Oncology On The Go

In a discussion with CancerNetwork®, Jacob Sands, MD, assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, thoracic oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and investigator of the phase 2 TROPION-Lung05 trial (NCT04484142) and phase 3 TROPION-Lung01 trial (NCT04656652), which supported the accelerated approval of datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk (dato-DXd; Datroway) in pretreated EGFR-mutant metastatic NSCLC in June 2025, discussed safety and efficacy considerations for the agent’s use.1-3 He began by outlining a combined cohort of the TROPION-Lung05 and TROPION-Lung01 trials, which collectively showed an efficacy benefit with dato-DXd in patients with EGFR-mutant disease vs docetaxel. In the combined cohort, the median progression-free survival with dato-DXd reached 5.8 months, and the median overall survival was 15.6 months. Additional efficacy data revealed an objective response rate of 45% (95% CI, 35%-54%) and a median duration of response of 6.5 months (95% CI, 4.2-8.4).  Furthermore, Sands highlighted the most common toxicities observed with dato-DXd in this population, which included stomatitis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and ocular toxicities. He also reviewed management strategies to mitigate their incidence and severity. Specifically, remedies include prophylaxis, oral hygiene, and dose reductions for stomatitis; using preservative-free eye drops and ophthalmology visits for ocular toxicity management and prevention; and monitoring for any incidence of high-grade ILD. He then touched upon next steps for research in this disease state, including the phase 2 ORCHARD trial (NCT03944772) evaluating dato-DXd with osimertinib (Tagrisso) in the second-line setting after progression on osimertinib and the phase 3 TROPION-Lung15 trial (NCT06417814), which is evaluating chemotherapy vs dato-DXd alone or with osimertinib.4,5 Sands concluded by discussing the implications for toxicity management in patients who experience responses that exceed median outcomes, suggesting that the toxicity profile may be more severe for this group. Emphasizing the broadness of outcomes with any drug, he expressed that patients with experiences that deviate from the observed median outcome are an important consideration for clinical practice. References Sands J, Ahn MJ, Lisberg A, et al. Datopotamab deruxtecan in advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with actionable genomic alterations: results from the phase II TROPION-Lung05 study. J Clin Oncol. Published online January 6, 2025. doi:10.1200/JCO-24-01349Ahn MJ, Tanaka K, Paz-Ares L, et al. Datopotamab deruxtecan versus docetaxel for previously treated advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: the randomized, open-label phase III TROPION-Lung01 study. J Clin Oncol. Published online September 9, 2024. doi:10.1200/JCO-24-01544 FDA grants accelerated approval to datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. News release. FDA. June 23, 2025. Accessed July 29, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/mtay7ab9 Yu HA, Goldberg SB, Le X, et al. Biomarker-directed phase II platform study in patients with EGFR sensitizing mutation-positive advanced/metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed on first-line osimertinib therapy (ORCHARD). Clin Lung Cancer. 2021;22(6):601-606. doi:10.1016/j.cllc.2021.06.006A study to investigate the efficacy and safety of dato-DXd with or without osimertinib compared with platinum based doublet chemotherapy in participants with EGFR-mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (TROPION-Lung15). ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated July 16, 2025. Accessed July 29, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/56z3dmsp

At the 2025 Kidney Cancer Research Summit hosted by KidneyCAN, CancerNetwork® spoke with a variety of leading experts about key developments in the research and management of kidney cancer. Throughout the meeting, presenters shared their findings related to updated clinical trial results, personalized cancer vaccines, potential biomarkers of interest, and other advancements in the field. Thomas Powles, MBBS, MCRP, MD, discussed outcomes from a quality-adjusted survival time without symptoms or toxicity (Q-TWiST) analysis of the phase 3 LITESPARK-005 trial (NCT04195750), in which investigators evaluated treatment with belzutifan (Welireg) vs everolimus (Afinitor) among patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Powles, a professor of genitourinary oncology, lead for Solid Tumor Research, and director of Barts Cancer Institute at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, Queen Mary University of London, stated that these data demonstrate how belzutifan is more active and better tolerated than everolimus in this patient population. David A. Braun, MD, PhD, assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine and member of the Center of Molecular and Cellular Oncology within the Yale Cancer Center, detailed his presentation on a personalized neoantigen cancer vaccine as a treatment for those with RCC. Based on his presentation, Braun highlighted how neoantigen vaccines may effectively yield T-cell responses in patients, illustrating a need for additional, larger studies to elucidate the clinical activity of this modality in an adjuvant setting. Additionally, Wenxin (Vincent) Xu, MD, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, spoke about his presentation on how kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) may serve as a prognostic biomarker of response to therapy in patients with RCC. His research posed questions on how KIM-1 can inform the use of adjuvant therapy or specific therapeutic combinations like nivolumab (Opdivo) plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) for this patient population. Eric Jonasch, MD, gave an overview of his presentation focused on the Kidney Cancer Research Consortium, a research partnership spanning 7 institutions dedicated to facilitating mechanistic, hypothesis-testing clinical trials in RCC. Jonasch, a professor in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology of the Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, described how this collaboration aims to link identifiable biological characteristics of RCC subtypes to specific treatment strategies while developing predictive biomarkers. KidneyCAN is a nonprofit organization with a mission to accelerate cures for kidney cancer through education, advocacy, and research funding. You can learn more about KidneyCAN’s work here: https://kidneycan.org/ References 1. Powles T, de Velasco G, Choueiri TK, et al. Quality-adjusted time without symptoms or toxicity (Q-TWiST) analysis of belzutifan versus everolimus in previously treated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC): LITESPARK-005 (LS-005). Presented at the 2025 Kidney Cancer Research Summit; July 17-18, 2025; Boston, MA. Abstract 13. 2. Braun DA. Personalized vaccines in kidney cancer: a journey from concept to clinic. Presented at the 2025 Kidney Cancer Research Summit; July 17-18, 2025; Boston, MA. 3. Xu W. From bench to bedside: advancing KIM-1 as a tool for clinical decision-making. Presented at the 2025 Kidney Cancer Research Summit; July 17-18, 2025; Boston, MA. 4. Jonasch E. Building the infrastructure for discovery: a clinical trial consortium to accelerate kidney cancer research. Presented at the 2025 Kidney Cancer Research Summit; July 17-18, 2025; Boston, MA.

