Ann S. LaCasce, MD, MMSc

Formal discussant of the SWOG S1826 abstract, Ann S. LaCasce, MD, MMSc, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, said she was “excited” by these results. “The data speak for themselves. Nivolumab plus AVD [doxorubicin, vinblastine, dacarbazine] should be the treatment of choice, with more favorable toxicity and a low risk of radiation to the chest, with its potentially devastating late effects,” she stated. “Although follow-up was too short to assess overall survival, the number of deaths was lower in the nivolumab-containing arm.”

Dr. LaCasce also pointed to the progress in recruiting diverse populations in the cooperative group studies, with 12% Black and 13% Hispanic individuals in SWOG S1826. “This helps to address health-care equity,” she added.

“We await additional follow-up for progression-free survival and overall survival, as well as correlative studies of PET imaging and circulating DNA. Results of these studies will help determine whether we can de-escalate therapy and give less chemotherapy,” she told listeners at the ASCO meeting. 

DISCLOSURE: Dr. LaCasce has served as a consultant or advisor to Kite and Seagen; has served on the speakers bureau of Research to Practice; and has received institutional research funding from Celgene, Forty Seven, Sanofi, and Seagen.