Highlights include a 2024 Best of ASCO^® oral abstract on unrelated donor blood stem cell transplantation, late-breaking oral abstract on combination sotorasib for patients with a treatment-resistant tumor mutation called KRAS G12C, and monotherapies for people with advanced cancers

World-renowned physicians and researchers from City of Hope^®, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, will present new data and offer expert perspectives on leading-edge cancer research and treatments in development at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, which will take place in Chicago from May 31 to June 4. Highlights include the following:

• 2024 Best of ASCO^® program: New data on mismatched unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
• Late-breaking data on the phase 3 CodeBreaK 300 trial
• Glofitamab monotherapy for patients with advanced mantle cell lymphoma
• An oral inhibitor monotherapy for people with advanced kidney cancer
• Interventions for older adults with cancer who traditionally have not had access to supportive care treatments that could improve quality of life

About 40,000 oncology professionals will attend the meeting, themed “The Art and Science of Cancer Care: From Comfort to Cure.” City of Hope experts will have 64 presentations, including oral sessions, clinical science symposiums, education discussions and the following late-breaking abstract:

Overall survival (OS) of phase 3 CodeBreaK 300 study of sotorasib plus panitumumab (soto+pani) versus investigator’s choice of therapy for KRAS G12C-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)

• Presenter: Marwan G. Fakih, M.D., City of Hope medical oncologist
• Presentation Time and Location: Monday, June 3, 1:21 p.m. CT, Arie Crown Theater

Other noteworthy City of Hope abstracts:

Expanding access to stem cell transplants: Not a perfect match, yet perhaps just as good

Presentation Time and Location: Friday, May 31, 3:45 p.m. CT, S100bc

Access to potentially lifesaving stem cell transplants traditionally has been limited due to the need for a donor whose stem cells match the recipient’s genes. However, Monzr M. Al Malki, M.D., City of Hope hematologist-oncologist, co-led a multicenter phase 2 trial (NCT04904588) sponsored by NMDP and conducted via CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research) that demonstrates encouraging overall survival one year after older patients with advanced blood cancers received “HLA-mismatched unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation,” meaning the donor stem cells originated from someone who was not a relative and not a complete HLA match.

While the 13-site ongoing trial includes adults and children, this interim analysis that will be presented as an oral abstract presentation evaluated the first 70 older adult patients with advanced blood cancers who received this type of transplant and underwent both reduced intensity conditioning and post-transplant cyclophosphamide, which is a method used to prevent a potentially life-threatening side effect called graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). City of Hope has performed over 19,000 transplants, is one of the nation’s leading transplant programs and is at the forefront of using transplants to treat older adults with blood cancers.

Overall survival at one year post-stem cell transplant was 79%. Rates of GVHD and other complications were comparable to those of recipients who received HLA-matched donor stem cells, suggesting HLA-mismatched unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplantation may one day be used more widely, expanding access to the lifesaving therapy.

“This data, supported by the National Marrow Donor Program, is promising and is the reason why I continue to work to expand access to stem cell transplantation for older patients, underrepresented people and patients with blood cancers,” Dr. Al Malki said.

The adult cohorts of this trial recruitment have closed with more than 200 patients in follow-up. The pediatric arm of the trial is ongoing.

Bispecific antibody demonstrates sustained response rates in lymphoma patients who received and rejected previous treatments

Presentation Time and Location: Saturday, June 1, 5:24 p.m. CT, S100bc

In an updated efficacy and safety phase 1/2 trial (NCT03075696), bispecific antibody glofitamab continues to demonstrate compelling response rates with a fixed-duration treatment among a group of mantle cell lymphoma patients who have nearly exhausted approved treatment options due to aggressive disease.

The researchers evaluated close to 60 participants who had received two or more previous treatments — the majority of which had stopped responding to treatment before they enrolled in this study. Patients received about 7.4 months of glofitamab. Landmark analyses indicated that most patients with a complete response at the end of treatment were alive without disease progression 15 months after the end of treatment. The median duration of complete response was 12.6 months, and median progression-free survival was 8.6 months.

“People with mantle cell lymphoma have a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is currently incurable, so it is encouraging to see people who were told by others that there is not much more to be done live months and even years longer with this treatment,” said Tycel Phillips, M.D., City of Hope hematologist-oncologist and presenting author. “We at City of Hope continuously develop leading-edge treatments for people diagnosed with lymphoma and other blood cancers.”

Early safety and clinical efficacy data on monotherapy DFF332 in advanced kidney cancer patients

Presentation Time and Location: Saturday, June 1, from 8:30 a.m. CT, S100bc

People with an advanced kidney cancer called clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) appeared to experience positive medicinal effects from the targeted therapy pill DFF332 while encountering manageable side effects in an ongoing first-in-human phase 1/1B multicenter trial (CDFF332A12101, NCT04895748).

Sumanta “Monty” Pal, M.D., a City of Hope medical oncologist, will share preliminary data on 40 advanced kidney cancer patients who took DFF332, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α inhibitor that has been shown in preclinical models to be effective in reducing ccRCC tumors. All study participants had received at least one other type of therapy before joining the clinical trial. At data cutoff, 16 patients continued to be treated, while 19 patients (48%) stopped receiving the treatment due to disease progression. The most common side effects were fatigue (33%), anemia (30%), increased blood cholesterol and constipation (15%). No extreme adverse effects have been observed so far. At cutoff, 18 patients (45%) had stable disease and two patients (5%) achieved partial response.

