Revisit Every OncLive On Air Episode From December 2024

In case you missed any, below is a recap of the episodes of OncLive On Air® that aired in December 2024. Check out our podcast page for a full episode lineup and to stay up to date with all the latest releases!

Pancreatic Cancer Research Reveals Treatment Developments and Challenges: With John Strickler, MD

In this exclusive interview, John Strickler, MD, of the Duke Cancer Institute in Durham, North Carolina, sat down with OncLive® to discuss the challenges associated with targeting RAS alterations in pancreatic cancer, the importance of biomarker testing in patients with this disease, and ongoing efforts to improve pancreatic cancer screening methodologies.

“There are new classes of therapies coming in the clinic, increasingly, that we will be searching for patients to enroll in trials, and the only way we’ll make breakthroughs in this [disease] is if we enroll as many patients as possible to trials,” Strickler emphasized. “We need to know the therapies that are effective, active, and well tolerated, and the therapies that, [although] promising in the lab, are not going to make it in the clinic. We need patients to enroll so we can get those answers.”

How to Optimize Patient Selection for Multiple Myeloma Therapies: With Binod Dhakal, MD; and Muhamed Baljevic, MD

In this exclusive conversation, Binod Dhakal, MD, of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, and Muhamed Baljevic, MD, of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, discussed factors that influence optimal patient selection for first- and subsequent-line multiple myeloma treatments, treatment options for patients who are unfit for CAR T-cell therapy, and ongoing multiple myeloma research that may alter the armamentarium going forward.

“[In this] disease that is affecting a majority of patients over age 70 [years], you have to look into, the patients’ condition, frailty, and their ability to handle treatment,” Dhakal stated. “That could apply, not only to the CAR T-cell therapies or bispecific antibodies, but also to the other regimens that are approved and are in clinical development. It’s important to [consider those factors] and [use] clinical trials to try to see the regimens that patients can get benefit from.”

“Ultimately, the choice of either a standard-of-care [SOC] regimen or participation in clinical trial…is still made together with patients, their advocates, and their families,” Baljevic added.

T-DXd Steadily Transforms the NSCLC Treatment Paradigm: With Misako Nagasaka, MD, PhD

In this interview, Misako Nagasaka, MD, PhD, of the University of California Irvine School of Medicine, talked through data from the phase 2 DESTINY-PanTumor02 (NCT04482309) and DESTINY-Lung01 (NCT03505710) trials that supported the FDA approval of fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (T-DXd; Enhertu) for patients with unresectable or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other HER2-positive solid tumors. She also discussed the role of next-generation sequencing in clinical practice and where T-DXd fits into the NSCLC treatment paradigm.

“Some molecular testing companies are going back and starting to report HER2 immunohistochemistry [IHC] status for solid tumors, including NSCLC, which is helpful, but given this new [FDA] approval [of T-DXd for patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive solid tumors], we may want to think about…testing…[for HER2 in] patients who are currently [receiving] first-line therapy,” Nagasaka explained. “It is also important to note that HER2 overexpression can be seen in patients as a result of EGFR TKI therapy resistance. Since such patients also were shown to derive benefit from [T-DXd in] the DESTINY-Lung01 study, I would suggest checking for HER2 overexpression status at the time of TKI resistance as well.”

Explore Findings With Nivolumab Plus AVD in Advanced-Stage Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma: With Alex F. Herrera, MD

In this OncClub interview, Alex F. Herrera, MD, of City of Hope in Duarte, California, shared his insights on top data from the phase 3 SWOG S1826 trial (NCT03907488) of nivolumab (Opdivo) in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (N+AVD) compared with brentuximab vedotin (BV) plus AVD (BV+AVD) in adolescent and adult patients with stage III or IV advanced-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma.

“With longer follow-up of the SWOG S1826 study, we’ve demonstrated that N+AVD is a new standard of care for advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma,” Herrera emphasized. “N+AVD is more effective than BV+AVD. N+AVD is better tolerated than BV+AVD, [which was] confirmed with no new safety signals.”

Exploring Lasofoxifene Plus Abemaciclib in ESR1+ Breast Cancer: Insights from ELAINE-3 With Sagar D. Sardesai, MBBS

In this conversation, Sagar D. Sardesai, MBBS, of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James in Columbus, discussed the objectives and potential future implications of the phase 3 ELAINE-3 trial (NCT05696626) investigating lasofoxifene plus abemaciclib (Verzenio) in patients with ESR1-mutant, estrogen receptor–positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

“There are currently no approved combinations with a selective estrogen receptor degrader that are commercially available [for patients with breast cancer], and this clinical trial offers an opportunity for patients to receive a targeted therapy, lasofoxifene, along with abemaciclib, which is a unique CDK4/6 inhibitor that has shown a clinical response beyond progression on frontline CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy,” Sardesai noted.

Unpacking Key Data From the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting: With Andre Goy, MD

In this exclusive interview, Andre Goy, MD, of the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, highlighted key findings from hematologic oncology research conducted by his colleagues at the John Theurer Cancer Center that were presented at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting.

“Combining data and diagnostic [criteria] to rationalize our decisions and to try to optimize the duration of the benefits of any given [treatment] option will help guide [treatment decision-making] among all these novel options,” Goy said.

Zanubrutinib Leads the Way for Advancements in CLL Management: With Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH

In this episode, we sat down with Mazyar Shadman, MD, MPH, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington, who spotlighted findings from zanubrutinib (Brukinsa)–based research in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that were shared at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting.

