Orange County Newsroom

June 2, 2026

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting showcased significant cancer treatment advancements. Discussions included a 'bispecific vs. ADC clash' in non-small cell lung cancer, where City of Hope's Krushangi Patel, M.D.,emphasized that ADC toxicities are manageable with proactive planning. Other highlights were the 'RAS revolution' in pancreatic cancer, led by Revolution Medicines' daraxonrasib and a potential paradigm shift in prostate cancer treatment with Johnson & Johnson's Erleada, which reduced disease progression risk.

May 31, 2026

A new cancer immunotherapy, ivonescimab, extended the lives of lung cancer patients in a closely watched trial presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting. The drug, developed by Akeso and Summit Therapeutics, showed a 34% relative risk reduction in death, with recipients living a median of 28 months versus 24 months for the control group. John Heymach, chair of thoracic and head and neck cancer care at MD Anderson Cancer Center, highlighted the drug's improved progression-free and overall survival with minimal additional toxicity. City of Hope's Lee Hong, M.D., Ph.D., noted that extending survival with an initial medication opens doors for subsequent therapies.