In this episode, CancerNetwork® spoke with breast oncologists Heather McArthur, MD; Erika Hamilton, MD; Hope Rugo, MD; and Paolo Tarantino, MD, PhD, about advances in breast cancer. These developments included recent drug approvals and ongoing research for therapeutic approaches, particularly in the areas of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and CDK4/6 inhibitors, based on presentations they gave at the 25th Annual International Congress on the Future of Breast Cancer (IBC) East in New York City. Initially, McArthur, Komen Distinguished Chair in Clinical Breast Cancer Research at the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, discussed immunotherapy use in high-risk triple-negative and HER2-positive disease, the evolving role of adjuvant CDK4/6 inhibition in HER2-negative breast cancer, and potentially transformative advancements in early breast cancer treatment.  She highlighted the FDA approval for pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, promising clinical trials in estrogen receptor (ER)–positive high-risk early-stage breast cancer, and data from an investigator-initiated trial to treat HER2-positive disease. Additionally, she highlighted an 8.5% improvement in pathological complete response with pembrolizumab added to immunotherapy in the phase 3 KEYNOTE-756 trial (NCT03725059), adding that a further event-free survival benefit may complicate the landscape for CDK4/6 inhibition based on lung and liver toxicities associated with the coadministration of these inhibitors with immunotherapy.1 McArthur expressed further excitement for ADC-based combinations for triple-negative disease, as well as in the high-risk residual disease setting. In addition, she highlighted potential advancements in de-escalation strategies and further considerations for ADCs in the HER2-positive and hormone receptor (HR)–positive spaces. Then, Hamilton, director of Breast Cancer and Gynecologic Cancer Research at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, highlighted emerging therapies for early breast cancer, as well as her use of datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk (dato-DXd; Datroway) and fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd; Enhertu) given their recent approvals in various breast cancer subtypes. She also touched upon challenges with respect to the implementation of new therapies for early breast cancer into clinical practice. She initially highlighted new data from the phase 3 VERITAC-2 trial (NCT05654623) presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.2 Specifically, findings showed that vepdegestrant, an oral proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC), exhibited an efficacy advantage over fulvestrant (Faslodex) in patients with ESR1-mutant ER-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic disease. Moreover, she highlighted data from the phase 3 DESTINY-Breast09 (NCT04784715) of T-DXd in various combinations for patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.3 Hamilton further highlighted her implementation of T-DXd into clinical practice, citing her use of the agent in patients with metastatic disease, including those with HER2-low and HER2-ultralow breast cancer. She further differentiated dato-DXd from T-DXd, suggesting that they were different classes of drugs due to their different targets: TROP2 vs HER2. She concluded by highlighting an unmet need regarding sustained benefit from endocrine therapy in HR-positive disease, as well as for ADC sequencing and mechanisms of resistance. Afterward, Rugo, division chief of Breast Medical Oncology, Women’s Cancer Program Director, and professor in the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research at City of Hope, discussed efficacy and safety considerations for CDK4/6 inhibitors in early breast cancer treatment. Specifically, she highlighted their high tolerability despite adverse effects and costs associated with their use. Rugo further touched upon a reduction of recurrence rates associated with CDK4/6 inhibition, although longer-term follow-up data were warranted to optimize the duration of therapy and elucidate survival outcomes. Finally, Tarantino, a research fellow at the Dana-Farber Institute, concluded by discussing sequencing strategies for ADCs, as well as which breast cancer settings or patient populations will experience the greatest impact with this treatment modality. Tarantino discussed his use of the “sandwich strategy,” where he switches the mechanism of action of treatment after using a TOPO1 ADC. Furthermore, Tarantino highlighted data from the DESTINY-Breast09 and phase 3 ASCENT-04 (NCT06100874) trials, which displayed the enhanced efficacy of 2 ADC combination therapies.4 He concluded by discussing future considerations for combining multiple ADCs. References 1. Cardoso F, O'Shaughnessy J, Liu Z, et al. Pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in high-risk, early-stage, ER+/HER2- breast cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial. Nat Med. 2025;31(2):442-448. doi:10.1038/s41591-024-03415-7 2. Hamilton E, De Laurentiis M, Jhaveri K, et al. Vepdegestrant, a PROTAC estrogen receptor (ER) degrader, vs fulvestrant in ER-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–negative advanced breast cancer: results of the global, randomized, phase 3 VERITAC-2 study. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 17):LBA1000. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.17_suppl.LBA1000 3. Tolaney S, Jiang Z, Zhang Q, et al. Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) + pertuzumab (P) vs taxane + trastuzumab + pertuzumab (THP) for first-line (1L) treatment of patients (pts) with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive (HER2+) advanced/metastatic breast cancer (a/mBC): interim results from DESTINY-Breast09. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 17):LBA1008. 4. Tolaney SM, de Azambuja E, Kalinsky K, et al. Sacituzumab govitecan (SG) + pembrolizumab (pembro) vs chemotherapy (chemo) + pembro in previously untreated PD-L1–positive advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC): Primary results from the randomized phase 3 ASCENT-04/KEYNOTE-D19 study. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 17):LBA109. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.17_suppl.LBA109

