Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group

Joseph A. Sparano, MD, FACP, driven by personal experience with cancer, has made significant contributions to breast cancer and HIV-associated cancer research. His pivotal TAILORx trial transformed breast cancer treatment, sparing many from unnecessary chemotherapy. Sparano also focuses on reducing racial disparities in cancer care and advancing treatment for HIV-associated cancers.

Adding neoadjuvant and adjuvant pembrolizumab to standard chemotherapy improved overall survival in early-stage TNBC patients. Adverse events were more common but consistent with pembrolizumab's safety profile.

The ALTER-G-001 phase II study enrolled adult patients with GI cancer and unresectable liver metastasis, divided into Cohort A (stage IV CRC) and Cohort C (other GI cancers). Patients received anlotinib plus CAPEOX (Cohort A) or SOC chemotherapy (Cohort C), with resectability assessed after six cycles. Eligible patients underwent surgery, while others received maintenance therapy until progression or toxicity. The primary endpoint was ORR, with secondary endpoints including PFS, OS, DCR, DoR, and conversion rate of liver metastasis. Statistical analysis was based on historical ORR data and ITT principle.

Loncastuximab tesirine (Zynlonta) combined with rituximab showed a 97% response rate at 12 weeks in a phase II trial for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, with 67% achieving complete response. The combination demonstrated high progression-free and overall survival rates, suggesting it as a promising treatment option for second-line and later follicular lymphoma.

Study of 243 patients (median age 60, 59.7% male) with de novo metastatic disease found no significant differences between FOLFIRI-A (aflibercept) and FOLFIRI-B (bevacizumab) groups in baseline characteristics, metastasis sites, or treatment discontinuation reasons. Bevacizumab showed higher ORR (45.0%) and DCR (71.3%) compared to aflibercept (41.1% and 61.5%, respectively). Median OS was 11.2 months for aflibercept and 14.2 months for bevacizumab, with PFS at 5.7 and 7.7 months, respectively.

A phase III multicenter, randomized, open-label study in China (Jan 2021-Jun 2022) evaluated DEB-TACE alone vs. DEB-TACE + apatinib for uHCC. Eligibility criteria included BCLC stage B-C, age 18-75, ECOG PS 0-1, and liver tumor <60% of total liver volume. DEB-TACE was standardized, with apatinib administered orally post-TACE. Treatment efficacy was assessed via mRECIST criteria, with PFS and OS as primary endpoints. Sample size estimation required 233 participants, with statistical analysis using Cox Frailty models to account for center effects.

Fox Chase study finds 79% success in organ preservation for lower rectal cancer patients with node-negative tumors using neoadjuvant chemotherapy and local excision, with no local recurrences reported at 24 months median follow-up.

FDA approves Optune Lua® for concurrent use with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors or docetaxel in metastatic NSCLC patients who have progressed on platinum-based therapy. The phase III LUNAR trial showed a 3.3-month extension in median overall survival with tumor treating fields therapy. Device-related adverse events were mostly grade 1 or 2.

This study assessed MR-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) efficacy in treating adrenal gland metastasis, using stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to deliver high doses with minimal exposure to surrounding organs. The study, conducted at LMU University Hospital in Munich and Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS in Rome, employed secure multiparty computation to ensure data privacy while enabling joint data analysis. The results documented the long-term effectiveness and safety of MRgRT, improving precision and reducing risks to nearby organs.