Five Under 5: Top Oncology Videos for the Week of 7/6

Welcome to The Five Under 5, your go-to roundup of the top 5 videos of the week.

These short videos are designed for busy oncologists to view on the go, and feature expert insights on breaking news, regulatory updates, practice-changing data shared at medical meetings, and other key topics in the realm of oncology.

Here’s what you may have missed:

Phase 2 Data With Relacorilant and Nab-Paclitaxel in Ovarian Cancer: Alexander B. Olawaiye, MD

Alexander B. Olawaiye, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Women’s Hospital, discussed the progression of relacorilant plus nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer from phase 2 data to the confirmatory phase 3 ROSELLA trial (NCT05257408). In the earlier phase 2 trial (NCT03776812), the combination significantly extended progression-free survival (PFS) compared with nab-paclitaxel alone, at a median of 6.5 vs 3.8 months, respectively (HR, 0.66; P = .038). These findings supported the design of ROSELLA, which evaluated the same combination in a broader population, using dual primary end points of PFS and overall survival (OS). Interim ROSELLA results presented at the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting showed a 31% reduction in the risk of death with the combination vs nab-paclitaxel monotherapy (HR, 0.69; P = .0121), reinforcing its clinical potential.

Safety Profile of Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Clear Cell RCC: Naomi B. Haas, MD

Naomi B. Haas, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center, discussed updated safety findings from the 5-year follow-up of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 trial (NCT03142334), which evaluated adjuvant pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Haas reported that no new safety signals have emerged, with the most common grade 3 or higher adverse effects (AEs) being hypertension (2.9%) and elevated transaminases (2.3% ALT, 1.6% AST)—all of which were reversible. Compared with placebo, the pembrolizumab arm experienced higher rates of treatment-related AEs (79.1% vs 53.0%), grade 3 or 4 immune-mediated AEs (9.6% vs 0.6%), and treatment discontinuation due to AEs (18.2% vs 0.8%). Haas also noted that immune-related AEs (irAEs), including diabetes, continue to be observed in both the adjuvant and advanced settings and are not unique to pembrolizumab, but are consistent with the class effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Efficacy of Sarilumab Plus Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, and Relatlimab in Unresectable Melanoma: Janice M. Mehnert, MD

Janice M. Mehnert, MD, of NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Perlmutter Cancer Center, discussed efficacy results from a phase 2 trial (NCT05428007) evaluating sarilumab (Kevzara) in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy), nivolumab (Opdivo), and relatlimab in patients with unresectable stage III or IV melanoma. At the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting, Mehnert reported a 24-week overall response rate (ORR) of 63.6%, one of the highest ORRs observed to date with immune checkpoint inhibition in melanoma, surpassing the 45.6% and 58.7% ORRs seen in Checkmate-511 (NCT02714218) and Relativity-048 (NCT03459222), respectively. The 24-week clinical benefit rate reached 78.8%. Additionally, the regimen demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with grade 3/4 irAEs occurring in only 12.1% of patients. Mehnert noted that this lower irAE rate, compared with prior anti–CTLA-4-based regimens, suggests that sarilumab may mitigate toxicity without compromising efficacy.

Dupilumab Plus Cemiplimab in Early-Stage, Resectable NSCLC: Tali Azenkot, MD

Tali Azenkot, MD, of UC San Diego Health, highlighted a novel immunotherapy strategy under investigation in a phase 1/2 trial (NCT06088771) evaluating dupilumab (Dupixent) in combination with cemiplimab (Libtayo) as neoadjuvant treatment for patients with early-stage, resectable non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As presented at the 2025 OncLive® Fellows Forum on Thoracic Oncology, this trial explores the synergistic potential of combining the IL-4Rα–blocking agent dupilumab—traditionally used in asthma and allergic diseases—with PD-1 blockade. Preclinical data suggest that IL-4 inhibition may enhance antitumor immunity by activating dendritic and effector T cells. The single-arm study is enrolling 12 to 21 patients and is assessing feasibility, safety, and major pathological response as primary end points. Azenkot underscored the innovation of this immune-modulating approach in the neoadjuvant NSCLC setting.

Guideline-Supported Treatment Decision-Making for NMIBC: Yair Lotan, MD

Yair Lotan, MD, of UT Southwestern, emphasized that radical cystectomy remains the gold-standard recommendation for patients with BCG-unresponsive non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), given its potential for long-term cure. However, treatment decisions must account for individual patient factors, including tumor characteristics, age, and comorbidities. Lotan noted that younger patients with high-grade T1 disease and long life expectancy are generally best served by cystectomy, whereas bladder-sparing options may be appropriate for older or frail patients with less aggressive disease. He also reviewed emerging bladder-sparing strategies, including intravesical therapies like nadofaragene firadenovec (Adstiladrin) and N-803 (Anktiva), systemic immunotherapy with pembrolizumab, and off-label use of gemcitabine/docetaxel—all with varying efficacy, safety, and cost profiles. He stressed the importance of clinical trial enrollment in this setting, both to access promising new treatments and to advance the standard of care.