Following the FDA approval of taletrectinib (Ibtrozi) for patients with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), CancerNetwork® spoke with Jorge Nieva, MD, about how this regulatory decision may impact the treatment paradigm for this disease. The approval was supported by findings from the phase 2 TRUST-I trial (NCT04395677) and the phase 2 TRUST-II trial (NCT04919811). The total efficacy population included 157 patients who had no prior treatment with a ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and 113 who were previously treated with a ROS1 TKI. Topline results showed an objective response rate (ORR) of 90% (95% CI, 83%-95%) in TRUST-I and 85% (95% CI, 73%-93%) in TRUST-II among patients who had no prior treatment. Of those with pretreated disease, the respective ORRs were 52% (95% CI, 39%-64%) and 62% (95% CI, 46%-75%) in each study population. According to Nieva, an associate professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, taletrectinib may offer advantages over other therapies in the ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC space based on its improved central nervous system (CNS) toxicity profile and “excellent” response and progression-free survival data. He stated that taletrectinib would become the go-to first-line agent in his practice. Additionally, he discussed strategies for mitigating toxicities related to taletrectinib such as nausea and diarrhea, and highlighted the need for additional research to improve immunotherapy options in NSCLC.  “I’m very happy that we have choices for patients, and I’m very happy that we have such a wide variety of drugs, but we still need to do better, and we need to find better ways of using these agents because they’re still not cures for the majority of patients,” Nieva stated. “While these drugs can be helpful at debulking tumors, we still need to do a lot more work [to do] on making this a disease of the past for those patients who have it.” Reference FDA approves taletrectinib for ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. News release. FDA. June 11, 2025. Accessed July 8, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/yc4f379m

The medical oncology board examinations are a pivotal time in a clinician's career. However, preparing for and taking this exam comes as a crucial moment when residents/fellows begin their transition to attending.  While in theory, the process of taking an exam and then beginning a new job sounds simple, it is quite complex. The hematology/oncology boards require rigorous preparation. The exam is followed by the new attending position, where clinicians, for the first time, are on their own, making treatment decisions and leading a team.  ONCOLOGY® spoke with leading clinicians as well as those who are just beginning their careers about this time, and how they handled studying while experiencing personal and professional changes. Eric K. Singhi, MD, assistant professor in the Department of General Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, and assistant professor in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, focused on: ·      His transition from fellow to attending (0:58) ·      Where students should focus their efforts on studying (2:11) ·      Advice he would give to those currently studying (2:47) Nicholas James Hornstein, MD, PhD, assistant professor at Northwell Health Cancer Institute, discussed:  ·      Studying for the boards while balancing a new career (3:18) ·      Specific study areas the exam focuses on (5:43) Marc J. Braunstein, MD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, fellowship program director in hematology/oncology at NYU Langone Health - Long Island, and codirector of the Hematology-Oncology System at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, highlighted: ·      How to prepare fellows for the career transition (7:11) ·      Advice he gives about this transition (8:17) Nerea M. Lopetegui-Lia, MD, assistant professor in the College of Medicine at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center-The James, spoke about: ·      Best review practices for the exam (9:01) ·      Advice she would give to those studying (10:15) MinhTri Nguyen, MD, a medical oncologist with Stanford Medicine, focused on:  ·      As a leadership coach, helping prepare residents/fellows for the career transition (11:36) ·      Advice he would give to those studying (14:34)

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Benjamin Golas, MD, spoke about the current treatment landscape for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, discussing how the use of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized chemotherapy (PIPAC) may offer improvements in clinical outcomes. Golas is the chief of Surgical Oncology of the Central Region for Hackensack Meridian Health. According to Golas, standard therapeutic approaches include combining cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which may cause collateral damage to healthy tissue while eliciting toxicities such as nausea, vomiting, and bone marrow suppression. Additionally, certain surgical procedures may last up to 14 hours and confer an extensive morbidity profile, thereby increasing complication rates. Golas described how PIPAC, a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique, may help avoid pain and other adverse effects associated with surgery while facilitating more direct delivery of chemotherapy in the peritoneal cavity. He noted that treatment with PIPAC typically takes 45 minutes to an hour, allowing some patients to return home on the same day of the procedure.  Although clinicians are still learning the correct indications for PIPAC, Golas stated that any patient with peritoneal carcinomatosis should be a candidate to receive treatment with this strategy. Furthermore, he described how the next steps for improving outcomes in this population include finding new ways to incorporate PIPAC into more extensive treatment plans for patients.  “PIPAC is a new treatment and a new potential option that doesn't replace systemic chemotherapy, but I do think it can work in conjunction with systemic chemotherapy. We can offer this bimodal approach where we're directly treating the peritoneal disease and offering [intravenous] chemotherapy,” Golas stated. “We clearly have a long way to go in terms of clinical trials and learning what the best ways are to use this. But there are patients out there who will benefit from that, so I think referral to a center that focuses and has expertise in PIPAC for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis is critical.”

