The 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, held in Chicago from May 30 - June 3, was enriched by the contributions of the esteemed ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) and PrECOG, LLC. The range of talks and posters, described below, presented significant developments in the field of oncology, including new cancer treatments, an exciting application of artificial intelligence (AI), and new genomic insights from our vast biospecimen repositories. All of these trials were funded by the National Cancer Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health, except where indicated. Click on the links to access more information on the ASCO meeting website.

Oral Presentations

Breast Cancer – A less intensive, reduced chemotherapy approach is currently being evaluated for patients with early-stage HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer in the CompassHER2-pCR (EA1181) trial. While longer follow-up is needed to assess the primary endpoint (3-year recurrence-free survival), researchers shared results for the secondary objective of pathologic complete response (pCR) at the time of surgery after 12 weeks of pre-operative treatment with taxane, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab (THP). The study reveals several predictors of THP benefit based on clinical and pathological factors — information that helps clinicians identify which patients may benefit the most from this new approach. Presenter: Nadine M. Tung, MD (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). Read the press release and Abstract 501.

Breast Cancer – Previously, the phase 3 PALLAS trial found no significant benefit from adding 2 years of palbociclib to standard endocrine therapy following surgery in patients with hormone-receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative, early-stage breast cancer. Here, researchers conducted an exploratory analysis of neutropenia in trial participants. They found that, indeed, the extent of neutropenia patients experience may be a useful biomarker for the efficacy of palbociclib or other cell cycle-specific therapies. This finding is consistent with other studies. PrECOG collaborates on the global PALLAS trial (via trial identifier PrE0109), which is led by the Alliance Trials Foundation and funded by Pfizer. Presenter: Kristina Fanucci, MD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute). Abstract 526.

Lung Cancer – An ECOG-ACRIN trial in the SWOG-led Lung-MAP program prospectively examined the impact of co-mutations on the efficacy of sotorasib in patients with previously treated, stage IV or recurrent non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with the KRAS G12C mutation. In this trial (S1900E), sotorasib showed lower efficacy in the cohort with STK11 co-mutations compared to other cohorts. Presenter: Sukhmani K. Padda, MD (Fox Chase Cancer Center). Abstract 8518.

Melanoma – The EA6194 phase 2 trial, selected by ASCO as a late-breaking abstract, revealed the potential of the pembrolizumab and vidutolimod combination as a pre-surgical strategy for high-risk melanoma patients. This promising finding warrants further investigation in a phase 3 trial. Presenter: Ahmad A. Tarhini, MD, PhD (Moffitt Cancer Center). Abstract LBA9505. 

Melanoma – Final clinical results from the DREAMseq (EA6134) trial show sustained, even enhanced, survival benefits for patients with advanced melanoma and the BRAF V600 mutation. Starting treatment with immunotherapy (nivolumab and ipilimumab), followed by targeted therapy (dabrafenib and trametinib) in cases of disease progression, resulted in a nearly doubling of 5-year overall survival and a tripling of 5-year progression-free survival compared to starting treatment with targeted therapy. The immunotherapy-first approach also resulted in fewer brain metastases at the time of relapse and more effective second-line therapy. Presenter: Michael B. Atkins, MD (Georgetown University, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center). Abstract 9506. 

NCI-MATCH – At the start of this trial, several thousand patients with uncommon types of cancer that had advanced (become metastatic) were screened for potential treatments by testing their biopsy samples at a central laboratory. Many patients did not have a tumor mutation being studied in the trial, but their tumor and blood samples contributed to a valuable biospecimen repository for future research. Here, researchers used new technology to analyze blood samples for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), which originates from cancerous cells and tumors. Their work helps guide the further development of ctDNA testing to assist in identifying mutations that may respond to targeted therapies. Presenter: Biswajit Das, PhD (Molecular Characterization Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research). Abstract 3006.

Posters

Bile Duct Cancer – Results from the phase 2 trial EA2187 show that pevonedistat, alone or in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, did not demonstrate sufficient efficacy in patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma to warrant continued evaluation. Presenter: Anita A. Turk, MD (Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center). Abstract 4115. 

Myeloma – Long-term follow-up data were presented from the randomized phase 3 trial, ENDURANCE (E1A11). This trial confirmed VRd (bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone) as the preferred initial therapy for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) who were not being considered for immediate stem-cell transplantation. With a median follow-up of nearly 6 years, researchers conclude that VRd remains a standard triplet induction regimen for patients with standard or intermediate risk NDMM. Additionally, VRd continues to be a suitable treatment backbone for the development of 4-drug combination therapies. Presenter: Shaji Kumar, MD (Mayo Clinic). Abstract 7540.

NCI-MATCH – In this exploratory analysis, researchers examined blood samples from trial participants (refer to the trial description above). The patients in this subset had pathology reports that designated their cancer type as "not otherwise specified" or uncertain. By analyzing the circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) of these patients, researchers obtained new information, which led to the development of a mathematical model to identify the histology (cancer type). The model demonstrated high validation accuracy. Presenter: Chris A. Karlovich, PhD (Molecular Characterization Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research). Abstract 2557.

Prostate Cancer – A significant development in prostate cancer research is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as a predictive biomarker for assessing the benefits of docetaxel chemotherapy through core needle biopsies. Images of H&E-stained biopsy slides from the CHAARTED (E3805) trial were used to develop and validate a computational AI pathology image classifier (APIC) for quantifying the tumor-immune microenvironment. The CHAARTED trial included participants with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer who had received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone or with docetaxel chemotherapy. This AI approach was validated in the context of ADT, and researchers recommend exploring its use alongside androgen receptor axis-targeted agents. Presenter: Sebastian R. Medina, MSc (Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University). Abstract 1560. 

Prostate Cancer – Metastatic prostate cancer remains incurable. It is known that persistent androgen receptor activation promotes tumor progression and metastasis, which affects patient survival. In this biomarker study utilizing specimens from the CHAARTED trial (described above), researchers examined a group of six genes involved in androgen production, uptake, and conversion, known as the APUC-6 genes. They report that their analysis may help identify a favorable-risk group of patients, carrying distinct therapeutic implications. Presenter: Xiaolei Shi, MD, PhD (University of Maryland). Abstract 5089. 

Trial in Progress Poster

Symptom Science – Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer experience different diagnoses and specific biological, clinical, psychological, and social factors that affect their risk of post-treatment morbidity and early death. These factors differ from older adults and children with cancer. The EAQ211 trial is investigating social genomic mechanisms of health disparities among survivors aged 15-39 at their first cancer diagnosis. By collecting blood samples and information about participants' health and treatment, this trial aims to identify conditions that increase their risk of illness and mortality, to help physicians better address their needs. Presenter: Brad J. Zebrack, PhD, MSW, MPH (University of Michigan). Abstract TPS12137.