World-renowned physicians and researchers from City of Hope®, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, delivered 64 presentations — including oral abstracts, rapid oral abstracts, clinical science symposiums and education discussions — at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology® (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago. Some highlights are described below.
2024 Best of ASCO Program: New Data on Mismatched Unrelated Donor Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
| Monzr M. Al Malki, M.D., City of Hope hematologist-oncologist, co-led a multicenter Phase 2 trial (NCT04904588) sponsored by the National Marrow Donor Program and conducted via the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research that demonstrates encouraging overall survival (OS) one year after older patients with advanced blood cancers received HLA-mismatched unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. |
While the 13-site ongoing trial includes adults and children, the interim analysis presented as an oral abstract presentation at ASCO evaluated the first 70 older adult patients with advanced blood cancers who received this type of transplant and underwent both reduced intensity conditioning and post-transplant cyclophosphamide. OS at year one post-stem cell transplant was 79%. Rates of graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) and other complications were comparable to those of recipients who received HLA-matched donor stem cells, suggesting HLA-mismatched unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation may one day be used more widely, expanding access to the lifesaving therapy.
Late-Breaking Data: OS in the Phase 3 CodeBreaK 300 Trial in KRAS G12C-mutated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
CodeBreaK 300 was the first Phase 3 clinical trial to show a benefit over standard of care in patients with relapsed/refractory KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer. In this trial, combination treatment with the KRAS G12C inhibitor sotorasib and the monoclonal antibody panitumumab resulted in superior progression-free survival rates compared with standard of care in patients whose cancer had progressed after receiving standard chemotherapy.
| In a late-breaking abstract, City of Hope medical oncologist Marwan G. Fakih, M.D. presented OS data from this important study. The study was not powered to detect a statistical difference in OS due to the small study population size because of the low prevalence of KRAS G12C-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer. However, Dr. Fakih and colleagues did observe a trend toward improved OS with sotorasib plus panitumumab compared with standard of care. |
Bispecific Antibody Monotherapy Demonstrates Sustained Response Rates in Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma
In an updated efficacy and safety analysis of a Phase 1/2 trial (NCT03075696) of fixed-duration treatment with the bispecific antibody glofitamab, compelling response rates continue to be observed among a group of mantle cell lymphoma patients who have nearly exhausted approved treatment options due to aggressive disease.
The researchers evaluated close to 60 participants who had received two or more previous treatments — the majority of whom had stopped responding to treatment before they enrolled in this study. Patients received about 7.4 months of glofitamab. Landmark analyses indicated that most patients with a complete response at the end of treatment were alive without disease progression 15 months after the end of treatment. The median duration of complete response was 12.6 months, and median progression-free survival was 8.6 months.
| “People with mantle cell lymphoma have a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is currently incurable, so it is encouraging to see people who were told by others that there is not much more to be done live months and even years longer with this treatment,” said Tycel Phillips, M.D., City of Hope hematologist-oncologist and presenting author. “We at City of Hope continuously develop leading-edge treatments for people diagnosed with lymphoma and other blood cancers.”
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Early Safety and Clinical Efficacy Data for a New Oral Monotherapy, DFF332, in Advanced Kidney Cancer
In an ongoing first-in-human Phase 1/1b multicenter trial (CDFF332A12101, NCT04895748) in patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and at least one line of prior therapy, targeted therapy with the oral hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α inhibitor DFF332 demonstrated evidence of clinical activity with manageable side effects.
| Sumanta “Monty” Pal, M.D., a City of Hope medical oncologist, shared preliminary data on 40 patients. At data cutoff, 18 patients continued to be treated, while 19 patients (48%) stopped receiving the treatment due to disease progression, and three patients discontinued based on their physician’s decision. |
The most common side effects were fatigue (33%), anemia (30%), increased blood cholesterol and constipation (15%). No grade 4 treatment-related adverse events have been observed so far. At cutoff, 18 patients (45%) had stable disease and two patients (5%) achieved partial response. “While the study is still in process, so far, we have seen a promising safety profile for monotherapy DFF332 with indications of clinical activity,” Dr. Pal said.
Telehealth Interventions for Older Adults With Cancer That Could Improve Quality of Life
A study at City of Hope Antelope Valley found that telehealth can be leveraged to offer older adults living in high-poverty, lower-resourced communities with a specialized evaluation developed at City of Hope called a geriatric assessment, which identifies supportive care services older adults with cancer need to manage vulnerabilities, better define care goals and improve quality of life.
“In my experience, if you don’t do a geriatric assessment, the patient pays for it later,” said Tanyanika Phillips, M.D., M.P.H., presenting author and City of Hope medical oncologist and hematologist in Antelope Valley, California. Dr. Phillips noted that if care is prescribed without accurate health information, the result could be serious side effects or even hospitalization, which could lead not only to more costly care but also cancer treatment outcomes that are not the best for patients.
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A randomized trial at a Brazilian cancer center and under the guidance of City of Hope’s internationally renowned cancer and aging expert William Dale, M.D., Ph.D., found that older adults with metastatic cancer reported experiencing significant improvements in the performance of daily activities, emotional well-being and quality of life after receiving a telehealth-based geriatric assessment (GA) that resulted in supportive care interventions. This data extends City of Hope’s prior work in GA-guided supportive care beyond the borders of the United States.
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Dr. Dale, City of Hope’s George Tsai Family Chair in Geriatric Oncology and director of City of Hope’s Center for Cancer and Aging, received this year’s B.J. Kennedy Geriatric Oncology Award, which honors geriatric oncologists who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and achievement in the field of geriatric oncology.
First Update of ASCO Palliative Care Guideline Since 2016
Also of note, Betty Ferrell, Ph.D., M.S.N., CHPN, director and professor in the Division of Nursing Research and Education, Department of Population Sciences, is senior author of ASCO’s new guideline, “Palliative Care for Patients With Cancer: ASCO Guideline Clinical Insights.” In this first update in eight years, Ferrell provides recommendations reflecting new evidence published since the 2016 guideline, addresses new research questions and further clarifies the role of palliative care in oncology. Specifically, she recommends that oncology clinicians refer patients with advanced solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, as well as patients in clinical trials, to specialized interdisciplinary palliative care teams that provide inpatient and outpatient care early in the course of disease alongside active cancer treatment.
| “The ASCO palliative care guidelines represent the commitment of City of Hope and other cancer centers to provide leading-edge cancer treatment while also providing the best support for patients and families,” Ferrell said. |
Dr. Ferrell is a pioneer in the field of pain management, quality of life and palliative care. A member of the National Academy of Medicine, she is principal investigator of the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium project, which launched in 2000 to provide evidence-based training in palliative care for nurses and other clinicians. To date, the project has taught 1.4 million clinicians in all 50 states as well as 114 countries.
About City of Hope
City of Hope’s mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center at its core, City of Hope brings a uniquely integrated model to patients spanning cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and innovation initiatives. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. City of Hope’s affiliated group of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHopeTM.