ASCO 2021: Abstract Recommendations From Dr. David Henry

Oral Abstact Session: Gastrointestinal Cancer—Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary
Saturday, June 5, 2021;1:45 PM– 4:45 PM EDT

4003 Adjuvant nivolumab (NIVO) in resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer (EC/GEJC) following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT): Expanded efficacy and safety analyses from CheckMate 577. RJ Kelly, JA Ajani, J Kuzdzal, et al

Take-Home Message

• This analysis looks further at the efficacy, safety, and quality-of-life data from the CheckMate 577 study. The 794 patients included had stage II/III esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer (EC/GEJC) with residual disease following resection and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. They were randomized to either adjuvant nivolumab or placebo. Use of nivolumab versus placebo resulted in decreased distant (29% vs 39%) and locoregional (12% vs 17%) recurrence and longer disease-free survival (4 vs 11.0 months).

• These data provide additional support for the use of adjuvant nivolumab as a new standard of care for patients with EC/GEJC who have residual disease following resection and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Oral Abstract Session: Breast Cancer—Local/Regional/Adjuvant
Sunday, June 6, 2021; 8:00 AM–11:00 AM EDT

506 Durvalumab improves long-term outcome in TNBC: results from the phase II randomized GeparNUEVO study investigating neodjuvant durvalumab in addition to an anthracycline/taxane based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). S Loibl, A Schneeweiss, JB Huober, et al

Take-Home Message

• The GeparNeuvo study was designed to examine the benefits of adding durvalumab to preoperative chemotherapy in early-stage A total of 174 patients with cT1b-cT4a-d tumors and centrally confirmed TNBC were randomized to receive either durvalumab or placebo monotherapy for 2 weeks, followed by the addition of nab-paclitaxel weekly for 12 weeks and then durvalumab/placebo plus epirubicin/cyclophosphamide every 2 weeks for four cycles.

• The 3-year invasive disease–free survival with durvalumab was 84.9% versus 76.9% with placebo, and 3-year overall survival with durvalumab was 95.1% versus 83.1% with placebo. Durvalumab appears to improve long-term outcomes in patients with TNBC. 

Oral Abstract Session: Gynecologic Cancer
Monday, June 7, 2021; 8:00 AM–11:00 AM EDT

5501 Optimal treatment duration of bevacizumab (BEV) combined with carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients (pts) with primary epithelial ovarian (EOC), fallopian tube (FTC) or peritoneal cancer (PPC): A multicenter open-label randomized 2-arm phase 3 ENGOT/GCIG trial of the AGO Study Group, GINECO, and NSGO (AGO-OVAR 17/BOOST, GINECO OV118, ENGOT Ov-15, NCT01462890). J Pfisterer, F Joly, G Kristensen, et al

Take-Home Message

• The authors present the primary results from a multicenter, open-label, randomized phase III trial designed to determine the optimal duration of bevacizumab treatment in patients with FIGO stage IIB–IV ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer. Patients received primary cytoreductive surgery and subsequent chemotherapy (paclitaxel + carboplatin) and bevacizumab, with the bevacizumab duration being either 15 months (standard arm, n = 464) or 30 months (experimental arm, n = 463). The primary endpoint was PFS.

• Median PFS was 24.2 months in the standard arm and 26.0 months in the experimental arm. Median OS was 54.3 months in the standard arm and 60.0 in the experimental arm. The authors concluded that giving bevacizumab up to 30 months did not improve PFS or OS in these patients; therefore, 15 months of bevacizumab treatment remains the standard of care.

Oral Abstract Session: Gastrointestinal Cancer—Colorectal and Anal
Monday, June 7, 2021; 1:15 PM–4:15 PM EDT

3504 Oral maintenance capecitabine versus active monitoring for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who are stable or responding after 16 weeks of first-line treatment: Results from the randomized FOCUS4-N trial. R Adams, D Fisher, J Graham, et al

Take-Home Message

• The FOCUS4-N study examined oral capecitabine (Cp) versus active monitoring treatment breaks (AM) in 254 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who responded or remained stable after 16 weeks of first-line treatment. The overall median survival rate remained unchanged in the Cp cohort (13.9 months) versus the AM cohort (13.3 months).

• Maintenance Cp therapy in mCRC patients who responded or remained stable after 16 weeks of first-line treatment may not be necessary.