“The 5-year follow-up of the [phase 3] SEQUOIA trial [NCT03336333]…shows sustained clinical activity of zanubrutinib, irrespective of IGHV mutational status; deepening of responses; and no [new] safety signals, including for hypertension and atrial fibrillation, compared with SOC chemotherapy [in patients with previously untreated CLL],” Shadman explained.

Explore MRD Dynamics With Isa-VRd in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma: Insights From Philippe Moreau, MD

In this episode, Philippe Moreau, MD, of the University Hospital of Nantes in France, highlighted data from an analysis of minimal residual disease negativity (MRD) dynamics from the phase 3 IMROZ trial (NCT03319667) and the potential clinical significance of these findings for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who are treated with isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa), bortezomib (Velcade), lenalidomide (Revlimid), and dexamethasone.

“These data show that we can achieve MRD negativity in a high proportion of patients with a quadruplet combination, and that this MRD negativity rate can be sustained over time; that’s the goal if we want to improve the outcomes of patients,” Moreau noted.

Asciminib and Ponatinib Sit at the Forefront of Advances in CML Management: Insights From Onyee Chan, MD; and Bradley D. Hunter, MD

In this exclusive conversation, Onyee Chan, MD, of the Moffitt Cancer Center Magnolia Campus in Tampa, Florida, and Bradley D. Hunter, MD, of Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah, talked through chronic myeloid leukemia treatment strategies, including the integration of asciminib (Scemblix) into the frontline treatment setting, optimal treatment sequencing for patients with this disease, and how data from the phase 2 OPTIC trial (NCT02467270) have affected ponatinib (Iclusig) dosing in patients with chronic-phase disease.

“Hopefully in the future, more patients can [discontinue] treatment to help alleviate some of the long-term adverse effects or financial toxicities,” Chan said. “That’s a major goal for chronic-phase CML. [Managing] blast-phase CML remains a major challenge, so better treatment is needed.”

“Once [a patient is treated] in the third line and beyond, it makes sense to have patients see a transplant team just for evaluation, to see if they might be candidates, and then to come up with a game plan with the patient’s primary CML oncologist to figure out when might be the right time [for transplant],” Hunter added. “CML is still one of the diseases that responses to transplant the best.”

Exploring Luspatercept’s Role in Anemia Management for Lower-Risk MDS: Insights From Dr Jorge Cortes

In this episode, Jorge Cortes, MD, of the Georgia Cancer Center in Augusta, highlighted key considerations for the use of luspatercept-aamt (Reblozyl) in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), including the significance of the FDA approval of this agent for the treatment of patients with first-line MDS and anemia, as well as how luspatercept measures up against erythropoiesis stimulating agents and other treatment options.

“Patients [with lower-risk MDS] tend to be symptomatic,” Cortes said. “Those are the patients [in whom] you worry about managing anemia. You want to make sure the patients tolerate the drug but also that they feel better and are able to do their daily activities.”

The Evolving Role of ctDNA in Guiding Adjuvant Chemotherapy Decisions in CRC: Insights from Stacey A. Cohen, MD

In this interview, Stacey A. Cohen, MD, of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, discussed data from the CIRCULATE-Japan GALAXY trial (UMIN000039205), as well as how circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing informs treatment decision-making for patients with colorectal cancer.

“The presence of ctDNA suggests poor prognosis, which [could identify] patients who may need more aggressive therapies,” Cohen said. “However, questions remain on how to apply that to an individual patient. I encourage any studies that evaluate [ctDNA] because the [lack of] prospective data is preventing us from making [the use of ctDNA] more standard.”

FDA Approval Insights: Zanidatamab in Pretreated, HER2+ Biliary Tract Cancer

In this episode, James J. Harding, MD, of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, New York, talked through the significance of the FDA approval of zanidatamab-hrii (Ziihera) for patients with HER2-positive metastatic biliary tract cancer.

In November 2024, the FDA granted accelerated approval to zanidatamab for the treatment of adult patients with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) biliary tract cancer. This regulatory decision was backed by findings from the phase 2b HERIZON-BTC-01 trial (NCT04466891), in which patients who received zanidatamab (n = 62) achieved an overall response rate of 52% (95% CI, 39%-65%) and an estimated median duration of response of 14.9 months (95% CI, 7.4-not estimable).

“We’re pleased that the FDA has authorized this [approval] in an accelerated way for [zanidatamab] use in the second-line–plus population, and [this agent] will add to the armamentarium for [the treatment of patients with] HER2-positive biliary tract cancers,” Harding said in the interview.

Explore the Evolving Role of BTK Inhibitors in CLL: With Alexey Danilov, MD, PhD; and Susan M. O'Brien, MD

In this exclusive conversation, Alexey Danilov, MD, PhD, of City of Hope, hosted a discussion with Susan M. O'Brien, MD, of the University of California Irvine School of Medicine, about data with BTK inhibitors in patients with CLL that were shared at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting, including findings with acalabrutinib (Calquence)–based regimens, key updates with zanubrutinib (Brukinsa) as monotherapy and in combination with sonrotoclax (BGB-11417), and data with pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca) in previously treated CLL.

“Going forward, all the big new trials are developing fixed-duration combination regimens, and there’s still a lot of promise in the BTK inhibitors and degraders.” O’Brien noted. “However, I think non-finite therapy is slowly going to go away.”

“Our goal is to come up with regimens that are tailored for genetic or clinical subsets of patients, so we can maximize the benefit from these finite-duration treatments for each individual patient,” Danilov added.