Caroline Seymour

Experts recap of the most pivotal lung cancer data to surface at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting.

Key Takeaways Primary OS end point was missed; HRs were 1.19 for lurbinectedin monotherapy and 0.90 for lurbinectedin–irinotecan versus topotecan/irinotecan. Control arm achieved median OS 10.7 months, comparable to 10.9 months with combination and exceeding 8.7 months with monotherapy. Subgroup analysis suggested CNS metastases adversely affected lurbinectedin monotherapy (HR 1.79), whereas the combination showed no clear advantage over control in CNS-positive or -negative cohorts. Treatment-related AEs were frequent; grade ≥3 events occurred in 35.0% with monotherapy, 62.6% with combination, and 64.4% with investigator's choice, without new signals. SHOW MORE

ASCO 2026 highlights show dostarlimab may deliver curative potential in dMMR endometrial cancer, while novel ADCs and fasting reshape ovarian care.

Key Points on CDK2 Inhibition and the MAESTRA-1 Trial in PROC Cyclin E1 is a negative prognostic factor that can be targeted by inhibiting the CDK2 pathway.

Key Takeaways Confirmed responses included 2.70% complete responses and 30.19% partial responses, with stable disease in 49.06% and durable target lesion reductions in most treated patients. Post-immunotherapy activity remained clinically meaningful, with 29.03% ORR (all partial responses), 77.42% DCR, 4.0-month median PFS, and overall survival not reached. Eligibility required Nectin-4 positivity by IHC and ECOG 0–1 after progression on platinum ± bevacizumab, with no more than two prior systemic lines allowed. Safety was ADC-class consistent but intensive, with grade ≥3 TRAEs in 70.91% and frequent dose interruptions, driven mainly by leukopenia, anemia, and neutropenia. A first-in-setting phase 3 confirmatory trial (NCT06692166) is underway, comparing bulumtatug fuvedotin against physician's choice chemotherapy in recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer. SHOW MORE

PFS was improved only numerically with the use of maintenance dostarlimab vs observation after chemoradiation in high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer.

OS was not improved with sigvotatug vedotin vs docetaxel in patients with pretreated, locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC.

Key Points From Sondak on CSCC Risk and Immunotherapy The NCCN risk classification system uniquely incorporates patient immune status alongside tumor features, making it Sondak's preferred framework for CSCC.

Key Takeaways FDA accepted a class 1 BLA resubmission for RP1 plus nivolumab in advanced melanoma, setting an August 2, 2026, goal date and notifying Replimune of a late-July advisory committee. IGNYTE enrolled unresectable stage IIIB–IV cutaneous melanoma with progression after ≥8 weeks of anti–PD-1 therapy, requiring measurable disease and ≥1 injectable ≥1 cm lesion; prior oncolytic therapy was excluded. Treatment used intratumoral RP1 (1×10⁶ then 1×10⁷ PFU/mL every 2 weeks) with nivolumab initiated cycle 2 (240 mg q2w then 480 mg q4w), with ORR as primary endpoint. Efficacy showed ORR ~33% in anti–PD-1–failed patients, median DOR up to 33.7 months, and 3-year OS 47.8% overall but 83.5% in responders, across key subgroups. Safety was consistent with oncolytic virus plus checkpoint inhibition, with grade 3/4 TRAEs 12.9% and rare grade 4 events including CRS and myocarditis, and no treatment-related deaths. SHOW MORE