MELANOMA

During ASCO 2024, BMS released the results of the NADINA trial showingneoadjuvant immunotherapy (nivolumab + ipilimumab) followed by responseguided adjuvant therapy significantly reduced recurrence and clinical events compared to adjuvant therapy alone in resectable stage 3 melanoma. Theneoadjuvant strategy resulted in a 68% improvement in event-free survival, with60% of patients achieving a major pathologic response.

PANCREATIC CANCER

The phase 1b/2 OPTIMIZE-1 study, conducted by Alligator Bioscience, released positive results at ASCO for the combination of the investigational CD40 agonistmitazalimab with modified FOLFIRINOX in previouslyuntreated metastatic pancreatic ductaladenocarcinoma. The study met its primary endpoint with a confirmed overall response rate of 40.4%, which was higher than historical controls. The "priming" dose of mitazalimab before chemotherapy, followed by a second dose after, also presented a unique sequencing approach for the combination of immuno- andchemotherapies.

CARCINOMA

BMS presented at ASCO 2024 to release the results of another trial for their dual immunotherapy, the Phase 3CheckMate-9DW trial, which demonstrated that the combination of Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy(ipilimumab) significantly improved overall survival compared to lenvatinib or sorafenib as first-line treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC). The combination showed a median overall survival of23.7 months versus 20.6 months for the control group,and more than doubled the objective response rate(36% vs 13%).

PROSTATE CANCER

J& J presented the results of the first-in-human study of JNJ-6420, a new radioligand therapy targeting hK2, at ASCO, and showed promising efficacy in treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer(mCRPC). The therapy demonstrated deep and lastingresponses after just 1-2 doses, with an objective response rate of 18% and a confirmed PSA50 response of 44% at the 250 μCi dose level. However, the study also revealed some negative safety considerations,particularly interstitial lung disease (ILD) andthrombocytopenia at higher cumulative doses.

CARCINOMA

The retrospective analysis of the IMmotion010 trial presented by Roche at ASCO 2024 suggests that KIM1 levels may serve as a promising biomarker in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). High KIM-1 levels correlatedwith beneficial effects of atezolizumab in the study,indicating its potential as a clinical tool for guidingadjuvant therapy in RCC. While the trial showed no significant overall difference in disease-free survival between adjuvant atezolizumab and placebo, patients with high baseline KIM-1 levels showed improved disease-free survival with atezolizumab.

MULTIPLE MYELOMA

The results of the DREAMM-8 phase 3 trial, presented by GSK at ASCO, showed that Blenrep (belantamabmafodotin) in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone significantly improved progression-free survival compared to a standard of care combination in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients. TheBlenrep combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by nearly 50%, with median PFS not reached at 21.8 months at follow-up versus 12.7months for the standard combination.