“While the study is still in process, so far, we have seen a promising safety profile for monotherapy DFF332 with indications of clinical activity,” Dr. Pal said. “We are conducting analysis on how the medicine moves within the body as well as collecting biomarker data that will be shared at our ASCO presentation.”

Using telehealth to improve access to supportive care services for older adults with cancer living in lower-resourced communities

Presentation Time and Location: Saturday, June 1, at 1:39 p.m. CT, S102

A study at City of Hope | Antelope Valley found that telehealth can be leveraged to offer older adults living in high-poverty, lower resourced communities with a specialized evaluation developed at City of Hope called a geriatric assessment, which identifies supportive care services older adults with cancer need to manage vulnerabilities, better define care goals and improve quality of life.

This quality improvement study included 251 participants who were 65 years or older with newly diagnosed or advanced cancer. These patients underwent a baseline geriatric assessment and most had initial visits with a geriatric nurse practitioner – 197 via televideo and 45 via telephone. The assessment identified vulnerabilities in 209 patients and, after review, the nurse practitioner made 460 necessary referrals for supportive care services – 86% of which were implemented. The most common referrals were to pharmacy (177), social work (142), occupational therapy (76) and physical therapy (48). More than 92% of patients reported they were satisfied with the telehealth services that resulted in supportive care interventions for older adults.

“In my experience, if you don’t do a geriatric assessment, the patient pays for it later,” said Tanyanika Phillips, M.D., M.P.H., presenting author and City of Hope medical oncologist and hematologist in Antelope Valley, California. Phillips noted that if care is prescribed without accurate health information, the result could be serious side effects or even hospitalization, which could lead not only to more costly care but also cancer treatment outcomes that are not the best for patients.

“In a general visit, patients often will say they feel well and are fine because they’re incentivized to answer in the affirmative and move forward with treatment," Phillips added. “Place this same patient in a different environment where they are answering geriatric assessment questions, and they may be more forthcoming and detailed about their lifestyle and abilities. This candor will help physicians prescribe the most appropriate care for that individual based on their circumstances.”

Providing supportive care interventions via telehealth based on a geriatric assessment is shown to improve daily functioning, happiness and quality of life

Presentation Time and Location: Sunday, June 2, from 11:54 a.m. CT, S100bc

A randomized trial at a Brazilian cancer center and under the guidance of City of Hope’s internationally renowned cancer and aging expert William Dale, M.D., Ph.D., found that older adults with metastatic cancer reported experiencing significant improvements in the performance of daily activities, emotional well-being and quality of life after receiving a telehealth-based geriatric assessment (GA) that resulted in supportive care interventions. This data extends City of Hope’s prior work in GA-guided supportive care beyond the borders of the United States.

“Our studies continue to prove that patients and families win when care teams ask older adults with cancer the right questions at the outset to guide care. This is true even when telehealth is used in a low-resource environment. Guidance from a GA can change care choices and improve outcomes — all without making cancer therapy less effective. It’s a form of precision medicine: more appropriate supportive care interventions, better daily functioning, higher quality of life and the same great cancer care results. It’s a winning formula for patients, families, providers and the health system,” said Dr. Dale, senior author of the study, City of Hope’s George Tsai Family Chair in Geriatric Oncology and director of City of Hope’s Center for Cancer and Aging. Dr. Dale is the recipient of this year’s B.J. Kennedy Geriatric Oncology Award, which honors geriatric oncologists who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and achievement in the field of geriatric oncology.

Additional highlights include the following award-winning poster abstract and three education sessions:

• “A phase I/II trial of palbociclib, pembrolizumab, and endocrine therapy for patients with HR+/HER2- locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC): Clinical outcomes and stool microbial profiling”*
  
  Presentation Time: Sunday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to noon CT
  
  Presenter: Alexis LeVee, M.D., City of Hope Hematology & Medical Oncology Chief Fellow
  
  *Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, awarded Dr. LeVee a 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting Merit Award, which supports students and trainees who are first authors on abstracts selected for presentation.

• “Evidence Evaluating Cannabis’ Efficacy Across the Cancer Care Continuum”
  
  Monday, June 3, 8:30 a.m. CT
  
  Session title: Evidence-Based Integrative Oncology: Guideline Insights for Comprehensive Care
  
  Presenter: Richard T. Lee, M.D., City of Hope clinical professor, Supportive and Integrative Medicine Program; Cherng Family Director's Chair for the Center for Integrative Oncology

• “Tissue-Based Molecular Testing and the Role of Artificial Intelligence”
  
  Monday, June 3, 10 a.m. CT
  
  Session title: Should I Order the Test? Expanding the Array of Emerging Diagnostics in Breast Cancer
  
  Presenter: Daniel Schmolze, M.D., City of Hope associate clinical professor, Department of Pathology

• “What Is Variant Histology Renal Cell Cancer and What Are the Available Treatment Options?”
  
  Monday, June 3, 3:15 p.m. CT
  
  Session title: Managing Variant Histologies in Urothelial and Renal Cell Cancers
  
  Presenter: Sumanta Kumar Pal, M.D., City of Hope professor, Department of Medical Oncology & Therapeutics Research

About City of Hope

City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S. and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center at its core, City of Hope brings a uniquely integrated model to patients spanning cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and innovation initiatives. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. City of Hope’s affiliated group of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHope™. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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