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Oncology Decoded

Oncology Decoded
Oncology Decoded
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  • 9: Unveiling Advances in GU Cancers: Insights from Oncology Decoded
    The Oncology Decoded podcast, co-hosted by Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers specializing in solid tumors and genitourinary cancers, and Benjamin Garmezy, MD, associate director of genitourinary research and executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at SCRI and medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners specializing in genitourinary cancers, in a recent live session with US Oncology Network and the Pathways Task Force, delved into significant updates that were set to happen at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), focusing on the genitourinary cancer landscape. Bupathi and Garmezy were joined by John M. Burke, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, and Dhaval R. Shah, MBBS, a medical oncologist from Christiana Care.  A primary focus of the discussion was the phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 trial (NCT03142334), a pivotal trial for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study investigated pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as adjuvant therapy for patients with clear cell RCC who had undergone surgical resection and presented with intermediate-high or high-risk features.  Garmezy highlighted the "clear separation of the curves" in disease-free survival (DFS), with an HR of 0.68, and a compelling 5% difference in long-term overall survival, signifying a benefit for "about 1 in 20 patients". Despite about 20% of patients discontinuing treatment due to toxicity, the overall safety profile of pembrolizumab was considered well-tolerated, with no statistically significant difference in quality of life compared with placebo. Burke provided the panel with his perspective on evaluating such trials. He emphasized the importance of scrutinizing study design flaws, even in "randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 clinical trials," which are often seen as the "epitome of great science". Key questions for consideration include the appropriateness of the control arm (placebo in KEYNOTE-564 was deemed appropriate), the validity of surrogate end points like DFS, and the presence of "informative censoring"—a form of bias that can skew results. Burke noted that informative censoring can occur if patients drop out of a trial due to disappointment with their randomized arm or due to drug toxicity, which can make the treatment arm's progression-free survival look better than it truly is. The discussion also touched upon the consistency of KEYNOTE-564’s findings with other trials. Garmezy noted that while pembrolizumab showed positive results, other adjuvant studies involving atezolizumab (Tecentriq), nivolumab (Opdivo), and nivolumab plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) had no significant difference, potentially due to differences in drug type or duration of therapy (6 vs 12 months). Shah affirmed that despite these nuances, the overall survival benefit seen in KEYNOTE-564 justifies the use of adjuvant pembrolizumab for eligible patients, emphasizing adherence to the exact trial criteria. Beyond kidney cancer, the podcast previewed discussions on the phase 3 NIAGARA trial (NCT03732677) for perioperative bladder cancer and the phase 3 TALAPRO-2 trial (NCT03395197) for first-line metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Bupathi highlighted the ongoing debate within the Pathways Committees regarding the integration of new data vs established practices, particularly concerning the timeline for new drugs to be incorporated into pathways. Burke clarified that while Pathways guides value-driven decisions, physicians retain the autonomy to prescribe off-pathway regimens, though financial implications might arise. The episode concluded with a look ahead to more data releases, underscoring the dynamic nature of oncology practice and the continuous evaluation of therapies for optimal patient care. Reference Choueiri TK, Tomczak P, Park SH, et al; KEYNOTE-564 Investigators. Overall survival with adjuvant pembrolizumab in renal-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(15):1359-1371. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2312695
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  • 8: ASCO 2025 Debrief: Key Updates in Genitourinary Cancer Management
    As part of the latest Oncology Decoded discussion, Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, met with Benjamin Garmezy, MD, after the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting to review data from the late-breaking abstracts, poster sessions, and other presentations of interest that may shift the paradigm across different genitourinary malignancies. Bupathi is the executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers specializing in solid tumors and genitourinary cancers. Garmezy is the associate director of genitourinary research and executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at SCRI and medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners, also specializing in genitourinary cancers.  