In the wake of the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, CancerNetwork® put together an X Spaces discussion hosted by Stephen Liu, MD, and Joshua Sabari, MD, to highlight the most intriguing and practice-changing lung cancer abstracts. Discussed topics ranged from long-term follow-up with commonplace therapies to an analysis of what time of day is the best to administer immunochemotherapy.  Liu, an associate professor of Medicine at Georgetown University, and the director of Thoracic Oncology and head of Developmental Therapeutics at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Sabari, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and the director of High Reliability Organization Initiatives at the Perlmutter Cancer Center, shared expert insights on the latest non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) breakthroughs. Trials of note that they discussed included: The phase 3 DeLLphi-304 trial (NCT05740566) - Tarlatamab (Imdelltra) versus chemotherapy (CTx) as second-line (2L) treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC): primary analysis of Ph3 DeLLphi-304.1 The phase 3 IMforte trial (NCT05091567) - Lurbinectedin (Zepzelca; lurbi) + atezolizumab (Tecentriq; atezo) as first-line (1L) maintenance treatment (tx) in patients (pts) with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC): primary results of the phase 3 IMforte trial.2 The phase 3 CheckMate 816 trial (NCT02998528) - Overall survival with neoadjuvant nivolumab (Opdivo; NIVO) + chemotherapy (chemo) in patients with resectable NSCLC in CheckMate 816.3 The phase 3 PACIFIC15 trial (NCT05549037) - Randomized trial of relevance of time-of-day of immunochemotherapy for progression-free and overall survival in patients with non–small cell lung cancer.4 The phase 3 Beamion LUNG-1 trial (NCT04886804) - Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) evaluating physical functioning and symptoms in patients with pretreated HER2-mutant advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): results from the Beamion LUNG-1 trial.5 The phase 3 ARTEMIA trial (NCT06472245) - Phase 3 trial of the therapeutic cancer vaccine OSE2101 versus docetaxel in patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer and secondary resistance to immunotherapy. References Rudin C, Mountzios G, Sun L, et al. Tarlatamab versus chemotherapy (CTx) as second-line (2L) treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC): primary analysis of Ph3 DeLLphi-304. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 17):LBA8008. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.17_suppl.LBA8008Paz-Ares L, Borghaei H, Liu SV, et al. Lurbinectedin (lurbi) + atezolizumab (atezo) as first-line (1L) maintenance treatment (tx) in patients (pts) with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC): primary results of the phase 3 IMforte trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):8006. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.8006Forde PM, Spicer JD, Provencio M, et al. Overall survival with neoadjuvant nivolumab + chemotherapy in patients with resectable NSCLC in CheckMate 816. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 17):LBA8000. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.17_suppl.LBA8000Zhang Y, Huang Z, Zeng L, et al. Randomized trial of relevance of time-of-day of immunochemotherapy for progression-free and overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):8516. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.8516Sabari JK, Nadal E, Hendriks L, et al. Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) evaluating physical functioning and symptoms in patients with pretreated HER2-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): results from the Beamion LUNG-1 trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):8620. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.8620Liu SV, Guibert C, Tostivint EP, et al. Phase 3 trial of the therapeutic cancer vaccine OSE2101 versus docetaxel in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and secondary resistance to immunotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):TPS8651. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.TPS8651

In the third edition of a special podcast series, CancerNetwork® spoke with Daniel Morgensztern, MD; Mary Ellen Flanagan, NP; and Janelle Mann, PharmD, BCOP, about optimal strategies for incorporating different therapeutic agents into lung cancer care. As part of the latest discussion, the group highlighted the relevant efficacy data, administration protocols, and toxicity management considerations associated with TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Morgensztern is a professor of Medicine and the clinical director of Thoracic Oncology in the Division of Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Flanagan is a nurse practitioner in the Division of Thoracic Oncology at Washington University. Mann is a clinical oncology pharmacist at Siteman Cancer Center of Washington University School of Medicine and manager of Clinical Pharmacy Services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Morgensztern opened the discussion by highlighting the characteristics of prominent TROP2-targeting ADCs in NSCLC management, which included sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy), datopotamab deruxtecan-dlnk (Datroway), and sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT). Additionally, he reviewed data from clinical trials assessing these ADCs across different NSCLC populations, including the phase 3 EVOKE-01 trial (NCT05089734) showing a numerical overall survival (OS) improvement with sacituzumab govitecan vs docetaxel. Regarding the safety profiles of these ADCs, Flanagan described the unique toxicities associated with the agents’ payloads as well as potential off-target effects. On top of myelosuppression, fatigue, and diarrhea, she stated that these therapies may cause more visceral organ toxicities like keratitis of the eye and interstitial lung disease. According to Flanagan, some prophylactic measures in the event of certain toxicities include frequent salt and baking soda mouth rinses as well as oral dexamethasone.  Mann then outlined the dosing variability considerations and supportive care measures surrounding the use of agents like sacituzumab govitecan. She emphasized continuously re-educating patients about expected toxicities and supportive care strategies as they undergo these infusion-based therapies to help avoid surprise instances of ocular toxicity, diarrhea, and other adverse effects. Reference Paz-Ares LG, Juan-Vidal O, Mountzios GS, et al. Sacituzumab govitecan versus docetaxel for previously treated advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: the randomized, open-label phase III EVOKE-01 study. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(24):2860-2872. doi:10.1200/JCO.24.00733

