Oncology News Central Peer-Spectives

Game-Changing Blood Cancer News at ASCO 2025: Rusfertide Shows Strong Benefit in Polycythemia Vera

A late-breaking abstract presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (LBA3) showed that rusfertide significantly increased hematocrit control and improved symptoms for patients with polycythemia vera, a chronic leukemia. “We thought if we could use our understanding of iron regulation, then we could change the game a little bit,” said Andrew Kuykendall, MD, assistant member in the Department of Malignant Hematology at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. He told Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology, about the rationale behind the trial, broke down key findings, and shared what comes next in this area of research. “I think it is very important that we continue to follow these patients. And this is an ongoing trial that has a part two to it, which is a long-term safety assessment period,” he explained.

Getting Americans to Support Cancer Research May Take a New Message, Oncology Leader Says

When it comes to building support for cancer research in the current environment, “the message that we have had in our field is a good one. But we may need to craft a better message,” says Robert A. Winn, MD, director and Lipman Chair in Oncology at the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center in Richmond. Dr. Winn lays out a strategy designed to show the American public the benefits in oncology already yielded from previous investments in science, alongside what can be done if support continues. He tells Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology, that “we’ve talked about the facts, but we have not been effective at telling the story of the big dream of how science could really impact lives.” From the fight for equitable access to cancer care advances to recruiting the next generation of researchers, Dr. Winn stresses that he will continue to fight for progress. “I’m going to continue to ring that bell until I can’t anymore,” he explains.
Dr. Winn reported no relevant financial relationships.
Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.

“Important Milestone”: Perioperative Durvalumab Improves Event-Free Survival in Gastric Cancer

The addition of perioperative durvalumab in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer improved event-free survival, according to findings from the MATTERHORN study. “This trial will be an important milestone,” said Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, who presented the findings at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. She spoke with Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology, about the significance of the data. “We demonstrated improvement in event-free survival, and this is the first regimen in the perioperative setting to do so,” Dr. Janjigian noted. She also shared next steps for the research and broader questions that the data raise across oncology.
Dr. Janjigian reported various financial relationships.
Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.

What Does the Biggest News in Breast Cancer From ASCO 2025 Mean for Practice Right Now?

Data from the SERENA-6 trial, presented at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, have the potential to dramatically change advanced estrogen receptor–positive, HER2-negative breast cancer care, says William J Gradishar, MD, the Betsy Bramsen Professor of Breast Oncology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. The study showed benefit in switching therapies based on circulating tumor DNA evidence of ESR1 mutation, ahead of disease progression. “If we find that the magnitude of benefit seems to be as meaningful as it’s been reported to be, then I think what we will find in practice is more and more people will be doing next-generation sequencing testing, doing it earlier, and doing it more frequently to identify these mutations and act upon them,” Dr. Gradishar told Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology. Dr. Gradishar also discussed key drugs in development, including selective estrogen receptor degraders, and questions about the sequencing of new treatments. “There may be diminishing returns, as we’ve seen with other drugs,” he noted.

Practice-Changing “Inflection Point” Coming in ESR1-Positive Breast Cancer Care?

Editor’s Note: This interview was recorded shortly before the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Big questions associated with ESR1 mutations in patients with hormone receptor–positive breast cancer may soon have answers. New data are “going to take the whole breast oncology field from one place and put it in a different place. It’s going to be an inflection point in our history of treating breast cancer,” says Jason Aboudi Mouabbi, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Breast Medical at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Speaking with Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology, Dr. Mouabbi outlined current challenges in identifying and responding to the development of ESR1 mutations. Dr. Figlin and Dr. Mouabbi also discussed how eagerly anticipated findings may transform practice and important aspects of mutational testing to consider. Dr. Mouabbi reported consulting fees from GE Healthcare, Genentech, AstraZeneca, Gilead, Novartis, Fresenius Kabi, BostonGene, and Cardinal Health. Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.

When ESR1 Mutations Arise in Breast Cancer Patients With PIK3CA Mutations: What Next?