These experts highlighted their top abstracts and presentations from this year’s ASCO Annual Meeting, breaking down the results and clinical implications of key research in prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and other patient populations. Noteworthy studies and analyses included the following: ·      Phase 3 AMPLITUDE Trial (NCT04497844) o   Niraparib (Zejula) plus abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) with prednisone (AAP) reached the primary end point of radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), reducing the risk of radiographic progression or death by 48% (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.37-0.72; P <.0001) in the BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (CSPC) population and 37% (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.49-0.80; P = .0001) in the homologous recombination repair (HRR)–mutated subgroup vs AAP alone. o   The niraparib combination also improved time to symptomatic progression across the BRCA-mutant population (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.29-0.68; P = .0001) and the HRR-mutant subgroup (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.36-0.69; P <.0001). o   Overall, data from AMPLITUDE appear to support early genomic testing and reinforce niraparib plus AAP as a new therapeutic option for patients with metastatic CSPC harboring HRR alterations. ·      Phase 3 NIAGARA Trial (NCT03732677) o   Investigators found circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) status to be highly prognostic for outcomes among patients who received perioperative durvalumab (Imfinzi) plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). o   Across the treatment arms in the NIAGARA trial, ctDNA-negative status conferred improvements in event-free survival (EFS) vs ctDNA positivity (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.30-0.60). o   Adding nivolumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy increased the rate of ctDNA clearance by 13% vs the use of chemotherapy alone. ·      Phase 2 SURE-02 Trial (NCT05535218) o   Combining perioperative sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy) with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) produced clinical complete responses in 44.4% (95% CI, 27.9%-61.9%) of patients with MIBC. o   The study treatment allowed for bladder preservation without chemoradiotherapy in 74% of patients who refused radical cystectomy. o   The data demonstrated a potentially safe and effective approach for patients with no standard-of-care options at the time of refusing radical cystectomy. References 1. Attard G, Agarwal N, Graff J, et al. Phase 3 AMPLITUDE trial: niraparib (NIRA) and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AAP) for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) patients (pts) with alterations in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 17):LBA5006. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.17_suppl.LBA5006 2. Powles T, Van Der Heijden M, Wang Y, et al. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who received perioperative durvalumab (D) in NIAGARA. J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):4503.doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.4503 3. Necchi A, de Jong J, Proudfoot J, et al. First results of SURE-02: A phase 2 study of neoadjuvant sacituzumab govitecan (SG) plus pembrolizumab (pembro), followed by response-adapted bladder sparing and adjuvant pembro, in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). J Clin Oncol. 2025;43(suppl 16):4518. doi:10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.4518
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  • 7: Sharpening the Prostate Cancer Toolkit: Practical Insights on PSMA Imaging
    Experts weigh in on the practical applications of PSMA PET imaging, risk stratification, and evolving treatment strategies for advanced prostate cancer.  Biochemical recurrence can be a clinical tightrope walk. The latest Oncology Decoded episode highlights prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET imaging, offering a practical, expert-led exploration of how this advanced modality is moving beyond theoretical benefits to become a cornerstone in the management of advanced prostate cancer.   The panel included:  Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers specializing in solid tumors and genitourinary cancers;  Benjamin Garmezy, MD, associate director of genitourinary research and executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at SCRI and medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners specializing in genitourinary cancers, underscored the curative potential of adjuvant therapy in kidney cancer;   Mike Lattanzi, MD, a genitourinary medical oncologist from Texas Oncology;   Damian N. Sorce, MD, a urologist from Colorado Urology.   A key theme throughout the episode was the practical application of PSMA PET scans. The panelists share their experiences and insights on how PSMA imaging is impacting risk stratification in patients with prostate cancer. They discuss its role in identifying early metastatic disease, particularly in the context of biochemical recurrence after primary treatment. The ability of PSMA PET to detect bone lesions and lymph node involvement with greater sensitivity and specificity compared with conventional imaging is highlighted as a significant advantage in guiding treatment decisions.  The conversation touches upon the integration of PSMA imaging with established treatment modalities, such as androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiation therapy. The experts discuss how PSMA findings can influence the timing and extent of these treatments, potentially leading to more personalized and effective approaches. For instance, the identification of oligometastatic disease through PSMA PET may guide the use of targeted therapies like stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in conjunction with systemic therapies.  Risk stratification emerges as a crucial aspect of utilizing PSMA imaging effectively. The panelists discuss how PSMA results can help differentiate between patients with localized recurrence amenable to salvage therapy and those with more widespread disease requiring systemic intervention. This improved risk assessment allows clinicians to tailor treatment strategies, potentially avoiding overtreatment in some cases and ensuring timely and aggressive therapy in others.  The importance of a multidisciplinary care team is implicitly underscored throughout the discussion. The interaction between urologists and oncologists, as represented by the panelists, highlights the need for seamless collaboration in interpreting PSMA imaging results and formulating comprehensive treatment plans for patients with advanced prostate cancer. 