CancerNetwork®, in collaboration with The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), organized an X Space hosted by Rahul Banerjee, MD, FACP; Taha Al-Juhaishi, MD; and Muhammad Salman Faisal, MD. This expert panel convened to discuss key presentations and abstracts of interest at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting featuring noteworthy developments in modalities like CAR T-cell therapy and transplantation across multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and other disease types. Banerjee is an assistant professor in the Clinical Research Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. Al-Juhaishi is the associate director of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program at Oklahoma University Health Stephenson Cancer Center and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Faisal is a hematologist/oncologist at Oklahoma University Health Stephenson Cancer Center and serves as an ambassador for ASCO. The group highlighted several late-breaking abstracts, plenary sessions, and poster presentations focused on significant clinical trial data and other findings across the hematologic oncology landscape. Topics of interest included the following: ·       Phase 1b/2 CARTITUDE-1 trial (NCT03548207, NCT05201781) o   Long-term follow-up showed that approximately one-third (33%; n = 32) of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma maintained progression-free status for at least 5 years following a single infusion of ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel; Carvykti).  o   An equal likelihood of progression-free survival occurred in patients with high-risk cytogenetics or extramedullary plasmacytomas. o   With a median follow-up of 61.3 months, the median overall survival (OS) with cilta-cel was 60.7 months (95% CI, 41.9-not evaluable [NE]). ·       Real-world axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; Yescarta) use o   Across inpatient and outpatient treatment settings, safety and efficacy outcomes were comparable for patients who received axi-cel for relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma. o   Multivariate analysis showed no associations between intended care setting and cytokine release syndrome or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. o   Investigators noted that these real-world data support the consideration of axi-cel in appropriate outpatient settings. ·       Phase 1b/2 NEXICART-2 trial (NCT06097832) o   Investigators assessed NXC-201, a sterically optimized CAR T construct, as a treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory light chain amyloidosis, a population with no FDA-approved options. o   Among 12 patients who received the agent at 450 x 106 cells, 100% achieved rapid and deep hematologic responses at a median time to first and best response of 7 and 26 days, respectively.  o   With a median follow-up of 121 days (range, 29-289), no hematologic relapses or progression had occurred. References 1. Voorhees P, Martin T, Lin Y, et al. Long-term (≥5 year) remission and survival after treatment with ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) in CARTITUDE-1 patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):7507. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.7507 2. Furqan F, Hemmer M, Tees M, et al. Trends and outcomes by inpatient and outpatient infusion of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) in the US for patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL). J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):7023. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.7023 3. Landau H, Hughes C, Rosenberg A, et al. Safety and efficacy data from Nexicart-2, the first US trial of CAR-T in R/R light chain (AL) amyloidosis, Nxc-201. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):7508. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.7508

In this episode, CancerNetwork® spoke with Eric Winer, MD,  director of the Yale Cancer Center; president and physician-in-chief at Smilow Cancer Hospital; deputy dean for cancer research, Alfred Gilman Professor of Pharmacology, and Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine; and chair of the association board for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), about the current state of oncologist burnout, steps that can be taken to ameliorate it, and how it currently impacts professionals in the field. Causes of workplace burnout that authors identified in a paper published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in January 2025 included the use of electronic health records, staffing levels, payer authorizations, hours worked, and age. Additionally, published results from the survey revealed a 14% increase in the rate of oncologists who experienced workplace burnout from 2013 to 2023 (P Winer began by defining workplace burnout, emphasizing that it is not exclusive to oncology, and that many oncologists resist burnout by focusing on the mission-driven nature of the work. Then, he speculated how oncologist burnout may have increased from 2013 to 2023, suggesting that it may have been related to a larger societal trend due to increased awareness of it. Furthermore, he suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic may have exacerbated fatigue, as well as the growing utilization of telehealth and documentation, which take oncologists away from personal engagement with patients. He then explored how the workforce might be impacted by burnout, highlighting a sizeable percentage of oncologists who claim to be nearing retirement age. Based on this trend, there may be a need for workforce expansion, as well as the need to embrace a more multidisciplinary approach to help oncologists deliver patient care. Winer concluded by outlining how he mitigates burnout personally, as well as his thoughts regarding how oncology has progressed since his career began. Reference Schenkel C, Levit LA, Kirkwood K, et al. State of professional well-being, satisfaction, and career plans among US oncologists in 2023. J Clin Oncol. Published online January 29, 2025. doi:10.1200/OA.24.00010

