In the annual Research Round Up series, members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) answer the question, “What was the most exciting or practice-changing research in your field presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting?” In this episode, 3 experts discuss new research from the meeting on multiple myeloma, breast cancer, and cancer in people age 60 or older.
Listen below, and subscribe to Cancer.Net Podcasts wherever you listen to podcasts for new episodes in this series.
New research in treating multiple myeloma
Dr. Sagar Lonial, the 2022 Cancer.Net Associate Editor for Myeloma, discusses the phase 3 DETERMINATION clinical trial, which was studying whether including an autologous bone marrow/stem cell transplant early in the treatment plan for younger people with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma delayed cancer growth or spread. [1:44]
Advances in treating breast cancer
Dr. Norah Lynn Henry, the 2022 Cancer.Net Associate Editor for Breast Cancer, breaks down 4 studies in breast cancer. First, she discusses 2 studies in advanced breast cancer. The first study, which was the phase 3 DESTINY-04 clinical trial, was evaluating whether the targeted therapy drug trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) could delay cancer growth or spread in people with metastatic HER2-low breast cancer and help them live longer. [9:13] Next, Dr. Henry discusses the phase 3 TROPiCS-02 clinical trial, which was studying whether the targeted therapy drug sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy) delayed cancer growth for longer than standard chemotherapy in people with advanced hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer whose cancer had grown despite previous treatments. [11:05]
Dr. Henry then discusses 2 studies in early-stage breast cancer, starting with the phase 3 LUMINA clinical trial. This study was evaluating whether some people with low-grade luminal A breast cancer could avoid radiation therapy after surgery without it impacting their risk of recurrence. [12:40] Finally, Dr. Henry provides an update from the phase 3 ABCSG-18 clinical trial, which was studying whether the bone modifying drug denosumab (Prolia, Xgeva) could help postmenopausal people with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who were receiving aromatase inhibitor therapy avoid bone fracture and recurrence. [14:14]
Progress in treating people age 60 or older with cancer
Dr. Shakira Grant, an assistant professor in hematology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who specializes in the care of older adults, discusses 3 studies in the treatment of people age 60 or older with cancer. First, she discusses the results from a registry study exploring whether living in a rural area increased impairment, such as reduced physical function and quality of life, among people age 60 or older with cancer and impacted their overall survival. [17:24] Next, Dr. Grant discusses a study using a frailty measurement based on information in patients’ electronic health records to obtain insights about how the frailty level of people with cancer over the age of 65 can affect their overall survival. [21:15] Finally, Dr. Grant discusses the phase 3 ASTER 70s clinical trial, which was studying whether patients older than 70 with estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer gained benefits from chemotherapy added to hormone therapy. [26:10]
Disclosure information for Dr. Lonial and Dr. Henry can be found in their individual biographies, which are linked to in the paragraphs above. Dr. Grant has no relevant relationships to disclose.
Was this podcast useful? Please subscribe, rate, and review Cancer.Net Podcasts wherever you listen to podcasts. This prerecorded podcast can be listened to online or downloaded to your computer. A transcript is also available. For more information, visit the Cancer.Net podcast page.
Cancer.Net podcasts are edited for length and content.