The approach to ESR1 and PIK3CA mutations in patients with hormone receptor–positive metastatic breast cancer continues to evolve. What role does circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) play in treatment decisions? How should oncologists best approach patients with PIK3CA mutations who subsequently develop ESR1 mutations? VK Gadi, MD, PhD, professor and director of medical oncology and deputy director of the University of Illinois Cancer Center in Chicago, discusses with Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology, how recent data are informing care for patients with comutations. “We now have at least one ESR1-targeting drug out there, and more to come,” Dr. Gadi explains. “Elacestrant is the drug I’m of course referencing, and that is used essentially like a single agent and works well for those patients. Even when they have, for example, PIK3CA mutations present.” He and Dr. Figlin consider when to act on ctDNA findings and potential future strategies. Dr. Gadi reported no relevant financial relationships. Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.

How “Remarkable Change” in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Care Is Making a Difference for Patients

The last few years have seen “a remarkable change in both our approach and management of EGFR lung cancer,” says Shirish M. Gadgeel, MD, division head for hematology/oncology and associate director of Patient Experience and Clinical Care at the Henry Ford Cancer Institute in Detroit. He discusses key considerations for managing EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer with Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology at Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Gadgeel describes considerations for leptomeningeal metastases, important treatment toxicities, and exciting advances on the horizon. Dr. Gadgeel reported various financial relationships. Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.

Oncologists Urged to Discuss Fertility With Patients, as ASCO Updates Guidelines

When it comes to tackling fertility issues associated with cancer, “oncology clinicians are often reluctant to talk about this because it is really not our wheelhouse,” says Alison Wakoff Loren, MD, MSCE, chief of the Division of Hematology Oncology, director of Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation, and the C. Willard Robinson Professor of Hematology-Oncology at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. Dr. Loren and colleagues recently updated American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines for fertility preservation in people with cancer. She discusses the key changes with Robert Figlin, MD, interim director at Cedars Sinai Cancer Center in Los Angeles and the Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology. “This is a really important topic that I think sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of the hecticness of a young person’s cancer diagnosis,” Dr. Loren explains. Increased awareness among oncologists is a crucial step that can lead to faster referrals and interventions, she says. “You better be ready for the conversation,” she urges. Dr. Loren reported research funding from Equillium (Inst). Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.

“Second-Line ER-Positive Breast Cancer Has Just Become Very Complicated”

“Second-line [estrogen receptor (ER)]-positive breast cancer has just become very complicated,” says Erika P. Hamilton, MD, the director of breast cancer and gynecologic cancer research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville. She discusses the role of ESR1 mutations in selecting appropriate treatments and combination regimens for patients with ER-positive breast cancer who have disease progression with Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles, and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology. From when and how best to assess for ESR1 mutations to which trials inform current treatment options in clinic, Dr. Hamilton walks through the complex decision-making process. She also shares which trial readouts she is looking forward to seeing and how social media is influencing patient choices. Dr. Hamilton reported various financial relationships. Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.

Will Generational Divide Among Oncologists Affect How AI Changes Cancer Care?

Burnout among oncologists is a serious concern, and artificial intelligence (AI) represents a potential solution, says Debra Patt, MD, PhD, MBA, a practicing oncologist and breast cancer specialist in Austin, Texas, who also serves as the chair of the AI task force for the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Technological advances are poised to improve cancer care while reducing the documentation burden for oncologists, she tells Robert A. Figlin, MD, the interim director of Cedars-Sinai Cancer in Los Angeles, and Steven Spielberg Family Chair in Hematology-Oncology. Dr. Patt describes the various practical ways in which AI is already changing oncology clinics, but acknowledges a generational divide that will need to be bridged: “I would say that the youngest generation of oncologists that is coming out, they are digital natives. They have grown up with this,” she explains. But for those who have been in practice longer, “Change management for us looks a little bit different than it does for the younger generation of oncologists that just sort of do this naturally.” Dr. Patt reported no relevant financial disclosures. Dr. Figlin reported various financial relationships.