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ICYMI: Highlights From ASCO 2024
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Top coverage from the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting included research topics in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), multiple myeloma, metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), and more.
The 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting presented novel study results on a range of cancer subtypes, as well as studies on health equity in cancer care.
Here are the top-read ASCO content in 2024; view all our ASCO coverage here.
5. Osimertinib Offers 84% Improvement in PFS Over Standard of Care in Stage III Unresectable EGFR-Driven NSCLC
Findings from the LAURA (NCT03521154) trial demonstrated that osimertinib (Tagrisso) significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) by 84% compared with the current standard of care in patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are not eligible for surgery. This breakthrough therapy, already approved for other stages of EGFR-mutated NSCLC, will likely become the new standard of care for these patients following chemoradiotherapy.
4. No CRS Seen in First 10 Patients in Teclistamab Pilot With Prophylactic Tocilizumab
In the pilot OPTec (NCT05972135) study, the first 10 patients with multiple myeloma who received a prophylactic dose of tocilizumab before teclistamab treatment did not experience cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). These promising results suggest that administering tocilizumab in community settings could prevent severe adverse events and expand access to teclistamab, a bispecific antibody targeting B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and CD3 on T-cells.
3. New FDA Approvals: ASCO Session Reviews Uses and Adverse Effects
When prescribing nirogacestat, marketed as Ogsiveo (Springworks Therapeutics), for desmoid tumors, doctors should anticipate managing common side effects like diarrhea, nausea, and fatigue, with the possibility of ovarian toxicity in women of childbearing potential. The drug is effective in improving PFS but requires monitoring for these adverse effects and fertility preservation counseling. For fruquintinib (Takeda Pharmaceuticals) in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), doctors can expect improvements in overall survival and PFS, though patients may experience hypertension, anemia, and hand-foot skin reactions.
2. MCED: Tests May Have a Role in Health Equity, but We’re Not There Yet
Multicancer early detection (MCED) tests, which could revolutionize cancer screening, remain largely underutilized, with most tests still in research phases or commercially available but not covered by insurance. While these tests offer potential for early detection, challenges such as cost, access, and the risk of false positives hinder widespread adoption, especially in underserved communities.
1. Telehealth Delivers Early Palliative Care as Effectively as In-Person Care
A large-scale study found that early palliative care delivered via telehealth offers equivalent quality-of-life outcomes compared with in-person care for patients with advanced NSCLC. The study highlighted the potential of telehealth to overcome barriers to accessing palliative care, though concerns about caregiver participation and disparities in virtual care adoption remain. These findings could inform future policies on the role and coverage of virtual care in oncology.
