Afsaneh Barzi, MD, PhD, on Colorectal Cancer: Early Data on Regorafenib and Pembrolizumab
2022 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium
Afsaneh Barzi, MD, PhD, of City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and AccessHope, discusses results from a phase I/II study of regorafenib and pembrolizumab in refractory microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer. Although the trial did not meet its primary endpoint, the median overall survival is “provocative,” says Dr. Barzi. An analysis of biomarkers to identify patients with a longer duration of benefit is ongoing (Abstract 15).
The ASCO Post Staff
Anthony B. El-Khoueiry, MD, of the University of Southern California, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses two key phase III studies of first-line treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma: the LAUNCH trial, which explored lenvatinib combined with transarterial chemoembolization for advanced disease; and the HIMALAYA trial, which studied tremelimumab and durvalumab for unresectable disease. The latter trial may represent a new standard of care, according to Dr. El-Khoueiry.
The ASCO Post Staff
Van K. Morris, MD, of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses phase I/II data suggesting that encorafenib plus cetuximab and nivolumab is safe and well tolerated for patients with microsatellite-stable BRAF V600E–mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (Abstract 12).
The ASCO Post Staff
Romain Cohen, MD, PhD, of Sorbonne University and Saint-Antoine Hospital, discusses phase II results of the GERCOR NIPICOL study, which suggests nivolumab plus ipilimumab at a fixed duration of 1 year continued to show durable activity in patients with chemoresistant microsatellite instability–high/mismatch repair–deficient metastatic colorectal cancer after 3 years of follow-up. Dr. Cohen points out there is now some question as to whether all patients need 2 years of therapy (Abstract 13).
The ASCO Post Staff
Gabriel A. Brooks, MPH, MD, of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, discusses key studies that, when synthesized, suggest the benefits of oxaliplatin may be less than often assumed. The toxicities are well described (especially neuropathy), and the agent should be used cautiously and sparingly beyond the third month of adjuvant treatment for patients with colon cancer and in the elderly or frail with metastatic disease.
The ASCO Post Staff
Kohei Shitara, MD, of Japan’s National Cancer Center Hospital East, discusses a long-term data follow-up from CheckMate 649, which support the continued use of nivolumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced gastric, gastroesophageal junction, and esophageal adenocarcinomas (Abstract 240).