Ahead of the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, CancerNetwork® spoke with a variety of oncology experts about the late-breaking abstracts, plenary sessions, and other key presentations that may shift the paradigm across different cancer care fields. They highlighted anticipated clinical trial results that may transform the standard of care for gynecologic malignancies, lung cancer, and other disease types. Rachel N. Grisham, MD, section head of Ovarian Cancer and director of Gynecologic Medical Oncology at MSK Westchester of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, shared her anticipation of findings from the phase 3 ROSELLA trial (NCT05257408) assessing relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. She stated she was excited to see if the data may represent a new opportunity for this patient population. Next, MinhTri Nguyen, MD, a medical oncologist and hematologist at Stanford Health Care, highlighted a few breast cancer presentations to look out for. These topics included a plenary session on data from the phase 3 SERENA-6 study (NCT04964934) evaluating camizestrant in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors for those with hormone receptor–positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer harboring emergent ESR1 mutations. Additionally, Eric K. Singhi, MD, assistant professor in the Department of General Oncology in the Division of Cancer Medicine, and assistant professor in the Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, spoke about a range of potentially practice-changing results in the lung cancer field. For example, he described a session focused on primary results of the phase 3 IMforte trial (NCT05091567) assessing lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) plus atezolizumab (Tecentriq) for those with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). According to Singhi, data from IMforte may shift the paradigm of maintenance therapy for this SCLC population. In the world of head and neck cancer, Douglas R. Adkins, MD, associate professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Oncology, Section of Medical Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, highlighted the session on the phase 3 NIVOPOSTOP GORTEC 2018-01 trial (NCT03576417). Investigators of this study evaluated nivolumab (Opdivo) in combination with chemoradiotherapy for those with resected head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Adkins noted his excitement to see how these data may impact the standard of care, particularly for patients in Europe, where investigators conducted the study. As part of an Oncology Decoded discussion, Benjamin Garmezy, MD, the associate director of genitourinary research and executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners specializing in genitourinary cancers, discussed key abstracts in bladder cancer. One specific presentation included additional findings from the phase 3 NIAGARA trial (NCT03732677), which may show how circulating tumor DNA can influence treatment decision-making regarding perioperative durvalumab (Imfinzi) for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Viviana Cortiana, MS4, and Yan Leyfman, MD, spoke about their manuscript titled “Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Care: Addressing Challenges and Health Equity,” which they published in the April 2025 issue of ONCOLOGY®. Cortiana is a medical student in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna. Leyfman is a resident physician from the Icahn School of Medicine of the Mount Sinai Health System. Cortiana highlighted how artificial intelligence (AI)–based tools may mitigate the overdiagnosis of cancers, although she noted a need to validate these devices with diverse and high-quality datasets to avoid the risk of biased models. Additionally, she described how developing population-specific AI models may improve predictive accuracy in diagnosis as well as treatment planning, which can especially benefit patients in low- and middle-income countries. As part of ethically applying the use of AI to oncology and delivering equitable cancer care, Leyfman emphasized core pillars such as data security, transparency, clinical validation, and combatting algorithmic bias. Furthermore, he stated that potential applications of these tools include mobile diagnostics, cloud-based platforms, and remote consultation, which can help increase access to care. Regarding the potential next steps in the field, he highlighted that global partnerships with parties such as tech companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations may assist with the funding and deployment of AI tools, especially for underserved regions. “The future of AI in oncology is increasingly promising, not just in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in cancer care but also making sure that more precise and more accessible worldwide therapies are available,” Leyfman stated. “AI has the potential to fundamentally change how we detect, treat, and monitor [cancer], but realizing that promise, especially in a way that's equitable, will require collaboration, validation, thoughtful implementation, and a commitment to leaving no patient behind.”

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Viviana Cortiana, MS4, medical student in the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna, and Yan Leyfman, MD, a resident physician from the Icahn School of Medicine of the Mount Sinai Health System, discussed their publication in the March 2025 issue of ONCOLOGY titled “Expanding horizons in T-cell lymphoma therapy: a focus on personalized treatment strategies.” Throughout the discussion, the authors spoke about the current lymphoma landscape, CAR T-cell therapy, and the evolving understanding of the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, Cortiana covered a shift from histology-based classification to molecular tumor type classification using next-generation sequencing, as well as a growing interest in biomarker-driven therapies. Regarding the limited efficacy of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) in T-cell lymphoma, she listed potential advances in combination therapies for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), which include combining P13K and HDAC inhibition as well as CD30- and TRBC1-targeting CAR T-cell therapies. Furthermore, Leyfman discussed strategies that “reprogram” the microenvironment to address malignant T cells, particularly through epigenetic and adoptive cell therapies. Leyfman concluded by discussing future implications for T-cell lymphoma treatment, emphasizing an emergence of precision medicines and armored CAR engineering strategies. Authors of the manuscript published in ONCOLOGY outlined the available treatment options for peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), which include targeted therapies through EZH2 inhibition, chemotherapy with CHOP, CAR T-cell therapies, and allogenic stem cell transplantation. Additionally, they highlighted encouraging results from clinical trials evaluating epigenetic-targeted therapies through the identification of molecular aberrations, which can help tailor treatments to individual patients.  Furthermore, the article explored limitations of chemotherapy as well as autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), which may not be feasible for older patients or those with comorbidities. Authors suggested that targeted therapies may enhance tumor specificity while reducing systemic toxicity. Given the risks associated with ASCT, they emphaisized a focus on the incorporation of optimized treatment strategies, such as novel pharmaceuticals and combination therapies, into clinical practice for patients with PTCL.

In a special co-branded episode between Oncology On the Go hosted by CancerNetwork® and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT)’s program ASTCT Talks, Nora M. Gibson, MD, MSCE, and Taha Al-Juhaishi, MD, spoke about real-world applications of betibeglogene autotemcel (beti-cel; Zynteglo) as a treatment for patients with beta (β)-thalassemia. They spoke in the context of a study that Gibson presented at the 2025 Tandem Meetings, which evaluated patients who received commercial beti-cel in a single-center cohort following the agent’s FDA approval in August 2022. Nora is a fourth-year fellow in bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), with a background in clinical research and epidemiology. Al-Juhaishi is the Associate Director of the Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy Program at Oklahoma University Health Stephenson Cancer Center and an assistant professor of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Findings from Gibson’s study revealed that among 10 patients who underwent stem cell collection at CHOP from 2022 to 2024, beti-cel yielded consistent red blood cell transfusion independence, with investigators noting prolonged platelet engraftment time and high platelet transfusion requirements. Beyond these findings, the conversation focused on how beti-cel compares with other currently available gene therapies for patients with hemoglobin disorders as well as non-curative therapies like allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Gibson and Al-Juhaishi also discussed strategies for mitigating occlusive disease and other potential toxicities associated with beti-cel. “It's a really exciting time to be working in this field where we finally have really good options for these patients. From our experience and from clinical trials, beti-cel and likely exagamglogene autotemcel [Casgevy]...are very effective, curative therapies for thalassemia in the real-world setting, and we've seen very similar results in sickle cell disease,” said Gibson. “These therapies have been really life-changing for our patients, and they've had a huge reduction in their symptoms and a huge reduction in their burden of health care that's required.” References 1. Gibson NM, Friedman DF, Elgarten CW, et al. Post-approval, real-world experience with betibeglogene autotemcel for transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. 2025;31(2):S254. doi:10.1016/j.jtct.2025.01.386. 2. FDA approves first cell-based gene therapy to treat adult and pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia who require regular blood transfusions. News Release. FDA. August 17, 2022. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/3vrkk8kz

