ESMO Virtual Congress 2020

Complete Coverage

Cannabinoid Receptor CB2 Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in NSCLC

Overexpression of cannabinoid receptor CB2 may be a prognostic biomarker for NSCLC adenocarcinomas.

First-Line Nivolumab Plus Chemotherapy Improves Survival in Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction, and Esophageal Cancers

Nivolumab plus chemotherapy prolonged survival of patients with advanced gastric, gastroesophageal junction, and esophageal cancers compared with chemotherapy.

Promising Findings for Palbociclib Plus Fulvestrant in the Frontline Setting for HR-Positive, HER2-Negative MBC

Currently, fulvestrant plus palbociclib is approved by the FDA in the metastatic breast cancer setting only following disease progression on endocrine therapy.

Opposition to a European Patent for CAR-T Therapy: A Mechanism to Control High Drug Prices?

The nongovernmental organizations argued that patents for this CAR-T should never have been granted in the first place because the underlying technology is not novel.

Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy Prolonged Survival in Esophageal or EGJ Cancers

First-line pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy prolonged survival among patients with advanced esophageal or esophagogastric junction cancer.

Tracking Symptoms and Outcomes in Real-World Patients Exhibiting Rheumatic irAEs

Different patterns of rheumatic symptoms were observed in patients with rheumatic irAEs.

Disparities in Access to Clinical Trials in Europe

A new study examines the differences in access to novel therapies for European patients with cancer compared with patients in other geographic regions.

Addition of a CDK4/6 Inhibitor to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Improves Outcomes in HR+, HER2-, High-Risk Early Breast Cancer

This phase 3 study compared endocrine therapy with or without abemaciclib in patients with high-risk, early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

Two-Drug Combo Superior to Sunitinib as First-Line Therapy for Advanced RCC

Compared with sunitinib alone, nivolumab plus cabozantinib therapy was associated with a 49% decreased risk for progression and 40% decreased risk for death.

Radiologic PFS Benefit Observed for Addition of AKT Inhibitor to Abiraterone in Metastatic CRPC

Loss of the tumor suppressor PTEN, a negative prognostic factor in metastatic CRPC, is associated with dysregulation of the PI3K–AKT–mTOR pathway.

Risk Factors for Poor Prognosis in Patients With Cancer and COVID-19

Data from the CCC19 registry were evaluated to uncover risk factors associated with increased 30-day mortality in patients with cancer infected with COVID-19.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Access to Telehealth Visits: Results From the COVID-19 and Cancer Outcomes Study

Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to have COVID-19 but less likely to have an increase in telehealth visits.

Pembrolizumab May Improve Outcomes in Some Rare Sarcomas

Treatment of some types of rare sarcomas with pembrolizumab resulted in durable clinical benefit for some patients. Partial response rates were highest in alveolar soft-part sarcoma.

No Benefit for Addition of Palbociclib to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Early HR-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

There was no benefit to adding palbociclib to adjuvant endocrine therapy for treatment of early HR+, HER2- breast cancer vs endocrine therapy alone, according to a results from PALLAS.

Durvalumab-Tremelimumab Plus Chemotherapy Failed to Improve Survival in Pancreatic Cancer Subtype

Durvalumab plus tremelimumab added to chemotherapy did not improve survival or response in metastatic pancreatic cancer, according to results of a phase 2 trial.

Neoadjuvant Atezolizumab Plus Chemotherapy Improves pCR in TNBC

Neoadjuvant atezolizumab plus standard-of-care chemotherapy improved the pCR rate among women with early TNBC, regardless of PD-L1 positivity.

First-Line Lorlatinib vs Crizotinib in ALK-Positive Advanced NSCLC

This was a planned interim analysis of a phase 3 study comparing lorlatinib and crizotinib as a frontline treatment for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC.

Osimertinib Found to Reduce Risk of CNS Recurrence in Resected EGFRm NSCLC

Analysis suggests osimertinib lowers the risk of CNS recurrence in patients with completely resected EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Affecting the Well-Being of Oncologists

Many oncologists across the world are experiencing decreased feelings of well-being and increased burnout as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Timing and Type of Prior Cancer Therapy May Influence Mortality in Patients With Cancer Diagnosed With COVID-19

“Immunotherapy-alone [patients] had similar rates of death compared with those not on treatment within the past year,” Dr Wise-Draper emphasized.