OncLive® On Air

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Joseph Jacob, MD, MCR, about the FDA approval of the gemcitabine intravesical system (formerly TAR-200; Inlexzo)​ for the treatment of patients with BCG-unresponsive non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Dr Jacob is an associate professor of urology and the director of Urologic Oncology in the Department of Urology at State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. In our exclusive interview, Dr Jacob discussed the significance of this approval, key efficacy findings from the pivotal phase 2b SunRISe-1 trial (NCT04640623), and the TAR-200 administration procedure, which he describes as straightforward for practitioners and convenient for patients.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Lyudmila Bazhenova, MD, about the FDA approval of sunvozertinib (Zegfrovy) for patients with EGFR-mutated metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr Bazhenova is a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego (UCSD); as well as a medical oncologist at the UCSD Moores Cancer Center. In our exclusive interview, Dr Bazhenova discussed the significance of this approval, key efficacy and safety data from the pivotal the phase 1/2 WU-KONG1B trial (NCT03974022), and how the use of sunvozertinib in the NSCLC treatment paradigm may propel future possibilities for the use of EGFR-directed agents in this disease.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Kanwal P. S. Raghav, MBBS, MD, about the role of fruquintinib (Fruzaqla) in the treatment of adult patients with pretreated, metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Dr Raghav is a professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology in the Division of Cancer Medicine, associate vice president of the Department of Ambulatory Medical Operations, and executive medical director of the Department of Ambulatory Treatment Centers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In our exclusive interview, Dr Raghav discussed the mechanism of action of fruquintinib, key efficacy data from the phase 3 FRESCO (NCT02314819) and FRESCO-2 (NCT04322539) trials, the treatment settings where this agent is most frequently administered, and adverse effects to be aware of. He also noted how the role of fruquintinib in earlier lines of therapy has yet to be defined due to a lack of optimal predictive biomarkers. Dr Raghav concluded by emphasizing the importance of clinical trials for improving outcomes for patient with CRC.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Anne Chiang, MD, PhD, and Stephen Liu, MD, about the FDA approval of lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) plus atezolizumab (Tecentriq) or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-tqjs (Tecentriq Hybreza) as maintenance treatment for adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) whose disease has not progressed after frontline induction therapy with atezolizumab or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase, carboplatin, and etoposide. Chiang is an associate professor of medicine in the Section of Medical Oncology and the associate cancer center director of Clinical Initiatives at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. Dr Liu is an associate professor of medicine at Georgetown University, as well as the director of Thoracic Oncology and head of Developmental Therapeutics at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, DC. In our exclusive interview, Drs Chiang and Liu discussed the significance of this approval, key efficacy and safety data from the pivotal phase 3 IMforte trial (NCT05091567), and how the addition of this regimen in the ES-SCLC treatment paradigm may affect clinical practice.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Stephen Liu, MD, about the use of tepotinib (Tepmetko) in patients with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring MET exon 14 skipping alterations. Dr Liu is an associate professor of medicine at Georgetown University, as well as the director of Thoracic Oncology and head of Developmental Therapeutics at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, DC. In our exclusive interview, Dr Liu discussed key efficacy and safety findings from the phase 2 VISION trial (NCT02864992) that led to the FDA approval of tepotinib for this indication; the comparable response rates seen between tissue and liquid biopsy results, as well as across NSCLC treatment lines; and the importance of early biomarker testing, including RNA sequencing, to identify actionable mutations and optimize treatment.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Andrew Kuykendall, MD, who gave an overview of the myelofibrosis treatment paradigm. Dr Kuykendall is an assistant member in the Department of Malignant Hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida.   In our exclusive interview, Dr Kuykendall discussed the prevalence of patients with myelofibrosis who have mutations in JAK2, CALR, or MPL; the crucial roles of the JAK1, JAK2, and IRAK1 pathways in disease progression; the importance of considering JAK inhibition in eligible patients; and the challenges associated with managing cytopenic myelofibrosis.

In our exclusive interview, Dr Shitara discussed preliminary efficacy data with CAR T-cell therapy in gastrointestinal cancers; highlighted challenges related to durability of response, patient selection, and manufacturing logistics with these therapies; and outlined ongoing biomarker analyses exploring tumor microenvironment factors influencing resistance.

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Asad Dean, MD, about treatment selection for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the second-line setting. Dr Dean is a physician at the Texas Oncology-Fort Worth Cancer Center. In our exclusive interview, Dr Dean discussed the roles of covalent BTK inhibitors and BCL-2 inhibitors in the management of CLL. He highlighted the importance of molecular profiling for treatment rechallenge decisions and the potential for resistance mutations in this disease. He also noted the role of pirtobrutinib (Jaypirca) in overcoming treatment resistance, along with clinical signs indicating that patients may need a therapy change. Dr Dean also mentioned the high response rates seen with CAR T-cell therapy in patients with CLL and explained the possibility for combination regimens in CLL. Additionally, he expressed optimism about BTK degraders and bispecific antibodies.

In this discussion, Dr. Alexander Drilon, a lung cancer expert from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, dives into the ARROS-1 trial of zidesamtinib for ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. He highlights the promising efficacy data, noting the drug's high central nervous system response rates and low neurological side effects. Dr. Drilon explores zidesamtinib's unique mechanism and its potential to redefine first-line treatment, especially for patients resistant to prior TKI therapies. His insights underscore zidesamtinib’s promising role in advancing lung cancer therapy.

Dr. Dana M. Chase, a medical oncologist specializing in gynecologic cancers, dives into the management of recurrent endometrial cancer. She discusses how biomarker profiles, like MMR status, influence treatment decisions involving carboplatin, paclitaxel, and dostarlimab. The conversation highlights insights from the RUBY trial, showcasing significant survival improvements with dostarlimab in various patient groups. Dr. Chase also stresses the growing incidence of endometrial cancer, its symptoms, and the vital role of clinical trials in shaping future therapies.