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  • 6: A Sneak Peek at 2025 ASCO From the GU Perspective
    In this special episode of Oncology Decoded, hosts Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS, and Benjamin Garmezy, MD, discussed the highly anticipated 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.  Bupathi is the executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers specializing in solid tumors and genitourinary cancers, and Garmezy is the associate director of genitourinary research and executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at SCRI and medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners specializing in genitourinary cancers, underscored the curative potential of adjuvant therapy in kidney cancer. During the discussion, the experts highlight the abstracts that have caught their eye and offer their predictions on the data that could reshape the landscape of genitourinary oncology. Kidney Cancer Several intriguing abstracts are highlighted, with a focus on the evolving role of immunotherapy and the potential for novel combinations.  ·      Phase 3 PDIGREE trial (NCT03793166): Immunotherapy plus nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) followed by nivolumab alone or nivolumab with cabozantinib (Cabometyx) for patients with advanced kidney cancer. This will be presented by Tian Zhang, MD, MHS, on May 31 from 1:27-1:33 pm CDT. ·      Phase 1b STELLAR-002 trial (NCT05176483): Zanzalintinib plus nivolumab and relatlimab in patients with advanced solid tumors. This will be presented by Benjamin Garmezy, MD, in a poster presentation on June 2 at 2:30 pm CDT.  The Bupathi and Garmezy suggest we should be on the lookout for data that could refine treatment algorithms and identify new biomarkers to guide therapy selection. Bladder Cancer The potential impact of neoadjuvant therapy and the role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis were key discussion points. The experts anticipated seeing updates from ongoing trials exploring the utility of ctDNA as a predictive and prognostic biomarker, potentially allowing for more personalized treatment approaches.  ·      Phase 3 NIAGARA trial (NCT03732677): ctDNA will be assessed in those who received perioperative durvalumab (Imfinzi) for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This will be presented by Thomas Pwles, MD, PhD, FCRP, on June 1 from 10:45-10:57 am CDT. ·      Phase 3 Checkmate901 (NCT03036098): Nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs gemcitabine/carboplatin in patients who are previously untreated with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. This will be presented by Michael Simon Van Der Heijden, MD, PhD, on June 1 from 9:45-9:57 am CDT.  Prostate Cancer  A significant portion of the discussion revolves around prostate cancer, with several potentially practice-changing abstracts generating excitement.  ·      Artificial intelligence (AI): The use of a multimodal AI model to determine the benefit from a second-generation androgen receptor pathway inhibitor for patients who are high-risk and have non-metastatic prostate cancer and were enrolled on the phase 2/3 STAMPEDE trial (NCT00268476). This will be presented by Nicholas David James, PhD, FRCP, MBBS, on June 3 from 9:57-10:09 am CDT.  ·      Radiation therapy: A phase 3 trial assessing CAN-2409 plus prodrug and standard of care external beam radiation therapy in patients with newly diagnosed localized prostate cancer. This will be presented by Theodore L. De-Weese, MD, on June 3 from 9:45-9:57 am CDT.  Furthermore, the conversation touched upon anticipated phase 3 data in hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Specifically, there’s excitement around upcoming results for patients with high-risk or high-volume metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer harboring BRCA mutations. This data could be practice-changing and offer a new therapeutic avenue for this specific subset of patients. Beyond these specific disease areas, the podcast highlighted the broader themes expected at 2025 ASCO, including the continued development and refinement of immunotherapy, the integration of multimodal AI in oncology, and the ongoing investigation of novel targets, like TROP2 inhibitors. 
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  • 5: Beyond Surgery: The Evolving Landscape of Adjuvant Therapy in Kidney Cancer
    Manojkumar Bupathi, MD, MS; and Benjamin Garmezy, MD, dove into the complexities of adjuvant therapy for kidney cancer, providing valuable insights for oncology clinicians in the latest episode of Oncology Decoded. The discussion began with a fundamental overview of adjuvant therapy, which aims to eradicate residual microscopic disease and mitigate the risk of cancer recurrence.    Bupathi, executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) and medical oncologist with Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers specializing in solid tumors and genitourinary cancers, and Garmezy, associate director of genitourinary research and executive cochair of the Genitourinary Cancer Research Executive Committee at SCRI  and medical oncologist at SCRI Oncology Partners specializing in genitourinary cancers, underscored the curative potential of adjuvant therapy in kidney cancer.  The discussion also focused on 2 primary modalities of adjuvant therapy: targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Targeted therapies, particularly VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitors, were discussed in the context of clear cell kidney cancer, the predominant subtype, where they inhibit the VEGF signaling pathway to impede cancer cell growth.  Bupathi and Garmezy spoke about results from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 trial (NCT03142334), which led to the FDA approval of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for high-risk clear cell kidney cancer.1,2 The positive results from this trial are superior to those from others that explored different immunotherapy agents and regimens, none of which demonstrated a similar benefit. It was noted that there are differences in interpretations, heterogeneity in study designs, and patient populations for each trial.  Regarding risk stratification in the postnephrectomy setting, the hosts gave a critical evaluation of the role of nomograms in predicting recurrence. The benefits of adjuvant therapy against the potential for treatment-related toxicities were weighed, with an emphasis on the importance of individualized patient counseling.    Finally, they highlighted the management of disease progression following adjuvant pembrolizumab, with a focus on treatment sequencing and the role of second-line therapies. The relevance of extrapolating data from metastatic trials to the adjuvant setting was discussed, with a pragmatic approach to clinical decision-making.    References 1.        Choueiri TK, Tomczak P, Park SH, et al; KEYNOTE-564 Investigators. Overall survival with adjuvant pembrolizumab in renal-cell carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2024;390(15):1359-1371. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2312695 2.         FDA approves pembrolizumab for adjuvant treatment of renal cell carcinoma. News release. FDA. November 17, 2021. Accessed April 24, 2025. https://tinyurl.com/yzxcjetz
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About Oncology Decoded

CancerNetwork® is excited to announce the launch of Oncology Decoded, a new podcast that will discuss scientific data and practical application in the world of oncology. Hosted by 2 leading experts in the field, Benjamin Garmezy, MD, and Manoj Bupathi, MD, MS, this podcast will cover cutting-edge topics and offer actionable insights to help improve patient outcomes.
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