Kunal Jobanputra Shares Key Clinical Studies from ASCO 2025

Kunal Jobanputra, Community Medical Oncologist at Tata Memorial Hospital, shared some studies from ASCO 2025:

Immunological approach to cancer interception by DNA plasmid vaccine

” ‘Immunological approach to cancer interception by DNA plasmid vaccine’ Phase IB study. INO-5401 encoding hTERT, PSMA and WT1, +/- IL12 and electroporation in healthy individuals with BRCA1/2 without cancer – Safety data so far.”

CATNON results

“Final CATNON results for anaplastic glioma without co-deletion:

• Adjuvant TMZ boosts OS in IDH-mutant (HR 0.54, p<0.0001; median 12.5 yrs). No benefit in IDH-wt.

• RT + 12 cycles adjuvant TMZ – standard for IDH-mt

• Concurrent TMZ did not improve OS regardless of IDH status.”

UCPVax in IDH1-wt GBM

“UCPVax in IDH1-wt GBM: to stimulate CD4+ helper T cell responses against telomerase (TERT)

Design: Phase IIa, 2-cohort; post-chemoradiation; Cohort A: vaccine alone; Cohort B: vaccine + 6 mo TMZ. Population: 61 patients (31 Cohort A: unmethylated MGMT; 30 Cohort B: 50% unmethylated). Outcomes: 83% (A) and 69% (B) had TERT-CD4+ response. 53% epitope spreading (57.7% A, 48% B)

OS 19.3 vs 12.8 mo with spread (P=0.03); RR 50% with spread vs 18.7% (P=0.05); safe, no serious AEs. Further trials for TERT vaccine in GBM. Effect of TMZ-lymphopenia on epitope spreading?”

RANO classification for extent of resection

“RANO classification for extent of resection. Population: Grade 2 IDH-mutant (379 astrocytoma, 349 oligodendroglioma) – who did not receive adjuvant Rx were allowed to study effects of resection.

• Class 1 (Supramaximal): Resection beyond T2/FLAIR borders (0 cm³ remnant), 10-yr OS 97.5%.

• Class 2 (Maximal): 0-5 cm³ remnant, 10-yr OS 82.2%.

• Class 3 (Submaximal): 5-25 cm³ remnant, 10-yr OS 75%.

• Class 4 (Minimal): >25 cm³ remnant, 10-yr OS 45.6%.”

Off-label use of T-DXd in Desmoplastic Small Round cell Tumor

“Off-label use of T-DXd in Desmoplastic Small Round cell Tumor, study from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

• Studied HER2 by IHC (CB11 and 4B5) and also expression by RNA-seq in DSRCT

• CB11 IHC showed 38/52 cases with > 10% HER2 staining and RNA-seq had third highest HER2 expression among pediatric solid tumors

• Used in 16 patients with R/R DSRCT: 50% PR (8/16), 100% clinical benefit

• 8/8 had prior exposure to irinotecan

• No response correlation with IHC/RNAseq.”

CARv3-TEAM-E to tackle challenge of heterogeneity with conventional CAR-T in GBM

“CARv3-TEAM-E to tackle challenge of heterogeneity with conventional CAR-T in GBM: T cells targeting EGFRvIII + T-cell-Engaging Antibody Molecules (TEAMs) against wild-type EGFR in recurrent GBM. Intraventricularly delivered CARv3-TEAM-E T cells were detected in the CSF and peripheral blood. Subsequent infusions – Ab development.”

OASIS 4 phase 3 trial

“OASIS 4 ph3 trial

• Elinzanetant: a dual NK1/NK3 antagonist

• For vasomotor symptoms in HR+ breast cancer patients on adjuvant ET

• Elinzanetant reduced vasomotor symp frequency at week 4 (-6.5 vs -3.0, p<0.0001) and week 12 (-7.8 vs -4.2, p<0.0001).”

NeoADAURA

“NeoADAURA: EGFRm (Ex19del/L858R) stg II–IIIB (AJCC 8th ed)

1:1:1 to

• neoadj osi 80 mg QD (≥9 weeks) + CT

• Osi monotherapy 80 mg QD (≥9 weeks) or

• Placebo + CT

Osi/PBO + CT: double blind; osi mono: open label, sponsor blind. Adj osi was offered to all patients who completed surgery. Primary endpoint: MPR. Neoadjuvant Osi +/- CT showed improved MPR vs CT alone.”

γδ T cells for GBM

“γδ T cells for GBM

• Ph1 trial used γδ T cells + TMZ, targeting NKG2D-L via DDR pathway. γδ T cells engineered for TMZ resistance with MGMT

• =13, got 1, 3, or 6 doses (1×10^7 cells) in resection cavity + TMZ in Stupp regimen.

  No DLTs/CRS/ICANS. FU 16.9 mo.

• mPFS: 9.9m in all-comers, 14.0m (multi-dose)

• γδ T cells target stress-induced GBM ligands for better control

NKG2D-L induction diagnosis.”

Read further.

Camrelizumab and apatinib in advanced chordoma

“Camrelizumab + apatinib in advanced chordoma.

• Phase 2

• n=33 patients

• mFU 15 mo.

• ORR 21.2% PR, 6-mo DCR 85.2%. Choi: 48.5% PR, DCR 77.7%.

• Median PFS: 18.1 mo (RECIST), 15.3 mo (Choi).

CDKN2A deletion correlated with worse outcomes.”

Final analysis of adjuvant Nivo in pateints with resected EC/GEJ post CRT

“Final analysis of adjuvant Nivo in pateints with resected EC/GEJ post CRT – Sx with residual path disease

• mFU = 78 months!

• mDFS = 21.8vs 10.8 mo

• HR DFS = 0.76 [95% CI 0.63–0.91]

• mOS = 51.7 vs 35.3 mo

• HR OS =0.85 [95.87% CI 0.70–1.04 ? (expected HR was 0.73)

• 5-yr OS = 46% vs 41%

• Subsequent IO : 5% vs 15%

KM curves awaited!”

Romiplostim vs Placebo in chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia

“First global ph3 trial to study Romiplostim vs Placebo in chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia

• Phase 3 RCT, 2:1 ROMI vs PBO

• n=65 on Oxaliplatin based Cth (75% colorectal, 13% gastroesophageal, 12% pancreatic), Plt ≤85×10⁹/L on day 1 of Cth

• Weekly SC ROMI (2–10 μg/kg) for 3 cycles

• Primary: No CIT-induced dose modification in cycles 2 or 3

• Secondary: Plt nadir, time to Plt response, safety

• 84% ROMI vs 36% PBO met primary endpoint (OR 10.2, P<0.001)

• Plt nadir : 87 vs 58×10⁹/L (P=0.005); faster Plt response (1.1 vs 2.1 wks, P<0.001)

Further data on survival outcomes, side-effects on longer follow-up needed.”

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