ICYMI: Highlights From ASCO 2025

Highlights from the 2025 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) included new findings from phase 1 and 3 trials that demonstrated improved progression-free survival and overall survival, innovations in AI to expedite evidence-based decision-making, and the expansion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists to treat various obesity-related cancers.

Here are the top 5 articles from ASCO, and click here for our full coverage.

5. Adverse Effect Management in the COCOON Trial for EGFR-Mutated NSCLC: Jill Feldman

The American Journal of Managed Care^® spoke with Jill Feldman, cofounder and president of EGFR Resisters, who reviewed the adverse event management strategies from the COCOON trial in patients with EGFR-mutated non–small cell lung cancer. The discussion focused on how clinicians can anticipate and treat common toxicities associated with targeted therapies and highlighted recommendations for managing adverse events such as rash or diarrhea to help maintain treatment adherence, improve patient outcomes, and inform clinicians on optimizing care in real-world settings.

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4. Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Plus Pertuzumab Improves PFS vs Standard Care in HER2+ Breast Cancer

Data from the DESTINY-Breast09 trial supported trastuzumab deruxtecan in combination with pertuzumab as a new standard of care for patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. The combination demonstrated significantly longer progression-free survival compared with the standard of care. Claudine Isaacs, MD, of Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University, discussed the findings after the presentation, highlighting its position as a new first-line therapy but also raising concerns about treatment sequencing in the trial and the optimal duration.

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3. ASCO, Google Cloud Launch AI-Powered Tool to Help Doctors Access Guidelines

ASCO partnered with Google Cloud and launched an AI tool, called ASCO Guidelines Assistant, that allows physicians easy and quick access to evidence-based guidelines. The tool uses natural language processing to deliver tailored guideline information efficiently at the point of care, potentially improving clinical decision-making and adherence to best practices. ASCO’s CEO Clifford Hudis, MD, said the partnership “unlocks the values of ASCO’s trusted guideline knowledge,” and that Google Cloud’s AI expertise will provide faster access to critical information, thus empowering physicians to make timely evidence-based decisions for their patients.

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2. Lurbinectedin Plus Atezolizumab Maintenance Shows Improved Survival vs Atezolizumab in SCLC

Lurbinectedin plus atezolizumab improved progression-free survival and overall survival when used as maintenance therapy for patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) in the phase 3 IMforte trial. Although adverse events were more frequent with the combination, the safety profile was predictable, and discontinuation rates remained low, indicating the regimen has the potential to become a new standard of maintenance in this challenging disease. These results suggest that adding lurbinectedin to immunotherapy may offer a meaningful clinical benefit for patients with ES-SCLC.

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1. Can GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Curb Cancer? Study Links Drugs to Reduced Risk in Obesity-Related Cases

GLP-1 receptor agonists are associated with a moderate drop in the risk of developing 14 cancers related to obesity. The study findings suggest patients taking these agents had a lower incidence of several cancer types compared with matched controls, highlighting a potential cancer-preventive benefit beyond weight loss and metabolic effects. However, while promising, the findings are observational, and further research is needed to confirm causality and understand mechanisms.

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