normally inhibit cancer-related immune activity. And Dr. Lillian L. Siu, from Princess Margaret Cancer Center in Toronto, discussed challenges and future opportunities for cancer vaccines, including advances being made in vaccine delivery platforms.

“Post-surgical cancer recurrence is devastating, and the standard prevention strategies of chemotherapy and radiation may not be sufficient. The latest research suggests that cancer vaccines may help patients achieve durable protection from recurrence by harnessing the power of their own immune system. PHM has been following the evolution of cancer vaccines for over a decade and emerging data are bringing renewed hope that these tools will play an important role in disease management.”

Eva J. Gordon, PhD, Chief Scientist

An artificial intelligence tool for improved cancer imaging
Vysioneer, an oncology Artificial Intelligence (AI) company presented a new AI tool that they have developed to improve cancer imaging. Vysioneer’s AI imaging platform helps to interpret medical images with improved clarity allowing a detailed look at cancerous lesions. Using raw medical imaging data, this tool can help both patients and providers to better visualize tumors, track changes in tumor size over time, and give a more accurate view of disease progression.

“With the introduction of Vysioneer’s new AI imaging platform, I believe our patients with cancer will gain the most accurate insights into how their disease responds and changes through this innovative technology.”

David Parker, PhD, Senior Research Director, Head of Oncology Research

References

1. Curigliano, G. et al. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) vs physician’s choice of chemotherapy (TPC) in patients (pts) with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low or HER2-ultralow metastatic breast cancer (mBC) with prior endocrine therapy (ET): Primary results from DESTINY-Breast06 (DB-06). JCO 42, LBA1000–LBA1000 (2024).
2. Ramalingam, S. S. et al. Osimertinib (osi) after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients (pts) with unresectable stage (stg) III epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFRm) NSCLC: Primary results of the phase 3 LAURA study. JCO 42, LBA4–LBA4 (2024).
3. Chemotherapy and liver transplantation versus chemotherapy alone in patients with definitively unresectable colorectal liver metastases: A prospective multicentric randomized trial (TRANSMET). | Journal of Clinical Oncology. https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2024.42.16_suppl.3500.
4. Strum, S., Andersen, M. H., Svane, I. M., Siu, L. L. & Weber, J. S. State-Of-The-Art Advancements on Cancer Vaccines and Biomarkers. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 44, e438592 (2024).