In an interview with CancerNetwork®, William Kennedy, MD, a neuro-radiation oncologist at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center, provided expert insights into the current state of radiosurgery for central nervous system (CNS) tumors. Highlighting a diverse array of available radiosurgery platforms, he explained that institutions like the Ivy Brain Tumor Center frequently use noninvasive surgical techniques with complex monitoring systems. Kennedy further underscored the critical importance of having a nuanced understanding of each technology's capabilities and limitations, as well as those of the practicing oncologist. Emphasizing a high patient volume and a wide variety of cases at his own practice, he suggested that the expertise of the staff at the Ivy Brain Tumor Center positions them at the forefront of radiosurgery development. According to Kennedy, novel therapeutic strategies under development at Ivy Brain Tumor Center include the investigational agent AZD1390, which is being assessed in combination with radiotherapy after surgery for patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastoma. Despite the benefits that technology provide for research advancement and treatment, Kennedy posited that the multidisciplinary team is essential in ensuring the successful delivery of novel radiosurgery techniques. This integrated approach ensures that each patient benefits from an individualized plan that leverages the full potential of modern radiosurgery. “[D]espite all the great technologies that we have here at Ivy, what I think makes this place great, what makes me proud to work here, and what means the most for our patients is how closely we providers communicate with each other and how closely knit of a team we are,” Kennedy stated. “Being available, showing up to the tumor board, always picking up the phone when your colleague calls to discuss a tough case, and never being afraid to ask for help—all those things I have learned since I have been in practice here. Those are what make the difference, more than anything.”

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Oluwadamilola “Lola” Fayanju, MD, MA, MPHS, FACS, discussed the key findings from a study she published in JAMA Network Open, which demonstrated that most patients with inflammatory breast cancer do not receive all available types of guideline-concordant care they are eligible for. Additionally, data showed disparities regarding receipt of modality-specific therapy among patients who were Black, Asian, Hispanic, or other racial minority populations. Based on these findings, Fayanju highlighted potential next steps for mitigating these gaps in care for certain patients with breast cancer. These strategies included revising stringent inclusion criteria for clinical trial enrollment, which may disproportionately exclude racial minority populations who have higher rates of diabetes or other medical conditions. Fayanju also emphasized educating clinicians across different oncology specialties to recognize how different populations present with inflammatory breast cancer and better understand the context in which patients receive treatment. “I hope [the study] makes some people angry…Frustration can be a wonderful fuel,” Fayanju stated regarding her research. “[By] recognizing that there isn't as much guideline-concordant care receipt amongst all people as there should be and the hope that's provided when we achieve concordant care, we can mitigate and eliminate racial disparities. I hope [that] will motivate people to think about how we can get more guideline-concordant care to more people and how we can incorporate diverse populations in the development of guidelines for concordant care at the beginning. Then, how can we also develop treatments that achieve efficacious results across diverse populations?” Fayanju is the Helen O. Dickens Presidential Associate Professor, chief in the Division of Breast Surgery at Penn Medicine, surgical director of Rena Rowan Breast Center, director of Health Equity Innovation at Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation (PC3I), and senior fellow at Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI), Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Reference Tadros A, Diskin B, Sevilimedu V, et al. Trends in guideline-concordant care for inflammatory breast cancer. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(2):e2454506. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.54506

The International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) deemed April 9th, 2025, the first-ever World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD). This day was meant to spread awareness of the importance of prioritizing psychosocial care for patients with all types of cancer as well as to honor Jimmie C. Holland, MD. Prior to WPOD, CancerNetwork® spoke with Cristiane Decat Bergerot, PhD, BS, MS, a psychologist and the head of supportive care at Grupo Oncoclinicas in Brazil, and a member of IPOS, about the importance of psychosocial care and the impact it has on patients with cancer. As stated by Bergerot and listed on the official IPOS website, the primary goals of WPOD are as follows: raise awareness, honor Jimmie Holland, engage stakeholders, promote action, and support fundraising efforts.1 These goals are geared towards paying homage to the history of psycho-oncology and pushing for a more advanced future. “We aim to empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals, fostering a future where psychosocial support is an integral part of oncology worldwide,” Bergerot said.  Psycho-oncology has become more prevalent as a cancer care field since Jimmie C. Holland, MD, worked to help found it in the 1970s. Holland, a “pioneer” of psycho-oncology, was the first ever Chief of Psychiatry Services—a department that was the first of its kind anywhere in the world—at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and a founding member of IPOS.  Bergerot stated that, in her work, she sees that patients who receive psychological support exhibit improved pain management and quality of life. Trials now focus more on end points such as quality of life and patient-reported outcomes, and guidelines have emerged to create standards of care. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology each offer guidelines that detail how to manage patient distress as they progress through cancer therapy.2,3 Distress screenings and earlier recommendations for palliative care have also become more standard in treatment.  As for the future, Bergerot highlighted that psychosocial care needs to be more integrated into care as a necessary, rather than optional, component. New developments around the world, however, have created a landscape where telehealth and new research demonstrate the potential to help psycho-oncology grow rapidly.  References 1.        World Psycho-Oncology Day (WPOD). IPOS. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/43c9rr2c 2.        Distress during cancer care. NCCN. 2024. Accessed April 2, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/ycxxvnmt 3.        Andersen BL, Lacchetti C, Ashing K, et al. Management of anxiety and depression in adult survivors of cancer: ASCO guideline update. J Clin Oncol. 2023;41(18):3426-3453. doi:10.1200/JCO.23.00293

