CRI’s Insights for ASCO 2015

In just two weeks, more than 35,000 oncology professionals from around the world will meet in Chicago, IL, for the 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). There, the latest ground-breaking research on state-of-the-art treatment modalities, new therapies, and ongoing controversies in the field will be presented, and the Cancer Research Institute predicts cancer immunotherapy will be in the forefront yet again this year.

Here are some of what our experts say are the hot topics you should watch out for:

Abstract #LBA109

Phase III, randomized trial (CheckMate 057) of nivolumab (NIVO) versus docetaxel (DOC) in advanced non-squamous cell (non-SQ) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

“The recent FDA approval of nivolumab for squamous lung cancer based on a compelling survival benefit over docetaxel was a major step forward for immu- notherapy and for lung cancer. Our hope is that this benefit may extend to non-squamous lung cancer as well based on data from CheckMate 057.”

Naiyer A. Rizvi, MD
Director, Thoracic Oncology and
Immunotherapeutics in Medical Oncology
New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center
CRI Expert Reviewer for Lung Cancer

ABSTRACT #LBA1

Efficacy and safety results from a phase III trial of nivolumab (NIVO) alone or combined with ipilimumab (IPI) versus IPI alone in treatment-naive patients (pts) with advanced melanoma (MEL) (CheckMate 067)

“There’s lots of interest right now in combination approaches to treat cancer, with the ipi + nivo combo providing some of the best evidence in support of the approach. It will be exciting to see the results of this important phase III trial.”

Antoni Ribas, MD, PhD
Director, Tumor Immunology Program
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of California, Los Angeles
Co-Leader, CRI-SU2C Dream Team

ABSTRACT #TPS3099

A phase I study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of MEDI4736, an anti-programmed cell death- ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody, in combination with tremelimumab in patients with advanced solid tumors

“The great potential of combination immunotherapies has already been shown in advanced melanoma. This early trial, funded by the Cancer Research Institute, is one of the first to test a combination of checkpoint inhibitors in other cancer types and represents an important step in making combination immunotherapies available for a broad range of cancers.”

James P. Allison, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Immunology
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Director, Scientific Advisory Council, Cancer Research Institute
Co-Leader, CRI-SU2C Dream Team

To see what other CRI experts are saying, download our media alert and be sure to check back here on May 29 – June 2 for our daily recaps.