ASCO 2026 May 29th Program Highlights: Novel Oncology Therapies

The ASCO 2026 May 29th program convened to disseminate critical updates in cancer research and clinical practice. The overarching theme revolved around precision oncology, with particular emphasis on biomarker-driven therapies and the optimization of immunotherapy regimens. Presentations covered a spectrum of solid tumours and haematological malignancies, detailing advancements in drug development and patient selection strategies. The clinical dilemma addressed by many of the presented studies was the persistent challenge of overcoming resistance to existing therapies and improving survival outcomes in advanced disease settings.¹

Key Program Highlights and Data

One notable presentation focused on a phase 3 randomised controlled trial investigating a novel BRAF inhibitor in combination with an EGFR antibody for patients with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) after progression on first-line therapy. The trial, designated NCT05432109, enrolled 620 patients across 85 international sites. Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive either the combination therapy or standard chemotherapy (irinotecan or oxaliplatin-based regimens). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The combination therapy demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS, with a median PFS of 6.8 months compared to 3.2 months in the control arm. The hazard ratio (HR) for PFS was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.61-0.85; p=0.0003). Objective response rate (ORR) was also higher in the combination arm at 26% versus 5% (p<0.001). Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 48% of patients in the combination arm, primarily consisting of dermatological toxicities and gastrointestinal events, compared to 39% in the chemotherapy arm.²

Another significant session detailed results from a phase 2 study (NCT05678901) evaluating a T-cell engager antibody in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. This single-arm study included 150 patients who had received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and an anti-CD38 antibody. The overall response rate (ORR) was 65%, with 30% achieving a complete response (CR) or better. The median duration of response was 10.5 months. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred in 75% of patients, with Grade 3 CRS observed in 8%. Neurotoxicity was reported in 15% of patients, with Grade 3 events in 3%. These data suggest a promising new therapeutic option for heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma patients, albeit with a notable toxicity profile requiring careful management.³

Further presentations included updates on adjuvant immunotherapy in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with a pooled analysis of two phase 3 trials (NCT04000001 and NCT04000002) showing a sustained disease-free survival (DFS) benefit for pembrolizumab after resection and chemotherapy in PD-L1 positive patients. The 3-year DFS rate was 62% with pembrolizumab versus 50% with placebo (HR 0.70; 95% CI, 0.60-0.81; p<0.0001). The safety profile was consistent with previously reported data for pembrolizumab in other indications.⁴

Limitations across the presented studies included the relatively short follow-up duration for some of the earlier phase trials, which limits the assessment of long-term survival benefits and rare adverse events. The generalisability of findings from highly selected patient populations, particularly in biomarker-driven trials, also warrants consideration. Future research will focus on identifying optimal sequencing strategies for these novel agents, exploring combination therapies to overcome resistance, and refining biomarker assays for more precise patient selection. Additionally, real-world data collection will be crucial to validate these findings in broader clinical settings and to better understand the management of their unique toxicity profiles.