New Trials Extend Survival Across Multiple Cancers

September delivered several important phase 3 cancer trial results that could change treatment standards for multiple tumor types, offering new options for patients whose disease has progressed or who are newly diagnosed.

Ivonescimab Extends Survival in Advanced NSCLC

The HARMONi-2 study compared the investigational antibody ivonescimab with the established checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer. Median overall survival reached 30.8 months for the experimental arm versus 22.6 months for the comparator, a 27% lower risk of death.

The benefit was most pronounced among tumors expressing high levels of PD-L1, a protein that helps cancers evade immune detection. Safety profiles were comparable; no novel adverse events emerged, and the frequency of serious toxicities matched that of the control group. Ivonescimab holds approval for this indication in China, but it remains unavailable in the United States.

Ris-Rez Shows Promise in Relapsed SCLC

The ARTEMIS-008 trial enrolled 461 Chinese participants with recurrent small-cell lung cancer, randomizing them to the antibody-drug conjugate risvutatug rezetecan (Ris-Rez) or standard topotecan chemotherapy (Hycamtin). Median overall survival more than doubled, measuring 18.5 months versus 10.3 months.

Objective response occurred in 58.3% of patients receiving the conjugate, compared with 12.6% under chemotherapy. Grade 3 or higher toxicities were observed in 60.9% of the experimental cohort, a notable decline from the 78.2% seen with topotecan, with hematologic suppression being the most common serious event.

Investigators highlighted that the improved response rate and lower toxicity profile could make Ris-Rez a new standard for this hard-to-treat disease.

Etentamig Improves Outcomes in Triple-Class Exposed Myeloma

The CERVINO phase 3 trial evaluated etentamig, a bispecific antibody linking myeloma cells to T cells, in 393 patients whose disease had progressed after exposure to proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and anti-CD38 antibodies. Overall response rose to 74% versus 45.7% with standard regimens.

Risk of disease progression or death fell by 60% across the study population, including individuals aged 75 years and older and those treated at community oncology centers. Infections peaked during the first six months, and cytokine release syndrome appeared in 39.5% of participants, largely mild or moderate in severity.

Enhertu Delays Progression in HER2-Mutant NSCLC

The DESTINY-Lung04 study randomized 454 patients with HER2-mutated advanced non-small cell disease to receive Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) or a combination of Keytruda plus chemotherapy. Median progression-free survival extended to 14.3 months with the antibody-drug conjugate, versus 8.3 months for the control regimen.

The longer interval before disease worsening means patients on Enhertu could remain on a single therapy for roughly six additional months compared with the standard approach. Lung inflammation manifested in 20.8% of those treated with Enhertu, primarily as mild to moderate pneumonitis. Patients taking Enhertu should tell their care team right away about new cough, shortness of breath, or fever.

Tagrisso Demonstrates Long-Term Benefit After Surgery

The ADAURA trial followed patients with EGFR-mutated stage 1B-3A disease who received adjuvant Tagrisso (osimertinib) or placebo for up to three years post-resection. Eight-year overall survival stood at 79% for the targeted-therapy group, compared with 64% for those given placebo.