CancerNetwork® visited Sibley Memorial Hospital of Johns Hopkins Medicine to speak with a variety of experts about therapeutic advancements and ongoing research initiatives across several different cancer fields. As part of each discussion, clinicians highlighted how collaboration across different departments has positively impacted treatment planning, decision-making, and outcomes at their institution. These experts included the following: ·      Rachit Kumar, MD, an assistant professor of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a radiation oncologist specializing in genitourinary and gastrointestinal cancers at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center for Sibley Memorial Hospital and Suburban Hospital; ·      Michael J. Pishvaian, MD, PhD, director of Gastrointestinal, Developmental Therapeutics, and Clinical Research Programs, and associate professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; ·      Nina Wagner-Johnston, MD, a professor of Oncology and the director of Lymphoma Drug Development at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University, director of Hematologic Malignancies National Capital Region, and co-director of Clinical Research for Hematologic Malignancies; ·      Valerie Lee, MD, an assistant professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital; ·      Armine Smith, MD, the director of urologic oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital, and an assistant clinical professor of Urology at the Brady Urological Institute of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; ·      Pouneh Razavi, MD, the director for Breast Imaging in the National Capital Region and an instructor in Radiology and Radiological Science; ·      and Curtiland Deville Jr., MD, medical director of the Johns Hopkins Proton Therapy Center and clinical director of Radiation Oncology at Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Sibley Memorial Hospital. Altogether, their insights demonstrated how multidisciplinary teamwork has improved outcomes ranging from patient survival to healthcare resource utilization across a wide range of diseases including breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, genitourinary cancer, hematologic malignancies, and others.

In a conversation with CancerNetwork®, Leticia Nogueira, PhD, MPH, highlighted the findings and implications of a study she published that evaluated how exposure to wildfires affected post-operative length of stay (LOS) among patients who were recovering from surgery for non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data from this study showed that patients who underwent curative-intent surgery at facilities exposed to a wildfire disaster experienced a longer LOS compared with similar patients who received treatment during times when no disasters occurred. According to data published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the LOS was 7.45 days (SE, 0.22) for patients treated at facilities without wildfire exposure vs 9.42 days (SE, 0.25) among those who underwent surgery at facilities with exposure (P P = .76). According to Nogueira, scientific director of Health Services Research at the American Cancer Society, future research may further assess whether a longer LOS may impact survival among this patient population. Additionally, other efforts may focus on determining strategies for protecting the health and safety of patients during a climate disaster.  Describing an “inescapability” of climate or environmental hazards across all populations, Nogueira emphasized the importance of collaboration among different medical and research institutions to improve disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies. These shared efforts may reduce the impact of wildfires and similar climate hazards across treatment facilities and patient populations. “We know that disasters are becoming more common. We know that their frequency, their intensity, and their behavior continue to change. The only way that we can figure out what’s going to work and what’s going to improve quality of care and patient outcomes is knowledge,” Nogueira stated. “Prioritizing this type of research and understanding that all of us are a patient at some point, that we are all eventually vulnerable, [is important].” Reference Nogueira LM, Yabroff KR, Yates E, Shultz JM, Valdez RB, Nori-Sarma A. Facility exposure to wildfire disasters and hospital length of stay following lung cancer surgery. JNCI. Published online March 11, 2025. doi:10.1093/jnci/djaf040

In the second edition of a special podcast series, CancerNetwork® spoke with Daniel Morgensztern, MD; Mary Ellen Flanagan, NP; and Janelle Mann, PharmD, BCOP, about the best practices for incorporating recently approved bispecific antibodies into cancer care. This discussion focused on clinical trial results, administration protocols, and adverse effect (AE) management strategies related to the use of tarlatamab-dlle (Imdelltra) for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Morgensztern is a professor of Medicine and the clinical director of Thoracic Oncology in the Division of Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Flanagan is a nurse practitioner in the Division of Thoracic Oncology at Washington University. Mann is a clinical oncology pharmacist at Siteman Cancer Center of Washington University School of Medicine and manager of Clinical Pharmacy Services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The conversation opened with Morgensztern highlighting tarlatamab’s mechanism of action as an agent that targets DLL3. He then reviewed prior efficacy data that the therapy demonstrated in the phase 1 DeLLphi-300 trial (NCT03319940) and the phase 2 DeLLphi-301 trial (NCT05060016). Of note, the FDA approved tarlatamab as the first available T-cell engager immunotherapy for patients with extensive-stage SCLC who have progressed on prior platinum-containing chemotherapy in May 2024 based on data from the DeLLphi-301 trial. Additionally, Flanagan detailed strategies for monitoring and mitigating the most common AEs associated with tarlatamab in this patient population, which include cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome. Mann then outlined considerations for properly dosing and administering the agent, highlighting factors that clinicians should keep in mind when continuing treatment in an inpatient or outpatient setting. The group also spoke about clinical decision-making related to patients who have brain metastases, which included processes for adjusting the dose of tarlatamab and sequencing the bispecific agent with radiotherapy. Reference FDA grants accelerated approval to tarlatamab-dlle for extensive stage small cell lung cancer. News release. FDA. May 16, 2024. Accessed March 14, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/48k34rw5