From Ovarian to Endometrial Cancer, Experts Spotlight Standout Data From ASCO 2026

OncLive® connected with gynecologic oncology experts at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting to highlight impactful findings in ovarian and endometrial cancers and explore their potential relevance to clinical practice. Find their insights below.

Long-term survival rates and cure modeling with dostarlimab plus chemotherapy in mismatch repair deficient/microsatellite instability high (dMMR/MSI-H) primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer in the ENGOT-EN6-NSGO/ GOG-3031/RUBY trial (Abstract 5501)

Model-based predictions suggested the potential for cure with dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli) plus carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with mismatch repair–deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite instability–high (MSI-H) primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer based on updated findings from the pivotal phase 3 ENGOT-EN6-NSGO/GOG-3031/RUBY trial (NCT03981796).

At a median follow-up of 55.6 months (range, 49.9-67.7), descriptive progression-free survival (PFS) analyses were performed in this population from part 1 of the study. Only 4 new events were reported since the first analysis of PFS with an additional 2.5 years of follow-up. The 4-year PFS rates were 57.9% (95% CI, 42.3%-70.6%) in the dostarlimab arm (n = 53) vs 15.7% (95% CI, 7.2%-27.0%) with chemotherapy plus placebo (n = 65); the median PFS was not estimable (NE; 95% CI, 12.2-NE) for the dostarlimab arm vs 7.7 months (95% CI, 5.6-9.7) for the placebo arm (HR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.17-0.52).

Mixture cure models were fitted to PFS findings to estimate the proportion of patients who had received the dostarlimab regimen and had potential for cure; this analysis revealed that 54% (95% CI, 35%-72%) of patients with dMMR/MSI-H endometrial carcinoma had curative potential with the combination compared with 14% (95% CI 6%-28%) for the placebo arm, representing a 3.9-fold increase in the rate of curative potential.

Lucy Gilbert, MD, MSc, FRCOG, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

“In the endometrial cancer field, I’m very much encouraged by the durability of response with dostarlimab in the dMMR population. For the first time in my life, I can use the word cure for patients who have metastatic recurrent endometrial cancer. This would have been unheard of before. I’m excited about that, and I’m excited about finding treatments that add quality and quantity to patients’ lives that perhaps do not require biomarkers.”

NAPISTAR 1-01: Results of phase 1 dose escalation of monotherapy with TUB040, a novel NaPi2b-targeting exatecan ADC, in patients (pts) with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) (Abstract 5513)

In the phase 1/2a NAPISTAR 1-01 trial (NCT06303505), treatment with the NaPi2b-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) TUB-040 led to a confirmed objective response rate (ORR) of 58.2% (95% CI, 45.5%-70.2%) in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (n = 67). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11 months (95% CI, 7.5-not available [NA]); the 6- and 12-month PFS rates were 71% and 50%, respectively. Moreover, the median duration of response (DOR) rate was not reached (95% CI, 8.5 months-NA). The rate of patients whose responses lasted at least 6 months was 79%.

Jordyn Silverstein, MD, University of California, Los Angeles

“In the oral session, we saw data for a NaPi2b-directed [ADC] for ovarian cancer that had a median PFS of 11 months, which we have not seen from any of our ADCs. It also showed activity on all dose spectrums, so the investigators were able to choose a dose that had minimal adverse effects because it still showed clinical activity. I was very excited to see that and am excited to see where this drug goes.”

Toon Van Gorp, MD, PhD, University Hospital Leuven, Belgium

“I think the NAPISTAR 1-01 trial is potentially one of the most important abstracts, because of the data. This is an [ADC] with one of the highest ORRs with an unprecedented median PFS and a long DOR. This is one of the ADCs to look out for in the future and a very important competitor to other ADC companies.”

A randomized phase II trial of mirvetuximab soravtansine in folate receptor alpha (FRα)–high recurrent ovarian cancer eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy (MIROVA/AGO-OVAR 2.34) (Abstract 5506)

The phase 2 MIROVA trial (NCT04274426) failed to meet its primary progression-free survival (PFS) end point in patients with recurrent, FRα-high platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer. Results showed that the median PFS was 9.53 months (95% CI, 7.20-10.61) with mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx (Elahere) plus carboplatin followed by mirvetuximab maintenance (n = 75) vs 9.79 months (95% CI, 7.26-11.17) with standard platinum-based chemotherapy followed by observation of PARP inhibitor maintenance (n = 70) according to local standards. The objective response rates were 66.2% and 32.8% in the mirvetuximab and standard therapy arms, respectively, with respective clinical benefit rates of 94.4% and 95.1%.

Toon Van Gorp, MD, PhD, University Hospital Leuven, Belgium

“This was a negative study. We didn't expect the trial to be negative because we thought that when you combine carboplatin with mirvetuximab and continue mirvetuximab in the maintenance setting, this would improve patient prognosis. We have to do a deep dive in the future to look at these data and to understand why this was a negative study. This was an academic study, not a commercial study, so I also want to emphasize that academic studies are important.”

Effects of short-term fasting compared to free diet in ovarian cancer patients: Results from a two-arm pilot randomized trial (Abstract 5517)

This phase 2 trial (NCT07039331) investigated short-term fasting in patients with newly diagnosed, high-grade serous ovarian cancer who were not suitable for primary cytoreduction but required neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Short-term fasting was shown to be feasible and well tolerated. The trial showed that this dietary pattern may also be associated with better pathological responses and prolonged median progression-free survival compared with a normal diet (HR, 0.257; 95% CI, 0.062-1.00; P = .056). Short-term fasting prevented insulin level increases from baseline and improved metabolism vs a free diet after 3 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = .010).

Linda Mileshkin, MBBC, FRACP, Mbioeth, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Victoria, Australia

“Patients fasted for 36 hours prior to chemotherapy and then for 24 hours after the chemotherapy, compared with following a normal diet. They provocatively showed improved response rates and the ability to debulk the tumor in the patients who fasted. It was a small study, but intriguing. Patients often ask about fasting, and it’ll be interesting to see what develops in this field moving forward.”