Dr. Javier Cortés from MEDSIR, the International Breast Cancer Center (IBCC), and the Universidad Europea de Madrid led the PHERGain trial, which investigated chemotherapy de-escalation in HER2+ early breast cancer. The study aimed to optimize treatment strategies through it’s adaptive trial design which allowed for treatment regimens to be tailored based on each patient’s response,, ensuring patient safety without compromising outcomes.The presentation covered the 3-year invasive disease-free survival and found 95% of patients in the de-escalation arm remained cancer free. The results also demonstrated that of the 30% of patients that were treated without chemotherapy, 99% were cancer free at the time of analysis.
The PALMIRA trial, led by Dr. Antonio Llombart-Cussac from MEDSIR and Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, explored second-line endocrine therapy with or without palbociclib maintenance in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. The study assessed whether a palbociclib rechallenge could improve outcomes for patients who had experienced progressive disease after initial treatment with palbociclib plus endocrine therapy. The results demonstrated that retreating patients with the same CDK4/6 inhibitor and switching the endocrine therapy did not provide a clinical benefit.
Dr. Xavier Garcia del Muro from the Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO) presented the "Phase II Study of the Efficacy of Retifanlimab in Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: ORPHEUS Final Analysis." This study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of retifanlimab, an innovative immunotherapy, in treating advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). PSCC is a rare and aggressive form of cancer with limited treatment options.
Retifanlimab, also known as INCMGA00012, is a promising immune checkpoint inhibitor that reactivates the body's immune response against cancer cells by targeting the PD-1 receptor. The ORPHEUS final analysis aimed to assess the potential of retifanlimab as a therapeutic option for patients with advanced PSCC. The results demonstrated that retifanlimab monotherapy had signals of clinical activity in this patient population and further studies evaluating combination therapies and predictive biomarkers are warranted.
These studies hold great promise in improving treatment options and optimizing therapeutic strategies for HER2+ early breast cancer, HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer, and advanced PSCC patients. The presented research showcases the dedication and innovation of researchers in the field of oncology and their invaluable contributions to improving patient outcomes.
MEDSIR is proud to support these studies and looks forward to sharing the results, as these findings have the potential to transform oncology research and patient care. The ASCO Annual Meeting served as an excellent platform for unveiling these exciting advancements and fostering collaboration in the pursuit of better treatments for cancer patients.
