Dr. Samantha Armstrong Highlights Upcoming Abstracts at the ESMO Congress 2024

Samantha Armstrong, MD, from Indiana University, and co-host of the podcast “Two Onc Docs,” previews some of the genitourinary (GU) oncology abstracts that will be presented at the ESMO Congress 2024.

Among the many expected updates on GU malignancies, a key highlight for prostate cancer will be the results of the STAMPEDE trial. This study, presented by Dr. Silke Gillessen, explores the use of metformin combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to address the metabolic dysfunction and potential cardiovascular risks associated with ADT in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. In addition, there will be results of the ARANOTE trial looking at darolutamide plus ADT compared to ADT alone, which may add to the already approved abiraterone plus prednisone, enzalutamide, or apalutamide plus ADT in this patient population.

In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), Brian Rini, MD, FASCO, will discuss the LITESPARK-005 study. This study has shown that belzutifan enhances progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rates (ORR) compared to everolimus in patients with previously treated advanced RCC. Belzutifan has also led to better patient-reported outcomes and improved health-related quality of life, as presented at the ASCO® GU 2024 Annual Meeting.

Several intriguing abstracts on urothelial carcinoma will be presented at the ESMO Congress 2024. These include the SUNRISE-4 trial, which compares LBA84-TAR-200 plus cetrelimab (CET) to CET alone as neoadjuvant therapy for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are ineligible for or decline neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

There will also be updates on extended follow-up for disease-free survival and metastatic disease recurrence from the AMBASSADOR trial, which investigates adjuvant pembrolizumab for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The AMBASSADOR trial, first presented at the ASCO® GU 2024 Annual Meeting, demonstrated a disease-free survival benefit but no improvement in overall survival.

Another update on muscle-invasive bladder cancer will be the NIAGARA trial, presented by Thomas Powles, MD, MBBS, MRCP, at the Presidential Symposium on Sunday, September 15th. This study investigates the addition of durvalumab to gemcitabine plus cisplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by adjuvant durvalumab. Earlier this year, a press release highlighted a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in event-free and overall survival.

These and other abstracts will be discussed in greater detail after ESMO 2024.